Saturday, October 18, 2025

Pathak elected IUCN regional councilor

Kathmandu, Oct. 17

Nepali candidate Roshani Adhikari Pathak has been elected as one of the Regional Councilors for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) from the East and South Asia Region for 2026–2029.

The election took place during the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025, held in Abu Dhabi from 9 to 15 October, where seven candidates from the region, including India, China, Pakistan, Malaysia, Japan, and Nepal, competed for five Regional Councillor seats, Embassy of Nepal in Abu Dhabi informed in a statement.

Pathak, an experienced environmental journalist and conservation advocate from Nepal, brings over two decades of experience in biodiversity protection, climate action, and gender equality. A former President of NEFEJ and Board Member of SMCRF, she has championed inclusive, science-based conservation.

Tej Bahadur Chhetri, Ambassador of Nepal to the United Arab Emirates, attended the opening ceremony of the Congress. Bed Kumar Dhakal, Deputy Director of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation and Head of the Nepali delegation to the Congress, and Ranjita Dahal, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Nepal in Abu Dhabi, represented Nepal at the Congress, whereas other participants represented the non-government sectors of Nepal.

Non-state organisations from Nepal also organised the launch of the Red Panda Carpet event in collaboration with Red Panda Network Nepal at the IUCN Congress. The Members’ Assembly of the IUCN elected new leadership and country representatives for the 2026–2029 terms.

Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak of the United Arab Emirates was re-elected for a second term as IUCN President, for 2026–2029 period.

Nepal, spanning from the Tarai plains to the Himalayan peaks, is a country of immense ecological richness, home to iconic and endangered species such as the one-horned rhinoceros, Bengal tiger, red panda, and snow leopard, and supporting nearly 3.2 per cent of the world’s flora and 1.1 per cent of its fauna. 

  Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 18 October 2025.     

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