TERAI ARC LANDSCAPE - NEPAL Annual Progress Report July 2004 - June 2005

His Majesty's Government of Nepal Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation

With supported from WWF Nepal Program TERAI ARC LANDSCAPE - NEPAL Nepal’s largest and most ambitious conservation endeavour

© 2006, Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation, HMG Nepal Citation: MFSC 2006, Terai Arc Landscape - Nepal Annual Progress Report

Prepared by HMGN with support from WWF Nepal, and technical inputs from SNV-Nepal, CARE Nepal, KMTNC, UNDP, PCP, WTLCP, LFP, BISEP-ST and TAL Program

Compiled by: Ganesh Pant, MFSC Santosh Nepal, WWF Nepal

Photo credits front and back cover (L-R): © LFP, © WWF Nepal / TAL, © WWF Nepal / TAL, © LFP © WWF-Canon - Martin HARVEY, © WWF Nepal / TAL

Design & Printing: Format Printing Press, Kathmandu TERAI ARC LANDSCAPE-NEPAL Annual Progress Report July 2004 - June 2005

His Majesty's Government of Nepal Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation 2006 TERAI ARC LANDSCAPE-NEPAL „ ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT i

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Nepal has always been a strong supporter of conservation, starting nearly four decades ago. The nation has embraced new challenges with innovative approaches to conservation, starting with a species focus in the 1960s to landscape level conservation in recent years.

The latter has garnered the active participation of stakeholders and has been accepted as an effective approach to biodiversity conservation because it sustains ecological processes and addresses socio-economic needs. His Majesty's Government of Nepal (HMGN) has prioritized landscape level conservation, which is reflected in major policy documents including the Tenth Plan (2002-2007) and Nepal Biodiversity Strategy 2002

The Terai Arc Landscape (TAL)-Nepal is the first landscape level conservation initiative of HMGN. It is also the largest initiative in the history of conservation. This vast landscape covers an area of 49,500km2 that extends from Nepal's Bagmati River in the east to India's Yamuna River in the west and encompasses 11 protected areas. In Nepal, TAL extends over an area of 23,199 km2 across 14 Terai districts, and includes four protected areas and their buffer zones.

TAL-Nepal is very important given its biological and socio-economic significance. Several issues of biodiversity conservation and sustainable livelihoods are interlinked. Analysis of biodiversity loss in the TAL revealed complex and multiple causes for it. In order to address these complex issues with a joint effort by various partners working in TAL, HMGN approved the TAL-Nepal Strategic Plan (2004-2014) in February 2004. The Implementation Plan prepared to translate these strategies into action is in the final stages of endorsement at Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation (MFSC).

Since it is impossible for a single agency, with its limited financial and human resources, to address the complex and interrelated issues in this vast landscape, consolidation and synergy through strong partnerships has become essential. The government, donors, INGOs/NGOs, local communities, and conservation organizations all work together to fulfill the goal for TAL. During the fiscal year, there were nine different bilateral and multi-lateral agencies with 15 different projects or programs working in TAL districts under the leadership of MFSC. Partnerships and leveraging efforts among these partners are aimed at addressing complex issues of biodiversity conservation and sustainable livelihoods.

Despite these facts, there is always the challenge of integration of efforts during planning, implementation, and monitoring. Although conservation and development initiatives are taking place under the leadership of MFSC, there is a lack of aggregated information on what different organizations are doing. This report attempts to document the major undertakings of several partners functioning in ii TERAI ARC LANDSCAPE-NEPAL „ ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT

TAL-Nepal. It has been prepared through the collation of accomplishments and achievements made by various projects and programmes in various thematic areas between July 2004 to June 2005, (fiscal year 2061/62). The report is build up following the framework of the TAL Implementation Plan.

This annual report is expected to be a landmark in the aggregated documentation of successes and lessons learnt in TAL-Nepal. The synthesis of this report was very challenging, especially with regard to generalization and scaling-up according to the Implementation Plan, as this is the first attempt to pull together information in this manner. There will undoubtedly be several gaps in this first attempt, which will be improved upon in future reports.

The achievements have been assessed in five major thematic areas: governance, sustainable forest management, species and ecosystem conservation, Churia watershed conservation, and sustainable livelihoods. Policy and coordination related activities are categorized under governance. All forestry related activities are part of sustainable forest management. Activities focused in the protected areas and buffer zones are grouped under species and ecosystem. Soil conservation and related activities can be found under Churia watershed conservation. Finally, all livelihoods related activities are in sustainable livelihoods. Awareness and capacity enhancement activities are distributed across the thematic areas. TERAI ARC LANDSCAPE-NEPAL „ ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT iii

PREFACE

Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation endorsed the TAL-Nepal Strategic Plan in February 2004. This plan intends to consolidate the conservation and development activities in 14 TAL districts. Planning and Human Resource Division of the Ministry has taken a lead in developing the strategic plan with various partners working in the landscape. After the approval of the strategic plan, the Planning and Human Resource Division of the Ministry has worked jointly with all the key players working in the landscape in developing the Implementation Plan to translate the strategies into actions.

The TAL Nepal Strategic Plan and draft Implementation plan is the outcome of understanding among the conservation partners. I strongly believe that a consolidated report on the conservation outcome of the TAL accomplished in the fiscal year 2061/62 will promote better understanding of the issues and achievements by all TAL partners which will be helpful in realization of the TAL vision.

Since the period starting July 2004 -June 2005 is the first complete fiscal year (Fiscal year 2061/62) following the endorsement of the strategic Plan in the February 2004 (Magh 2060), it is imperative that the conservation and development work that contribute to the vision of TAL be collected, collated and compared against the targets of the Implementation Plan for this period.

This report is prepared based on the framework of the draft Implementation Plan. This is a major monitoring step, which provides information to the status of implementation of strategic plan in next several years.

I would like to thank the members of the working team who work hard towards collection and compilation of the data. I would like to thank WWF Nepal program for supporting the work of developing this report in true sense of partnership. MFSC is thankful to all the projects and programs whose data and other information appear here in this report.

Since this is a first report of this type, there should be enough room for improvement in future. The ministry will highly appreciate the comments and suggestions from different stakeholders and experts to improve such reports in future.

Mohan Prasad Wagley, PhD Chief, Planning and Human Resource Division iv TERAI ARC LANDSCAPE-NEPAL „ ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT

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FOREWORD

WWF is privileged to be the longest standing partner of His Majesty's Government of Nepal in biodiversity conservation. Since 1967 we have worked together to safeguard Nepal's natural wealth. WWF started activities with the conservation of large mammals; particularly tigers, rhinos and swamp deer. Over time, we have learned valuable lesson that have been internalized in our conservation programs.

Conservation in Nepal took a leap forward after the country adopted a landscape level conservation approach. The Terai Arc is the first Landscape whose biological significance has been identified and accepted by the government and mainstream conservation communities in Nepal.

While exploring the mechanism to implement activities for landscape level conservation, we found that sustainable conservation is closely linked with sustainable livelihoods, and that conservation is not possible through a single agency or individual. This prompted the development of a framework, the Terai Arc Landscape Strategic Plan, which is serving as a tool to engage all the key landscape level partners and stakeholders to work for a common goal under the lead of the ministry. The TAL strategic Plan was developed through a joint effort of the Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation and key landscape level conservation partners including USAID, SNV Nepal, UNDP and DFID, and WWF.

The Implementation Plan, designed to translate the TAL strategies into ground action, was developed in the similar consultative manner. WWF was privileged to coordinate the entire processes of formulation of both the Strategic Plan and the Implementation Plan. The Implementation Plan has identified the need of an annual collection of achievements made by all partners in TAL, which will serve as a yardstick to measure the achievements. This report fulfils that need and is a valuable compilation of all the conservation efforts made in the landscape in the past fiscal year. It also allows different partners to examine the conservation efforts being carried out in the landscape.

I would like to thank the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation, especially Dr. Mohan Prasad Wagle for his leadership, and other partners for the opportunity to be involved in the preparation and publication of this report. Since this is the first such endeavor, there may be some unintended omissions. The coming years will surely give us room to improve. I thank all the team members involved in the preparation of this report.

Chandra Gurung, PhD Country Representative vi TERAI ARC LANDSCAPE-NEPAL „ ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT

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FOREWORD

SNV expresses its gratitude to the Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation (MFSC) taking the initiative to bring together various actors through the TAL Strategy. Ensuring complimentarity and cooperation of various donors, INGOs, NGOs and users is a task in itself but we are hopeful that through true leadership this can be made possible.

