Nepali Botanist Wins Prestigious Conservation Award to Save Rare Medicinal Plants
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📰 The quick summary: Nepali botanist Reshu Bashyal won the prestigious Whitley Award for her pioneering work in conserving endangered orchids and yew trees, providing critical support for restoring 1,000 hectares of vital plant habitat.
📈 One key stat: The award includes a £50,000 prize (nearly $67,000) that will fund the restoration of 1,000 hectares of core wild orchid habitat and planting of 5,000 Maire’s yews in Nepal’s Makwanpur district.
💬 One key quote: “Orchids and yews are very special because they stand out as evolutionarily distinct plants that have lured people not just because of their beauty but also with their medicinal values,” said Bashyal, research and program lead at the Kathmandu-based NGO Greenhood Nepal.
1️⃣ The big picture: Nepali botanist Reshu Bashyal has received the prestigious Whitley Award, known as the ‘Green Oscars,’ for her groundbreaking work in combating the unsustainable harvesting of orchids and yew trees in Nepal. She becomes the 4th Nepali conservationist to win this award in as many years, highlighting Nepal’s emerging leadership in biodiversity conservation. Her research focuses on understanding the motivations behind plant poaching and developing community-based approaches to conservation. With Nepal home to approximately 500 orchid species and valuable yew resources, Bashyal’s work addresses critical conservation needs for plants facing intense harvesting pressure for medicinal and ornamental purposes.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: This award recognizes decades of neglected plant conservation work, bringing much-needed attention to non-charismatic species that often receive less funding than animal conservation. Bashyal’s community-focused approach promotes sustainable solutions by involving local residents in conservation efforts rather than relying solely on enforcement. The prize money will directly support habitat restoration through planting 5,000 Maire’s yews and protecting 1,000 hectares of orchid habitat. Her work helps preserve evolutionarily distinct plant species with significant medicinal value, potentially benefiting both biodiversity and human health while developing models for community-led plant conservation that can be replicated elsewhere.
3️⃣ What’s next: Bashyal’s team will focus conservation efforts on five community forests in Makwanpur district, home to around 250 mature Maire’s yew trees and 100 species of medicinal orchids. They plan to address weak law enforcement issues by developing local community leadership and raising awareness. The restoration project aims to cultivate thousands of new yew trees while protecting existing plant populations from unsustainable harvesting.
Read the full story here: Mongabay – Botanist Reshu Bashyal becomes fourth Nepali in as many years to win Whitley Award
