The US Agency for International Development (USAID) has pledged $400,000 to support a 'Center of Excellence' at Institute of Forestry (IOF) in partnership with Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VT).

The Center will be named in honor of those who lost their lives in the September 23, 2006 helicopter crash. The center will provide quality training in conservation and prepare future generations of environmental leaders in Nepal, USAID said.

"USAID/Nepal envisions that the Center will strengthen the capacity of IOF to educate leading researchers, faculty and professionals in forestry and natural resource conservation. Special emphasis will be placed on mentoring women and scholarship students from underserved communities identified under a WWF program in order to help them better integrate into IOF," a statement issued by the aid agency said.

The Center is expected to attract world-class international faculty to Pokhara to collaborate on teaching and applied research. Opportunities to benefit from professional exchanges and mentoring activities will be greatly enhanced through Tribhuvan University's relationship with VA Tech University in the US.

Update (11/09/2007): Presentation of Opening session at the IOF 6-11-07