From 9th to 11th June 2025, the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and the National Indigenous Women Forum (NIWF) jointly organized a workshop titled "Inclusive Conservation: Understanding the Contributions, Leadership, and Challenges of Indigenous Peoples in Nepal." The event was held at ICIMOD Headquarters in Lalitpur and continued at Nagarkot. The workshop's chief guest was Hon. Rupa B.K. State Minister for Forest and Environment, while special guests included Dr. Pema Gyamtsho, Director General of ICIMOD, Hon. Ram Bahadur Thapa Magar of Indigenous Nationalities Commission (INC), Hon. Subodh Singh Tharu of the Tharu Commission; Ms. Suni Lama, Chairperson of NIWF, and Mr. Divas Rai, General Secretary of the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN).

The workshop brought together a diverse group of participants and representatives from key Indigenous and civil society organizations, including: NIWFederation, INWOLAG, NIDA, LAHURNIP, FIKA, YFIN, Limi Youth Society, ICCA Network Nepal, FKDF, NFDIN, Maiti Nepal, CIPRED, Tharu Kalyankari Sabha, Sana Udhyog, Tharu Mahila Sabha, NAST and Sunuwar Samaj Sewa. 

Key thematic areas covered during the program included:

• Target 3 of Nepal’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP)
• OECM (Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures)
• Indigenous and Traditional Territories (ITT)
• Indigenous and Community Conserved Areas (ICCA)

This workshop served as an important platform to highlight the crucial role of Indigenous Peoples in biodiversity conservation, recognize their traditional knowledge and stewardship practices, and strengthen their leadership in policy-level conservation efforts in Nepal.