February 13: The United Nations has recognized the Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) as one of the seven UN World Restoration Flagships to honour the best examples of large-scale and long term ecosystem restoration in any country or region.

The UN made the announcement on Tuesday as part of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration in Nairobi, Kenya.   

The Department of Forests and Soil Conservation, the Department of National Wildlife and Conservation and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) organized a joint press conference on Tuesday and shared this information.    

"This exceptional conservation outcome has been possible under the leadership of the government, stewardship of the communities and engagement of the civil society. 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.   

According to the United Nations Environment Programme, the Terai Arc Landscape initiative aims to protect a biodiversity hotspot shared by India and Nepal that was rapidly degrading.

The Terai Arc Landscape stretches over 900 kilometres from the Bagmati river in the east to the Yamuna river of India in the west. In Nepal, the area extends from the Bagmati river in the east to the Mahakali river in the west covering six protected areas, four forest conservation areas, three wetland areas and several critical corridors.    

On Nepal’s side alone, more than 7.5 million people and a plethora of wildlife – tigers, rhinos, elephants, black bucks, buffaloes, crocodiles, and birds – depend on the vast Terai Arc Landscape, stretching across 2.47 million hectares, added the UN.

According to the WWF, the Terai Arc Landscape envisions a globally unique landscape where biodiversity is conserved, ecological integrity is safeguarded, and the socio-economic well-being of the people is secured.     

The program has also benefitted 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 will be honoured for the achievement on February 27. Minister for Forests and Environment Birendra Prasad Mahato is scheduled to visit Nairobi representing the government. (With inputs from RSS)