KATHMANDU:- Nepal and India on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening cross-border biodiversity conservation and curbing wildlife crime.

The agreement was signed in New Delhi in the presence of Nepal’s Minister for Forests and Environment Madhav Prasad Chaualgain and India’s Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupendra Yadav. Nepal’s Ambassador to India, Dr Shankar Prasad Sharma, and India’s Environment Secretary Tanmay Kumar signed the pact on behalf of their respective governments.

The understanding seeks to enhance coordination in protected areas and biological corridors along the Nepal-India border, which serve as habitats for elephants, rhinos and tigers that frequently move between the two countries.

According to the Ministry of Forests and Environment, the pact will facilitate joint patrols, information sharing, research, capacity building and stronger action against poaching and illegal wildlife trade. Both sides will also exchange wildlife crime-related information through the South Asia Wildlife Law Enforcement Network (SAWEN).

The agreement will be reviewed every three years and automatically renewed every five years unless either country decides otherwise through diplomatic channels.

Officials said the cooperation is expected to strengthen long-term conservation efforts in shared ecosystems.