KATHMANDU: Three national parks of Nepal – Chitwan, Langtang and Sagarmatha – have established "sister park" relationship with the United States' Yosemite National Park.

Issuing a press statement on the eve of the World Environment Day, the Kathmandu-based US Embassy said the relationship "is designed to promote bilateral cooperation for the mutual benefit of these parks."

The "sister parks" would increase information sharing and direct park-to-park contacts to address common problems such as pollution, invasive species, plant and animal disease and vanishing cultural heritage, according to the statement.

"The “sister park” arrangement also provides a forum for collaboration on shared research and monitoring and enriches the experience and training of park personnel through international exchanges."

Through this agreement, Chitwan, Langtang, Sagarmatha and Yosemite will collaborate on the preservation and restoration of natural and cultural resources, visitor education and safety, development of strategies to adapt to climate change; partnership engagement strategies, and implement research, inventorying and monitoring programs necessary to preserve and protect the parks, the statement further read.