Himalayan Conservation and Research Institute (HCRI), formerly known as Youth for Nature (YFN), is an independent, not-for-profit organization established by a team of young socio-ecological researchers and conservationists from Nepal to promote science-based conservation of natural resources. HCRI is registered at the District Administration Office, Dolpa, under the Society Registration Act, 1978, and is affiliated with the Social Welfare Council in Kathmandu.
HCRI is dedicated to safeguarding natural resources through promoting and conducting interdisciplinary research. HCRI aims to conserve and manage natural resources through participatory research, capacity building, conservation education, awareness, publication, networking, and goal-oriented programs by adopting participatory, experienced-based learning approaches.
HCRI's livelihood action includes a holistic approach encompassing many components of health, education, skill based training, capacity building and awareness.
The number of snow leopard is declining because of habitat degradation and fragmentation, reduction in natural prey due to illegal hunting as well as competition with livestock, retaliatory killing of snow leopard, lack of awareness and lack of trans-boundary efforts and HCRI actively engage upland communities as stewards for the snow leopard, its prey and habitat, provide veterinary training to local livestocks herders and create conservation awareness on local people.
Expansion of human settlement and agricultural fields has resulted in the widespread loss of elephant habitat. The reduction of landscape connectivity has resulted in dramatic decline of elephant population. Different activities are implemented to reduce the prevailing human-elephant conflict in Eastern Nepal carried out through HCRI such as awareness programs, research and training to the local people.
HCRI’s awareness initiatives use a variety of media directed at locals, community leaders, forest resource users, local students, and different stakeholders. We create opportunities to engage a diversity of stakeholders in jointly improving the understanding of the importance of natural resources, develop positive attitudes for conservation, and initiate action towards sustainable solutions for nature conservation.