The symposium was organized by the Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation and the UNDP/GEF project titled "Conservation and Sustainable Use of Wetlands in Nepal." Many of the presentations focused on the nine Ramsar Sites in Nepal, estimated to be important for directly supporting the livelihood of about 10% of the population.
20 November 2012: At the “International Wetland Symposium 2012,” participants discussed the importance of wetland conservation, its use as environmental indicators, and grassroots projects on improving the livelihood of communities living at wetland sites, particularly Ramsar Sites. The symposium took place in Pokhara, Nepal, from 7 to 10 November 2012.
Organized by the Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation and the UN Development Programme (UNDP)/Global Environment Facility (GEF) project on “Conservation and Sustainable Use of Wetlands in Nepal,” the symposium brought together around 80 participants from 13 countries, including representatives from governments, UN agencies, international, regional and national wetland projects, organisations and educational institutions.
Many of the presentations focused on the nine Ramsar Sites in Nepal, estimated to be important for directly supporting the livelihood of about 10% of the population.
Because of the value of wetlands for local people, a national network of indigenous wetland communities has been established to support the National Wetland Committee. Currently there are discussions on designating the Fewa Lake cluster, the site of the symposium, as a potential Ramsar Site by Pokhara City. [Ramsar Press Release]