BCN BirdLife's Honorary President HIH Princess Takamado of Japan, reading a copy of Nepal's new IBA guide Zoom In

New IBA guide for Nepal

16-11-2005

Bird Conservation Nepal (BCN, BirdLife in Nepal) has published a landmark inventory of important habitats for birds and biodiversity in Nepal. The book was launched in Kathmandu on 13 November and the event was attended by representatives from the Nepalese Government.

The publication titled Important Birds Areas in Nepal: key sites for conservation is a joint effort by BCN and BirdLife towards protecting the country's critically important biodiversity hotspots. The publication highlights 27 Important Bird Areas (IBAs) that merit some form of protection. 15 of these IBAs are included within existing protected areas while the other 12 are still unprotected. The book also presents the diversity of Nepalese habitats and threats to these IBAs and associated bird species.

"Our recent work will help government agencies to focus their conservation priorities to these sites which represent just 20% of the country’s total area. Protecting these habitats will safeguard up to 90% of Nepal’s rich natural heritage." —Dr Hem Sagar Baral, BCN

The publication highlights the objectives of the IBA programme in Nepal, as well as required actions to conserve these key sites. It is expected that it will help to fill the gap in Nepal's National Biodiversity Inventory and help the Government to meet its commitments on the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The book will provide guidance to decision makers and planners to focus on sustainable use of available resources, both financial and human, and avoid negative impacts in land-use and development planning.