India‚ Nepal‚ Bhutan agree on Kanchenjunga biodiversity conservation
 
 
  


     
Courtesy:ICIMOD & Himalayan Times

Photo of expert consultation on Transboundary Biodiversity Management in Kangchenjunga Landscape held in Gangtok, Sikkim, India from 16 to 18 August 2012.


KATHMANDU: Bhutan, India, and Nepal have agreed to enhance biodiversity conservation in Kanchenjunga Landscape.

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) issued a press release today in relation to the meeting held at Gangtok in Sikkim State of India from 16 to 18 August 2012, wherein senior officials and experts from Bhutan, India, and Nepal developed a road map for carrying out collaborative work on Transboundary Biodiversity Management in Kangchenjunga Landscape.

The countries agreed to work towards connecting these areas through ‘biodiversity corridors’ for species migration to assist adaptation to climate change; and to address problems that cross borders such as poaching, overgrazing, forest fire, and spread of livestock disease.

The unique, culturally and biologically rich landscape around Mount Kanchenjunga covers parts of western Bhutan, northeastern India, and eastern Nepal and is one of several Himalayan areas where countries need to work together to conserve and manage biodiversity.

The Kanchenjunga landscape includes 15 protected areas.

“The challenges of biodiversity conservation and management in the landscape can only be addressed if all three countries cooperate at various levels from local to bilateral to regional”, said Mr Bhim Prasad Dhungel, Minister of Tourism, Forests, Environment, and Wildlife Management of the Government of Sikkim, India.

“People in the mountains have to be compensated for their conservation efforts", emphasized Dasho Sherub Gyaltshen, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, Royal Government of Bhutan.

Director General of the Department of National Park and Wildlife Conservation of the Government of Nepal Krishna Acharya pointed out that the landscape programme must also jointly address wildlife-people conflict.

The participatory and consultative process of preparing the transboundary initiative during the next 18 months will be led by ICIMOD. The preparations will include a feasibility assessment report, a conservation strategy, and a comprehensive environmental plan, resulting in a framework for transboundary cooperation.

“We are very satisfied with the progress made at this consultation”, said Dr Eklabya Sharma, Director of Programme Operations at ICIMOD.

“All three countries have given their full commitment for the preparatory phase of the Kangchenjunga landscape initiative”.