Wetland Friends of Nepal (WFN)

WFN promotes wetland conservation and management through conservation education, people's participation, research, and action-oriented programmes in inclusive, participatory and experience-based learning approaches. Networking, cooperation, and local engagement are key commitments.

Specifically, WFN engages in projects designed to create community awareness on wetland conservation among school children, wetland dependent people and general public. In this work, WFN facilitates the involvement of community in preparing and implementing wetland management plans, for their own sustainable beneift, through participatory approaches. For instance, WFN observed that illiteracy and lack of conservation awareness among indigenous Tharu community members living at Ghodaghodi Lake (Ramsar Site) of Nepal were the major factors exacerbating activities threatening the lake and its biodiversity (the lake is still unprotected although it supports rare, vulnerable and endangered wildlife species, especially birds). A researcher is working with the local indigenous community to aid them in developing their vision for the future management of wetland to support threatened flora and fauna species. Moreover, the project draws on the involvement of school students, introducing them to wetland and biodiversity issues through both theoretical and field-based activities. Local conservation clubs and an online network of conservationists are being formed to bring local people and conservationists into a common forum for discussion, to make educational materials available for free download access, and to ensure continuity of conservation efforts in long run. Moreover, an educational kit and brochures incorporating wetland and waterfowls conservation aspects - in the local language, and avoiding technical and scientific terminology meant for forest technicians - will be produced for schoolchildren.

In addition to creating awareness through educational materials and activities, WFN conducts research on wetlands, wetlands biodiversity and wetland dynamics - for example, in late August 2006, WFN and Department of Watershed Management and Environmental Science (DWMES) of Institute of Forestry Pokhara completed an Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) study for foot trail and green belt construction around Rupa Lake of Kaski district; a final report was been submitted to Local Initiatives on Biodiversity Research and Development (LIBIRD), Kaski.

WFN also uses ICTs in its efforts to serve as a forum for sharing experiences and information on wetland and environmental issues - for example, WFN facilitated networking of forestry and wetland conservationists through an online discussion forum in August 2005. In addition, the Wetland Friends website is designed to promote networking of conservationists for discussion, learning and awareness, as well as to provide free access to the organisation's educational kits and other resources (click here for access).

Environment.

Simply, the term "wetlands" refers to lands covered with water, including rivers, streams, oceans, lakes, marshy land, reservoirs and ponds, all are wetlands. WFN explains that wetlands are reservoirs of biodiversity, sources of food and water, religious places, tourist destinations, scientific laboratories, storm protectors, nutrient banks, carbon storehouses, and "kidneys of the landscape" (water purification systems). However, according to WFN, the tropical wetlands of Nepal are seriously plagued by problems such as drainage, poisoning and over fishing, overgrazing, harvesting of building materials, fodder and fuel wood collection, and encroachment and agricultural conversion.

Volunteer WFN membership is open to interested conservationists from Nepal and abroad; for information on joining, click here.