25 July 2020, Kathmandu
A webinar on “The Future of Annapurna Conservation Area: Toward a new Collaborative Approach to Protected Area Governance” was conducted on Friday.
In the webinar, Bikash Lamsal, Minister of Industry, Tourism, Forest and Environment, Gandaki province, Man Bahadur Gurung, Gandaki Province Assembly member and CAMC Chair and UCO Coordinator, Sharmila Gurung, Vice chair, Garabdzong Rural Municipality, Jomsom, Yajna Nath Dahal, Joint Secretary, MoFE and member secretary NTNC and Lal Prasad Gurung, Former Director, ACAP as panelist and around 160 attendees were participated.
The participants have focused on the need to make effective discourse with all three levels of government including local, provincial and central for the conservation and development of ACAP simultaneously.
They have also stressed on the obligation and liability of local government in relation to preservation and development of ACAP, formation of Annapurna Conservation trust and municipality-based conservation management committee, enforcement of effective laws and regulations and need for local management with authority and responsibility to handover the area to local communities recognizing the importance of community power and resource management practices for sustainable development.
The webinar was moderated by Prof. Dr. Gyan Neupane.
