WWF INVOLVEMENT IN NEPAL
WF involvement in Nepal dates back to 1967 when it supported work to conserve endangered species such as the Greater One-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) and the Royal Bengal tiger (Panthera t
igris). In 1985, recognizing the growing urgency to help protect Nepal's rich but declining biological diversity, WWF stepped up its activities and initiated a country-wide programme with the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation (KMTNC), a loca
l NGO founded with the Nepalese Royal family's support. In 1993, WWF signed a General Agreement with His Majesty's Government of Nepal and opened an office in Kathmandu to coordinate and monitor project activities.
Focusing initially on research and training, WWF's Nepal programme has expanded to cover conservation education, protected area and endangered species management, and institutional strengthening. Today, the programme is also concerned with addressing
human needs and community issues. Activities that integrate conservation with development are encouraged.
In September 1994, WWF signed an innovative supplementary agreement with His Majesty's Government of Nepal. The agreement allows WWF to work directly at the individual park level with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC). WWF
has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation to work closely on redistributing mountaineering peak fees to support environmental and social development activities in the Khumbu region.
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