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3rd Taudaha Jamboree
3 February 2007

Introduction

Photo courtesy: Alok Shrestha

World Wetlands Day takes place on 2nd of February every year and offers governments at all levels, NGOs, schools and citizens alike an opportunity "to undertake actions aimed at raising public awareness of wetland values and benefits in general and the Ramsar Convention in particular" (Ramsar Secretariat). To make this exercise more effective and efficient, a consortium of seventeen organizations, led by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC), Nepal were worked together to promote a total of 7 sites (Taudaha, Nagdaha, Ikha Pokhari, Rani Pokhari, the Bagmati River near Kupondole, Koshi Tappu and Ghodaghodi) as important wetlands of Nepal.

The consortium

Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC), World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Nepal, The World Conservation Union (IUCN), Nepal International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Department of Fisheries (Mathsya Bikas Nirdhesanalaya), Nepal Tourism Board / Sustainable Tourism Network – Nepal Friends of the Bagmati,Bird Conservation Nepal (BCN), Taudaha Youth Club (TYC),Wildlife Conservation Nepal, Khwopa College, Nepal Cycling Club, NGO Forum/Pro Public Nepal River Conservation Trust Women Environment Preservation Committee (WEPCO), YATRA

3rd Taudaha Jamboree 2007

Taudaha is one of the largest ponds in the Bagmati watershed area. It has also contributed to recharge the groundwater of the Bagmati Watershed. Bagmati, which is the biggest river of the Kathmandu valley, originating from Shivapuri hill, 25 km north of Kathmandu City at an altitude of 2650m above sea level. Taudaha is at approximately 6 km to the south-west of Kathmandu. Taudaha, which is also a wetland, is immensely rich in floral and faunal diversity but today it is under the pressure from rapid degradation due to human encroachment. Birds as far as from Siberia migrate to Taudaha Pond every winter thus its conservation is of utmost importance. Since the past two years efforts have been made to promote Taudaha conservation by organizing Tuadaha Jamboree, open to the general public with different innovative and interesting activities. This year also the jamboree was organized successfully on 3rd Feb 2007.

Objectives

- To undertake actions aimed at raising public awareness on values and benefits of wetlands
- To disseminate information about values and benefits of wetlands to local people, who can be the real agent to bring change
- To promote Taudaha Lake as a tourism destination (especially due to Water Fowl Habitat) as well as a pristine bird watching and nature-hiking site in order to conserve it for future generations.

Through various media, event of Taudaha jamboree was advertised.  Participants were charged minimum entry fee in order to raise fund for Taudaha conservation. The fund so generated was handed over to Taudaha Yuba Club (TYC), a local initiative group that is committed to conserve Taudaha. Few door prizes and gifts were offered to the participants of the Taudaha Jamboree.

The activities were

Nature Hike Race

Nature Hike Race was one of the main attractions of the Jamboree. This event was conducted on the occasion of the World Wetland Day under the theme "Fish for Tomorrow", to promote Taudaha vicinity as a wonderful nature hike route, in order to preserve the entire area in its natural form. Taudaha is surrounded by forested hills which could be used as a perfect getaway for a peaceful hike, that too within a few minutes drive from Kathmandu city. If Taudaha area gets an attention from the nature lovers then there is a possibility that this habitat for numerous birds is preserved.

It was evident that the crowds were impatient to commence on their nature hike competition which finally began at around 11:40 AM. A long train of people- young and old, local and foreign- racing uphill on Boson Danda, adjacent to Taudaha, was quite an exciting sight to behold. On reaching the peak, the hikers were felicitated and their pictures were taken against the backdrop of the Taudaha pond. "It was a memorable day" said Kapil Pandey of Bageswori Higher Sec. School, who was the first one to complete the hike. A second group also went for the hike later in the day.

Bird Watching

More than one hundred species from twenty eight different families have been recorded in Taudaha area and more than forty eight species of birds are wetland dependent. Migratory birds arrive every winter and this year too is no different. Bird watching was next main attraction of the jamboree. Many visitors enjoyed a stint at watching the winged creatures who had flown from as far as Siberia through a telescope that had been placed and managed by BCN. This event had been an opportunity for organization like us to instigate interest among the locals in the conservation of birds and Taudaha

On the spot art competition

WCN organized an On-The-Spot Art competition for school students. In the event twenty eight students from different schools of the Kathmandu Valley painted posters on the theme "Fish for tomorrow". "I am loving it," said Jupiter School's Priyesh Shrestha, a participant at the art competition. The paintings were judged by three artists namely, Mr. Sujan Chitrakar, Coordinator, Department of Fine Arts, KU; Mr. Nepal Dangol, Mithila Art expert and Mr. Bal Mukunda Pokhrel, Head of Art Department, WCN. The winners of this competition will be announced on WATER DAY, March 22nd 2007.

Mithila Art Workshop

WCN, UWP conducted on the spot Mithila art workshop to the Taudaha Jamboree participants. Two artists Nepal Dangol and Brinda Dewan provided orientation and helped interested participants to portray Taudaha in different aspects in the canvas through mithila art. Mithila Art is a shadeless representational art form popular in the plains of Nepal and parts of India.

Taudaha Mela

The jamboree witnessed stalls of more than 18 organizations, food stalls, local handicrafts etc.

Other Programs by the consortium

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