Kathmandu, October 6
Nepal and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) have agreed to cooperate on post-disaster reconstruction, biodiversity conservation, climate resilience and human-wildlife conflict management.
Agriculture, Forests and Environment Minister Gita Chaudhary held a courtesy meeting with delegations from WWF-US and WWF Nepal at the ministry on Sunday. They discussed the recent floods and landslides in Nepal, post-disaster reconstruction, biodiversity conservation, climate resilience and management of human-wildlife conflict.
During the meeting, WWF-US Chief Executive Officer Laura expressed her organisation’s commitment to continuing cooperation with the Nepali people and government during the difficult situation caused by the disasters.
She stressed the need to advance post-disaster reconstruction in a more sustainable, nature-based and climate-resilient manner than in the past. She also said her organisation would provide full support in mobilising international technology, knowledge and resources according to Nepal’s needs.
Minister Chaudhary thanked WWF for its support during the disasters and briefed the delegation on damage caused to agricultural land and forests by the floods and landslides, as well as the challenges of reconstruction.
She said long-term climate and disaster resilience should be prioritised alongside reconstruction.
The minister also expressed concern over the growing human-wildlife conflict. She said modern technology and scientific management were needed to address increasing human-tiger conflict following the rise in the tiger population, the problems caused by wild elephants and monkey-related problems reported in around 55 districts.
The meeting also discussed the possibility of using sterilisation technology for monkey management, implementing a special project for elephant management and establishing special conservation areas to control man-eating tigers.
Representatives of WWF Nepal said substantial investment was needed for reconstruction, conservation, tourism, nature-based solutions and community resilience in Nepal. They said cooperation with development partners, including the World Bank and the European Union, would be made more effective.
A WWF Pakistan representative shared successful experiences of wetland restoration and nature-based solutions implemented in Pakistan following the 2022 floods and suggested that similar programmes tailored to local needs could be implemented in Nepal.
The meeting also discussed the possibility of mobilising international environmental and climate finance, including through the ninth phase of the Global Environment Facility, for elephant and human-elephant conflict management.
WWF-US committed to facilitating the mobilisation of world-class technology, knowledge and resources based on Nepal’s priorities.
The ministry said both sides agreed to make future cooperation more result-oriented by integrating nature conservation, community resilience and sustainable economic development.
