The Terai Arc Landscape initiative in Nepal, which collaborated with local communities, government, and civil society groups to protect and restore 66,800 hectares of forest, has been honored as one of seven UN World Restoration Flagships. This initiative aims to safeguard a biodiversity hotspot shared by India and Nepal, where over 7.5 million people and various wildlife species depend on the vast landscape. The area had suffered from poaching, habitat loss, and human-wildlife conflicts, leading to forest degradation and declining wildlife populations.
Since its inception with the Terai Arc Landscape Program in 2001, the initiative has rejuvenated a forest area 13 times the size of Kathmandu and nearly tripled the tiger population to 355. The overall tiger population in the Terai Arc landscape, shared by both countries, more than doubled to 1,174. Approximately 40,000 local community members engaged in anti-poaching efforts, citizen science, nature-based tourism, and forest monitoring, benefiting nearly 500,000 households.
The World Restoration Flagship awards, part of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, recognize initiatives restoring ecosystems globally. The Terai Arc Landscape initiative’s recognition means it is eligible for technical and financial support from the UN to restore an additional 350,000 hectares in India and Nepal. The initiative’s success underscores the effectiveness of a landscape approach to conservation, which acknowledges the interconnectedness of people and nature.
By focusing on forest corridors connecting protected areas and encouraging natural regeneration, the initiative prioritizes the conservation of biodiversity while addressing environmental challenges across sectors. The approach emphasizes rebuilding the connection between people and nature, crucial for combating climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. The Terai Arc Landscape embodies the 10 Restoration Principles of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, making it a model for large-scale and long-term ecosystem restoration efforts globally.
The announcement of the Terai Arc Landscape as a World Restoration Flagship coincides with the 6th UN Environment Assembly, where global Environment Ministers convene to address climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and waste. This recognition highlights the importance of collaborative efforts in restoring ecosystems and safeguarding biodiversity for future generations.
