Welcome to Learning English, a daily 30-minute program from the Voice of America.

I'm Katie Weaver.

And I'm Mario Ritter Jr. This program is designed for English learners, so we speak a little slower and we use words and phrases especially written for people learning English.

Coming up on the show, Alice Bryant and John Russell bring us everyday grammar.

We close the program with the lesson of the day.

But first, Andrew Smith has this report.

Nepal's Supreme Court has struck down disputed laws that permit water power centers,

visitor housing such as hotels, and other business development in protected natural areas.

Environmental defenders say the January 15th ruling is a victory for efforts to protect the country's natural areas.

Nepal has recognized one-fifth of its territory as protected natural areas.

The country has 12 national parks and six conservation areas.

They include lowland areas such as Chitwan National Park. The park is home to many wild animals, such as tigers and rhinos.

Other protected areas include Sagarmatha National Park, home to Mount Everest.

Water power, or hydropower, and tourism, represent major economic sources for Nepal.

Last year, its government passed laws to permit development of large projects in some parts of national parks, forests, and other protected areas.

Padam Bahadur Shresta is a Nepalese environmental activist who took legal action against the

laws. He told Agence France Press that the law's passage showed that the government lacked insight

and was only seeking to please business investors.

Shrethaw praised the Supreme Court's ruling, saying it preserves ecology and biodiversity.

Nepal is recognized worldwide for its actions to protect its wild animal and plant life.

Nepal's environmental protection laws have helped the local tiger population increase from

121 animals in 2010 to 355 in 2023.

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