WWF Nepal Program at a Glance
Nepal has been a pivotal country for WWF ever
since the organization first provided support to
conserve the Greater one-horned rhinoceros
(Rhinoceros unicornis) and the Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris
tigris) in the late 1960s. Today, the endangered rhino is no
longer on the brink of extinction, and is in fact, the second
largest population in the world. The Rhino Census of 2000
recorded 612 in the kingdom with a growth rate of 3.8
percent. Nepal also has an estimated 123 breeding
Bengal tigers distributed in the lowland protected areas.
The priority of WWF's support for Nepal's conservation
effort has changed with the shift in HMG/N's policy for
biodiversity conservation. If in the early years the focus
was on species conservation and research with strict law
enforcement practices, there has been gradual change
with the adoption of a more conciliatory approach and
social mobilization for the participatory involvement of local
people for conservation. Over the years, support has been
centered on integrating conservation and community
development with an attempt to address the issue of
livelihoods of local people living near protected areas. The
aim is to win the support and stewardship of locals living
in the fringe areas in wildlife conservation. Our focus has
evolved to a landscape approach in conservation by
building partnerships with donors, stakeholders, interest
groups, and local people.
At present, WWF NPís major projects, TAL, KCAP,
SCAFP and NMCP, are concentrated in the four Global
200 ecoregions and link WWF's global priority to the
conservation needs of Nepal. The four ecoregions include
Eastern Himalayan Broadleaf and Conifer Forests, Terai-
Duar Savannas and Grasslands, Eastern Himalayan
Alpine Meadows, and Western Himalayan Temperate
Forests. The first three are part of the greater Eastern
Himalayan ecoregion complex and spreads over Nepal,
Bhutan, Myanmar, India and Tibet Autonomous Region
(TAR) of China.
We have already joined hands with HMG/N and initiated
coordination and cooperation with India, Bhutan and TAR
to enhance biodiversity conservation by sharing
information on wildlife poaching and illegal trade in wildlife
products in the trans-border areas. The aim is to
strengthen cooperation with neighboring countries and
adopt a regional approach in biodiversity conservation to
save the region's rich and varied biodiversity.
