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Nepalese Delegation Undertakes Knowledge Exchange Visit to India’s Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve
Gangtok, 20-22 May 2025: In a significant step toward enhancing regional cooperation for Himalayan biodiversity conservation, UNESCO in collaboration with Samriddha Pahad and the Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve (KBR) hosted a three-day knowledge exchange programme from 20–22 May 2025. The initiative brought a high-level delegation from Nepal’s Kanchenjunga Conservation Area (KCA) to Sikkim, India, offering hands-on insights into the functioning of UNESCO-designated biosphere reserves.
This exchange is particularly timely as Nepal is interested to advance its proposal to designate the KCA as its first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The delegation included representatives from the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC), the KCA Management Council (KCAMC), and Samriddha Pahad, a Nepal-based NGO supporting community-based conservation efforts and knowledge-building initiatives.
Kanchenjunga, the second highest mountain in South Asia and the third highest in the world, is located at the intersection of Nepal, the Indian state of Sikkim, and parts of China. It holds deep cultural and spiritual significance for the communities residing in this transboundary region. On the Indian side, the Khangchendzonga National Park has already been designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
With this in mind, the visit to Sikkim aimed to gain a closer understanding of how a Biosphere Reserve functions and the range of benefits it can offer. Moreover, Sikkim’s experience could provide valuable insights for strengthening transboundary cooperation and advancing sustainable, culturally grounded conservation efforts within the Kangchenjunga Conservation Area (KCA).
The exchange commenced at the Department of Forest and Environment in Gangtok, where Dr. Neha Midha, Programme Officer, Natural Sciences, UNESCO Regional Office for South Asia, underscored the role of biosphere reserves in advancing science-based sustainable development.
The knowledge exchange visit to UNESCO’s designated Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve reaffirms UNESCO’s vision of biosphere reserves as ‘learning places for sustainable development,’ where scientific knowledge promotes innovative approaches for biodiversity conservation along with human well-being.
Dr. Sandeep Tambe, Principal Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Sikkim, elaborated on the technological tools adopted by KBR, such as surveillance systems and camera traps. He also addressed ongoing challenges such as invasive species, wildfires, and illegal wildlife trade.
A group discussion, moderated by UNESCO representatives, encouraged participants to actively engage and raise questions about biosphere reserves and the associated benefits and responsibilities that come with the designation.
The exchange in Sikkim provided the Nepali delegation a unique opportunity to see how biosphere reserves can balance conservation with community needs. Seeing firsthand how Khangchendzonga is managed deepened their understanding of the UNESCO MAB process and the role of grassroots institutions in driving sustainable change.
The programme included a field visit to Yuksom, the entry point to KBR’s core zone. Delegates participated in a birding excursion at Pah-Khola and engaged with local community members at the KBR Interpretation Centre. Interactions with Himal Rakshak, Self-Help Groups, Eco Development Committees, and the Resource Recovery Centre offered practical insights into waste management, ecotourism, and community-led sustainability practices.
A cultural visit to the sacred Khecheopalri Lake—recently declared a Ramsar Wetland Conservation area showcased how spiritual values are embedded in conservation strategies in the region.
The program not only enhanced the understanding about biosphere reserves but also strengthened cross-border cooperation in the eastern Himalayan region.
As Nepal charts its own path toward global recognition under the MAB Programme, this exchange may well mark a pivotal milestone in the journey of the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area to join the World Network of Biosphere Reserves.
India, with over 25 years of experience in implementing UNESCO’s MAB Programme, currently has 12 biosphere reserves listed under the World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR). Khangchendzonga was designated in 2018 and remains one of the few high-altitude biosphere reserves with a strong community integration model.