SNV is confident about this partnership bearing fruits in the long term. There will be hurdles to overcome but through open communication and sharing such hurdles will be naturally sidelined. Lessons learnt must be documented well and addressed in time.

We are proud to be associated with the TAL effort and express our commitment to continue support for the implementation of the plan through its advisory services. SNV believes and supports capacity building as a means for achieving good governance and institutional sustainability across all different stakeholder groups in the forest sector. Particular emphasis will be placed on building capacity of DFCCs; local partner service providers; government staff; and users groups with capacity being improved in areas such as good forest governance; equity and social inclusion; institution building; financial management; forest-based enterprise; conflict sensitivity; and technical forest and natural resource management.

SNV would like to congratulate organizations like MFSC, WWF-N, DFID, UNDP, and USAID who have been instrumental in helping realize the plan of TAL.

Huub Peters NRM Practice LeaderSNV/Nepal viii TERAI ARC LANDSCAPE-NEPAL „ ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT

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FOREWORD

It is a pleasure to be able to write some words about the first full year of implementation of the Terai Arc Landscape Strategic Plan. The year involved a lot of effort by both MFSC and partners to continue progress on the remaining parts of the planning process, i.e. the partnership plan and business plan, which have now been amalgamated into the Implementation Plan.

Although the TAL planning process was not complete during this reporting period, a lot of work has been carried out in the field to start realizing the TAL vision. Here I would like to highlight some of the contributions from the DFID supported Livelihoods and Forestry Programme, which works in 4 TAL districts - namely Dang, Kapilbastu, Rupandehi and Nawlparasi.

The year 2004 - 2005 saw a substantial increase in the number of activities implemented in line with the District Forest Sector Plans (DFSPs) developed for three LFP-Terai districts, and also in Dang as LFP's Mid-West component became established. The DFSPs had been endorsed by local stakeholders, through District Forest Coordination Committees established by District Development Committees to advise forest sector planning. The drafting of these plans deliberately took note of the TAL Strategic plan, so as to determine more precisely how and where particular strategies can be used in the local context, and activities needed to implement them.

LFP contributed to the continued development of Community Forestry in all 4 districts it supports. During the year, 27 new CFs covering approximately 4,000ha were handed over to the benefit of more than 3,300 households. LFP also supported DFOs' initial discussions with local stakeholders regarding the piloting of Collaborative Forest Management. Although no forest has yet come under this management modality, there is now a far better understanding about what it entails. LFP has also started supporting the development of forests outside the national forest estate. There is great enthusiasm in communities distant from the natural forest to utilize otherwise unproductive public lands for forestry development. It is expected that such initiatives will contribute to reducing the pressure on natural forests, as well as more directly supporting the livelihoods of such communities.

LFP also supports the development of IGAs identified by local groups. These include NTFP plantations and management, as well as small enterprises to utilize NFTPs focusing poorest users. LFP also encourages land allocation within CFs to the poorest households for more productive use of the understorey. In addition, non-forest IGAs have been supported, mostly related to livestock raising and vegetable farming, although other initiatives may be supported. LFP has also supported a number of soil conservation projects undertaken through DSCOs. x TERAI ARC LANDSCAPE-NEPAL „ ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT

The period also saw some important advances in awareness amongst the people of the district in terms of how important biodiversity is to their livelihoods, and how the forest sector can contribute to poverty reduction. In particular, both Community Forest Users' Groups and Public Land Management Groups are focusing more of their resources to those they have identified themselves as being most in need.

LFP has been building on these initial achievements, and I look forward to being able report significant further progress in the next TAL annual report.

James Bampton Terai Forestry Advisor Livelihoods and Forestry Programme TERAI ARC LANDSCAPE-NEPAL „ ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT xi

ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS

BCP Bardia Conservation Program BISEP-ST Biodiversity Sector Program for Siwaliks and Terai BSP Biogas Sector Support Program Nepal BZ Buffer Zone BZMC Buffer Zone Management Committee CAPS Chure Area Programme Strategy CBAPO Community Based Anti-poaching Operations CBO Community Based Organization CBRP Critical Areas Restoration Project CDG Community Development Group CFM Collaborative Forest Management CFUG Community Forest User Group CITES Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora DDC District Development Committee DFCC District Forest Coordination Committee DFID Department for International Development DFO District Forest Office DNPWC Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation DoA Department of Agriculture DoF Department of Forests DPR Department of Plant Resources DSCP District Soil Conservation Programme DSCWM Department of Soil Conservation and Watershed Management FECOFUN Federation of Community Forest Users Nepal GEF Global Environment Facility Ha Hectare HMG/N His Majesty's Government of Nepal HPP Herbs Promotion Programme IFAD International Fund for Agricultural Development IGA Income Generating Activities ISWM Integrated Sub-watershed Management KMTNC King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation LFP Livelihood and Forestry Programme MDG Millenium Development Goal MFSC Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation xii TERAI ARC LANDSCAPE-NEPAL „ ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT

NBS Nepal Biodiversity Strategy NEFUG Nepalese Federation of User Groups NGO Non-Government Organization PA Protected Area PCP Participatory Conservation Program RBNP Royal Bardia National Park RCNP Royal Chitwan National Park RSWR Royal Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve SAGUN Strengthened Actions for Governance in Utilization of Natural Resources SCP Shuklaphanta Conservation Program SDAN Sustainable Development Agenda for Nepal SFM Sustainable Forest Management SNV Netherlands Development Organization Sq km Square Kilometer TAL Terai Arc Landscape UC User Committee UG User Group UNDP United Nations Development Programme USAID United States Agency for International Development VDC Village Development Committee WTLBP Western Terai Landscape Building Project WTLCP Western Terai Landscape Complex Project WWF World Wildlife Fund TERAI ARC LANDSCAPE-NEPAL „ ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT xiii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Foreword i Preface ii Executive Summary iii Abbreviations and Acronyms iv

CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Background 1 1.2 Terai Arc Landscape 2 1.2.1 Area and coverage 2 1.2.2 Biological Significance 2 1.2.3 Socio-economic Significance 3 1.3 Issues of Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Livelihoods in TAL-Nepal 3 1.3.1 Direct causes of biodiversity loss 3 1.3.2 Root Causes 5 1.4 TAL Vision and Goal 6 1.5 Terai Arc Landscape Strategic Plan 7

CHAPTER II: PARTNERS IN TERAI ARC LANDSCAPE - NEPAL 9 2.1 Key partners and their Major Activities in TAL-Nepal 9 2.2 Major Program and Projects in TAL-Nepal 10

CHAPTER III: TARGETS AND ACHIEVEMENTS 15 3.1 Targets 15 3.2 Achievements 20 3.3 Outstanding Successes 24 3.4 Key Issues 27 3.5 Lessons Learnt 28

CHAPTER IV: SUMMARY ASSESSMENT 31

References 33

Appendix 1: List of the key partners and their programs/projects in TAL 34 Appendix 2: Accomplishments by Partners in TAL - Nepal 35 xiv TERAI ARC LANDSCAPE-NEPAL „ ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT

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INTRODUCTION

„ CHAPTER 1 1.1 Background

Nepal entered into the modern era of maintaining the viable population identified to contain 11 protected of conservation with the enactment of key wildlife species within the areas, 4 in Nepal and 7 in India. of National Parks and Wildlife confined boundaries. Since more The scientific basis for the Conservation Act and declaration of than 19 % of the country's area identification of the landscape was Royal Chitwan National Park was already categorized to be the dispersal of tiger across the (RCNP) as the first Protected Area under PA system, there was no or landscape. Therefore, the eastern (PA) of the country in the year very little possibility of creating boundary of landscape was 1973. In those early days, priority more PAs. During 1999, a identified to be Bagmati river in was given to the protection of key workshop was organized in Nepal and Yamuna river in the species and representative Kathmandu to develop a western India. In addition, the ecosystems. Within a short period biodiversity vision for the country. landscape approach in of two decades, a network of 16 The workshop recommends for the conservation also aims to link PAs PAs covering more than 19 percent connection of the PAs through the and adjoining forests through of the country's area was critical corridors and other biological corridors to facilitate established. With the increased compatible landuses. This was the wildlife movement and genetic number of wildlife within PAs, park- beginning of the landscape level dispersal for their long-term people conflict increased due to conservation in the country. survival. Actions to address the increased human-wildlife Consequently, Terai Arc threats on biodiversity conservation interactions. On the other hand, Landscape, a trans-boundary were therefore focused on the these PAs became island like landscape between Nepal and India restoration of identified corridors formations creating a big challenge was identified. The landscape was and bottlenecks. 2 TERAI ARC LANDSCAPE-NEPAL „ ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT

