NEFEJ HISTORY
Nepal Forum of Environmental Journalists (NEFEJ) is a voluntary, non-profit making and non-governmental organization founded as far back as in 1986. It functions as guided along by its democratically elected body which comprises professional journalists from print and electronic media and who have special interest in environment and development issues.
Rightly enough NEFEJ has emerged as a leading environmental group which is into advocacy, lobbying, awareness raising and pressure group in its own right now. During the 20 years it has been in existence, NEFEJ has gone a long way in making positive impact on environmental front. The Nepalese people are now well aware of the gravity of the situation stemming from environmental degradation and, to a large extent, have demonstrated their ingenuity, initiative and drive in protecting their natural heritage and resource at the grassroots level. They are equally conscious of the environmental issues at the global level, but there is a limit as to how much can they do at the international level.
UNDP Resident Representative Gerald Berke and NEFEJ President Binaya Guru-Acharya signing MJOU for GEF/SG pilot program.
Speaking from national perspective, NEFEJ is now verily a mover and shaker of opinion or so to say and always in the forefront when it comes to raise public awareness on issues of environmental concern. This incidentally is something which had goaded successive governments into taking many important decisions which might not have come forth had NEFEJ not been around. This is by no means an over-statement. Inter alia, NEFEJ has played a key role when it came to encouraging community forestry in Nepal. The community forestry by far is the most spectacular success story when it comes to preservation of greenery amidst wanton felling of trees in the 1980s. NEFEJ contributed to the movement by serving as a strong platform. It also served as a forum when the entire resources kingdom was divided and at loggerheads over Arun III Hydroelectricity Project, which was shelved following a raging controversy. Incidentally it was NEFEJ which backed introduction of electric vehicles to replace diesel run tempos.
In its long history, NEFEJ has been leading the cognoscenti in the field of environment and related areas. The organization has been in the forefront whenever there has been a public row on issues ranging from city garbage to arsenic contamination to illegal trade of endangered animals or rhino poaching. People have looked up to NEFEJ whenever there is a need to put something in hand to public scrutiny. It has also thrown weight behind one civic group or the other before the government of the day withdrew unpopular policy announcement.
NEFEJ happens to be the only national forum in Asia and, perhaps, in the entire world, which enjoys the distinction of running an independent FM radio station, which is dedicated to environmental issues apart from airing regular audio-visual programs in the national television network.
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| UNDP Resident Representative Gerald Berke and NEFEJ President Binaya Guru-Acharya signing MOU for GEF/SGP, pilot program. |
NEFEJ has been working in the area of environment and sustainable development with the increasing support and participation of the stakeholders and conscious section of population. Thanks to its untiring efforts over 20 years, it has evolved into an organization of national repute. Good news is it is considered as a credible, serious, committed and institution which runs along democratic lines. By virtue of its long-standing track records, it has earned many admirers and friends not only in Nepal but also in the outside world.
A pioneer in the field of environment, NEFEJ has grown into a unique media organization which is by far the most active and trustworthy environmental NGO in the country. The credibility was earned over a period of two decades, with the painstaking and sincere efforts put in by members and supporters from both within and without. Its strength is its merit.
There are many reasons why the organization has gained institutional strength and capability, which has becoming instrumental in meeting new challenges. One of them is its membership, which is diverse yet has a strong bond. The core membership has representation of professional publishing houses, broadcasting stations and television stations. Persons who earn their living from writing including freelancing are eligible for full membership with the right to vote and fight election. There is enough honorable space left for scientists, sociologists and other experts. There is also provision for institutional membership, which is granted to any agency working in environmental protection.
The activism of NEFEJ is centered on awareness raising, backing public-centered policies and lobbying in favor of healthy actions in the field of environment and development. Its activities are targeted at journalists, parliamentarians, policy framers, decision-makers and civil society. So much so NEFEJ has its own means of communication like a radio station, audio-visual programs and numerous publications. It organizes programs to enable the people in general and the stakeholders in particular to ventilate their views and grievances on issues of public concern. It served as the lead and pioneer organization to start open public hearing on matters of national importance. Over the years, Aankhijyal, Radio Sagarmatha and Hakahaki have evolved as flagship entities.
The objectives of the NEFEJ activities are to raise awareness, disseminate information and promote understanding in the area of environment. Its efforts are oriented towards bringing about attitudinal changes and cultivating positive frame of mind. This can be inferred from positive impact seen time and again. NEFEJ has been able to sensitize journalists, politicians, decision makers and opinion leaders on matters of complex environmental and development issues. NEFEJ has organized hundreds of seminars, workshops, interactions programs and conferences on variety of themes.
NEFEJ has been one of the luckiest NGOs in Nepal to achieve organizational discipline, administrative accountability and financial transparency. There had been difficulties and dissensions among the members pertaining to many administrative and financial decisions leading to, at times, acrimonious debates, but, at no time in its 20-year history, had there been a serious threat to the organizational unity and integrity. It is something to be proud about for those associated with NEFEJ.
