Environmental concerns are the main topics of interest in the global media today. According to scientists, the last few years have been the hottest in recent history, the health of our coral reefs is a concern, and biodiversity loss is an ongoing problem in the global community.
At the same time, governments and global organizations are making environmental policies stronger, global agreements are making the oceans and biodiversity safer, and scientists are working on new answers to environmental questions. The year 2026 is preparing for new climate solutions and making efforts towards environmental action is moving forward with the challenges.
In the middle of all these global environmental challenges, there is good environmental news happening around the globe.Eco Sathi Nepal presents a monthly roundup of encouraging environmental news from Nepal and around the world.
Nepal expanded its protected area network in 2025 with the establishment of Chhayanath National Park, the country’s 13th national park. Chhayanath National Park is located in Mugu District of Karnali Province in north-western Nepal, within the high Himalayan landscape near the Tibetan border. With an area of 843 square kilometers, the park protects mountain forests, alpine meadows, glacial valleys, and high-altitude wildlife habitats. It also includes a 177 square kilometer buffer zone that connects surrounding communities to conservation activities.
Chhayanath National Park was created by separating part of the area that previously belonged to Shey Phoksundo National Park. The change was made partly to improve management in the high Himalayan region, where large park areas can make conservation work difficult. The area is ecologically rich and provides habitat for species such as the Snow leopard, Himalayan blue sheep, Himalayan tahr, ghoral, and several mountain birds including the Himalayan monal and Himalayan snowcock. The park also contains alpine meadows and high mountain pastures where valuable medicinal plants grow, including the well-known Himalayan fungus Yarsagumba.
The park also has cultural and religious importance. It is named after the sacred Chhayanath Temple, a pilgrimage site located at about 4,500 meters above sea level. The region also includes monasteries and religious sites that attract pilgrims and visitors.
Locals believe the new national park could help strengthen tourism in the region and create opportunities for community livelihoods. Visitors traveling to Rara National Park may also explore Chhayanath and continue toward Shey Phoksundo, creating a broader Himalayan travel route.
Vulture populations in Nepal are recovering after decades of decline. In 2008, only 40 to 50 nests were recorded; by 2022, the number had grown to over 500. Sudurpashchim Province alone now hosts more than 150 nests, while Shuklaphanta National Park contains over 100.
Recovery has been gradual because vultures reproduce slowly, typically laying only one egg per year. The White‑rumped Vulture and Slender‑billed Vulture experienced the most severe declines, falling by 91 percent and 96 percent respectively between 2002 and 2011.
A major turning point came in 2006 when Nepal banned the veterinary drug Diclofenac, which had caused widespread vulture deaths. Today, the country protects nine vulture species, including the critically endangered Red‑headed Vulture, White-rumped Vulture, and Slender-billed Vulture.
Conservation efforts include seven “vulture restaurants,” which provide safe feeding sites free of harmful drugs. Laws now protect nesting trees, and community awareness campaigns are helping reduce threats. Because vultures migrate seasonally between Nepal and India, cross-border conservation is also important. A national five-year action plan aims to sustain this positive recovery trend.
The Government of Nepal has introduced a new five year plan to tackle waste on Mount Everest, the world’s highest mountain. As climbing on Everest has grown in popularity over the decades, so has the amount of trash left behind. Discarded equipment, plastic, and empty oxygen cylinders have gradually accumulated along climbing routes and camps. The new plan ensures that the mountain remains clean while protecting the fragile Himalayan environment.
The strategy focuses on stronger waste management rules for expeditions. Climbers will be required to bring back the waste they generate during their ascent, and authorities plan to establish better systems for collecting and transporting garbage from high camps along with monitoring of expedition rules.
Though Nepal has already carried out several cleanup campaigns on Everest in recent years, this new five year plan builds on these efforts by creating a more systematic and long term approach to keeping the mountain clean. With this plan Nepal wants to protect Everest’s natural beauty and preserve the Himalayan ecosystem for future generations.
Spending time in a forest, a practice known in Japan as forest bathing, can give the immune system a significant boost. Studies show that a day in the woods can increase both the number and activity of natural killer cells, which are important for the body’s ability to fight cancer. Some research even reports increases of up to 80%, with effects lasting for several weeks.
The benefits come from a combination of factors. Trees release natural fragrant compounds called phytoncides, such as pinene, which can directly stimulate natural killer cells. At the same time, being in a forest reduces stress by lowering stress hormone cortisol that can suppress immunity, and exposes the body to helpful microbes in the environment.
Together, these effects suggest that spending time in nature can strengthen the body’s defenses in a simple and natural way. Being in the forest is not only calming but also supports health at a deep, cellular level.
Microplastic pollution has become a global environmental challenge, affecting rivers, lakes, and oceans. Conventional water treatment systems are often unable to remove the smallest plastic particles.
Professor Susie Dai has used genetic engineering to create a new kind of algae that grows in wastewater and can turn microplastics into biomass that is easy to collect and remove. Researchers at the University of Missouri have developed this algae capable of binding microplastic particles into clusters. These clusters sink to the bottom, where they can be collected and removed. The specially engineered algae can grow in wastewater, feeding on excess nutrients and cleaning the water as it grows.
The captured plastic can then be converted into biodegradable materials. This innovative approach offers a promising method for reducing microplastic pollution in both freshwater and marine environments.
The European bison, once driven to extinction in the wild due to habitat loss and hunting, is making a remarkable comeback. Conservation programs have successfully restored populations in parts of Eastern Europe.
Today, more than 250 bison roam freely in the Carpathian Mountains of Romania, with many individuals born in the wild. Rewilding efforts led by Rewilding Europe and local partners are helping restore natural grazing patterns that support biodiversity.
The return of this keystone species benefits ecosystems and also brings economic opportunities through nature-based tourism for nearby rural communities.
Every day, billions of people perform dozens of internet searches, looking for information, news, or answers to simple questions. What if those searches could also help restore the planet?
The search engine Ecosia uses revenue from online searches to fund tree-planting projects around the world. Environmental organizations and local communities plant trees in areas affected by deforestation and land degradation. On average, about 50 searches can fund the planting of one tree. Ecosia supports over 20 tree-planting projects in 15 different countries: Peru, Brazil, Madagascar, Nicaragua, Haiti, Colombia, Spain, Morocco, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Indonesia.
Millions of users already contribute simply by making Ecosia their default search engine. It requires no extra effort, just your normal browsing helps support reforestation campaigns.
If you want a simple way to support environmental restoration, switching to Ecosia as your browser is one of the easiest steps to take. Every search becomes a contribution toward rebuilding forests and protecting the planet. You are just 50 searches away from planting a tree.
