International seminar on combating poaching and wildlife trafficking concludes in Kathmandu « Khabarhub

Participants in the International Seminar on the fight against poaching and wildlife trafficking held in Kathmandu/Photo: Page of the French Embassy in Kathmandu

KATHMANDU: A two-day international seminar on combating wildlife poaching and trafficking concluded in Kathmandu on Friday.

The seminar organized by the French Embassy and the French Directorate of International Security Cooperation (DCIS) brought together participants from the Nepal Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police, Nepal Ministry of Forests and of Environment, the Attorney General's Office of Nepal, as well as representatives from Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand , the United States, the French Central Office for the Coordination of Environmental Crime and Public Health (OCLAESP), French customs and UNODC.

In her opening speech, the Acting Chargé d'Affaires of the French Embassy, ​​Ms. Leela Devaradjalou, highlighted the importance of the cause, saying that “the level of participation from 13 countries clearly illustrates the need for such events” and that “the consequences of attacks on wildlife are immense and may be irreversible.

Brigadier General Sanjay Deuja of the Directorate of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation of the Nepal Army highlighted the efforts of the Nepal Army in combating poaching in the national parks.

“The Nepal Army remains steadfast in its commitment to preserving the rich biodiversity and natural heritage of our country. Our dedicated staff work tirelessly to protect endangered species and against the scourge of poaching and illegal wildlife trafficking,” he said.

Police Attaché for Nepal at the Embassy, ​​Fabrice Cotelle concluded the seminar by emphasizing the need to consolidate the links established over the last two days in order to fight more effectively against environmental criminals.

The seminar, financially supported by the Directorate of Security and Defense Cooperation (DCSD) of the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, allowed participants to share their experiences, their good practices in the field and to discuss collaborative strategies to effectively combat poaching and wildlife trafficking.

This seminar was organized within the framework of the Nepal-France Green Road Map, a framework for cooperation between the two countries on environmental issues, adopted in 2023, according to the embassy.