HETAUDA, JANUARY 23 Amid growing concerns over climate change and environmental pollution threatening Nepal's biodiversity, the Biodiversity and Climate Sub-Committee under the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), in collaboration with the Institute of Forestry (IoF), Hetauda, organized a one-day multi-stakeholder interaction program titled 'Conserving Biodiversity in the Face of Climate Change and Pollution' on Wednesday. The event brought together approximately 80 participants, including policymakers, forest officials, researchers, academicians, faculty members, and students, to deliberate on the combined impacts of climate change and pollution on biodiversity, ecosystem health, and sustainable development. Discussions focused on identifying nature-based solutions and policy-driven interventions at national, provincial, and local levels. Participants underscored that rising temperatures, shifting rainfall patterns, extreme weather events, and ecosystem degradation are already reshaping species distribution and degrading habitat quality across Nepal. These impacts, they noted, are being exacerbated by air, water, and soil pollution resulting from rapid urbanization, industrial expansion, agricultural intensification, and improper waste management. The interaction emphasized the importance of evidence-based decision-making in conservation planning and policy formulation. Speakers further stressed the need for strong political commitment and enhanced institutional coordination, particularly at provincial and local levels, to ensure the effective implementation of biodiversity conservation and climate adaptation strategies. The formal session was chaired by Prof. Dr. Jiba Raj Pokharel, Academician and Coordinator of the Centre of Excellence, Bagmati Province, NAST. Dr. Thakur Silwal, Dean of IoF under Tribhuvan University, delivered the welcome address, while Prof. Dr. Kumud Raj Kafle, Member of the Biodiversity and Climate Sub-Committee, NAST, outlined the objectives of the program. Keynote presentations were delivered by Prof. Ram Prasad Chaudhary, Academician and Coordinator of the Biodiversity and Climate Sub-Committee, NAST, on 'Meeting the National Targets for Biodiversity Conservation: Challenges and Opportunities,' and Prof. Dr. Jiba Raj Pokharel on 'Sustainable Urban Development and Environmental Conservation: Issues and Way Forward.' The technical session, chaired by Prof. Chaudhary, featured expert presentations on climate change impacts on Nepal's cryosphere, biodiversity conservation challenges, rhinoceros conservation, and biodiversity concerns in Bagmati Province. The presenters included Prof. Rijan Bhakta Kayastha, Prof. Krishna Raj Tiwari, Dr. Ganesh Pant, and Dr. Kedar Baral, while rapporteurs from NAST and IoF documented key discussions and recommendations. Speakers highlighted Nepal's notable progress in biodiversity conservation, noting that 23.39 percent of the country's land area has been designated as protected. They reaffirmed Nepal's commitment to expanding conservation coverage through Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs). By 2030, Nepal aims to sustainably manage more than 30 percent of its land under forests, agriculture, grasslands, and wetlands in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The program concluded with a strong call for enhanced collaboration among researchers, policymakers, and local governments to address emerging environmental challenges through science-based solutions, inclusive governance, and sustained long-term political commitment.