Six conservation organizations of Nepal - IUCN Nepal, ICIMOD, Care Nepal, The Mountain Institute, Winrock International and WWF Nepal - have jointly appealed to the Interim Constitution Drafting Committee to integrate conservation agenda into the new constitution of Nepal.

The appeal has urged the government, political parties, donors and civil society to preserve healthy ecosystems that are essential to alleviating poverty and achieving sustainable and equitable socio-economic development and biodiversity conservation of Nepal.

The appeal strongly recognises Nepal's successes in community-based natural resource management, community forestry and benefit sharing earned from the protected areas putting people at the centre stage of conservation. Among others, the conservation organisations have suggested to include as fundamental duty of every person to prevent environmental degradation; fundamental right to an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being; right to information, right to participate as equal partner; and fair and equitable sharing of benefits, utilisation of biological diversity and traditional knowledge.

The appeal urges the government to empower Nepalis, particularly those who are most dependent on natural resources, like women and socially marginalised communities, to use natural resources sustainably, and ensure environmental governance and justice.

"The current situation requires an urgent response. We must ensure that the interim draft constitution considers green sector in nurturing and maintaining the environmental foundation of sustainable livelihoods," Prabhu Budhathoki, Country Representative of IUCN Nepal said during the meeting with the committee members.

Statement to Interim Consitution Drafting Committee

Appeal to Nation

Source: IUCN Nepal, WWF Nepal