KATHMANDU: Nepal Forum of Environmental Journalists (NEFEJ) has awarded one-time "Best Environmental Reporting Award, 2009" to two outstanding journalists on March 28, 2009.

The award, which comprises Rs. 40,000 in cash and a certificate each, was awarded to journalists Saurabh Dhakal and Ram Chandra Adhikari. While Dhakal is associated with KTV, Adhikari is associated with Blast Times, published from Dharan.

Both had produced outstanding reports on how the constitution drafters can best enshrine environmental rights in the new constitution. The award was jointly given away by NEFEJ President Dhurba Basnet, International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN) representative L B Thapa and senior journalist Bhairab Risal amid a function at NEFEJ Secretariat.

The one time award was endowed under support from UKAID.

Speaking briefly at the presentation ceremony Basnet reaffirmed commitment of NEFEJ to "encourage outstanding journalism so that the masses at large are informed on environmental rights."

Similarly Thapa issued an appeal to journalists to concentrate on how best they can come up with material on equitable sharing of natural resources. Risal expressed the confidence that the award would motivate journalists professionally.