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

2 Apr 2015 News
Maximizing Rural Value Chains in Myanmar

In March, ICIMOD and the Myanmar Institute for Integrated Development (MIID) conducted a ...

Workshop to improve brick kiln policy and technologies

A workshop on Brick Kilns Policy and Advocacy Network (PAN) was jointly organized by Climate and Clean Air ...

23 Feb 2015 Atmosphere Initiative
Doctors on front lines for health and climate

Doctors now find themselves on the front lines of two increasingly connected issues: protecting ...

3 Sep 2020 CBFEWS
At the ready for floods in the Koshi: CBFEWS orientation trainings during the pandemic

Even as communities reel from the shock of the COVID-19 pandemic, the threat of floods is omnipresent. Koshi River drains ...

29 Jun 2015 News
ICIMOD research stations damaged by Nepal Earthquake 2015

  Langtang Valley has been the focus of intense glaciological, meteorological, and hydrological fieldwork over the past four years as part ...

11 May 2017 Himalica
Joint Monitoring of Himalica Pilot Project in Tsirang, Bhutan

During the visit, the joint monitoring team interacted with goat and vegetable value chain groups formed by Himalica and a ...

31 Jul 2015 News
ICIMOD receives Humanitarian GIS Award

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) has been awarded a ‘Humanitarian GIS Award’ at the 2015 International User ...

24 Jul 2018 News
ICIMOD Transboundary Landscapes Programme Receives Global Award for Outstanding Achievement

The prestigious award recognizes efforts by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and its partners to build a ...