Meeting for establishing Vulture Safe Zones in Terai region of Uttar Pradesh took place on 6 August 2011 in Lucknow, India. The objective of the meeting was to launch Vulture Safe Zone (VSZ) project in Uttar Pradesh, India.The meeting was focused on transboundary conservation of critically endangered vulture species between Nepal and India by creating vulture safe zones along the Terai boarder. As Nepal has already declared 16 diclofenac free zones covering an area of 30, 247 sq.km along the border, India is now going to replicate the same projects by taking Nepal’s experience and learning. Mr. Mohan Chandra Bishwakarma, Vulture Conservation Officer of BCN presented Nepal’s progress on vulture safe zone in the meeting. He clearly shared the detail process of creating vulture safe zones in Nepal, its management and over view of Nepal’s vulture conservation works there. Also, he highlighted the urgent need and cooperation of creating vulture safe zones in Uttar Pradesh and some part of Bihar state along the border side to safeguard Nepal’s achievements on VSZ.  The participants of the meeting really inspired by the Nepal’s innovative practice and experience and took interest to learn and replicate the work there. Due to this inspiration, Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), its local partner organizations and government people are planning to have field visit in Nepal. Nepalese delegates with the help of BNHS also conducted few pharmacy surveys in Palia and ChandanChaowki of India along the border and found that 30ml of human diclofenac is entering Nepal from these market places for veterinary use.

Two delegates Mr. Mohan Chandra Bishwakarma and Bhupal Nepali, Field Officer of BCN participated the meeting. The meeting was chaired by Shri B.K. Patnaik, The Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden, Uttar Pradesh. Divisional Forest Officers (DFOs) of the Uttar Pradesh state attended the meeting.  Chris Bowden of RSPB, Dr. Vibhu Prakash of BNHS, other BNHS Officers and representatives from BNHS’s local partners were also present in the meeting.