FairWild Standard now available in Nepali

3rd June 2019 - The FairWild Standard and its performance indicators have been translated into Nepali, as part of the project “Succeeding with CITES: Sustainable and equitable Jatamansi trade from Nepal”.

With funding from the UK Government’s Darwin Initiative, the project aims to promote legal and sustainable international trade in Nardostachys jatamansi, commonly known as Jatamansi or Spikenard.

The plant species is one of Nepal’s most commercially valuable and is heavily exploited. It is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and has been included in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), to regulate its international trade.

A series of project activities until 2021 will encourage harvesting practices that comply with the FairWild Standard – leading to smoother implementation of CITES control measures as well as potentially achieving FairWild certification for the ingredients. The development of equitable trade links is also prioritised, with ties being established between Nepali companies sourcing from project sites in Jumla and Mugu and committed responsible buyers in Europe.

Puspa Ghimire, Programs Director of the Asia Network for Sustainable Agriculture and Bioresources (ANSAB), a key implementing partner of the project in Nepal commented: “The FairWild Standard provides a valuable international framework for establishing the sustainable harvest and fair trade of wild plant ingredients.”

“However, for it to be truly accessible, it needs to be available in national languages. We were delighted to support the translation to Nepali and look forward to using it in practice with the Jatamansi stakeholders.”

The Succeeding with CITES project is led by TRAFFIC, with key implementation in Nepal by ANSAB, and endorsement of the Ministry of Forests and Environment. Other partners include FairWild Foundation, ProFound – Advisers in Development, the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, the IUCN/SSC Medicinal Plant Specialist Group and the University of Copenhagen’s Department of Food and Resource Economics.

Read more about the project on TRAFFIC’s website and in the Darwin Initiative’s May 2019 newsletter.

Download the FairWild Standard and Indicators in Nepali on our resources page.