The 36th Annual General Meeting of Bird Conservation Nepal successfully concluded on 19 January 2019 at Hotel Moonlight, Paknajol, Kathmandu. The program was chaired by Rajendra Gurung, President of BCN and Gopal Prakash Bhattrai, Deputy Director General of Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation graced the event as the chief guest. Similarly, Shayam Sundar Bajimaya, Former DG, DNPWC, Dr. Anuja Raj Sharma, Former DDG, DOFSC, Prem Prasad Khanal, Under Secretary, DOFSC, Prakash Lamsal Regional Director, Gandaki Province, Dr. Ghana Shyam Gurung, CR, WWF , Dr. Prahlad Thapa, CR, IUCN and Dr. Tej Bahadur Thapa, Department head of Zoology, TU  were the special guest of the event that was attended by Advisors, Patron Members, Members, important representatives of conservation consortium partners and supporters from diverse sectors.

The session began with the welcome remarks from Prof. Karan Bahadur Shah, Vice President BCN. Prof. Shah gave brief insight on BCN’s long listed work on bird and biodiversity conservation and excerpts of Hindu mythology that highlights the importance of birds. Then followed presentation on “Long Term Bird Monitoring Program of BCN” by Jyotendra Jyu Thakuri, Senior Program Officer and “Biodiversity of Madane Protected Forest, Gulmi” by Mitra  Pandey.  The session entered into award distribution ceremony and welcomed three new patron members, Chungba Sherpa, Umang Jung Thapa and Basant Raj Mishra.  Similarly Jatayu Research Grant 2018-19 was awarded to Sharmila Sigdel, Central Department of Zoology, TU and Bharat Prasad Chaulagain, Agriculture and Forestry Universty, Faculty of Forestry Hetauda. This year’s NBCN Grant was also awarded to Chandra Surya Yuwa Club, Barekot, Jajarkot for their commendable contribution in raising awareness on importance of bird and biodiversity conservation to the people living in Barekot, Jajarkot area and Nature Guide Assiciation, Shivapur Nagarjun National Park, Kathmandu for continuous work on biodiversity conservation while promoting sustainable eco-tourism in Nagarjun area. BCN also awarded with special recognition to young school student  Yash Maharjan, President , Creative Bird Watching Club, Creative Academy Kirtipur for his interest in bird watching and contribution in raising awareness of bird and biodiversity conservation. While giving the remarks on behalf of BCN’s Patron, Chungba Sherpa announced a grant worth One Lakh to help students motivated to do research in the field of biodiversity conservation.Similarly Bhogendra Rayamajhi, Senior Programme Officer , ZSL-Nepal and Jaya Narayan Bhandari, Nature Tourism Professional also announced their commitment to become the Patron Member of BCN.

The second (closed) session included presentations from Vimal Thapa, General Secretary BCN on annual progress of the organization and finance report by Ashok Bahadur Malla, Teasurer (BCN). Then, the floor was made open for the Participants who inquired about the progress and future endeavors of the organization. The final session ended with concluding remark from the Chairman of the event.