Awarding Conservation Excellence in Nepal

Kathmandu, Nepal 

Nine individuals and organizations were felicitated with WWF Conservation Awards amidst a small function today. WWF Nepal offered Conservation Awards to organizations and individuals to honor their outstanding feats in the field of conservation, natural resource management, climate change, sustainable livelihoods, journalism, and other related fields.

The award categories and the respective awardees included:

 Abraham Conservation Awards: Individual

• Mr. Rajendra Singh Bhandari from Baitadi, for his pivotal role in combatting organized wildlife crimes in Nepal through Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB). Under his leadership CIB was able to arrest more than 35 criminals and confiscate wildlife trophy worth NRs.10 million.
• Ms. Kalawati Chaudhary from Kailali, for her contribution towards bird and biodiversity conservation through active mobilization of local communities
• Mr. Bed Bahadur Khadka from Chitwan, for his arduous efforts in Gharial  Conservation

Abraham Conservation Awards: Organization

• Shiv Community Forest, for pioneering home-grown interventions in biodiversity conservation for more than a decade

• Alternative Herbals Pvt. Ltd, for the processing and marketing of Non Timber Forest Products and agro products thereby providing alternate source of livelihood to numerous poor communities especially women.

WWF Media in Conservation Awards: Individual

• Ms. Pragati Shahi from Dhangadhi, for extensive coverage and reporting on different environmental issue at both the national and international levels.
• Mr. Pramod Kumar Tandan from Arghakhachi, for very insightful and analytical reporting.

WWF Media in Conservation Awards: Organization

• Hamro Sampada National Magazine, for  using the arm of print media to advocate for the conservation and sustainable use of National resources, protection of Nepal's cultural heritage and the improvement in the socio economic status of underprivileged people.

Matthew Preece and Yeshi Choden Lama Young Conservation Leader Award

• Mr. Raj Bahadur Air from Kailali, for his wide experience in biodiversity conservation and community forestry management and for actively lobbying for the rights of Community Forest Users Groups.

The award holds a citation and cash prize of NRs. 25,000 for individuals and NRs. 50,000 for organizations. Speaking at the event, Mr. Rajendra Singh Bhandari, one of the recipients of Abraham Conservation Award declared that he would donate the prize money he received to the family of a poacher whom he had arrested. The poacher’s family has been struggling to manage their living after the poacher was taken in custody by Mr. Bhandari's team. Likewise, the recipient of Young Conservation Leader award Mr. Raj Bahadur Air also stated that he would be using the money for the welfare of aspiring conservationist in his district.

Mr. Anil Manandhar, Country Representative of WWF Nepal stated that WWF Conservation Awards have, over the years, proven to be a stimulus for conservationist, local communities and media to keep pushing the envelope in biodiversity conservation.The formal award giving ceremony was took place on the occasion of National Conservation Day on 24 September 2011 (7 Asoj 2068) at the Academy Hall in Kathmandu.  

Source:www.wwfnepal.org