Raju Acharya - MSc Agro forestry, Â鶹´«Ã½¸ßÇå°æ
Where are they now?
Now works for: Friends of Nature, Kathmandu, Nepal
I graduated from Bangor in Agro-forestry (2nd year of the SUTROFOR Program) in 2008. Well-known professors and lecturers, excellent administrators, a well equipped library and lecture room, cooperative and helpful local students, interesting modules and projects, combined with a landscape of sea and mountains are the key characteristics of the University.
All of these combined mean that I will remain an appreciative and true friend of Â鶹´«Ã½¸ßÇå°æ for ever. I particularly loved the modules in conservation biology and local knowledge. I am one of the founder members of Friends of Nature (www.fonnepal.org) and working voluntarily in the wildlife research and conservation field since 2005. Since coming back to Nepal, I did consultancy work on forest carbon assessment in Nepal. But my hobby and interest was in conserving Nepal’s owls.
While in Bangor I used opportunities to get connected with others interested in owl conservation and I became Nepal’s country representative for the World Owl Trust in the mid of 2008. In a short period of time (3 years) I, together with my colleagues, was able to document the first ethno-owl relationship, establish the first owl monitoring sites (14 points), and conduct more than 200 owl conservation camps in schools to disseminate the importance of owls to the general public. I am receiving a ‘Special Achievement Award’ at World Owl Hall of the Fame on 5th March in Minnesota, USA (www.festivalofowls.com/2011awards). I think this is just a beginning….