Posted on November, 30 2008

USD 219,000 was recently awarded to five NGOs working on conservation issues in eastern Nepal, for projects ranging from 3 months to 2 years’ duration. 

“This is the second round of large grants that have been awarded in Nepal by CEPF. Five NGOs were awarded USD 315,000 in 2006. These grants have helped build the capacity of local conservation NGOs”, said Ang Phuri Sherpa, National Coordinator of CEPF for Nepal.

Shree Deep Jyoti Youth Club, an Ilam-based NGO, received USD 40,800 for the conservation of key plant species in the Kangchenjunga-Singalila area, a project that runs for two years.

The NGO Kangchenjunga Landscape Concern Group received USD 43,300 for their two-year project to establish community-based anti-poaching networks, while USD 60,900 was awarded to the Red Panda Network for the promotion of local stewardship by community forest users for red panda conservation.

The other two NGOs who received grants were The East Foundation for a period of three months to help identify major issues in red panda conservation, and The Mountain Institute, who received USD 70,000 for a 1.5 year project to promote coordinated community-based conservation in the transboundary region of the Kangchenjunga-Singalila complex.

CEPF, the provider of the grants, is a joint initiative of Conservation International (CI), l’Agence Française de Développement, the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the Government of Japan, the MacArthur Foundation and the World Bank. In the Eastern Himalayas region, WWF leads the regional team responsible for facilitating, coordinating and monitoring grants for CEPF-supported conservation projects.

The Eastern Himalayas region is home to 175 known terrestrial mammal species and over 500 bird species. This area is threatened by incessant collection of forest products, harvest of trees for fuel, fodder and lumber, and conversion of forests to agricultural land leading to habitat loss. CEPF investments in the region focus on 76 globally threatened species mostly found in 60 sites.

In addition to the large grants, CEPF has also been funding smaller research projects in the region.

For more information
Sampreethi Aipanjiguly
Communications Officer, CEPF – Eastern Himalayas
WWF Nepal Programme Office, Kathmandu
sampreethi@wwfnepal.org

Ang Phuri Sherpa
Country Coordinator - Nepal, CEPF – Eastern Himalayas
WWF Nepal Programme Office, Kathmandu
angphuri.sherpa@wwfnepal.org