Bird Conservation Nepal (BCN) has been awarded the prestigious Conservation Achievement Award 2026 by BirdLife International in recognition of its long-standing leadership and outstanding contribution to vulture conservation in Nepal.

BirdLife International is a global partnership of 125 conservation organisations working across 120 countries to conserve birds, their habitats and global biodiversity.

The award was approved by the BirdLife Global Council at its 88th meeting held from 15–17 June 2026. It recognizes BCN’s leadership in vulture conservation through scientific research, policy advocacy and nationwide conservation action to eliminate the vulture toxic veterinary drug Diclofenac, which has played a critical role in enabling the recovery of Nepal’s vulture populations.

The award was formally presented to BCN by Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado, Honorary President of BirdLife International, on 9 September 2026 during the BirdLife Global Partnership Meeting and Global Flyways Summit, being held from 7–11 September in Nairobi, Kenya.

“This award is a great honour for Bird Conservation Nepal and, more importantly, a recognition of the collective efforts and broad partnership that have made vulture conservation possible in Nepal. We are grateful to the Government of Nepal, Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, Department of Forests and Soil Conservation, Department of Drug Administration, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Saving Asia’s Vultures from Extinction, BirdLife International and its Partners, conservation organisations, veterinary professionals, researchers, local governments, communities, international supporters and all our partners and supporters who have worked together to protect Nepal’s vultures,” said Ishana Thapa, CEO, Bird Conservation Nepal.

For more than two decades, BCN has been at the forefront of vulture conservation in Nepal, combining field-based scientific research, population and nest monitoring, satellite/GPS tracking, conservation breeding, community engagement, veterinary drug monitoring and policy advocacy.

One of BCN’s landmark achievements was its leading role in the campaign that resulted in the national ban on veterinary Diclofenac in Nepal in 2006. Diclofenac was identified as a major cause of the catastrophic decline of South Asian Gyps vultures after birds consumed the carcasses of livestock treated with the drug. BCN continued working with government authorities, veterinary professionals, pharmaceutical stakeholders and communities to promote the use of vulture-safe alternatives.

BCN has also played a leading role in establishing and strengthening Vulture Safe Zones (VSZs) in Nepal. The Gandaki-Lumbini Vulture Safe Zone, declared in 2021, became the world’s first Vulture Safe Zone, marking a major milestone in coordinated, landscape-level vulture conservation.

BCN’s long-term monitoring and research have provided important evidence of the remarkable recovery of Nepal’s White-rumped Vulture population following its severe decline. Recent research and monitoring indicate sustained population growth, high survival rates and increasing breeding populations, demonstrating that coordinated, science-based conservation interventions can help reverse severe declines in threatened species.

The recovery of vultures in Nepal is particularly significant as several vulture species remain globally threatened. Vultures provide essential ecosystem services by rapidly removing animal carcasses and helping reduce the risk of pathogen and disease transmission. Their conservation therefore contributes not only to biodiversity protection, but also to healthy ecosystems, veterinary safety and community well-being.

The Conservation Achievement Award 2026 is both a recognition of BCN’s achievements and an encouragement to continue strengthening vulture conservation in Nepal.

“The award strengthens our commitment to ensure that the recovery of Nepal’s vultures continues and becomes a lasting conservation success story. We remain committed to science-based conservation, effective policy implementation, safe veterinary practices, community participation and landscape-level approaches to secure a future for vultures in Nepal.” said Ishana Thapa