The 10th National Conservation Day was observed on Friday, emphasising the significance of  community engagement in nature and wildlife conservation.

Addressing an event organised on the occasion in the Capital, President Bidhya Devi Bhandari lauded the role played by local communities towards conservation of environment and its inhabitants.

Various individuals and organisations were also feted to recognise their works in the conservation field.

The Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation awarded conservationist from Kailali, Bhoj Raj Shrestha, with National Conservation Award.

The WWF Nepal felicitated four organisations and individuals for their works in biodiversity conservation. The Nepal Army’s Shree Shreejung Battalion based inside the Chitwan National Park and Chetana Women Community Forest Users’ Committee, Tashi Rapti Ghale and Tulsi Devkota were conferred the Abraham Conservation Awards under organisation and individual categories.

The Matthew Preece & Yeshi Choden Lama Young Conservation Leader Award was presented to Naresh Kusi while Pragati Dhakal, Nepal Republic Media, and the Far West Media Development Centre were felicitated the WWF Media in Conservation Awards.

The WWF Nepal also  awarded Chandra Gurung  Memorial Fellowship to Ganesh Kumar Tharu, Mingma Norbu Sherpa Memorial Scholarship to Tsewang Nuru Sherpa, Jennifer Headley Memorial Scholarship to Pushpam Ghimere, Jillian Bowling Schlaepfer Memorial Scholarship to Kiran Gurung, and Nepal Conservation Memorial Scholarship to Apsana Kafle.