Nepal, India sign bilateral MoU on biodiversity conservation to strengthen cross-border wildlife protection

KATHMANDU: In a significant diplomatic and environmental development, the governments of and on Wednesday signed a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on biodiversity conservation, aimed at intensifying cooperation in cross-border wildlife protection, anti-poaching operations, and ecosystem management.

The agreement was signed in New Delhi in the presence of Nepal’s Minister for Forests and Environment, Madhav Prasad Chaulagain, and India’s Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, .

On behalf of Nepal, Ambassador to India Dr. Shankar Prasad Sharma signed the MoU, while India’s Environment Secretary Tanmay Kumar signed from the Indian side. Senior officials from both governments were present during the signing ceremony, according to Nepal’s Ministry of Forests and Environment.

Focus on Cross-Border Protected Areas and Wildlife Corridors

Both Nepal and India are parties to multiple international environmental conventions under the United Nations framework, including agreements related to biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation.

The two countries share an open border with several transboundary protected areas and biological corridors. These areas serve as critical habitats for endangered species such as elephants, rhinoceroses, and tigers, which frequently move freely across the border.

The MoU formalizes cooperation in:

Management of protected areas

Joint biodiversity strategies

Wildlife crime control and regulation

Capacity building of field-level staff

Scientific research, monitoring, and data sharing

Community awareness and local-level engagement

Minister Chaulagain stated that the agreement would play a crucial role in curbing wildlife poaching and illegal cross-border trade, while strengthening institutional coordination between enforcement agencies.

Joint Patrols, Intelligence Sharing, and SAVEN Linkage

Under the framework of the agreement, both sides are expected to conduct regular joint patrols and periodic coordination meetings in border regions. The objective is to facilitate real-time exchange of intelligence related to wildlife trafficking and other environmental crimes.

Importantly, the MoU provides for information-sharing mechanisms through the South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network (SAVEN), enhancing regional cooperation to combat transnational wildlife crime.

Officials believe that structured intelligence exchange and harmonized enforcement strategies will significantly improve detection, prevention, and prosecution of wildlife-related offenses.

Institutional Mechanism and Review Provisions

From Nepal’s side, implementation will be coordinated at the federal level by the Ministry of Forests and Environment, along with the Department of Forests and Soil Conservation and the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation. At the provincial and local levels, respective forest and environment ministries, protected area offices, and divisional forest offices will be responsible for execution.

The MoU is designed to be automatically renewed every five years unless either party provides written diplomatic notice to terminate it. A formal review mechanism is built in every three years to assess progress and address emerging challenges. Any disputes arising during implementation will be resolved through mutual consultation.

The agreement marks a strategic step in strengthening ecological diplomacy between the two neighbors, reinforcing commitments to biodiversity protection in one of South Asia’s most ecologically sensitive transboundary landscapes.