45th  World Environment Day - Connecting people to nature, 2017 concluded with “ Rally and Award Distribution Program” organized by NTNC ZOO, Lalitpur Metropolitan, IUCN, WWF Nepal and Bird Conservation Nepal on June 5, 2017 at Lalitpur football ground.

The event began early morning with a parade round the city. Thousands of people including students, teachers, and consortium partners participated holding play cards, attractive banners that sent the message of strong bond between human and nature.  Veteran Culture expert and Litterateur Satya Mohan Joshi and newly elected Mayor of Lalitpur, Chiri Babu Maharjan graced the event as Chief and Special guests. Various schools, students, teachers were awarded by the guests for their creative and constructive artworks for environment conservation.
On the very occasion, poster of “Cranes of Nepal” published by Bird Conservation Nepal was launched by the chief guest.

Newly crowned Miss Nepal World 2017 Nikita Chandak and Miss Nepal Asia Pacific International 2017, Sahara Basnet participated a mass-oath taking to bind with the country’s spirit for nature, culture and biodiversity. Chief guest Joshi while addressing the mass highlighted the importance of ancient newari rituals that had strong respect to nature and its conservation. He expressed his concerns over haphazard construction around the sites with cultural importance that has hindered environment as well.

World Environment Day is an annual phenomena celebrated with various activities prior to the event.  BCN with support of NTNC and NTNC- ZOO lead “Nature Walk and Bird Watching” for government officials, bird lovers on 27th May and “Bird Watching at Ranibari” for student members of Friend of Zoo on 30th May 2017.