The Tenth Plan (2002-2007) has Parsa Wildlife Reserve of central TAL-Nepal also includes Churia included landscape level Nepal to Rajaji National Park foothills, which are important conservation as a priority program of India. watersheds for maintaining the high of HMG/N. Likewise, Nepal agro-productivity of the Terai Biodiversity Strategy (NBS 2002) 1.2.1 Area and coverage region. More than 75 % of the has identified landscape level Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) - Nepal remaining forests of the Terai and planning approach to protect and has been identified for the first foothills of Churia comes under the manage biodiversity on a landscape level conservation purview of TAL-Nepal. sustainable, long-term basis. Thus, initiative in Nepal. TAL-Nepal is landscape level planning and also the largest conservation 1.2.2 Biological Significance development has been emerged as undertaking of HMG/N in the Since TAL-Nepal harbors a wide cutting-edge approach of conservation history of Nepal. It variety of flora and fauna, it is an biodiversity conservation in Nepal. extends over an area of 23,199 sq area of national as well as global km covering 14 Terai districts viz. significance for biodiversity Rautahat, Bara, Parsa, conservation. The productive 1.2 Terai Arc Landscape Makawanpur, Chitwan, forests and grasslands of TAL- - Nepal Nawalparasi, Rupandehi, Palpa, Nepal supports some of the highest Kapilvastu, Dang, Banke, Bardia, densities of Royal Bengal Tiger Terai Arc Landscape - Nepal is a Kailai and Kanchanpur. TAL-Nepal (Panthera tigris), the second largest vast landscape covering an area of encompasses 4 PAs and their population of the Greater One- 49,500 sq km, which extends from respective Buffer Zones. These horned Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros Bagmati River of Nepal in the east PAs are Parsa Wildlife Reserve, unicornis) and the largest herd of to Yamuna River of India in the Royal Chitwan National Park, Swamp Deer (Cervus duvauceli) in west. TAL encompasses 11 PAs Royal Bardia National Park and the world. In addition, The TAL- and forest corridors stretching Royal Shuklaphanta Wildlife Nepal is the home of many along the Indo-Nepal border from Reserve. endangered and protected species of wild fauna like Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus), Gangetic Terai Arc Landscape - Nepal Dolphin (Platanista gangetica), Gharial Crocodile (Gavialis gangeticus), Hispid Hare (Caprolagus hispidus), Greater Hornbill (Buceros bicornis), Sarus Crane (Grus antigone) and Bengal Florican (Houbaropsis bengalensis).

TAL-Nepal is considered as a 'biodiversity hotspot' and it comprises two of WWF's Global 2000 ecoregions viz. Terai-Duar Savannas and Grasslands ecoregion and the Himalayan Subtropical Broadleaf Forests ecoregion. TAL-Nepal TERAI ARC LANDSCAPE-NEPAL „ ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT 3

encompasses three Ramsar Sites households own less than one biodiversity loss and a root cause viz. Bishazari lake, Jagdishpur hectare of land and 71 % of the analysis investigating the local and Reservoir and Ghodaghodi lake. population do not grow sufficient macro-level socio-economic Likewise, two World Heritage Sites food to last through the year. causes of biodiversity loss and viz. Royal Chitwan National Park Poverty has been seen more high environmental degradation were and Lumbini, the birth place of Lord particularly among the indigenous carried out. Buddha lie within TAL-Nepal. Tharus, Dalits and ex-kamaiyas (HMGN, 2004). The biological assessment of TAL- 1.2.3 Socio-economic Nepal has shown that over the past Significance The poor households own very few three decades, the natural wildlife Before 1960s, the Tharu people resources and hence rely on forests habitat of the Terai has become who were naturally resistant to for their subsistence. Majority of highly fragmented. The malaria were the only inhabitants of people in TAL-Nepal still rely on deforestation rate in the Terai the Terai. After the eradication of traditional agriculture and livestock between 1979 and 1991 was malaria in 1960s, large number of raising, both of which are highly estimated to be 1.3 percent per immigrants from the hill regions of dependent on forests. Thus, annum. This degradation is forcing the country migrated into Terai. sustainable forest management in the wildlife to remain into smaller Because of the continued migration TAL-Nepal is an important option of insular refuges that are too small to to Terai, the population grows poverty reduction. support many species and their rapidly. Today, more than 6.7 ecological interactions. Deprived of million people live in TAL-Nepal, The Terai forests have high value the large spaces necessary for their majority of them are poor and rely timber tree species, which are also survival, many of these species now on subsistence agriculture for their very important source of revenue face an uncertain future. Poaching livelihood. for the government. The forests of of wildlife and illegal timber the churia watershed are equally extraction has increased in recent The population distribution pattern important because they maintain years, pertaining to various factors. in Terai is quite different than that of water supply to the flat and fertile other regions of Nepal i.e. a mix of lands of Terai. Agriculture in the 1.3.1 Direct Causes of indegenous people, old migrants Terai greatly contributes in the biodiversity loss and recent migrants. The new and national economy. The churia The following are the direct causes mixed communities means the forests also prevent erosion of environmental degradation and social cohesion and community reducing the impact of flooding and biodiversity loss in TAL-Nepal as organization is often weaker and erosion on land and infrastructures identified through root causes discrimination based on gender, in the Terai. analysis. caste and ethnicity is high. a. Forest conversion: Because of Although, TAL-Nepal is rich in 1.3 Issues of Biodiversity its flat terrain, fertility and natural resources, poverty is Conservation and accessibility to India, the large widespread there since long. The Sustainable Livelihoods number of in-migrants has been average household income in the in TAL-Nepal attracted to Terai after the TAL-Nepal is only NRs. 7,200 per eradication of malaria. The annum. Study has shown that the As the part of TAL Strategic Plan migration was further supported majority of the population lives in development process, a biological with the promotion of settlement poverty. More than 60 % of analysis that focused on program in Terai by the state 4 TERAI ARC LANDSCAPE-NEPAL „ ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT

the position to afford alternative energy sources such as LP gas, kerosene and biogas. More than 60 % of the households still depend on fuelwood for meeting their energy requirement for cooking and heating. Thus there exists a tremendous pressure on the forests for fuelwood. Among others, unregulated and easy access to fuelwood is the major cause for unsustainable harvesting of fuelwood from national forests.

Fuelwood collection e. Forest fires: Fire is successfully © WWF Nepal used as an effective management tool for forests and grasslands in starting 1950s. The forest excessive trampling of the soil that Terai. However, uncontrolled forest conversion continues for result degradation of the forests. fires have adverse effect on forests settlement and expansion of and biodiversity. Forest fires may agricultural land in such areas. c. Uncontrolled timber start due to natural causes, but Similarly, the land required for the harvesting: The Terai forests evidence and experience shows that infrastructure development like comprise highly valuable species most of the uncontrolled forest fires roads, dams, irrigation canals etc such as Sal (Shorea robusta), Saj in Terai are induced by people. Lack has also been contributing for (Terminalia tomentosa), Sissoo of awareness is the major cause for forest conversion. (Dalbergia sissoo), Khair (Acacia making the problem more complex. catechu) and many others. Since b. Uncontrolled grazing: major portion of the timber demand f. Churia watershed Livestock play a crucial role in the of the country is met from the Terai degradation: The churia hills are subsistence livelihood of the forests, largely from government highly fragile ecosystem of dry inhabitants of TAL-Nepal, which is managed forests. The timber forests and thin soils. The churia also an important source of income supply from the forests is far less forest performs a vital economic for them. There are more than 4 than the demand for timber in the and ecological function. The churia million livestock in the 14 districts of country. Due to weak enforcement hills have become seriously TAL-Nepal and their numbers is from the management and lack of degraded due to soil erosion. The continuously growing. Forests ownership of the national forests by loss and degradation of natural being used for livestock grazing the communities, illegal logging and forests has a serious impact on the and fodder collection, such a large timber smuggling has been livelihoods of local communities. number of unproductive livestock increasing that poses serious threat Increasing land erosion and has tremendous pressure on to forest resources of TAL-Nepal. landslides in the hills and mountain forests. Unmanaged grazing region have led to flooding in Terai. degrades forest either directly by d. Unsustainable fuelwood Therefore, degradation of Churia eating the seedlings and young extraction: Majority of the watershed is major threat to the plants or indirectly through households of TAL-Nepal are not in agriculture system of Terai. TERAI ARC LANDSCAPE-NEPAL „ ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT 5

