A national workshop on Diclofenac Free Zone was jointly organised by Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) and Bird Conservation Nepal (BCN) on 23 June 2011. Workshop was organised to sensitise the government authorities and conservation partners in diclofenac issues for saving critically endangered Gyps vultures in Nepal and to collect feedback on the draft Diclofenac Free Zone Declaration, Monitoring and Management Guideline, 2068 prepared by DNPWC.

During workshop, Mr. Ananda Chaudhary, Vulture Conservation Programme Officer and Mr. Mohan Chandra Bishwakarma, Vulture Conservation Officer, BCN shared their presentation on impact of diclofenac in vulture conservation, vulture conservation efforts taking place in Asia and Nepal and provision of draft guideline.

Dr. Maheshwor Dhakal, Ecologist, DNPWC said, “There is an urgent need to save vultures form extinction because it has high ecological importance. For this, removal of diclofenac from the environment should be primary focus of conservation. I hope that the guideline under preparation will help to declare, implement and manage diclofenac to provide safe food”. He thanked all for valuable comments and suggested to finalize the draft guideline and request to join the hands for vulture conservation.

Dr. Hum Gurung, Chief Executive Officer, BCN focused on monitoring of illegal use of veterinary diclofenac and potential illegal use of human diclofenac to verterinary purpose. He also added that BCN is working on transboundary conservation of these critically endangered birds.

All the participants highlighted the importance and need of diclofenac free zone declaration guideline and coordinated actions for its effective implementation.

Representatives from government authorities-DNPWC, Department of Drug Administration, Department of Livestock Service, Nepal Veterinary Association, Department of Forest; and conservation partners- WWF, NTNC , Jatayu Restaurant Management Committees took part in the workshop. Workshop was organised to sensitise the government authorities and conservation partners in diclofenac issues for saving critically endangered Gyps vultures in Nepal and to collect feedback on the draft Diclofenac Free Zone Declaration, Monitoring and Management Guideline, 2068 prepared by DNPWC.

During workshop, Mr. Ananda Chaudhary, Vulture Conservation Programme Officer and Mr. Mohan Chandra Bishwakarma, Vulture Conservation Officer, BCN shared their presentation on impact of diclofenac in vulture conservation, vulture conservation efforts taking place in Asia and Nepal and provision of draft guideline.

Dr. Maheshwor Dhakal, Ecologist, DNPWC said, “There is an urgent need to save vultures form extinction because it has high ecological importance. For this, removal of diclofenac from the environment should be primary focus of conservation. I hope that the guideline under preparation will help to declare, implement and manage diclofenac to provide safe food”. He thanked all for valuable comments and suggested to finalize the draft guideline and request to join the hands for vulture conservation.

Dr. Hum Gurung, Chief Executive Officer, BCN focused on monitoring of illegal use of veterinary diclofenac and potential illegal use of human diclofenac to verterinary purpose. He also added that BCN is working on transboundary conservation of these critically endangered birds.

All the participants highlighted the importance and need of diclofenac free zone declaration guideline and coordinated actions for its effective implementation.

Representatives from government authorities-DNPWC, Department of Drug Administration, Department of Livestock Service, Nepal Veterinary Association, Department of Forest; and conservation partners- WWF, NTNC , Jatayu Restaurant Management Committees took part in the workshop.