Kathmandu

Nepal’s Ministry of Forests and Environment Nepal has entered into an agreement with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) to strengthen cooperation on biodiversity conservation and sustainable development across the country.

The agreement, framed as a Scope of Cooperation (SoC), aligns joint initiatives with Nepal’s national priorities as well as global commitments related to biodiversity, forests, climate action, wetlands, agriculture and sustainable development, including the Sustainable Development Goals.

According to a statement from WWF Nepal, the partnership emphasises conservation of biological resources as a key pillar of sustainable development. It also highlights the importance of landscape-level planning and species-specific conservation strategies for effective implementation on the ground.

WWF Nepal said the collaboration reflects a shared commitment to protecting the country’s rich natural heritage while supporting communities that depend on these ecosystems for their livelihoods. Ghana Shyam Gurung, WWF Nepal’s country representative, noted that the initiative aims to expand science-based and community-led conservation efforts in line with national and global environmental goals.

Under the agreement, the ministry and WWF Nepal will jointly design and implement projects across conservation landscapes and protected areas. Government departments will work closely with WWF Nepal, while coordination will also extend to provincial forest ministries, division forest offices and protected area authorities.

As part of the long-term partnership, WWF Nepal plans to invest up to USD 40 million over the next decade—subject to funding availability—to support conservation programmes and strengthen the country’s protected area network.

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Rajendra KC, chief of the ministry’s Planning, Monitoring and Coordination Division, said the collaboration would help align resources and expertise to better implement policies and ensure that conservation efforts deliver tangible benefits for both ecosystems and local communities.