g. Poaching and human- wildlife conflict: With the improved protection and awareness among local communities, the rate of wildlife poaching has been declining. However, poaching has increased with insurgency. Poaching has become serious problem both in PAs and outside PAs. Poaching of endangered species such as rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis) has been induced by increase in price of rhino horn in the international market. Market forces have made Confiscated tiger skin the problem of poaching more © WWF Nepal complex. On the other hand, coordination among the underlying causes contributing to play an important role in household concerned agencies and more than one direct cause. activities and lack of access to stakeholders responsible for Therefore, these are also family planning services. controlling poaching and wildlife considered as the root causes of trade is not adequate and biodiversity loss and environment b. Low agricultural productivity: effective enough. degradation in TAL-Nepal, which Low agricultural productivity is one are crosscutting in nature. of the factors behind the continued Human-wildlife conflict is a need of additional land for serious problem of Terai a. Population growth: Population agriculture, which is therefore especially in the settlements near growth is a key factor behind the identified as a major cause for PAs and forests. The problem has direct causes of biodiversity loss forest conversion. Likewise, slash been ever increasing. Crop and and environmental degradation. and burn agriculture practice leads livestock depredation and The major portion of the population to forest fires and churia watershed property damage by wildlife are growth in TAL-Nepal is due to in- degradation. key causes for human-wildlife migration rather than natural conflict. The conflict often results growth. People from hilly region of c. Struggle for land: The land in retaliatory killing of wildlife by the country are attracted to Terai issue is one of the important and the local communities. However, for better living conditions, better complex issues in TAL-Nepal. The there is lack of proper strategy to opportunities for land and struggle for land is leading towards mitigate the conflict. employment. Besides in-migration, forest conversion and churia the natural growth is also watershed degradation. Lack of 1.3.2 Root Causes responsible for the population access to land is identified as one Besides the above-mentioned growth in TAL-Nepal. The factor of the key causes of poverty. Many causes, the following issues are behind high natural population of the landowners have no official also associated with biodiversity growth are tradition of large families land ownership certificates. It loss and environment degradation particularly in Tharu communities, makes them vulnerable to in TAL-Nepal. These are the traditional way of life where children exploitation and eviction. 6 TERAI ARC LANDSCAPE-NEPAL „ ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT

d. Lack of off-farm livelihood opportunities: Lack of off-farm livelihood opportunities is identified as a key factor behind forest conversion, unsustainable timber harvesting, unsustainable fuelwood extraction and churia watershed degradation. The opportunities of off-farm employment to poor households are very limited and they are often forced to rely on unskilled wage laboring at subsistence level. Seasonal migration to India is one of the most important sources of livelihood for poor communities in TAL-Nepal. Agriculture in the Terai © WWF Nepal

e. Inadequate access to, and forests. Another aspect is the lack management of forest resources: of local ownership of forests, which TAL Vision: A globally unique Poor people greatly depend on was identified as root cause behind landscape where biodiversity is natural resources for their livelihood forest conversion, uncontrolled conserved, ecological integrity is because they have very few or no grazing in forests, unsustainable safeguarded and sustainable other resources to use. Lack of timber harvesting and livelihoods of its people are access to forest resources, or unsustainable fuelwood extraction. secured. unequal sharing of benefits from Owing to the lack of responsibility, them has been identified as local stakeholders who neither TAL Goal: To conserve the underlying cause behind receive any incentive to manage biodiversity, forest, soils and uncontrolled grazing in forests and those forests nor any guarantee for watersheds of the Terai and unsustainable timber harvesting. future access, use the forest in an Churia Hills in order to ensure the uncontrolled way. ecological, economic and socio- Sometimes, CFUG regulations can cultural integrity of the region. lead poorest groups to the reduced f. Cross border issues: Cross access to forest, as they cannot border trade has been identified as afford to pay the associated fees. In the underlying cause of 1.4 TAL Vision and Goal many cases, CFUG fund is unsustainable timber harvesting. mobilized in community The livelihood studies have The vision and goal of TAL-Nepal development activities, which do identified the open border as being are based on the principles of not address the immediate needs both the opportunity and constraint conservation science and guided of the poor to sustain their to livelihood. Much of the timber by the main policy documents of livelihood. On the other hand, the from private land or stolen from the country such as Poverty distant users, who do not live near government managed forest in the Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP), the forest but use the resources, Terai is transported across the 2002-2007, Nepal Biodiversity are restricted from using these border to meet the Indian demand. Strategy (NBS), 2002, Millenium TERAI ARC LANDSCAPE-NEPAL „ ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT 7

Development Goals (MDGs) and degradation and biodiversity loss in the ground. The Partnership Plan is Sustainable Development Agenda the landscape. The following seven detail of implementation and for Nepal (SDAN). In order to program areas have been identified monitoring mechanism, ensure the biodiversity conservation to address the direct and identification of the partners and and sustainable livelihood, HMG/N underlying threats to environmental partnerships for program has endorsed the TAL vision in degradation and biodiversity loss implementation. The Business Plan April 2001. during the process of TAL strategic is identification of overall resources plan formulation. required to realize the strategies, 1.5 Terai Arc Landscape a. Policy and Advocacy currently available resources and Strategic Plan b. Institutions and coordination any gap therein. Therefore, these c. Sustainable Forest Management two plans together are called as The Strategic Plan for TAL-Nepal is d. Sustainable Development Implementation Plan, which is a a guiding document that lays out e. Species and Ecosystem framework to translate the strategies to ensure biodiversity Conservation strategies into action. conservation and sustainable f. Churia Watershed Conservation livelihoods in order to achieve the g. Awareness and Education TAL vision. Realizing the need of developing partnership and The strategic plan has assumed the synergizing the effort to address the subsequent preparation of two complex issues of the Landscape, documents: Partnership Plan and His Majesty's Government of Nepal Business Plan, to lay out the has developed and approved TAL- structures and mechanisms for the Nepal Strategic Plan (2004-2014) in implementation of the strategies. February, 2004. A core team led by The Partnership Plan and Business the Ministry of Forests and Soil Plan provide the framework for the Conservation and represented by implementation of the strategies in other government agencies (DoF, DNPWC), major donors (USAID, SNV, DFID) and development partners (UNDP, LFP and WWF) working for the biodiversity sector and particularly active in the TAL- Nepal was formulated to advance the process. The core team in consultation with other key stakeholders at national, district and local level in different forums prepared the strategic plan.

The Strategic Plan contains 51 broader strategies under seven thematic areas. These strategies were crafted to address the problem of environmental Community participation © WWF Nepal 8 TERAI ARC LANDSCAPE-NEPAL „ ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT

The major focus and intervention of Reserve, Royal Chitwan National consultations with relevant experts the TAL Program is centered on Park, Royal Bardia National Park, and stakeholders were conducted. forests, protected areas, buffer Royal Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve These consultations resulted into zones and species. Similarly, and their buffer zones are other regrouping previous 7 program identification and restoration of areas of interest to achieve TAL areas program areas into 5. The biological corridors and bottlenecks vision in the beginning. In addition, new sets of program area for the is yet another function under community forests and government implementation plan are: landscape level conservation. For managed forests are important a. Governance TAL-Nepal, the prioritized biological areas where conservation b. Sustainable Forest Management corridors are Khata and Basanta interventions are carried out. c. Species and Ecosystem forests, while the bottlenecks Conservation include Mahadevpuri, Lamhi and Preparation of TAL Implementation d. Churia Watershed Conservation Dovan. These biological corridors Plan is completed. The e. Sustainable Livelihoods. and bottlenecks are vital for Implementation plan has been providing connectivity between developed in a very consultative This report is developed using the protected areas and national manner. During the preparation of same framework as identified by forests. Similarly, Parsa Wildlife Implementation Plan, series of the Implementation Plan.

