The estimated total budget for Nepal is US$ 60 million. I ask this question in an interview with four USAID professionals at the busy canteen in their Kathmandu office. “ No,” says economic specialist Anita Mahat-Rana, but USAID addresses biodiversity conservation in its other portfolios. Tahalia Barrett, deputy director of the Social Environmental Economic Growth Development office, follows up: "To the extent that this is a priority for the government we try to comply, and we are just not clear on whether this, as you mentioned, is a priority for the government.”