LOCAL NEWS THE RISING NEPAL (DAILY)

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Nov 3: Around 600 conservationists from around 60 countries will be here to participate in the annual conference of World Wildlife Fund (WWF) from November 13 through 17 this month. The theme of the conference is "The Journey to Kathmandu: Sacred gifts for a living planet."

The selection of Nepal as the venue for the 39th annual conference of WWF comes as the international conservation organization's recognition to the country for its successful conservation stories, officials at WWF Nepal office said here today.

The officials have one more reason to toast cheers: This is the first time a WWF program office - like that in Nepal -- is holding the annual conference of the international conservation organization . "The selection is purely on merit basis," Dr. Chandra Prakash Gurung, Country Representative of WWF Nepal Program said at a press meet today.

Apart from the feather Nepal already has had on its cap for being selected as the meeting venue, the even better news is that conservationists from around the world be here themselves to witness what the country has to its credit in the field of conservation.

Which means Nepal will enjoy tremendous publicity and promotion -- all free of cost. "International media like BBC will be making live telecast of the event," said Gurung.

Another benefit the country could have from the conference is the donors' commitment on Nepal's conservation efforts. "There are many successful stories the donors can see for themselves here," said Ukesh Raj Bhuju, Program Coordinator of WWF Nepal Program. "After the tremendous success stories of the conservation of rhinos and tigers, we have to our credit other new chapters like that of snow leopard and red pandas."

He informed the newsmen at the press briefing that the population of tigers in Nepal had gone up by 30 per cent in the last five years.

Besides, he said, Nepal has been a leading country in case of bringing out new ideas in conservation. "The Annapurna Conservation Area Project successfully challenged the concept that conservation is not possible without involving the army."

The ACAP chapter also boosted the idea of buffer zone in the field of conservation, he said.

WWF's annual conference in Nepal will be different since the event will be pegged with religion this time. "WWF and the Alliance of Religions and Conservation have joined together to encourage, secure, and celebrate significant new conservation actions -- called Sacred Gifts for a living planet -- by the world's major faiths," read a press release issued by the WWF Nepal Program. "The faiths involved are Bahai, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Islam, Jain, Jew, Shinto, Sikh, Tao and Zoroastrian."

On November 15, the celebration of Sacred Gifts will be staged in the historic UNESCO World Heritage Site Bhaktapur Durbar Square. "This is a public event, which will be broadcast live by Nepal Television and on the Internet by Worldlink."

Other highlights of the Annual Conference include the release of a series of four wildlife stamps by His Royal Highness Prince Gyanendra on November 14. "The prestigious WWF Award will be presented on the same evening," read the release.

On November 16, Prince Phillip of Great Britain, WWF President Emeritus and founder of ARC will honor one recipient with the Duke of Edinburgh Conservation Medal 2000, according to the press statement. "WWF President Ruud Lubbers who has been recently appointed to the post of UN High Commissioner for Refugees will attend the annual conference along with WWF Director General Claude Martin."

"During the conference, two Nepalese will also be awarded," said Dr. Gurung.

As a preparation for the conference, two committees -- a host committee and a patron committee -- have already been formed.

After the conference, a Nepali conservation success -- the rhino translocation program from Chitwan to Bardia establishing a second viable rhino population -- is also scheduled on November
19.

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