Department of Agri-Botany and Conservation Ecology, AFU, Nepal

22/04/2026

🌍 World Earth Day 2026 – What's the SECRET to Saving Our Planet's Health? 🌱

Today, April 22nd, is World Earth Day – Wishing you all a meaningful celebration! 🗺️✨

Did you know?
Earth's health is in crisis – oceans choked with plastic, forests disappearing, air & water polluted. But here's the mystery: What can ONE person really do? 🤔

Sneak peek at Earth-saving actions:
✅ Plant trees – Absorbs CO2, gives oxygen! 🌳
✅ Cut plastic – Recycle or go reusable! ♻️
✅ Save water – Fix leaks today! 💧
✅ Cycle more – Drive less! 🚲
✅ Organic farming – Skip chemicals! 🌾
✅ Compost food scraps – Reduces methane from landfills 🍌➡️🌱
✅ Use a refillable water bottle – Say no to single-use! ☕💧
✅ Switch to energy-efficient LEDs – Lower bills, lower carbon 💡
✅ Unplug devices when not in use – Stop vampire energy drain 🔌
✅ Wear second-hand or eco-friendly fabrics – Fashion can be green too 👗♻️
✅ Plant native flowers for bees & butterflies – Restore pollinator pathways 🐝🦋
✅ Take 5-minute showers – Saves gallons daily 🚿
✅ Use a bamboo toothbrush – Plastic-free smiles 😁🎋
✅ Support local farmers' markets – Less transport, more freshness 🥕🚜

Challenge! 💥
Pledge 1 action starting TODAY and reveal it in comment as commitment.

17/04/2026

🌿 EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT FOR WETLAND CHAMPIONS!

The Nagao Wetland Fund (NWF) is officially open for 2026 project applications, your chance to drive real, lasting impact across the Asia‑Oceania region!

Co‑created by the Nagao Natural Environment Foundation (NEF) and the Secretariat of the Convention on Wetlands, the NWF powers bold, practical action to protect and wisely use wetlands, some of the planet’s most vital ecosystems.

💰 What’s on offer?
Up to 30,000 USD for mid‑scale, high‑impact projects that advance the Ramsar Strategic Plan 2025–2034.
If your work strengthens wetland protection, restoration, or sustainable use, this is your moment.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Who can apply?
Countries in Asia and Oceania listed on the OECD DAC ODA Recipients list.

🌐 Target countries for this call include:
Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lao PDR, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam, Yemen, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Vanuatu.

(The NWF may prioritize specific countries based on donor guidance.)

🔗 Ready to apply?
Register and learn more here:
👉 https://www.ramsar.org/our-work/resource-mobilization-grants/grant-programmes/nagao-wetland-fund

15/04/2026

🌱 We Don’t Need to Poison Our Food to Feed the World 🌍
Toxic pesticides and synthetic fertilizers are polluting our water, destroying biodiversity, and fueling chronic illness—yet we’re told it’s all necessary to prevent starvation.

That’s a lie. As Dr. André Leu, Director of Regeneration International, explains, the science is clear: regenerative and organic farming systems can produce higher yields—without poisoning people or the planet.

🌱 Read the article: “There Is No Need to Poison Our Food – Higher Yields in Regenerative and Organic Agriculture”
https://organicconsumers.org/there-is-no-need-to-poison.../

🎥 Watch the workshop with Prof. Dr. André Leu
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpaHcGQknZg

📖 From Organic Bytes: https://orgcns.org/4gseiVX

13/04/2026

Climate change is hitting Nepal hard, but most of us still feel confused about what we can actually do.
Join this interactive workshop to make climate concepts easy, show real impacts happening around us, and share simple, practical actions we can take right now.
📅 Today | 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM
🔗 Just click: https://meet.google.com/jnh-yohj-noe

Climate change is shaping our present and future, and are you ready to understand it better and take action?

Join our interactive workshop with our Facilitator Ms. Dikshya Subedi, Founder, Youth Action for Sustainable and Eco Nepal (YASEN) and Country Lead, SHE Changes Climates. where we will:
✨ Simplify climate change concepts
💬 Discuss real impacts in Nepal
🌱 Explore practical, local solutions
🚀 Discover ways you can take action
An engaging space to learn, share, and grow together.

Join us at:
📅 April 13, 2026
⏰ 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/jnh-yohj-noe

Scan the QR code to join us! Let’s act for a sustainable future 💚

03/04/2026

As a course of advanced organic agriculture of 2nd semester, Associate professor Mr. Ananta Subedi Sir conducted an insightful online session on the scientific and regulatory aspects of organic agriculture through Google meet provided by Mr. Basanta Ranabhat.
Our students greatly benefited from the interactive discussion, gaining valuable insights into organic farming practices, certification processes, and market opportunities. The session broadened their perspectives on how science-based standards can support sustainable agriculture and conservation goals.
Mr. Basanta Ranabhat is a leading expert in organic certification and regulation in Nepal and across Asia. He is the Founder and President of Organic Learning Center, Bharatpur, and Chairperson of Organic Certification Nepal (OCN). He has played a pivotal role in developing national organic standards, inspection protocols, and certification systems that help Nepalese farmers access both local and international markets.
He has actively contributed to the Asia Regional Organic Standard (AROS) — an important initiative led by FAO, IFOAM, and UNCTAD to harmonize organic standards across East, South-East, and South Asia. His work focuses on creating “equivalence” between certification programs, making compliance easier and more cost-effective for small-scale producers.
With extensive experience in conducting organic inspections according to major international standards (EU, JAS Japan, and COR/USDA North America), Mr. Ranabhat continues to bridge the gap between local production and global markets.
We see this session as the beginning of a promising collaboration. It opens doors for future academic partnerships, joint research, and knowledge exchange between the department and the wider scientific community.
Thank you, Mr. Basanta Ranabhat, for sharing your expertise so generously!
We look forward to more such enriching sessions that connect science, policy, and practical conservation.