Terai forest © WWF Nepal TERAI ARC LANDSCAPE-NEPAL „ ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT 9 © WWF Nepal

PARTNERS IN TERAI ARC LANDSCAPE - NEPAL

„ CHAPTER 2 2.1 Key Partners and their Major Activities in TAL-Nepal

TAL is a vast landscape with development, natural resource contribution of the agencies, which complex issues pertaining to management and biodiversity are working under the umbrella of biodiversity conservation and conservation. This evidence shows Ministry of Forests and Soil livelihood of the local community. the great potential for partnership Conservation. This report is Since it is not possible for a single building among these agencies in basically prepared to account the agency with limited financial and order to translate the TAL vision interventions of the partners human resources to address the into actions. Some partners are working in the conservation and complex and interrelated issues, it working directly towards realizing livelihood sectors. The government, has become essential to the vision of the TAL, while others its line agencies, and local consolidate and synergize efforts are contributing through various government bodies are considered through strong partnerships activities to this vision. The core to be the responsible between and among line agencies competency of a particular agency implementation agency for the of the government, donors, INGOs/ or partner depends on the nature of realization of the TAL vision. All NGOs, local communities and the institution; it's traditional other supporting institutions, conservation organizations. A study working practice, and the vision networks, projects, and bilateral in 2002 has shown that there are and mandate of the organization and multilateral programs are 13 different bilateral and multi- among other things. considered to be partners. Major lateral agencies working in TAL partners and their programs in districts. These agencies spend Although there are many agencies conservation and development more than 38 million US dollars that are contributing to achieve TAL have been illustrated in Appendix 1. over a period of 5 years in the vision directly and indirectly, this Following section describes major programs related to sustainable report accounts only direct partners and their programs in TAL. 10 TERAI ARC LANDSCAPE-NEPAL „ ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT

2.2 Major Program and protection and management of wild National Park, Royal Bardia Projects in TAL-Nepal animals outside PAs falls within the National Park and Royal jurisdiction of District Forest Offices. Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve. There are several agencies currently functional in TAL-Nepal. These National and Leasehold Protected Area Management agencies are implementing various Forestry Program Program programs and projects that are The National Forestry Program The activities under this program directly or indirectly contributing for is one set of activities that is funded include habitat management, achieving the TAL vision. This with the financial support of the species conservation, religious and section provides a short glimpse on government of Nepal. This program cultural site management, eco- the focus of the major projects or focuses mainly on maintaining the tourism management and program in the TAL area. permanent forest estate in the conservation education. There are district. Activities like harvesting of different groups of activities are 2.2.1 HMGN Programs forests, protection of forest and carried out by the development HMGN is implementing several forest land against biological and partners under the banner of activities in the landscape. The socio-economical causes like forest DNPWC. Major conservation activities are either implemented fire or forest encroachment is partners of DNPWC are UNDP, through the financial support of the carried out under this program. USAID, WWF Nepal, CARE Nepal development partners or the and KMTNC. government itself. The following The Leasehold Forestry section captures highlights of such Program is a special forestry Buffer Zone Development interventions made by the program targeted for the poorest of Program government. the poor. Two of the TAL districts The Buffer Zone Management Chitwan and Makawanpur fall Regulation, 2052 has made a 2.2.1.1 Programs under within the purview of the leasehold unique arrangement of sharing the Department of Forests forestry program. The program was benefits accrued from the park DoF activities focus towards originally supported by IFAD for 8 revenue with buffer zone maintaining a permanent forest years. Now the government runs institutions. There is the provision of estate through sustainable the program on its own resources, a Buffer Zone Management management of forest in the and it is functional in 26 districts. Committee (BZMC) in each Buffer districts. DoF is the management Due to the program's focus on Zone for the overall management of authority for all types of forests of addressing the issues of the the buffer zone programs. Out of the country except private forests poorest of the poor, the government the total revenue generated by PA, and forests within PAs. The major of Nepal has identified this program 30-50 % can be allocated to carry role of the District Forest Office is to as one of the priority programs in out the conservation and maintain better forest conditions the forestry sector. development activities in buffer and meet the demand for forest zone as guided by the products in the country. DFO looks 2.2.1.2 Programs under management plan. User after the Community Forestry, Department of National Parks committees act as the Leasehold Forestry and Private and Wildlife Conservation management units under BZMC, Forestry programs. They also have DNPWC activities are confined in and implement largely community unique authority of working as and around protected areas. There development, anti-poaching, and quasi-judicial body for a limited are 4 PAs in TAL namely Parsa human-wildlife conflict mitigation degree of forest offenses. The Wildlife Reserve, Royal Chitwan activities. TERAI ARC LANDSCAPE-NEPAL „ ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT 11

2.2.1.3 Programs under Map of BISEP-ST area Department of Soil Conservation and Watershed Management DSWM activities are on the management of the soil and watersheds in the landscape. Seven out of 14 districts of TAL have district offices to carry out the activities for soil conservation and watershed management. Currently, no development partner is associated for the implementation of the DSCWM related activities.

2.2.1.4 Programs under Department of Plant Resources DPR activities are on the research and identification of the plant species BISEP-ST, two immediate The SAGUN program was developed in the landscape. In the recent days, objectives or purposes have been to build on the successful plant resource offices are working designed: establishment of Natural Resource towards the domestication of the 1. Sector governance structure Management (NRM) groups in order high valued crops in the landscape. strengthened and maintained at to increase their ability to manage the Currently, two offices within TAL all levels precious forest and water resources represent the department activities. 2. Forest management models that support people's livelihoods. The One is in Banke district and other in designed tested and applied program works with Community Kailali district. leading to increased livelihood Forest User Groups, Buffer Zone opportunities. User Groups, Water Users 2.2.2 Program Supported by Associations, and committees at all partners The program is being implemented levels of the irrigation systems. in 8 Terai districts (Chitwan, 2.2.2.1 SNV Nepal: Biodiversity Makwanpur, Parsa, Bara, Rautahat, SAGUN covers various districts in the Sector Program Siwalik and Terai Saralahi, Mahottari and Dhanusa) of Terai and the Mid-hills. The This is one of the major which 5 fall in TAL. The project is community forest component is components under the Dutch designed for the period of 2002- being implemented in four districts. government-supported BSSP 2006. However, processes have CARE Nepal covers three Terai agreement with the government of been initiated to extend the project districts Banke, Bardia and Kailali Nepal. The development objective until 2009. which fall within TAL. The buffer zone of the BISEP-ST program is "to development component is being work towards a self-sustaining 2.2.2.2 SAGUN Program implemented in Bardiya district. forestry sector in Terai, Inner Terai CARE Nepal is implementing the and Siwaliks for biodiversity SAGUN program in the TAL area. 2.2.2.3 King Mahendra Trust for conservation and equitable The SAGUN interventions are Nature Conservation economic development." Towards relevant actions to realize the vision KMTNC was established in 1982 by this development objective of of the TAL. the Legislative Act, mandated as an 12 TERAI ARC LANDSCAPE-NEPAL „ ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT

autonomous, non-profit and non- Bardia Conservation Program their rights and improve group governmental organization, to work Bardia Conservation Program (BCP) equity, and to encourage a move in the field of nature conservation in was launched in 1994. BCP has from passive to active management Nepal. The Trust is governed by the been focusing its efforts on of their forest resources. The second Board of Trustees of prominent community plantation, school seeks to develop a political national and international support, health care, women environment that will encourage personalities in nature conservation development, skill enhancement and effective forest management. It aims and sustainable development. The crop depredation control program in to encourage the government and Trust is supported by a network of the buffer zone area of RBNP other stakeholders to move towards international partners. Currently a sector-wide approach. there are seven KMTNC's partners Shuklaphanta Conservation in the United Kingdom, the United Program The LFP Terai component is States of America, Canada, Germany, The main objective of the facilitating the participatory France, Netherlands and Japan. Shuklaphanta Conservation development of District Forest Sector Programme (SCP) starting from Plans in the project districts to Currently conservation projects by 1999, is to enhance the capacity of emphasize the locally identified Trust are divided into three the local people to safeguard forestry needs for the poor and geographical areas - the Terai endangered wildlife species, mainly marginalized. rafts have been already Environment Program focusing on the tiger, and their habitats and prey endorsed by district stakeholders, the lowland, the Mountain base in and around the Reserve. and implementation is underway in 6 Environment Program focusing on thematic areas- community forestry, the mid hills and high mountains, 2.2.2.4 Livelihood and Forestry government managed forest, public and the Kathmandu Valley. The Program and institutional land management, activities of the Trust activities in the The Livelihoods and Forestry private forestry, soil conservation and lowland are based in and around Programme (LFP) is supported by watershed management, and RCNP, RBNP and RSWR. KMTNC DFID. This program aims to reduce alternative energy technologies. in these three protected area works vulnerability and improve livelihoods through the following programs: for poor rural people. It enhances LFP-Hill: One of the districts that is the assets of rural communities categorized within the TAL and is Biodiversity Conservation through the promotion of more supported by the Mid-West Center equitable, efficient and sustainable component of LFP, is Dang district. Biodiversity Conservation Center use of forest resources. The Mid-West component of LFP (BCC), formerly known as Nepal also focuses more on livelihoods Conservation Research and LFP-Terai: LFP-Terai is one issues through better management Training Center (NCRTC) was component under LFP program of community forests. established in 1989, at Sauraha to which runs in 3 districts of western assist the biological research and Nepal. These are Nawalparasi, 2.2.2.5 Participatory monitoring functions of the Trust. Kapilbastu and Rupandehi districts. Conservation Program The main objective of BCC is to aid The Participatory Conservation in conservation and management of LFP adopts two approaches for Program is being implemented by the natural resources with the conservation and development. The the DNPWC with UNDP assistance active participation of the first focuses on helping through for a period of four years (May 2002- stakeholders of the community. The Community Forest User Groups December 2006). The focus of the center is involved in wildlife (CFUGs) especially to the poor, the Programme is on the institutionalizing research and monitoring marginalised, and women to assert the achievements and successes of TERAI ARC LANDSCAPE-NEPAL „ ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT 13

