CONSERVATION EFFORTS

The boundary of Kanchenjunga Conservation Area in Nepal is being expanded. This will make the whole belt of northeastern Nepal a protected area for flora and fauna. At present the area covers 1,650 square kilometres. To expand the area Milke Hill will be included. "After 30 years, the local people of Kanchenjunga want to expand the conserved area. It is a good sign," said Chandra P Gurung of the World Wide Fund for Nature, which has been conducting the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area Project to mobilise the people for conservation activities since 1998.