Kathmandu, May 18, 2025 – In recognition of her unwavering commitment to sustainable tourism and grassroots conservation, Doma Paudel, founder of Nepal Dynamic Eco Tours, has been awarded the WWF Nepal Conservation Award 2025—one of the highest honors bestowed upon conservationists in the country.

Doma Paudel has made history as Nepal’s first female nature guide and has been a tireless advocate for ethical, community-based ecotourism in the buffer zones of Chitwan National Park. Through her pioneering work, she has not only promoted responsible wildlife tourism but also empowered local communities, especially women, to participate in conservation-driven livelihoods. Her enterprise, Nepal Dynamic Eco Tours, channels a significant portion of its revenue back into conservation education, safety training, and support for victims of human-wildlife conflict.

Instituted in 1995, the WWF Nepal Conservation Awards aim to recognize and honor individuals and organizations working at the community level to safeguard the country’s rich biodiversity. With this year’s recognition, the award has now been conferred upon 190 conservation heroes from across Nepal, reinforcing WWF’s commitment to celebrating grassroots leadership in environmental stewardship.

The 2025 ceremony marked not only a celebration of individual achievement but also a collective reaffirmation of Nepal’s conservation ethos—where communities, forests, and wildlife thrive together.