its forerunner; the Park and People Facility, community savings and threats to biodiversity Program, particularly the credit by institutionalizing them as conservation. community mobilization process. co-operatives at the UC level. It The PCP works on seven protected also aims to establish a BZ Forum The project's landscape approach areas of which four PAs fall within for wider networking and increased will reorient Nepal's policy and the TAL region. This includes Parsa lateral and vertical linkages with the legal framework and institutional Wildlife Reserve, Royal Chitwan DNPWC. arrangements towards integrated National Park, Royal Bardia National ecosystem management to Park and Royal Suklapahanta 2.2.2.6 Western Terai Landscape achieve the multiple objectives of Wildlife Reserve. Complex Project conservation, sustainable natural The project was designed to ensure resource management, and The major PCP thrusts in terms of the conservation and sustainable poverty reduction. Ultimately, the program implementation are: use of biodiversity in the western project aims to develop replicable • Reviewing the BZ regulation and part of Nepal's Terai Arc Landscape. landscape-level management guidelines The project strategy is based on models to safeguard the biological • Enhancing the capacity of the the premise that the long-term wealth and vital ecological DNPWC at the central level and viability of globally significant functions in Nepal. the Park/Reserve staff and local biodiversity hinges on the ability to communities at the field level manage an overall system of habitats This project has been designed for • Up scaling the community in a wide ecological landscape that 8 years. During years 1 to 6 mobilization activities in the BZs goes beyond the confines of policies will be formulated, • Institutionalization of the Area protected areas. The project capacities and institutional Conservation Facility (ACF) interventions are to strengthen frameworks at various levels fledgling protected area management strengthened, and various activities The overall objective of the PCP is systems towards scientific and piloted both in the protected areas, to conserve bio-diversity in and participatory approaches to buffer zones and in the productive around the targeted Parks/Reserves improve conservation efforts and landscape. It is expected that from through programs that support effectively address root causes of year 6 onwards, institutions and community forestry, alternative fuel usage, capacity building and MAP of WTLCP institutionalization works. This is aimed at helping to reduce the dependency of the BZ communities on the natural resources of the Parks/Reserves and their BZs. The mitigation of the park-people conflict is, therefore, an integral part of the PCP program design.

PCP aims to empower the Buffer Zone User's Committees (BZUCs) of the Parks and Reserves through capacity enhancement. These include revenue sharing from the Park/Reserve Area Conservation 14 TERAI ARC LANDSCAPE-NEPAL „ ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT

communities at various levels will organization which is supporting WWF has envisioned a long-term be fully capable of implementing MFSC for the last four decades in conservation approach for TAL. The the activities. the conservation front. WWF has basic premise of landscape level been working in Terai for nearly 4 conservation is working beyond the The project is being jointly decades. The initial support was in boundaries of the protected areas for implemented by UNDP/GEF, SNV, the area of species conservation. the conservation of biodiversity. WWF and four other partners Now the focus has been diversified Although focused on the conservation including HMGN. The agro- into number of other areas of global of species, WWF is working towards biodiversity component of the importance including sustainable sustainable development and project makes it different from other livelihoods. Currently, WWF is improving livelihoods for local people conventional projects. Similarly, this supporting the restoration of critical in the landscape. WWF feels strongly project intends to build and areas outside the protected areas that no single agency can handle the consolidate the DFCC mechanism and wildlife habitat within the complex conservation and livelihoods for the sector wide management of protected areas. Under TAL, WWF is issues of the TAL, and that success the Natural resource sector. As it working in 10 out of 14 Terai requires a synergetic effort of all took long period for the maturation districts including 4 protected areas. partners. Therefore, the major thrust of the project, SNV front loaded WWF is one of the major partners, of the TAL Strategic Plan is to resources under Western Terai which supported the formulation of leverage the relative strengths of Landscape Building Project the TAL Strategic Plan. TAL has individual partners to achieve the (WTLBP) starting May 2004 for 20 been conceptualized and tested conservation and livelihood vision. months. Jointly with WWF, WTLBP through WWF Nepal program. institutionalized the DFCC TAL-CARP is the landscape level Based on the lessons learnt, WWF mechanism. The front loading project jointly implemented by WWF supported projects in TAL are ended in December 2005. The full with DoF and DNPWC. and Two adopting several innovative measures phase project is being implemented sub-projects; TAL Corridor and in the ground. Notable among them starting January 2006. Bottleneck Restoration Project are (1) focus on alternative energy use (CBRP) and Protected Area and to reduce pressure on forests, (2) 2.2.7 WWF Nepal Buffer Zones (PA & BZ) Project are Mobilization of communities for WWF is the global conservation operational starting 2001. retarding poaching and other illegal activities through innovative mechanism of CBAPO, (3) complete MAP of TAL CARP packaging of income generating activities focused on the poor, (4) working based on the strength of the local stakeholders using smallest possible field structure, (5) Flexible project planning and implementation mechanism involving beneficiaries, and (6) Joint project governance structure with government. These innovative mechanism have helped WWF supported TAL CARP to deliver conservation results even in a state of heightened conflict on the ground. TERAI ARC LANDSCAPE-NEPAL „ ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT 15© WWF Nepal

TARGETS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

„ CHAPTER 3 3.1 Targets

During the process of the the biodiversity conservation and consists of reviewing of the existing development of TAL Implementation sustainable livelihoods in the policies, formulation of the new Plan, targets for each program area landscape through policy, advocacy policies and implementation of them were outlined within the framework and institutional strengthening. The in the field. Formulation, revision, of the broad strategies. Major central theme of the program area approval and implementation of targets for the period of 10 years governance is to ensure a conducive macro level management plans are under each program area were environment for equitable benefit also included under the program identified. Since it was not possible sharing, gender sensitiveness, social governance. to derive several targets for 10 inclusion, transparency and years, logical assumptions were accountability of the institutions Box 1 lists major 10 year targets for made to define the targets. involved for the realization of the TAL governance. It has been identified Following section reviews target vision. Therefore, interventions under that within the strategic plan period, under each program area as the program will focus towards 11 new policies will be formulated. identified in the Implementation Plan. building the capacity of the Similarly, equal number of existing Another section tries to capture the institutions across the landscape policies will be reviewed and revised achievement of the year against and develop a coordinated effort in the same period. Advocacy will these targets. among the institutions. be done through some 300 trainings, exposure visits, and 3.1.1 Targets for Governance The activities identified under this workshops. The aim of such The main objective of this program program area are largely work on advocacy is to disseminate area is to create enabling policies and institutions across all information on the existing policies environment to achieve dual goal of other program areas. Such work to the community and to discuss the 16 TERAI ARC LANDSCAPE-NEPAL „ ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT

supported. The overall strategy is to people living around it. Restoration1 Box 1: Major Targets: Governance make communities, their will be achieved through plantation New policy formulation (No. of policies) 11 organizations, and the DFCCs self- and natural regeneration of the Review and revision (No. of policies) 11 reliant on the sustainable identified degraded forests. More Advocacy (No. of events) 300 management of the district forestry than 70% of the total identified Capacity building (No. of agencies) Govt. agencies resources and to improve the degraded forests are anticipated to Central & district 40 livelihood of the people dependent be restored through natural Non-government agencies 140 upon these resources. Mechanisms regeneration. Remaining degraded CBOs 1,400 for trans-boundary coordination forests is targeted to be restored Coordination (No. of events) National 700 and cooperation among the through plantation. Trans-boarder 280 implementing partners will also be DFCC support (No. of districts) 14 established under this theme. Protection of existing forests is

