Back to news

Participation in sixth Regional Conservation Forum meeting in Bangkok

1 min Read

70% Complete

The Sixth Regional Conservation Forum (RCF ), organised by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Asia Office, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Government of Thailand, and the National Committee of IUCN Members in Thailand, was held in Bangkok from 10-12 August. Over 450 participants from across Asia gathered to discuss regional programmes focusing on progress, gaps and future directions.

A side event on ‘Nepal Earthquake: Supporting a nature-based response and recovery to strengthen long-term resilience’, was organised by the Nepal National Committee (NNC), IUCN and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD). Over 50 experts and conservation practitioners from the region stressed the need for greater collaboration to overcome the socio-ecological impacts from the recent Nepal Earthquake and to protect Nepal’s rich biological and cultural heritage. The event was attended by many including the IUCN President Mr Zhang Xinsheng.

In his keynote address, Basanta Shrestha, director of strategic cooperation at ICIMOD, took account of the magnitude of damage brought by the recent earthquake in Nepal and its more than 300 aftershocks. He highlighted the collective efforts of the Government of Nepal and other organisations that have supported the disaster relief and recovery efforts, including ICIMOD. With a brief introduction of the ecosystem-based conservation approach, Nakul Chettri, coordinator of the Kangchenjunga Landscape Conservation and Development Initiative at ICIMOD, highlighted contributions of NNC-IUCN members through their immediate actions with relief materials including food, temporary shelter and medications to the natural disaster.

In closing, Arzu Deuba, IUCN regional councillor for South and East Asia, highlighted the need for both short-term and long-term strategies to restore the natural heritage that was lost during the Nepal earthquake.

Stay current

Stay up to date on what’s happening around the HKH with our most recent publications and find out how you can help by subscribing to our mailing list.

Sign Up

Related Contents

Continue exploring this topic

KLCDI Participates in Asian Rural Tourism Festival to Promote Local Tourism

The Kangchenjunga Landscape Conservation and Development Initiative (KLCDI) participated in the Asian Rural Tourism Festival (ARTF), a week-long festival organized ...

15 May 2015 News
A preliminary assessment of potential lower Pisan landslide dam outburst flood

In the aftermath of the 7.8 Gorkha Earthquake that struck Nepal on 25 April 2015, ...

21 Jun 2018 Cryosphere
Cryosphere Information Hub for Bhutan

The National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM) in Bhutan will soon have a Cryosphere Information Hub that will share ...

23 Dec 2015 News
A Sunny Future – ICIMOD All Solar

  In its commitment to reduce its institutional carbon foot print and promote renewable energy, ICIMOD signed a contract with Sipradi ...

17 Jul 2017 News
A Milestone for Local Water Management in the Koshi Basin

The local community in Saptari, a district in the Terai region of Nepal, is elated with news that their local ...

Yak Festival 2017

The festival took place in Phalelung rural municipality in Panchthar district, an area bordering Sikkim and the Indian territory of ...

Gender and Social Action Research towards Cleaner Brick Production

Leading up to the research, ICIMOD conducted a rapid gender needs assessment (RGNA) and political economy analysis in five districts ...

14 Nov 2017 News
Collaboration Strengthens Climate Resiliency of Upper Gojal Gilgit Mountain Villages in The Upper Indus Basin

Carried out in coordination with partners including WWF-Pakistan and Agha Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH), these efforts have strengthened service ...