With the support of BirdLife International Tokyo and other organizations, Bird Conservation Nepal (BCN) is running Biodiversity Conservation Learning Center at Ranibari Community Forest (RCF), Kathmandu.

Ranibari Community Forest: RCF is located at the north western part of the Kathmandu Metropolitan City, is one of the few remaining natural forest patches. This is probably one and only community forest in urban setting of Nepal. The forest is floristically rich for native plant species as well as for home for many migratory and residential birds. The 6.95 hectare area of forest is surrounded by dense human settlements. Since there are no other open areas and parks in vicinity it receives tremendous pressure as a recreational site and large number of people visits the community forests every day. One of the main issues underlying this problem is the inadequate awareness and understanding among the public and decision-makers about the value of a clean, green environment for urban residents and importance of nature conservation. Thus RCF can be developed as a model biodiversity conservation learning center that will benefit the local people and students of Kathmandu and adjacent cities like Patan and Bhaktapur.

Objectives of the project

Main objective is to conserve the urban biodiversity managing the RCF as model forest for bird and biodiversity conservation learning center. The specific objectives are as below:

• To increase the level of knowledge of local people on bird, biodiversity and green environment conservation at RCF.
• To analyze how human influx and vegetation affects the distribution of birds in the urban gradients
• To strengthen bird, biodiversity and nature conservation education in schools and colleges.
• To encourage the general public and policy makers to promote bird habitat in urban areas.

To achieve the proposed objectives following activities will be undertaken:

• Establish and equip the visitors learning centre.
• Develop inventory of bird, butterfly and plant. 
• Create and erect signs and information boards at key locations around the forest.
• Tag the plants with common, scientific and local name.
• Develop and run the conservation education among the schools.
• Produce and disseminate relevant signage, brochures and leaflets.
• Conduct monthly bird monitoring at RCF and annual urban bird count at Kathmandu valley.
• Celebrate conservation days and events.
• Collaborate with universities to conduct research on urban wildlife conservation issues.

Though the current project was just for a year, BCN has decided to implement the program for longer period of time. For this, BCN has already signed MoU with Ranibari Community Forest User Groups with the support of District Forest Office, Kathmandu for another five years to establish RCF as bird and biodiversity conservation learning center.