Sharadchandra Adhikari is the member-secretary of National Nature Conservation Trust (NTNC), an organization that has been assisting the government in making policies regarding the conservation of nature and natural heritage after running thorough research study on various wildlife and the overall natural heritage in the country. Mr. Adhikari, hailing from Chainpur, Sankhuwasabha has the experience working as the Information and Communication officer of the organization for five years. Prior to joining the organization, he used to serve as the Information and Communication Specialist at Commission for the Investigation of the Abuse of Authority (CIAA). Adhikari, who has a Master’s degree in Mass Communication and Journalism from Tribhuwan University, has, at various times in the past two and a half decade, been associated with Kantipur Daily, Samay Saptahik, Setopati dot com, etc. Given below is the account of our discourse with him regarding the activities carried out by the trust in the field of wildlife since its inception, and its future course of action:
What are the functions and re- sponsibilities of NTNC?
First of all, it is imperative that we all have the basic understanding of the establishment of the trust. It is an autonomous organization es- tablished as per the National Nature Conservation Trust Act-2039, an act passed by the sovereign parlia- ment. It has been made very clear in the act itself that it conducts sci- entific investigation and study of, and protects, promotes and man- ages the wildlife and natural her- itage and makes all the necessary arrangements for the development of National Parks and Conservation areas. We have been discharging our every duty as mentioned in the laws. By that means, ever since its inception, the trust has been facil- itating the successful completion of every work and project related to conservation initiated by the Minis- try of Forests and Environment.
What sort of activities does the orga- nization carry out and how?
The organization has been conduct- ing various conservation and develop- ment related programs with the help of Biodiversity Conservation Center, Chitwan, Bardia Conservation Pro- gram, Bardiya, Shuklaphanta Conser- vation Programme, Kanchanpur, and Kanchanpur & Koshi Conservation Center in Terai. Similarly, in Hilly and Himalayan areas, Annapurna Conser- vation area planning, Manaslu Con- servation Area planning and Gauris- hankar Conservation Area planning have been in operation. The trust has also been operating and managing the Central Zoo based in Lalitpur. Of late, we have started our direct activism in the premises of Koshitappu Wild- life Reserve by setting up an office of National Nature Conservation Trust- Koshi Conservation Center.
We are now running in the 41st year. In our 40 year-long of being in existence, we have developed an im- peccable experience in the study and management of wildlife. We have a great team of specialists and technicians, part of which are even the phD holders. Our priority lies in looking after the wildlife that needs caring, providing medical treatment, and managing, studying and investigating them for conservation. We have also been, in coordination with the Ministry of Forests and Environment, and Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, conducting vari- ous programs for human-wildlife con- ftict resolution.
For instance, we encountered a very unfortunate incident in Shuk- laphanta recently. One of the civilians were attacked by a tiger. We had no option but to capture the tiger and at least recover the body to hand it over to victim’s family. our team of techni- cians and specialists did just that and the body was handed over to the fam- ily for further procession. We deal with far too many delicate and challenging situations like this. In coordination with the locals residing in and around the protected areas, intermediary areas and wild- life route along with the concerned authority, the trust has been actively conducting various programs relat- ed to conservation and development. Similarly, we have also been assisting the government and the local author- ity in taking problem-causing animals in control if required and providing treatment and care to the helpless, or- phaned and injured animals.
Discussion about this post