The agreement focuses on biodiversity conservation, wildlife corridors, protected areas and joint efforts against forest and wildlife crime
New Delhi: India and Nepal have strengthened their environmental partnership with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance bilateral cooperation in forests, wildlife, environment, biodiversity conservation and climate change. The agreement aims to promote coordinated action on restoration of wildlife corridors, interlinking of habitats, and the exchange of knowledge, technical expertise and best practices between the two countries.
The MoU was signed in New Delhi in the presence of Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and Nepal’s Minister for Forests and Environment Madhav Prasad Chaulagain, marking a significant step in deepening cross-border environmental collaboration.
Both nations are home to rich biodiversity and vast natural heritage, supported by extensive networks of protected areas and shared ecosystems. Given their transboundary wildlife habitats, the agreement seeks closer coordination in conservation planning and management. The MoU envisages joint biodiversity strategies at the landscape level, with special focus on key species such as elephants, Gangetic dolphins, rhinoceroses, snow leopards, tigers and vultures.
The policy also covers strengthened forest and protected area management, restoration of wildlife corridors to create transboundary conservation landscapes, addressing threats to biodiversity, combating forest and wildlife crime, capacity building of frontline enforcement staff, and promotion of smart green infrastructure in biodiversity hotspots.
The initiative is expected to further deepen India–Nepal cooperation, safeguard shared ecosystems and ensure sustainable management of natural resources while reinforcing both countries’ commitment to global environmental protection efforts.
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