On 19th February 2022, Small Mammals Conservation and Research Foundation (SMCRF) celebrated the eleventh World Pangolin Day in collaboration with the Department of Forests and Soil Conservation (DoFSC), Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC), WWF Nepal, ZSL Nepal and IUCN Nepal.
Due to COVID pandemic, event was conducted virtually adhering to the government protocol. The program was specifically targeted to hear from the representatives from the government, NGOs, INGOs and Community Forest User Groups (CFUGs) regarding their plans to develop local stewardship for pangolin conservation and opportunities for long-term collaboration through a panel discussion. More than 40 participants including distinguished guests and panelist joined the program via zoom.
We believe that this program helped to inform the general public about the importance of pangolins, their status and the highlights of activities being done for conserving this species in Nepal from different levels and inspire our stakeholders to do better. Strengthening local communities to take lead and be front-runners in conservation with the support of the government and other conservation partners and media is a must for the future of sustainable conservation in Nepal. In the process, the expectations and needs of the local communities must be prioritized and alternative livelihood options must be explored. This will help us ensure local stewardship for the long-term conservation of biodiversity.