From Gorkhapatra Editorial - [This is so f---ing hilarious] HIS Royal Highness Crown Prince Paras Bir Bikram Shah Dev has made Nepal's position clear on conservation of the environment and bio-diversity. Addressing a function in Vienna, Austria the other day, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, who is also chairman of the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation (KMTNC), rightly underlined the need for carrying out activities for the preservation of nature and bio-diversity with the active participation of the people. His Royal Highness also lauded the role of the KMTNC in the field of environment conservation and development. The role of the Royal Family in Nepal's development has been very crucial, in general, and nature conservation, in particular. The King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation, under the patronage of the Royal Family, has been a trailblazer in nature conservation and development. This organisation has left an indelible mark in environment conservation both at home and abroad. The credit goes to the Royal family, in general, and His Majesty the King, in particular, as the KMTNC was born and grew under the patronage of His Majesty the King. His Royal Highness has also been equally interested and eager in conservation and sustainable development of the country. The motto of the KMTNC is conservation through popular participation. The KMNTC believes that activities that are launched with the people's participation alone can bring about sustainable development and tangible change in the lives of the people. In fact, development is for the people, which should be environment-friendly and sustainable. If any activities launched in the name of development cause damage to nature and do not address the problems of the people, it cannot be called development. Thus, the activities of the KMNTC have been popular and successful because they focus more on local needs and popular participation. His Royal Highness has, thus, laid particular emphasis on the necessity of acting as a bridge between the ecology and economy for ensuring the safe and secure future of humanity. The issue of conservation has emerged as an important agenda. Nepal has also expressed its commitment to work resolutely for the conservation of nature and carry out activities for sustainable development. As per its commitment, the efforts of Nepal have been directed towards maintaining a balance between development and conservation, which have been clearly reflected in the speech of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Nepal's efforts at economic development and ecological conservation are expected to further expedite under the patronage of the Royal Family.