MoFE, WWF Nepal sign scope of cooperation to advance biodiversity conservation

KATHMANDU: Ministry of Forests and Environment (MoFE) and WWF Nepal on Tuesday signed a Scope of Cooperation (SoC) to deepen collaboration on biodiversity conservation and sustainable development across Nepal.

The agreement aligns joint efforts with national priorities and international commitments, including policies on biodiversity, forests, climate change, wetlands, agriculture and the sustainable development goals (SDGs), and emphasises landscape-level strategies and species conservation action plans as guides for on-the-ground implementation.

Under the SoC, MoFE and WWF Nepal will jointly design and implement programmes and projects across conservation landscapes and protected areas. The agreement foresees close collaboration between WWF Nepal and relevant government departments under MoFE’s guidance, as well as coordination with provincial ministries, Divisional Forest Offices (DFOs), Protected Area Offices (PAOs) and other agencies.

The partnership will also engage civil society, including buffer zone institutions, community-based forest management groups and their networks, community forest coordination committees, and local and national non-governmental organisations.

As part of the long-term arrangement, WWF Nepal has committed to endeavour to mobilise up to $40 million over 10 years, subject to fund availability, to support implementation in conservation landscapes and the protected area system. Funding will be channelled through grant agreements with implementing agencies according to agreed modalities.

A Programme Executive Committee, co-chaired by the Directors General of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservations and the Department of Forests and Soil Conservation, will oversee and facilitate programme execution. Both parties said they will ensure full compliance with Nepali laws and funding terms throughout implementation.

“Our partnership with the MoFE reflects a shared commitment to safeguarding Nepal’s rich biodiversity while improving lives and livelihoods for communities who depend on nature. Through this SoC, we aim to scale impactful, science-based and community-driven solutions across conservation landscapes, contributing to Nepal’s national priorities and global environmental commitments,” said Dr Ghana Shyam Gurung, Country Representative for WWF Nepal.

“This collaboration with WWF Nepal strengthens our efforts to conserve biodiversity, address climate change, and promote sustainable development in Nepal. By aligning resources and expertise, we will enhance the implementation of national policies and ensure that conservation delivers tangible benefits to people and ecosystems alike,” said Dr Rajendra KC, Chief of the Planning, Monitoring and Coordination Division at MoFE.