Wildlife crime is rapidly evolving, moving beyond traditional physical borders into complex digital spaces. To address these emerging challenges, National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC) hosted a collaborative workshop on 'Media Engagement and Public Awareness on Wildlife Crime Control' at its central office in Khumaltar, Lalitpur. Organized under the INL-funded 'Combat Wildlife Trafficking in Nepal' project, the program convened over 45 journalists, communicators, and conservationists dedicated to leveraging responsible storytelling for biodiversity protection.
The technical discussions provided valuable tools and perspectives for modern environmental journalism. NTNC Conservation and Information Officer Gobinda Prasad Pokharel led a session on reporting ethics and framing, highlighting how thoughtful headlines directly influence policy responses and community attitudes during sensitive human-wildlife encounters.
Abhayaraj Joshi, Nepal Editor at Mongabay, guided participants through investigative strategies to track illegal trade online, offering solutions for handling scarce databases, verification hurdles, and ethical considerations.
NTNC Department Heads Rachana Shah (Species),Bidur Prasad Pokharel (Finance), and Dr. Madhu Chhetri (Protected Areas), alongside IUCN Regional Councillor Roshani Adhikari Pathak, shared insights on maintaining financial sustainability, safeguarding vulnerable species, managing protected areas, and strengthening cross-border cooperation against illicit networks.
Wrapping up the event, Ashok Subedi, NTNC Senior Conservation Officer and Focal Person for Wildlife Crime Control, reiterated that fighting wildlife crime requires continuous collaboration, noting that open dialogue between media and conservationists is crucial for bridging frontline realities with public awareness.
During the program NTNC senior Conservation officer Bishnu Singh Thakuri gave overview of NTNC and its working areas to the particpants media personnel. NTNC acting director and the Head of climate change depertment Dr. Manish Raj pandey shared his insights on wildlife crime control and the role of journalist can play in curbing wildlife crime through reporting and awareness.
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Photos of the event: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1FKV8Y2RTU/
