Kathmandu,Aug.27: The Seventh International Galliformes symposium will he held in Nepal from September 24 to October 1, the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation( KMTNC ) said. The meeting will be jointly organized by the KMTNC, the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation( DNPWC ), Bird Conservation Nepal( BCN ) and World Pheasant Association- International( WPA ).

The symposium will focus on the conservation, research, and sustainable management of all species of partridge, quail, francolin, guinea fowl and pheasants with emphasis on those  inhabiting the grasslands  and forests of South Asia. The meeting follows the Sixth International Symposium on galliformes held in Malaysia in September 1997.

Participants will visit the  Annapurna Conservation Area- habitat of all six species of Himalayan pheasants. Prince Gyanendra will inaugurate the symposium and deliver the keynote address.

The first symposium was held in Kathmandu in 1979.