With an aim to strengthen mainstreaming of biodiversity issues and increase mutual dialogue and reflection on biodiversity and its conservation among various actors involved at district level BCN organized a District level Dialogue on 8th April at Darcy’s International Hotel, Butwal, Rupandehi. 77 people from 12 districts representing District Forest Office, District Agriculture Development Office, District Coordination Committee, Municipality, District Chamber of Commerce, FECOFUN, District Livestock Services Office, District Soil Conservation Office and media participated in the programme. The programme was chaired by Mr. Prem Bahadur Budha, Executive Committee Member, BCN and honorable minister Mr. Lila Giri from Ministry of Industry, Tourism, Forest and Environment was the chief guest.

The preliminary session began with welcome speech from Ishana Thapa, Chief Executive Officer followed by presentation about the introduction on BCN and  mainstreaming biodiversity with reference to economic sector where she enlighten about importance of biodiversity, ecosystem services  and  human wellbeing, socio economic situation  the need of mainstreaming biodiversity, adding to this she also highlighted on mainstreaming biodiversity component into the operational plan of community forest carried out by BCN.

The chief guest of the programme Mr. Lila Giri gave his short remarks appreciating the subject matter of the dialogue .After the remark the first session was closed by Mr. Prem Bahadur Buda where he highlighted requirement for sector wise mainstreaming for healthy ecosystem and wellbeing.

The second session included the panel discussion facilitated by Mr. Ramesh Bhusal focusing on Biodiversity Mainstreaming into economic sector. An expert panel followed, including: Surya Kant Sigdel (Secretary: Ministry of Industry, Tourism, Forest and Environment), Yam Narayan Devkota ( , Regional District Chamber of Commerce). The panel discussions touched upon the planning needed for mainstreaming biodiversity from state level as well as highlighted the efforts required for mainstreaming and coordination between the various actors involved. The programme consisted interactive discussion between participant and panelist. The third session included the presentation from Yajnamurti Khanal, Assistant Forest Officer, District Forest Office, Rupandehi, illustrating opportunities & challenges on implementing biodiversity related intervention and group work for participant.

As a whole, the District Dialogue Programme was very fruitful to step up approaches in identifying the broader set of opportunities for mainstreaming biodiversity in economic sector at district level.