Dhangadhi, Nepal - A one-day workshop on “Media Engagement and Awareness on Wildlife Crime Control in Sudurpaschhim Province, Nepal” was held in Dhangadhi, bringing together 48 journalists reporting on nature conservation, biodiversity and environmental issues.
The provincial-level workshop focused on strengthening journalists’ understanding of wildlife crime and improving communication between conservation authorities, local communities and the media. Discussions covered key conservation challenges in Sudurpaschhim, including biodiversity monitoring, ecological corridors, illegal wildlife trade (IWT), and human-wildlife conflict (HWC).
Presentations were delivered by Laxmi Raj Joshi, in-charge of the National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC), Shuklaphanta Conservation Program, and Under-Secretary Bhoj Raj Pathak. The sessions highlighted the importance of accurate information, field-based reporting and effective public communication in supporting wildlife protection and conservation efforts.
The workshop also featured a multi-stakeholder panel discussion, bringing together representatives from provincial forestry authorities, protected-area management, local media and Community-Based Anti-Poaching Units (CBAPUs) working in the region. The discussion provided an opportunity to share experiences and identify communication challenges surrounding wildlife protection, wildlife crime and interactions between people and wild animals.
The event was chaired by the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), Sudurpaschhim Chapter, while Forest Director Hem Raj Bisht attended as the chief guest.
Participants emphasized that effective wildlife-crime control requires not only enforcement and conservation measures but also responsible, timely and evidence-based media reporting. Journalists can play an important role in raising public awareness, communicating conservation risks, highlighting community experiences and bringing greater attention to wildlife trafficking and other environmental crimes.
The workshop also underlined the need for stronger coordination among government agencies, protected-area authorities, conservation organizations, community-based anti-poaching groups and the media. Better access to verified information and regular communication between these stakeholders can help reduce information gaps and support more informed reporting on wildlife conservation.
With Sudurpaschhim home to important wildlife habitats and conservation landscapes, including Shuklaphanta National Park, strengthening local media capacity remains an important part of building wider public understanding of biodiversity protection and wildlife crime control.
The Dhangadhi workshop therefore served as a platform for dialogue between conservation practitioners and journalists, with the broader objective of strengthening media engagement, public awareness and collaborative action for wildlife conservation in Sudurpaschhim Province.
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