Helping conserve Nepal's rich - and fragile - biodiversity

Nepal is home to many threatened species, including six that are critically endangered: the red panda, snow leopard, Bengal tiger, greater one-horned rhinoceros, elephant, and pangolin. The country has established several national parks and conservation areas, including Chitwan National Park (NA), known for its rhino population; Sagarmatha NA, home to Mount Everest and snow leopards; and Shuklaphanta NA, a habitat for tigers, elephants, and Bengal floricans.

With more than 23 percent of Nepal's land area protected and in need of ongoing conservation efforts, DAI is supporting the USAID Biodiversity (Jal Jangal) activity, which plays a crucial role in helping the country conserve nature for ecosystem health and community well-being. Whether by preparing management plans in protected areas and buffer zones, or by supporting master plans for wildlife rescue centers, the activity guides strategies to help sustain and protect Nepal’s diverse natural habitats and ecosystems. Nepal's 10 ‘Ramsar sites’—internationally significant wetlands—including Rara Lake and Ghodaghodi Lake, are vital for wetland conservation and are among the activity’s priority working areas.

Biodiversity conservation is also about finding sustainable solutions for those who depend on these fragile ecosystems for their livelihood. The activity brings government agencies and local communities together to ‘be a part of the plan’ and helps promote eco-tourism and sustainable development to enhance conservation and protect Nepal’s biodiversity hotspots.

#BiodiversityDay #PartOfThePlan #BiodiversityConservation #USAIDBiodiversity #JalJangal

For more information on USAID Biodiversity (Jal Jangal) activity in Nepal: https://rb.gy/f349r1