Red Panda-Tahr Int’l Conference stresses tourism promotion

Khotang: The ‘Biodiversity and Red Panda-Tahr International Conference, 2083’ kicked off here on Friday.

The event has aimed at conserving wildlife facing extinction and promoting tourism.

Diktel Rupakot Majhuwagadhi Municipality organised the conference at Diktel bazaar, aiming at conserving the wildlife and raising awareness to minimise climate change impact.

Various federal and provincial government agencies and academic institutions have extended support to the three-day event. The international conference is attended by people from Nepal, India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, the USA, Australia and Germany.

“Climate change has caused a serious impact on wildlife and biodiversity in the world, where Nepal is no exception,” said Tirtharaj Bhattarai, Municipality Mayor, adding that the event would help formulate effective national policy on conservation of biodiversity.

According to Mayor Bhattarai, the conference would also encourage the use of locally produced goods and contribute to creating employment and marketing at the local level.

Tourism is another major frontier to receive a boost from the event, he argued.

The experts and representatives from various countries would present 10 working papers during the course of the conference.

Special focus would be made on biodiversity conservation, formulation of a long-term plan, areas of wildlife facing extinction, identification of priority areas and issues, and national and international commitment relating to biodiversity.

The event was inaugurated jointly by Minister for Tourism, Forest and Environment of Koshi Province, Bhim Parajuli, and Vice Chancellor of Nepal Academy of Science and Technology, Dr Dilip Subba.

A cultural pageant and a street drama were also performed as part of the event on Friday.

The artworks (on red panda and tahr) created with the use of bamboo wicks were a major attraction at the conference.

An artisan, Shambhu Rai from Nerpa of Diktel Rupakot Majhuwagadhi-6, prepared the animal replicas with bamboo and rattan. The visitors thronged the replicas and took pictures. RSS