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.