KATHMANDU, MARCH 22 The Government of Nepal, in partnership with WWF Nepal, has launched a four-year conservation initiative aimed at protecting high-altitude rangelands in upper Dolpa while supporting local livelihoods and preserving indigenous cultural heritage. The project, titled 'Reviving Faith Leadership for High Mountains Rangeland Conservation in Nepal,' is funded by the UK Government through the Darwin Initiative and takes an innovative co-management approach that blends indigenous knowledge with modern science. Upper Dolpa is one of Nepal's most remote Himalayan regions, home to iconic wildlife such as the snow leopard and sustained by deep-rooted cultural and spiritual traditions. Its rangelands have supported nature and people for millennia, providing critical water security and serving as an economic lifeline for local Indigenous Peoples and communities. However, they face growing threats from climate change, unsustainable resource use, and socio-economic pressures. The project area supports over 650 households in the Buddha and Mukporong Buffer Zone User Committees, where communities depend on livestock herding, non-timber forest products, and traditional medicine. Faith leaders and traditional healers at the center A distinctive feature of the project is its decision to place faith leaders and traditional medical practitioners - known as Amchis, who practice the Buddhism-based healing tradition of Sowa Rigpa - at the helm of local Rangeland Management Sub-committees. The initiative will also support Amchis in transitioning toward legal and sustainable medicinal ingredients, reducing dependence on threatened wildlife and plant species while preserving the integrity of their centuries-old practice. The project will also prioritize capacity-building for youth, women, and herders as members of these sub-committees. The project is led by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) and Shey Phoksundo National Park, guided by the Shey Phoksundo Rural Municipality. Civil society partners include the Asia Network for Sustainable Agriculture and Bioresources (ANSAB) Nepal, which brings expertise in sustainable harvest and trade linkages for non-timber forest products, and the Sowa Rigpa Association Nepal (SRAN), which supports the preservation and modernization of traditional Amchi medical practices. Dr. Ghana Shyam Gurung, Country Representative of WWF Nepal, said the organization aimed to replicate in upper Dolpa the positive impact it has previously delivered for disadvantaged communities in the Terai, by strengthening community-led conservation and livelihoods. Dr. Budhi Sagar Paudel, Director General of DNPWC, noted that integrating traditional knowledge into rangeland management is a government priority and acknowledged the role of donors and partners in advancing it. UK Ambassador to Nepal Robb Fenn described the project as a strong example of how UK support through the Darwin Initiative can strengthen local leadership for the mutual benefit of people and nature, drawing a parallel to the Buddhist principle of the interconnectedness of human and natural wellbeing. The launch comes as 2026 is designated the International Year of the Rangelands and Pastoralists, underscoring global attention on the importance of these ecosystems. The project aspires to develop a replicable governance model for high-altitude rangelands across Nepal.