03/04/2026

World Aquatic Animal Day

Today we celebrate the hidden heroes of our rivers, wetlands, and freshwater ecosystems — fish, gharials, turtles, dolphins, and countless aquatic species that keep Nepal’s waters alive.
Our rivers like the Gandaki (Narayani) and Koshi support rich biodiversity and rural livelihoods, yet face serious threats from pollution, habitat loss, and unsustainable practices.

Healthy aquatic ecosystems are vital for biodiversity, clean water, and climate resilience.
Let’s shift from seeing rivers as resources to protecting them as living systems.

02/04/2026

Field Visit to Organic Farm:
The Postgraduate Conservation Ecology Department recently organized an insightful field visit for our 2nd Semester students to a progressive organic farm in Sukranagar, Bharatpur-25, Chitwan.Under the supervision of Associate Professor Mr. Ananta Prakash Subedi, the students visited the farm owned and managed by Mr. Chhabi Lal Neupane.

Mr. Neupane began his journey in organic agriculture in 2068 BS (approximately 2011 AD). What started as a challenging transition with initially low productivity has now grown into a successful and expansive operation covering 16 bigha of land across different areas in Chitwan.
Major productions on the farm include:
• Maize
• Kidney Bean
• Carrot
• Spring Rice
• A wide variety of vegetables

The farm exemplifies integrated and sustainable farming practices that align closely with conservation ecology principles:
• Livestock dung and slurry are effectively used as natural fertilizers
• Bio-products such as mustard cake, plant residues, and dung are decomposed to prepare “Jibamrit” (Jeevamrit) — a nutrient-rich microbial bio-fertilizer that enhances soil health
• Use of “Jhol mol” as a natural bio-pesticide and insect repellent, reducing the need for chemical interventions while protecting crops
• A holistic ecosystem approach that integrates crops, livestock, and natural processes to promote long-term sustainability, soil biodiversity, and resilient food production.

This visit provided our students with valuable real-world exposure to agroecological principles in action — demonstrating how organic farming can support healthy ecosystems, maintain biodiversity, and produce food without harming the environment.

We extend our sincere appreciation to Mr. Chhabi Lal Neupane for his warm hospitality and for generously sharing his experiences, challenges, and successes in organic farming.
Heartfelt thanks to Associate Professor Mr. Ananta Prakash Subedi for organizing and guiding this meaningful educational visit, bridging theoretical knowledge with practical conservation applications.

24/03/2026

Field Practical: Wetland Diversity Assessment
📍 Rampur Ghole
📖 Subject: Wetland Ecology (MSc Ag First Semester)
👨‍🏫 Facilitated by: Asst. Prof. Dinesh Bhatta

The Department of Agribotany and Conservation Ecology is pleased to share glimpses of the recent field practical conducted for the first-semester MSc Ag students as part of the Wetland Ecology course. Under the expert guidance of Assistant Professor Dinesh Bhatta, students carried out a comprehensive Wetland Diversity Assessment at Rampur Ghole.

The practical focused on:
🔹 Identification of aquatic and wetland plant species
🔹 Assessment of floral and faunal diversity
🔹 Analysis of water quality parameters
🔹 Understanding anthropogenic influences on wetland ecosystems

Such field-based learning initiatives are integral to our department's commitment to blending theoretical knowledge with practical exposure, preparing students to address real-world challenges in conservation ecology and sustainable agriculture.

Kudos to the students for their enthusiasm.

02/02/2026

Today, on February 2nd, we celebrate World Wetlands Day under the theme “Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge: Celebrating Cultural Heritage.”

Wetlands—such as marshes, swamps, mangroves, and peatlands—are among the planet’s most productive ecosystems. They support over 40% of global biodiversity, act as natural water filters, mitigate floods, and store more carbon than any other ecosystem, helping combat climate change. Yet, they’ve lost 35% of their area since 1970 due to human activities like drainage, pollution, and urban expansion.
Traditional knowledge from indigenous and local communities has sustained these vital areas for millennia. For instance, practices like rotational fishing in Asian rice paddies or controlled burns by Indigenous Australians preserve wetland health while honoring cultural heritage. Integrating this wisdom with modern conservation is key to restoring and protecting these sites.

There are over 2,500 Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Sites) covering more than 2.5 million square kilometers—larger than Mexico!  Let’s honor these ecosystems and their custodians by supporting sustainable management and policy changes.

30/10/2025

📢 Research Grant Opportunity for MSc Students (Agri-Botany & Conservation Ecology, AFU Rampur)

FSAN II Project invites applications for a Research Grant (up to NPR 1,00,000) to support MSc thesis research on the topic “Assessing Traditional Good Practices in Agriculture for Agroecological Resilience, Sustainability, and Productivity in Rural Hilly Nepal.”

🧾 Eligibility: MSc students (Agri-Botany & Conservation Ecology, AFU Rampur) who have completed their first semester.
📍 Research Area: Barekot (Jajarkot) or Raskot (Kalikot)
📅 Deadline: Submit applications by 10 November 2025
📧 Submit to: [email protected]

📢 Result Notification: 17 November 2025

🔗 Contact the Agri-Botany and Conservation Ecology Department, AFU Rampur for details.