KATHMANDU: A forest fire prevention awareness programme was held in Pangsing village under the joint organisation of Chumnubri Rural Municipality and the Manaslu Conservation Area Project, bringing together local stakeholders and community members to address the growing threats of climate change and biodiversity loss in one of Nepal's most ecologically significant Himalayan regions.

"The programme on forest fire control awareness program for Biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation held in Pangsing village with the participation of various stakeholders and locals was an important one," said Nima Lama, Chairperson of Chumnubri Rural Municipality.

Chumnubri Rural Municipality lies in the remote upper reaches of Gorkha district, within the Manaslu Conservation Area — one of Nepal's most biodiverse and culturally rich protected landscapes. The region is renowned among trekkers and mountaineers as the gateway to the Manaslu Circuit, one of Nepal's most spectacular and increasingly popular trekking routes, and to Mount Manaslu (8,163m), the world's eighth highest peak. 

The area is also home to the Tsum Valley, a hidden Himalayan sanctuary known for its Tibetan Buddhist culture, ancient monasteries, and pristine natural environment — drawing a growing number of cultural and spiritual tourists each year.

The region's forests and high-altitude ecosystems are critical habitats for a wide range of wildlife, making forest fire prevention a matter of both environmental and tourism significance for the communities that depend on the landscape for their livelihoods.