KATHMANDU, March 15 (Xinhua) -- The Nepali government and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Thursday signed a 4 million-U.S.-dollar project entitled "Conservation and Sustainable Use of Wetlands in Nepal" to be implemented in the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve in eastern Nepal.

    "We hope to develop this as a model for sustainable wetland management in Nepal to be replicated by the government. Moreover, the project will also indirectly contribute to the peace building process by improving the livelihood opportunities of the targeted communities thus enhancing access to natural resources", UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Ghulam Isaczai told reporters.

    According to Isaczai, the new project will create awareness on and build the institutional capacity of the communities to conserve the wetlands which are being threatened by several factors such as poaching, cattle gazing, over fishing, uncontrolled drainage, pollution and deforestation.

    The communities will also be able to influence local development policies supportive to wetlands, develop incentives for community-based ecotourism activities, and promote sustainable utilization of resources.