Nepal’s Kanchenjunga Conservation Project Spotlights Community and Women’s Leadership at Global UNESCO Congress

Kanchenjunga Biodiversity Conservation

24th October 2025, Kathmandu

Nepal’s stunning natural heritage captured international attention with the release of a powerful new documentary.

Kanchenjunga Biodiversity Conservation

This film focuses on the project, Kanchenjunga Biodiversity Conservation in Nepal. Its premiere occurred at the prestigious 5th World Congress of Biosphere Reserves.

The documentary showcases vital efforts to protect the country’s rich biodiversity while actively engaging local communities. The work marks a major milestone for the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area (KCA), propelling its journey toward becoming a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

A Vision for a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve

The Kanchenjunga Conservation Area, a crucial part of the Eastern Himalayas, serves as a global hotspot for biodiversity. It provides a sanctuary for endangered species like the snow leopard and the red panda.

The project, “Strengthening Community Engagement for Biodiversity Conservation in the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area,” receives pivotal funding from the Kunming Biodiversity Fund (KBF).

This support drives on-the-ground initiatives that combine scientific tools with invaluable traditional knowledge from Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs).

Successfully securing the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve designation would grant KCA greater international recognition. It would unlock enhanced resources for long-term protection.

This commitment to area-based conservation directly supports Nepal’s efforts to meet global biodiversity targets, including the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF).

Elevating Women’s Role in Conservation

The Congress featured a plenary session dedicated to the Biosphere Reserve Dialogue. During this important discussion, Barsha Lekhi, a project officer involved with the KCA initiative, delivered a compelling presentation. She highlighted the critical, yet often unrecognized, role of women in biosphere reserve management.

Women stand on the frontline of conservation actions daily. They manage natural resources, collect fuelwood, and transfer ecological knowledge between generations.

Despite these essential contributions, they remain significantly underrepresented in conservation decision-making bodies. This gender gap reduces the overall effectiveness of conservation programs. The project actively aims to rectify this imbalance, seeing women’s leadership as central to its long-term success.

Focus on Inclusive Governance

Central to the KBF-funded project is the commitment to inclusive governance. It deliberately places Indigenous Peoples’ rights and contributions at the forefront of the conservation strategy.

The KCA is home to various ethnicities, whose traditional lifestyles and deep-rooted ecological understanding prove indispensable to managing the fragile mountain ecosystem.

Furthermore, the initiative actively promotes youth engagement in governance structures. Involving younger generations ensures the sustainability and continuity of conservation efforts.

By fostering a sense of ownership among IPLCs, the project builds local capacity and resilience against threats like climate change and wildlife poaching. This three-pronged focus on Indigenous rights, youth involvement, and women’s leadership creates a more equitable and effective model for Kanchenjunga Biodiversity Conservation in Nepal.

Aligning with Global Frameworks

The 5th World Congress served as a crucial platform to reinforce the World Network of Biosphere Reserves’ alignment with global sustainability goals. Discussions emphasized the Network’s contribution to international policy frameworks.

This includes the aforementioned Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which sets global targets for halting biodiversity loss. It also links to the International Decade of Science for Sustainable Development.

During the Congress, the South and Central Asia MAB Network (SACAM) championed the expansion of the Biosphere Reserve concept.

They made a strong case for establishing new reserves in vital ecosystems, particularly in coastal zones and across the Hindu Kush Himalaya region. This strategic push further underlines the regional commitment to using the UNESCO MAB Programme as a tool for sustainable development.

The Path Forward for Nepal’s Biodiversity

The documentary’s release and the high-level participation confirm Nepal’s dedication to a community-led conservation model. The success of the project in strengthening community engagement, especially through the empowerment of women, offers a scalable blueprint for other regions facing similar biodiversity and governance challenges.

Moving forward, the focus remains on leveraging technology and traditional wisdom to enhance biodiversity documentation and management.

The commitment to achieving the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status for KCA underscores a powerful national and international partnership. It demonstrates that the future of Kanchenjunga Biodiversity Conservation in Nepal depends on collaboration, inclusion, and recognizing all stakeholders as indispensable partners in protecting our planet’s natural treasures.

For more: Kanchenjunga Biodiversity Conservation