Bird Conservation Nepal (BCN) celebrated its 42nd annual general meeting (AGM) successfully on 28th December 2024 at Amrapali Banquet, Naxal, Kathmandu. The event, chaired by Mr. Vimal Kumar Thapa, Vice-president of BCN Executive Council, hosted Mr. Bed Kumar Dhakal, Deputy Director General of Department of National Park and Wildlife Conservation as chief guest of the event. Other guests who graced the event include Dr. Narendra Man Babu Pradhan, Country Representative IUCN Nepal, Dr. Ghana Shyam Gurung, Country Representative WWF Nepal and Mr. Uttam Kayastha, Patron member of BCN. The event was decorated with the participation of valuable advisors, patron members, executive council members, life members, general members, student members, and media personnel.
The event also awarded Nepal Bird Conservation Network (NBCN) Grant worth NRs. 1 Lakh to two LCG groups: Golden Valley Community Learning Center, Ilam and Jatayu Restaurant Lalmatiya, Kalika CFUG, Dang for their significant contribution in bird and biodiversity conservation. Likewise, Jatayu Research Scholarship worth NRs. 35,000 was awarded to two university students Ms. Surakchhya Pokharel and Mr. Sarbesh Singh Mahara to assist their research in vultures. The event also honored the persons who recorded new species for Nepal in the past one year: Firethroat (Suchit Basnet and Badri Chaudhary), Lesser Grey Shrike (Dev Raj Joshi), White-cheeked Starling (Shankar Tiwari), Spotted Flycatcher (Sanjay Tha Shrestha and Shankar Tiwari) and Naumann's Thrush (Shankar Tiwari). Through the event, BCN also welcomed Mr. Dipak Kumar Singh as new Patron member.
The discussion session of the AGM began with presentation on BCN's annual progress report from Mr. Ashok Bahadur Malla, General Secretary, BCN Executive Council followed by BCN's annual financial report from Mr. Raj Kumar Rai, Treasurer, BCN Executive Council. The queries on various issues raised by participants were addressed by Mr. Vimal Kumar Thapa, Vice-president, BCN Executive Council and Ms. Ishana Thapa, CEO of BCN. The 42nd AGM also elected new executive council for the coming three years. Election officer Senior Advocate Mr. Hum Raj Nepal announced the name of elected candidates to the AGM. The elected candidates were:
President Mr. Vimal Kumar Thapa
Vice-president Ms. Sarita Jnwali
Secretary Mr. Ashok Bahadur Malla
Vice-Secretary Prof. Dr. Prem Bahadur Budha
Treasurer Mr. Sudarson Karki
Member Mr. Jaya Nath Bhandari
Member Mr. Deepak Shrestha
Member Er. Mahesh Prasad Pandey
Member Ms. Ganga Devi Gurung
Member Mr. Prem Thapa
Member Mr. Dikpal Krishna Karmacharya
In the closing remarks, the newly elected president of Executive Council Mr. Thapa urged all the bird lovers, researchers and conservationists to keep continuing the journey towards birds and biodiversity conservation and supporting BCN in the coming days too. He also expressed his and BCN's gratitude towards all the guests, participants, members and well-wishers.