Kathmandu, January 26:

The World Wetlands Day celebration 2006 and Second Taudaha Jamboree began with a clean-up campaign at Taudaha. It will conclude on February 2 with a “Workshop on Ponds of Kathmandu Valley.”

The Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) is promoting World Wetlands Day 2006 celebration, including Taudaha Jamboree, for two years now, according to a press statement issued here today. To undertake actions aimed at raising awareness of wetland values and benefits in general and Ramsar Convention in particular, the Friends of Bagmati in partnership with World Wildlife Fund -Nepal and Department of National Park & Wildlife Conservation is going to organise various events.

Interactions and features about wetlands of Nepal are being broadcast through FM Radio stations, including Radio Sagarmatha. The main attraction of this celebration is Taudaha Jamboree that includes activities such as cycle rally, bird watching, nature hike race and exhibitions.

The major objectives of this celebration are to undertake actions aimed at raising public awareness, disseminating information on values and benefits of ponds of the Kathmandu Valley, and promoting Taudaha as a tourist destination.

This has necessitated proper management of the ponds for better water quality. Kathmandu Valley has more than 40 ponds of different sizes.