KATHMANDU, Nov 9: Minister for Forests and Soil Conservation Shankar Bhandari today said priority has been given to conservation program at community level to improve bio-diversity conservation and ecosystem. 

Speaking at a program organised jointly by the International Center for Integrated Mountain Development and the environmental good governance task force in the Capital on 'Policy on payment for ecosystem service', Minister Bhandari said local community had benefited from program like management and conservation of community forest and buffer zones. 

Also on the occasion, forest secretary Krishna Chandra Poudel complained that development works have been causing environmental degradation while stressing the need for finding a middle path in this regard. RSS  

 
• shankar bhandari
 
• integrated mountain development
 
• ecosystem
 
• biodiversity