Kanchanpur

The budget of around five million rupees for the integrated watershed management in Kailali and Kanchanpur has arranged by Government of Nepal under the President Chure Conservation Programme.

According to Shambhu Nepal,acting chief Soil Conservation Officer of Kailal, among the total budget two million has been allocated for Chure watershed management in Kanchanpur and 3.2 million for Kailali.

He further added that the plans are being executed with the mobilization of local resource prepared on the basis of the demands by local people.

The programme has incorporated the activities such as landslide control, embankment, swollen rivulet control,protection of ponds and water sources.

One horn rhino of CNP

Nepal celebrates year 2011 a great year for consevation as there is neither one case of rhino poaching through out a year. In the reverse, South Africa holds a record of rhino poaching where 448 rhinos were killed in same year.

“This is the first time in 29 years that Nepal has gone an entire year without a single poached rhino, and it’s a testament to the efforts of the Government of Nepal, WWF and many partners,” said Barney Long, Asian species expert at WWF. “We hope the new year will bring additional good news from other countries like South Africa as they continue to crack down on rhino poaching.”
According to the census, there are 534 rhinos in Nepal, marking an increase of 99 rhinos from the 435 recorded in the last census in 2008; 503 were recorded in Chitwan National Park (an increase of 95 from 2008 data), 24 in Bardia National Park (an increase of 2 from 2008 data) and 7 in Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve (an increase of 2 from 2008 data). These numbers reflect the success of conservation efforts for this species and are a result of improved rhino protection measures and management of habitat.
The one horn rhinos of Nepal is considered vulnerable by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Their numbers continue to decline as the result of poaching and habitat loss. Greater one-horned rhinos are the most numerous of the three Asian rhino species.

Sunrise in Fishtail mountain.

The conference will mainly focus to formulate strategy on climate change and its effects. According to Krishna Gnawali, secretary of Ministry of Environment, the participants will be ministers related to environment of mountainous countries, exterts related to climate change field and interrelated stakeholders of different sectors.

The main objective of the conference is to prepare long term common strategy to fight against the risk cause by climate change in the participants countries.

Before this, the international conference of Himalayan and Mountainous countries was already cancelled for two times in August 2010 and October 2011.

Deciding to establish 'Himalayan Seed bank'

Minister for Science and Technology Kalpana Dhamala said the government has started the preservation campaign as the rare species of plants are on the verge of extinction on the press meet held at the ministry premises.

According to the minister, Department of Botany under Nepal Academy of Science and Technology would be entrusted with the responsibility to begin the process of establishing such bank.
More than 100 plants including algae and mushrooms are on the verge of extinction especially in the Himalayan region, and this had led to the formation of the bank to carry out conservation efforts in this regard, said minister Dhamala.
An Italian research agency Ev-K2-CNR has signed the deal with the NAST to set up the Himalayan Seed Bank. The Italian delegation comprising its president Agostino Da Polenza, Consul General of Italy in Kolkatta Joel Melchiori among other have recently met Minister Dhamala at the Ministry, Singhadurbar and discussed the prospects of the Bank.

Wild Elephant of eastern Nepal

The injured are 42-year-old Bel Bahadur Katuwal, his wife Kalpana of 38 and their son Yadu of 11. According to the locals, wild elephants numbering two to three entered the village by crossing the border with India on Saturday night went on a rampage and attacked the Katuwal family.
Among the injured, Kalpana is in serious condition and is undergoing treatment at Neuro Hospital in Biratnagar. The father and the son have returned home after general treatment.

Locally known as 'Bas' can found all over Nepal.

Commonly known as 'Habre' found above 3000m in Nepal. Photo: Ganesh Poudel

Wild sheep found in high hill area. Photo: Ganesh Poudel