3.1.2 Targets for Sustainable pros and cons of such policies with Forest Management different level of stakeholders. The objectives of sustainable Similarly, such advocacy also management of forest are provides feedback for the revision restoration, protection and of existing policies or formulation of management of the forests new policies that are realistic, resources to maintain the ecological sensitive to livelihoods issues and integrity and support the

conservation of biodiversity. sustainable livelihoods of the Forest management © BISEPST

Capacity building is targeted to 40 government institutions at district Box 2: Major Targets: Sustainable Forest Management

and central levels covering District Restoration of degraded forests Forest Offices, Protected Areas Natural regeneration (ha) 200,288 Offices and Soil Conservation Community plantation (ha) 42,919 Offices. Similarly, 8 institutions at Plantation by DFO (ha) 37,196 Encroachment rehabilitation (ha) 15,000 Central level including the MFSC, DoF, DNPWC, DSCWM and 4 Forest protection Protection by the government (ha) 649,000 Regional Directorate Offices (RDO) Number of CBAPO (No) 70 will also be supported for effective Infrastructure support (No) 19

implementation of the Strategic Forest management Plan and its monitoring. District sector plan (No) 14 CF operational plan (new and revision) (No) 2,450 At the field level, 14 NGOs and 140 Collaborative forest Management Plan (No) 108 Leasehold forestry plan (pro-poor) (No) 721 CBOs every year will be supported Community forest (ha) 260,000 for their capacity building. The plan Collaborative forest (ha) 160,000 also targets establishing Leasehold forestry for poor (ha) 6,000 decentralized decision making Private forestry (ha) 12,110 systems in the districts for which 14 Priority research (No) 20 DFCCs will be established and

1 Forest landscape restoration is a planned process that aims to regain ecological integrity and enhance human wellbeing in a deforested or degraded landscape (Stephanie Mansorian 2005) TERAI ARC LANDSCAPE-NEPAL „ ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT 17

done with strengthening the Box 3: Major Targets: Species and ecosystem conservation government institution and building the capacity of local institutions. Revision of PA Management plan (No) 8 The most important local institution Preparation/Revision of BZ Management plan (No) 8 Wetland management (ha) 2, 334 supporting forest protection is Develop Agro-biodiversity Plan (No) 14 anticipated to be CBAPO. Priority research (No) 120 Action plan for key species (No of species) 10 Management of the existing forest Species management (translocation) 10 CITES awareness (No of events) 100 resources is expected to be carried Human Wildlife Conflict Strategy (No) 2 out under community forestry, Information center development (Sites) 4 collaborative forestry, leasehold Formation of eco-clubs (No) 700 forestry and private forestry. Awareness and education (No of events) 860 Support in preparation of the operation plans for different forest management modes, relevant targeted activities are habitat Implementation Plan sets targets to research/studies, establishment of management, species formulate and implement species revolving funds and providing conservation, anti poaching action plans for 10 key species. Out logistic supports for the community operations and minimizing human of the 10 species action plans, 7 based organizations has also been wildlife conflicts. Long term will be prepared for wildlife species identified as part of the research on key species and 3 for plant species. The management of forest resources. conservation and regular wildlife Implementation Plan also aims to monitoring in the protected areas support species management 3.1.3 Targets for Species and and corridors are also other including their translocation, ex situ Ecosystem Conservation targeted activities. Capacity conservation, captive breeding, and Interventions for the management buildings of buffer zone institutions other management techniques. of 4 protected areas and their are other activities targeted to be buffer zones and areas of achieved. The major targets are Minimization of human wildlife biodiversity importance outside the given in Box 3. conflicts around the 4 protected PAs are covered within this areas and corridors has been program area. The 4 protected Special focus is given to research targeted through implementation of areas will be supported to revise and control on invasive species the comprehensive human wildlife their periodic management plans inside the 4 protected areas. Other conflict mitigation strategies. As and sub plans (ecotourism plan, research through small grants and such, different mitigation habitat management plan). Major action grants are also prioritized. mechanisms are targeted for Mechanisms to ensure the implementation in the impact implementation of zones. recommendations made by these researches will also be established. Control of wildlife poaching and Different platforms for sharing the trade targeted through learning on protected areas strengthening of the CITES unit in management is also targeted. DNPWC and DoF. The objectives are to sensitize relevant With the view of ensuring long term stakeholders in matters pertinent to

Grassland management survivability of the key species, the CITES. Therefore, the target is to © WWF Nepal 18 TERAI ARC LANDSCAPE-NEPAL „ ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT

conduct total 100 CITES Box 4: Major Targets: Soil Conservation and sensitization events involving judicial Churia Watershed Management and law enforcement bodies, customs officials, post office officials, ISWM Plan Preparation (No) 65 and the general public. ISWM Plan for priority sub-watersheds (ha) 165,000 Micro watershed management (ha) 8,250 Treatment of hotspots (No) 440 Conservation of wetlands inside and CDG mobilization (No) 2,207 outside the protected areas and Research and study (No) 6 agro-biodiversity has also been prioritized by the Implementation Plan. An agro-biodiversity will also be disseminated through for specific purposes of irrigation conservation plan for each district 56 conservation awareness events or conservation of wetland in and wetland management plan for every year on special occasions like downstream. It has been 10 nationally important wetlands world environment day, wildlife assumed that around 4% of the identified in Nepal Biodiversity week, and biodiversity day. 6 area under each critical sub Strategy is targeted for preparation information centers, 4 in each of watershed needs to be and implementation. the protected areas and 2 in the rehabilitated. Similarly, there could corridors will be constructed and be 15 micro-watersheds3 in a sub Dissemination of conservation operationalized to increase the local watershed that require intensive message to youth has been one of people's awareness about treatment and the average size of the tested means of long term biodiversity conservation. Annually, a micro-watershed in the Churia. sustainability for biodiversity 2 events of informal education like Each of the critical sub conservation. This is targeted to be Gothala education and Agharia watersheds will have 8 hotspots4 done through school-based ecoclub. workshop will be organized per on average. The target for 10 Formation of 5 ecoclubs from each districts in a bid to increase people's years is depicted in Box 4. district every year has been targeted. participation in conservation Ecoclubs will be supported for their activities. Different tools and media The implementation plan has aim engagement in awareness raising of communication will be used for to strengthen the capacity of 220 activities and environmental the effective dissemination of the community development groups conservation campaigns. Information key messages. There is a plan to every year together in the 14 TAL develop new information centers at districts. 4 districts viz. Kailali, Dang, Palpa and Kapilbastu. Studies on economic valuation of Churia, piloting of payment of 3.1.4 Targets for Soil environmental services, ground Conservation and Churia water assessment and impacts of Watershed Management quarry extraction will also be Annually 3 critical sub-watersheds2 conducted. This researches are located in the churia area from each anticipated to provide direct input district will be managed. Additional for the sustainable management Wetland management

© WWF Nepal sub watersheds will be managed of the fragile Churia watersheds.

2 Sub-watershed is the management unit of 25- 40 KM2 3 Micro-watershed is implementation unit within a sub-watershed. The extent is generally 10 km2 4 Hotspot is specific site requiring immediate intervention TERAI ARC LANDSCAPE-NEPAL „ ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT 19

3.1.5 Targets for Sustainable Livelihoods TAL envisions that better strategies for sustainable livelihoods can significantly contribute to the conservation of biodiversity. Over the period of 10 years starting 2004, one third of the households will be reached through Sustainable livelihoods strategies. The plan has assumed that forestry sector can contribute to an extent of its role in the national macroeconomic context. Therefore, the targets for sustainable livelihoods has been NTFP-based IGA developed using this assumption. © WWF-Canon / Helena TELKÄNRANTA

