Bird Conservation Awareness Program at Jyoti Bikas Secondary School, Dhorpatan

On 12-13 November 2025. A comprehensive bird conservation awareness program was conducted at Jyoti Bikas Secondary School in Dhorpatan Municipality-9, Baglung. Situated at a high altitude of 2,900 meters—approximately 140 kilometers from the district headquarters—the school hosted an intensive training session for 58 students from Grades 7 through 10, including 28 boys and 30 girls. The program was specifically designed to strengthen the capacity of the school’s Eco-club, providing a deep dive into avian biology, the systematic classification of vertebrates, and the vital role birds play in human life, from their ecological contributions as pollinators to their deep-rooted cultural and moral significance in Nepal.

The curriculum transitioned from broad biological facts to the specific conservation challenges facing the high-altitude region, with a specialized focus on the cheer pheasant, a globally threatened species native to these highlands. Students explored the bird's habitat requirements and its legal status, while critically discussing the primary drivers of its decline, such as habitat loss, over-exploitation of forest products, and illegal hunting. By examining the impact of climate change and pesticide use on farmland-dependent birds, the participants gained a clearer perspective on the fragile balance between human development and wildlife survival in the Dhorpatan landscape.

The training concluded with interactive Q&A sessions where both students and teachers shared feedback on how the school community can take active responsibility for local biodiversity. Through the use of educational posters and fact-sharing on bird records in Nepal, the program transformed these 58 young participants into informed conservation ambassadors. These students are now better equipped to advocate for the protection of forest and grassland habitats, ensuring that the unique pheasant species and other avian life of Baglung are preserved for future generations.

The program concluded with a competitive quiz session featuring the following participants: