19th May 2024, Kathmandu - WWF Nepal celebrated its 31^st anniversary today. The hour-long formal event held at The Malla Hotel was dedicated to highlighting WWF Nepal’s milestones and contribution to the conservation of Nepal’s biodiversity in over three decades.  The event, with the chief guest Honorable Minister Nawal Kishor Sah Sudi, Minister of Forests and Environment of Nepal was attended by over 150 guests including distinguished Government officials, ambassadors, international and national conservation and development partners, media partners and others.  

The event started off with welcome remarks by Dr. Ghana S. Gurung, Country Representative of WWF Nepal where he stated, “ Despite the multitude of challenges over the years including loss of our conservation leaders in 2006, political fluidity, the global pandemic and more, we have made it through. We have emerged stronger and resilient because of the continued support from the government, partners, donors and communities  as well as their belief in the cause of people living in harmony with nature”.

He emphasized on WWF Nepal’s commitments to managing the human wildlife interface, controlling wildlife poaching, prioritizing integrated river basin management, focusing on watershed and wetland conservation and promoting climate smart and wildlife friendly infrastructure to ensure Green Resilient and Inclusive development in the country.

The event also included the launch of WWF Nepal’s book, “30 years in 30 pages”, a pictorial journey of WWF Nepal’s 30 years of milestones represented in 30 pages. Being mindful of the carbon footprint, the book will be available digitally on WWF Nepal’s website.

WWF Nepal also took this opportunity to show special appreciation to few private sector partners for their support. The appreciations were given to- the Coca cola Company for their support in improving groundwater recharge and water replenishment in various regions of the Terai Arc Landscape (TAL), The Carlsberg Breweries for their support in the construction and restoration of wetlands across TAL and Intrepid Travel for their support in the promotion of homestays and eco tourism.

Subsequently, 10 students were awarded Memorial Scholarships this year. The scholarships were introduced by WWF Nepal in 2007 as a way to carry on the legacies of 24 conservation heroes who lost their lives in a helicopter crash in 2006. Since then, over 130 students have received the fund.  Furthermore, Mr. Anil Adhikari, Himali Conservation Forum and Dhangadi Sub Metropolitan City were the recipients of WWF Conservation Awards this year.  WWF instituted the WWF Nepal Conservation Awards in 1995 to recognize and honor individuals and organizations at the grassroots level that have made significant contributions to protect Nepal's rich biodiversity. Since its inception, a total of 187 individuals and organizations have received the WWF Nepal Conservation Award.   

The chief guest, Honorable Minister Nawal Kishor Sah Sudi in his remarks congratulated WWF Nepal as well as expressed good fortune to all conservation partners and local communities involved in conservation in Nepal. “The contribution made by WWF  in Nepal’s conservation journey has been remarkable. We will continue to promote the efforts of coordination and cooperation between the Government of Nepal and conservation partners, private organizations, and local communities”, he stated.