Soil and Water Conservation Society, Nepal conducts the school conservation education programme regularly aiming to promote soil and water conservation knowledge and skill among the school students. As per the plan of the society for 2079/80, school programme is conducted at the New Horizon Academy located at the Machhegaun, Chandragiri Municipality ward 9, Kathmandu on Tuesday 12 Poush 2079 (27 December 2022).
Following executive members from the society conducted the school education programme: Mr. Keshar Man Sthapit, President, Ms. Indira Mulepati, Treasurer; members Ms. Shushma Giri, Mr. Mahesh Dhungana and Mr. Mukunda Acharya Provincial Watershed Management Office, Lalitpur provided the transport facility.
One hour class session was delivered on “Understanding Ground Water Resource Conservation” by Mr. Keshar Man Sthapit, President of the society and discussion was followed for half hour. The principal of the Academy, welcome and introduced to the students of grade 9 and 10 of the academy. There were 60 students attending the session. The session was attended by the principal as well as some class teachers. One note book and one dot pen were given to every student to take the note on the lesson. At the end of the session one packet of biscuit and soft drink was served to each to each student.
We observed the students were very enthusiastic in learning and attended the session seriously.
The teachers and students appreciated the efforts of the society in enlightening the knowledge on world water resource status, importance of water conservation, how the ground water is recharged and role of soil conservation techniques in the conservation of ground water resources.
Watershed management encompasses conservation and management of various resources, requiring multi-sectoral development. In Nepal, several line ministries and departments of the government provide services to manage natural resources through professionals of different disciplines. International and National Non- Governmental Organizations (NGOs) are also working in sustainable development of watershed resources. All these agencies and organizations work independently with their own compartmental perspectives in absence of common approach. This essentially has hindered the smooth operation of watershed management throughout the country. In order to foster an effective and coordinated watershed management effort, a need of a common forum for professionals of different disciplines was realized. This led to the inception of Soil and Water Conservation Society, Nepal (SOWCOS) in 19 July 1999(B.S. 3 Shrawan 2056). This forum aims at providing an opportunity for the resource conservation professionals to bring together their expertise and efforts in order to promote the welfare of Nepalese people through sustainable management of watershed resources.