Local community members gather at a Snow Leopard Tea Talk to discuss conservation issues with a Kathmandu Post journalist. Photo: TSN/ACAP/SLC

Teka Samuha Nepal, (TSN) has introduced an innovative approach to community engagement through intimate “Snow Leopard Tea Talks.” These are small gatherings designed to create comfortable spaces for open dialogue about local conservation issues and opportunities. TSN designed the sessions to be welcoming and informal. Participants include senior citizens, former rural municipality chairmen, women’s group members, herders, homestay and hotel owners, teachers, and local government representatives. They gather in homes, homestays, and restaurants to share a cup of tea. Conversations focus on local understanding of snow leopards, perceived benefits of conservation, challenges faced by communities, and the relevance of school-based education programs. Encouraged to speak freely, participants share personal experiences that might not emerge in larger, more formal meetings.

Participants gathered at a community Snow Leopard Tea Talk in Nepal to discuss conservation issues. Photo: TSN/ACAP/SLC

The tea talks reveal valuable community perspectives and create opportunities for dialogue that have never previously existed. Participants discuss human-snow leopard conflict, particularly livestock losses, but have also expressed interest in potential snow leopard-related livelihood opportunities such as ecotourism. These dialogues have been found to foster problem-solving rather than simply airing grievances. Many participants recommended continuing these intimate, productive conversations.