SAURAHA: The United States has extended support worth Rs 200 million to help control wildlife crime in Nepal through the National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC).
The aid has been provided to 14 national parks and wildlife reserves, as well as 10 community-based anti-poaching committees.
At a ceremony held at NTNC’s Sauraha office in Chitwan, Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Nepal, Jason P. Max, handed over laptops, cameras, binoculars, headlamps, walkie-talkies, GPS devices, and first-aid kits valued at over Rs 70 million to these institutions.
The beneficiaries included the Community-Based Anti-Poaching Youth Awareness Program (CBAPY) under the Mrigakunja Intermediate Consumers Committee, marking the first time a community-based committee in Nepal received such support.
The aid comes under a US Department of State program managed by the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) through NTNC, aimed at combating wildlife crimes. According to NTNC senior program officer Ambika Khatriwada, the remaining nine community committees across Bardia, Banke, Shuklaphanta, Parsa, and Koshi Tappu will also receive similar support.
A total of 1,468 staff from the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation and 10 CBAPY units received the equipment to enhance their field operations and safety. Items distributed ranged from searchlights, knives, cameras, and GPS devices to uniforms, shoes, and backpacks. Large quantities of group equipment, including 800 Swiss knives, 50 first-aid kits, 50 cameras, 50 searchlights, 40 binoculars, and 30 GPS units, were also provided.
Since October 2021, NTNC has been running wildlife crime control programs with US support, providing training on wildlife crime laws, investigation procedures, and judicial processes to park and reserve staff. Provincial and district-level wildlife crime bureaus have been established under these programs, with 40 districts already operational.
Deputy Chief Max highlighted the longstanding partnership between Nepal and the US, highlighting that such programs strengthen conservation efforts at the grassroots level. NTNC officials and park authorities, including Chitwan National Park Chief Conservation Officer Dr. Ganesh Pant, noted that the support would bolster morale and improve safety for staff working under challenging conditions to prevent wildlife crime.
NTNC member-secretary Naresh Subedi underscored the continuous role of US support in Nepal’s biodiversity conservation and expressed confidence in future collaborative efforts.
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