Conservation International's Rapid Assessment of the Barun Valley was called off ('Turf war wrecks expedition' #275) because of opposition by the Ministry of Environment. Had the Barun research been published perhaps Nepal would have enjoyed the same international spotlight that Indonesia is getting this week for the amazing discovery of a lost world in Irian Jaya. At least for a brief period there would have been some positive coverage of Nepal instead of our tumultuous politics.

Priya Joshi,
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