Kathmandu, January 23:

Executing the cabinet decision of August 20, 2007, the government today formally handed the Nagarjun forest over to the Shivapuri National Park, renaming the Park as Shivapuri-Nagarjun National Park.

The handover marks the inauguration of Nepal Nature Conservation Year 2009, that attempts to advocate a policy on climate change and global warming. Kiran Gurung, Minister for Forest and Soil Conservation, said the existing policies should be amended to keep track of changing time and technology. He said the world should invest and lobby for nature conservation, seeking ways to tackle climate change.

Nagarjun forest is spread over Kathmandu and Dhading districts covering an area of 1,500 hectares of land.

Krishna Chandra Paudel, Director General, Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, said the flora-rich area was the glory of Kathmandu.

Gurung informed that the government had declared Bardiya National Park as ‘black buck conservation area’ and said plans were afoot to set up a ‘zoology park’ in Gokarna.

He said the ministry was working to establish an ‘orphan animal centre’, adding that an agreement had been reached to declare ‘Chure area’ for the conservation of land fertility. Similarly, Pokhara has been proposed for establishing a biodiversity museum and research centre.

The year-long celebration would also preserve bio-diversity and encourage locals to conserve the forest and uplift the living standard of the marginalised people through development in tourism.

Annapurna Das, spokesperson for MoFSC, said the final draft of the directive to use Sajiwan oil in petroleum products was being readied in a bid to reduce dependency on imported fuel.