Feb 2, 2021; Lumbini: Celebrated annually on 2 February to raise global awareness about the significance of wetlands for people and the planet, World Wetlands Day 2021 was celebrated in Lumbini with the slogan, “Water, wetland and life”. The celebration in Lumbini was marked by a formal ceremony in which seven ponds were named after the names of renowned conservationists of the world.  

Ven. Metteyya (Awadesh Kumar Tripathi), the Vice Chairman of Lumbini Development Trust declared that the seven ponds lying in the surrounding of the birthplace of the Buddha in Lumbini were named after seven senior conservationists Dr. Harka Gurung, Dr. Chandra Gurung, Mingma Norbu Sherpa, Hari Sharan Nepali Kaji, Dr. Tirthman Maske,and Dr. Ghana Gurung of Nepal, and Dr. George Archibald, the Co-Founder of International Crane Foundation, USA and Senior Conservationist.

Minister of Industry, Tourism, Forests, and Environment of Lumbini Province Hon. Lila Giri applauded the role of the LDT in Sarus Crane conservation. He said that introduction of seven ponds of Lumbini with the names of senior conservationists was a milestone in the nature conservation of the region. “Province Ministry is working in the field of nature conservation in a planned manner”, he further added.

Dr. Prof. Hridayaratna Bajracharya, the Vice-Chancellor of Lumbini Buddhist University highlighted the significance of Sarus Crane connected with Buddhism. He also expressed the commitment of the university in partnership to conserve wetlands and cranes of the region.

 Dr. Ghana Shyam Gurung, the Country Representative of WWF Nepal expressed satisfaction and called identifying of ponds of Lumbini by the name of senior conservationists a significant event in the history of nature conservation in the area.

On the same occasion, Member Secretary of LDT Mr. Sanuraja Shakya, the Chief Whip of the Nepali Congress Party in the Lumbini Province Assembly Hon. Fakhruddin Khan, and Mayor of Lumbini Cultural Municipality Mr. Man Mohan Chaudhary also highlighted the significance of the wetland for the existence of the human being and the planet. The speakers also emphasized cooperation and partnership with stakeholders in wetland safeguarding.   

Mr. Chetan Pant was felicitated in the program in acknowledgment of his contribution to the promotion of the nature and culture of the Lumbini area.