KATHMANDU: Minister for Forests and Environment, Ain Bahadur Shahi Thakuri, pointed out the need of promoting ecotourism at conservation areas across the nation and connecting it with people’s livelihood.

At the 30th Wildlife Week programme organized by Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation here today, Minister Shahi stressed that the conservation areas should increase income by collecting revenue itself.

He shared, “With the increase in population of wildlife in recent period, human-wildlife conflict has increased as well as its challenge for its management has also increased. We have expected support of all including other bodies and stakeholder along with Forests Ministry to manage and lessen it.”

Similarly, Secretary at the Forests Ministry, Dr Deepak Kumar Kharal, said the Department has successfully completed the responsibility of conservation, adding activities in human-wildlife management should now be carried out.

He suggested for bringing uniformity in understanding along with ownership towards conservation among local communities.

Likewise, Director General of the Department, Dr Ram Chandra Kandel, laid emphasis that all should involve facing challenges in order to protect gained achievements along with increase in wildlife population.

He argued that the week-long programme would make significant contribution to spread public awareness for the conservation.

Deputy Director General of the Department, Bed Kumar Dhakal, senior ecologist of the Department, Hari Bhandra Acharya, Chairperson of Forest Technicians Association, Dr Rakesh Karna, Director of the National Trust for

Nature Conservation, Dr Chirinjivi Prasad Pokharel, among others stressed the need of involvement of all to resolve the human-wildlife conflict, which has become the challenges.