The Terai Arc Landscape has been recognized as one of the seven UN World Restoration Flagships. The announcement was made as part of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration on Tuesday in Nairobi, Kenya in a joint news conference organized by the Department of Forests and Soil Conservation, Department of National Wildlife and Conservation and World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
This collaborative effort has helped protect and restore forests, increase species population, enhance ecosystem services and trans-border corridor functionality. This has garnered international recognition, positioning the Terai Arc Landscape as a pioneer in implementing landscape-level conservation practices worldwide, the WWF said in a press statement.
The Bagmati River in the east and the Yamuna River in India in the west form the Terai Arc Landscape, which spans more than 900 kilometers. Spanning from the Bagmati River in the east to the Mahakali River in the west, Nepal’s territory includes six protected areas, four areas designated for forest conservation, three Ramsar sites, and numerous vital pathways.
According to the WWF, the TAL aims to create a landscape that is unique in the world, one that protects ecological integrity, biodiversity, and people’s socioeconomic well-being.
The program has also assisted the local community through nature-based tourism, home stays, green enterprises, and many other initiatives through the engagement of local community members, community forest users, buffer zone communities, community-based anti-poaching units, citizen scientists and forest watchers.
Nepal would be rewarded on February 27 for the feat. Minister for Forest and Environment Birendra Prasad Mahato is scheduled to visit Nairobi representing the government.
