9th World Ranger Congress begins in Chitwan

Chitwan: The ninth World Ranger Congress began at Sauraha from today. International Ranger Federation (IRF) and Ministry of Forest and Environment have jointly organised the congress in Nepal, the first time in Asia.

The first World Ranger Congress was initiated in 1995 and it is organised in every three years. The eighth congress was held in America in 2016.

The government has formed a committee under coordination of Joint-Secretary at the Ministry of Forest, Dr Maheshwor Dhakal, to organise the congress.

Dhakal said that 550 representatives from 72 countries including Nepal have been participating in the five-day congress.

A programme has been scheduled where Nepal would present achievements on different issues including management of buffer zone, reducing human-wildlife conflict, zero poaching and partnership of local community in eco-tourism in the congress, he said.

Similarly, experts of different countries participating in the congress would present successful stories of their respective countries on the issues of wildlife conservation and reducing human-wildlife conflict.

Former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ is scheduled to inaugurate the congress. It has been expected that the congress taking place in Chitwan on the eve of Visit Nepal Year 2020 would help promote tourism of Chitwan and Nepal.