9th February 2026, Kathmandu, Nepal-  

The Ministry of Forests and Environment (MoFE) and WWF Nepal have signed the Project Implementation Agreement for the new Global Environment Facility-8 (GEF-8) funded “Managing Human-Tiger Interface in Nepal” project in the presence of Honourable Madhav Prasad Chaulagain, Minister of Forests and Environment. This agreement builds on the recently concluded Financing Agreement signed on 25 January 2026 by Dr. Dhani Ram Sharma, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Finance, and Dr. Ghana Shyam Gurung, Country Representative of WWF Nepal. The US$ 4,498,318 project will be implemented over five years by MoFE with WWF as the GEF Agency and partner.  

The signing ceremony held today marks a significant milestone in Nepal’s efforts to address human-wildlife conflict and promote coexistence between people and tigers in key tiger-bearing parks and Buffer Zones. The project focuses on improving habitat management, promoting livelihood alternatives, and enhancing knowledge-based management through four integrated components.  

“This project reflects a shared vision for coexistence between people and tigers. WWF Nepal is proud to partner with the Ministry of Forests and Environment and the Government of Nepal to address increasing Human Wildlife Conflict.” Said Dr. Ghana Shyam Gurung, Country Representative of WWF Nepal. “Through this initiative, we aim to catalyse community-led change and build sustainable models of human-wildlife coexistence that can be scaled and replicated across Asia’s tiger range countries,” he added. 

Nepal has long championed people centric conservation, habitat management, and control of  wildlife poaching and illegal trade, leading to inspiring gains in tiger populations. As human-wildlife interactions increase, this project promotes collaborative and innovative approaches to harmonise development with conservation. 

Representing the Government of Nepal, Dr. Rajendra KC, Chief, Planning, Monitoring and Coordination Division- MOFE, noted, “The signing of this project agreement underscores the Government of Nepal’s commitment to sustainable development. Investing in coexistence not only safeguards biodiversity but also enhances the resilience and well-being of local communities. We thank the Global Environment Facility, Ministry of Finance and WWF for their continued support and partnership.”