The 23rd Warden Seminar was held on November 14-16, 2006 in Annapurna Conservation Area, Pokhara. This was inaugurated by Dr. Mohan Prasad Wagle, For Secretary, Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation. Mr. Shyam bajimaya, Acting Direcor General, Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, chaired the inauguration session of the Seminar. Wardens, chief wardens, officials of DNPWC and partner organizations were the key participants. The theme of the seminar was "Building Broader Coalition for Conservation". Dr. Wagle delivered the key note address and released the Important Bird Areas (IBAs) in Nepal Poster. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Wagle stated the Government's strategy, particularly highlighting the landscape level planning and conservation. He strressed that the conservation initiatives should contribute to achieve the objectives of the national plan. Mr. Shyam Bajimaya, Director General introduced the theme of the seminar and its relevance in present context. He highlighted the salient achievements in conservation. He expressed that this seminar is useful in sharing our experiences in the past, how we work in present and how it will be in future. Mr. Lal Prasad Gurung welcomed the participants. The Seminar was started by asking the participants to stand in silence for one minute in the memory of conservation champions who lost their life on Helicopter crash in Kanchenjungha Conservation Area. The importance and objectives of the seminar was highlighted by Mr. Megh Bahadur Pandey, Chief Conservation Officer, DNPWC. During the seminar, 10 papers were presented on various areas viz- biodiversity, protected areas and moving knowledge, vulture conservation in Nepal, conserving biodiversity through protected area management, tourism from conservation perspective and implication of climate change in Nepal. Four group presentations were made during the workshop. Dr. Pralad Yonzon, Dr. Tirtha Bahadur Shrestha, Dr. Hem Sagar Baral, Dr. Karna Shakya, Prof. Karan Shah, Dr. Ghan Shyam Gurung, Dr. Siddhartha Bajracharya actively contributed in the workshop. In the closing session, comments were made by Mr. Ganesh Pant, Mr. Pem Kandel, Mr. Top Bahadur Khatri, Mr. Prabhu Budathoki, Dr. Siddharha Bajracharya, Mr. Shyam Bajimaya and Mr. Bishwo Nath Upreti. All appreciated the papers, presentations and discussion. Mr Tika Ram Adhikari, Planning Officer, DNPWC extended vote of thanks to Annapurna Conservation Area Project, National Trust for Nature Conservation, Participatory Conservation Programme – II, Tourism for Rural Poverty Alleviation Programme, Bird Conservation Nepal, WWF Nepal Program, IUCN – The World Conservation Union and all other institutions and individuals directly or indirectly involved in organizing this seminar successfully. Nineteen resolutions were passed at the end of the workshop.

Conservation portal, a joint initiative of Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, ICIMOD and IUCN-Nepal, was launched to access biodiversity information of Nepal to all concerned with country's rich and diverse biodiversity. It was launched in a program organized by the Government of Nepal, Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology on the occasion of World Environment Day, on 5 June, 2006 at Birendra International Convention Center. At the function, Honorable Minister of State for Environment, Science and Technology, Mr. Man Bahadur Biswokarma launched a web based interactive portal for sharing of biodiversity information in Nepal. It features various aspects of wildlife and protected areas in Nepal and can easily be accessed on" http://biodiversityofnepal.icimod.org/svg_pa/final.htm".

A buffer zone experience sharing programme on ten years of participatory biodiversity conservation initiative in Nepal was held at Hotel Himalaya on January 8, 2007. Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation through financial and technical support of UNDP, implemented Park and people programme (PPP) and follow-up Participatory Conservation Programme (PCP) since 1995, has been phased out in December, 2006. The programme was implemented in 7 protected areas of Nepal since last 10 years. This programme has resulted in the improvement of park people relationship thereby leading to living in harmony with nature. Strengthening of buffer zone institutions and promoting targeted community development activities along with capacity enhancement of both the communities as well as park/reserve staff were the interventions that the programme has undertaken. Mr. Shyam Bajimaya, Director General of DNPWC on his welcome and objective of the programme speech, stated the outcomes of the programme. Buffer zone management initiatives supported by Participatory Conservation Programme (PCP) were summarized by Jhamak Karki, Assistant Ecologist of the DNPWC, on the occasion. In this programme, remarks were made by Mr. Biswo Nath Upreti, Former Director General of DNPWC, Mr. Puran Bhakta Shrestha, Chief Warden of Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve and chairpersons of buffer zone management committee of Khaptad National Park and Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve. All appreciated the activities undertaken by PPP/PCP. Mr. Ghulam M Isaczai, Resident Representative of UNDP Nepal congratulated Government of Nepal and DNPWC in particular for continued support and leadership to this programme. He said that the biodiversity conservation has been a priority area of UNDP support. Mr Isaczai further expressed that UNDP is proud to celebrate the success of ten years participatory biodiversity conservation in Nepal. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Jamuna K. Tamrakar, Chief, Foreign Aid Coordination Division of Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation highlighted the past conservation efforts in Nepal. He stated that the buffer zone management programme through UNDP support were grounded on the reality that community based participatory biodiversity conservation can only be successful if people's participation is ensured in natural resource management. He stated that the participatory conservation approach is entirely rooted on the acceptance by the people making them the real stewards of conservation. He thanked UNDP, buffer zone communities and all involved staff to make a programme success.