Awards given for nature conservation initiatives

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

KATHMANDU: World Wildlife Fund, Nepal, today felicitated five individuals and three organisations with various awards at a function in the Capital.

The awards recognised outstanding feats in the field of conservation, natural resource management, climate change, freshwater, tourism, sustainable livelihoods and journalism.

In a press release, WWF said the ‘Abraham Conservation Awards’ was conferred on DSP Praveen Pokhrel from the Central Investigation Bureau of the Nepal Police under whose command CIB carried out more than three dozen operations throughout Nepal, arresting hundreds of notorious poachers and criminals.

Gyan Bahadur Shah from Kailali received the honour for afforestation and forest management activities, and controlling illegal logging and minimising poaching. While Hingwa Tharu from Bardia got awarded for his dedication towards fighting wildlife crimes and for playing an instrumental role in the arrest of a renowned rhino horn smuggler as well as 15 other people engaged in the trade of wildlife parts.

In the organisation category, the Abraham Conservation Award was conferred on Nanda Box Battalion for playing a crucial role in achieving Zero Poaching Year for rhinos in Nepal and being at the forefront of capturing wildlife criminals for more than a decade.

Kalika Community Forests User Group was feted for establishing an old-age home for Livestock in 2009 for conserving vultures and Langtang Area Conservation Concern Society for raising awareness on bio-diversity and eco-tourism.

WWF Conservation Award in media was conferred on Krishna Mani Baral from Pokhara, for his insightful and analytical reporting. Baral is a reporter for The Himalayan Times.

The Special Conservation Award went to Nanda Devi Kunwar from Kailali in recognition of her bravery to fight against forest encroaches. This award was given to her with the special recommendation from the panel of judges involved in the selection of the awardees.