Celebration of World Wetlands Day 2009

2 February 2009

As in the past, IUCN Nepal was actively involved in the celebration of World Wetlands Day 2009.
In this occasion IUCN supported two events; reinstallation of a wetland bilboard and participation in the National Wetland Workshop. The programmes were organized by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) in collaboration with International Organizations and NGOs engaged in wetland conservation. Previous billboard has been replaced by a new billboard under the new theme "Upstream Downstream: Wetland Connect Us All" at the premises of the Department of Watershed and Soil Conservation, Babarmahal, Kathmandu.

On the occasion of the National Workshop, Mr. Kiran Gurung Minister for  Forests and Soil Conservation launched the newly published wetland posters and documents. Besides, the representatives from partner organizations addressed at the workshop.

Dr. Bishnu Bhandari, Chief Technical Advisor, IUCN wetland project also addressed in the workshop. He mentioned that In order to translate the theme of the day into actions and continue the tradition of celebrating the WWD, IUCN in collaboration with DNPWC will make an attempt to prepare a national strategy on communication, education, participation and public awareness. He further highlighted the urgency of developing a national wetland law by consolidating legislation related to wetland resources. The national legislation would be a basis for the implementation of the National Wetland Policy (2003). He suggested that the government should give highest priority to enacting a seperate wetland conservation legislation. He further added that the benefits arising from utilisation of wetland resources should be distributed in such a manner that the wetland-dependant people such as Majhi, Jalari, Bantar, Tharu etc. get the benefits equitably in order to make wetland conservation activities inclusive and pro-poor. Finally, he suggested to establish an autonomous Wetland Development Authority to conserve each of the important wetland of Nepal, since wetlands are the major sources water which would highly contribute to prevent water crisis in Nepal.

For more information, please contact:

•  Email:dwarika@iucn.org.np