The targeted households will be with agro based or off farm based supported with conservation livelihood opportunities, 20% forest compatible income generation based opportunities and rest 50% activities to improve their households with NTFP based livelihoods. The activities they will opportunities. Support for the be supported with are broadly income generating activities will be categorized into agro-based, forest coupled along with the skill based, and off-farm based enhancement trainings. 25% of the livelihoods activities. For the total households under income effectiveness of such income generation groups will receive some generating activities, identified kind of training during the every households will be organized under year. Market linkages for the Forest management functional groups called Income products of IGA will also be fostered. © WWF-Canon / Matt WILKINSON Generating Activities (IGA) groups. Of the total households targeted by It is assumed that among the Alternative energy schemes will be the strategic plan (314,00 households supported for income promoted in the landscape to households), 75% of them is generation activities, 30% achieve forest conservation and targeted through alternative energy household are anticipated to work livelihoods improvement. program. At least 15% of the targeted households will adopt Box 5: Major Targets: Sustainable livelihoods biogas (toilet attached) and about 60% of targeted households will Expected coverage of the SL to total HH (No) 314, 000 adopt improve cooking stoves. The Agro-based + Off-farm IGA HH (No) 23,568 anticipated number for each of the Forest based IGA HH (No) 15,712 NTFP based IGA HH (No) 39,280 target is given in Box 5. No of HH using Biogas HH (No) 39,280 No of HH using improved cooking stoves (No) 196,401 In addition to these livelihoods No of HH receiving some skill training (No) 19,640 related supports, it is anticipated to 20 TERAI ARC LANDSCAPE-NEPAL „ ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT

enhance the capacity of targeted fiscal year. Such detail is reflected appropriate policy through household members in various IGA in their respective annual progress advocacy and institutional activities, skill development and reports. Activities that are identified strengthening. Policy formulation is service support. Similarly, as to contribute to the vision of TAL a long process, which requires community support services will be are illustrated here. It is often several consultations and many developed in a joint approach with challenging to draw a fine line other exercises. Policy is only the the local communities. Community among the activities when scoping means, not an end itself. The forestry users groups will be the using such criteria. The editing prerequisite of the policy is outreach entities for these team took the liberty of identifying strengthened institutions through livelihoods activities in the plan. activities mentioned in the awareness and capacity building. Activities to reduce the vulnerability Implementation Plan as the Until and unless the concerned of the local communities to wildlife- standard. Therefore, activities that stakeholders are capable of related conflict are also targeted. are similar or nearest to those internalizing and implementing the mentioned in the Implementation policy, the policy would be Plan are analyzed for the purpose meaningless. 3.2 Achievements of this report. The details of the activities accomplished during this Another aspect of the governance As evident from the earlier period by all the partners under process is to enhance the capacity discussions, different projects and MFSC umbrella is in Appendix 2. of all concerned institutions working programs working in the TAL area The accomplishments are in the landscape for the effective are focusing at several aspects of discussed in the five thematic areas implementation of activities conservation and development. in line with Implementation Plan. mentioned in the TAL Therefore, generalization of the Implementation Plan. contributions in terms of common 3.2.1 Governance Institutionalization and activity and outcome is extremely For the smooth implementation of strengthening of the local CBOs challenging. However, for the sake the program activities, priority has and partner organizations through of this report, generalization has been given to create enabling enhancing organizational and been made. The accomplishment environment for strengthening technical capacities is a must to of individual project is illustrated in linkage between sustainable ensure effective delivery of the Appendix 2. In order to collate the livelihoods and landscape level program targets as well as information, this report has followed conservation. The focus of this sustainability of program the framework developed in the program area is formulation of interventions. Likewise, enhanced TAL Implementation Plan.

Box 6: Major Achievements: Governance The ongoing activities of the development partners working in New policy formulation (No. of policies) 3 TAL have contributed directly or Advocacy (No. of events) 24 indirectly towards the TAL vision. Capacity building This section summarizes major Government agencies (Individuals) 298 achievements under broad NGOs/CBOs (Individuals) 4,213 program areas during this year. Coordination Development partners working in Field level (No. of events) 164 District level (No. of events) 37 the landscape have conducted several other activities during this DFCC formation (No. of districts) 11 TERAI ARC LANDSCAPE-NEPAL „ ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT 21

capacity of the partners and better Kapilvastu) with the support of program has established and coordination with stakeholders at LFP and in 5 districts ( Rautahat, strengthened the CFCC institutions every level from field to center Bara, Parsa, Makawanpur, in various corridors and ensures effective implementation. Chitwan) in support of BISEP-ST bottlenecks. These are association Major activities during this fiscal has already been formed. Since, of Community Forestry User's year under this component were the DFCC directive is the policy Groups in particular geographical focused on institutional and instrument to form and locations. CFCC are gradually technical capacity enhancement of operationalize the DFCCs, the emerging as an institutional vehicle partners. (Box 6) formation and institutiolization of to implement sustainable livelihoods DFCC has been identified to have activities in the field sites. Herbs and NTFPs Development taken place during the reporting Policy, District Forest Coordination fiscal year. Similarly, during this Total 298 HMG staff were Committee (DFCC) Directives and fiscal year, 3 DFCCs (Banke, supported for capacity Non-government Service Provider Bardiya and Kailali) have been development through training and (NGSP) Guidelines are the new formed following the scholarship (higher education) policies formulated and endorsed implementation of WTLBP. Now during this reporting period. by MFSC during this fiscal year. there are altogether 11 DFCCs in Likewise, 4,213 members of Herbs and NTFPs Development TAL-Nepal. Support for NGOs/CBOs were supported for Policy aims to develop the country institutional strengthening of these capacity development in as a storehouse of valuable herbs DFCCs has been continued. sustainable NRM and institutional and NTFPs through proper development. management of these resources Most of the activities by the and enhance the livelihood of the partners in TAL area are In order to ensure the functional people through market promotion implemented with the active coordination among stakeholders, of these products. The DFCC participation of communities partners have made substantial Directives is a policy document that through social mobilization. Social efforts at field level and central provides the guidance for mobilization programme in CFUG levels. The number of coordination establishing and operating DFCC in and BZUC have resulted the meetings at field and district level the districts. The NGSP guideline is regular meeting of these groups, are 164 and 37 respectively. One a guiding framework for the increased participation of women, example of coordination among the involvement of civil society poor and disadvantaged group of conservation partners in TAL is the institutions in biodiversity the community. In addition, front loading provided by SNV conservation and sustainable awareness raising and capacity Nepal for the implementation of livelihoods interventions. All these building activities as well as WTLB making use of TAL national policies have direct advocacy through right based implementation modality in place relevance to the work of TAL. approach by partners like under the support of WWF Nepal. SAGUN/Care Nepal, LFP, PCP SNV Nepal and WWF Nepal After DFCC Directives came into etc. have contributed in enhancing Program jointly undertake the effect, formation of District Forest the good governance practices of responsibility of implementing Coordination Committees (DFCCs) these groups. However, these WTLB activities. Similarly, the has been initiated as a mechanism activities are not sufficient in process of development of TAL for the strengthened coordination in realizing TAL vision and needs to Implementation Plan continued with the district-level. DFCC in 3 districts scale up in the days to come. participation of the key landscape ( Nawalparasi, Rupendehi and WWF supported part of TAL level partners representing UNDP, 22 TERAI ARC LANDSCAPE-NEPAL „ ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT

USAID, SNV, DFID and WWF Nepal The objective of community forestry into sustainable forest in a core team. The entire process in the landscape is enhancing the management, livelihood and was conducted in the leadership of decentralized modes of forest governance. MFSC. Representatives from the management. This is also being ministry, Department of Forests, complemented by pro-poor Restoration of the degraded forests Department of National Parks and leasehold forestry, private forestry is another major initiative Wildlife Conservation and BISEP-ST and collaborative forest undertaken by the conservation were also present in the core team management practices. Apart from partners. Plantation is one mode of formed for the formulation of the promoting sustainable restoration. During this fiscal year, Implementation Plan. management of forests, community District Forest Offices, community forestry has also been instrumental forest user groups, buffer zone user Various districts in TAL started the in democratic practices at the groups and other community- formation of DFCC pertaining to the grassroots level through based organizations planted enabling policy for this. However, participatory decision making and seedlings of various species for effective coordination with the equitable benefit sharing. With the fuelwood, fodder and timber District Development Committees support of the partners in TAL, 286 purpose. The extent of such (DDC) and Village Development community forest operational plans plantation is 863 ha. Natural Committees (VDC) was lacking due covering more than 8,000 ha are regeneration is yet another mode of to absence of elected representatives. developed and handed over to the restoration in the degraded Likewise, coordination with sectoral users. In addition, financial and landscape. More than 7,200 ha. of government agencies needs to be technical assistance is provided to degraded forests are subjected to improved for ensuring effective many CFUGs for the effective natural regeneration through service delivery to the target management of the forest fencing or construction of trenches. communities. resources (Box 7). With the objective of reducing 3.2.2 Sustainable Forest Fourth National Workshop on pressure in the forest due to Management Community Forestry was organised grazing or collection of the Experiences have shown that the by Community Forestry Division of fuelwood, several activities to cooperation and participation of local DoF from 4 to 6 August, 2004 with address these issues were communities is the key for the the theme “25 years of Community conducted. 978 biogas plants and success of any conservation and Forestry: Contributing to Millennium 3,959 improved cooking stoves development initiative. The TAL Development Goals”. The were installed in TAL area this year. strategy aims to build effective workshop came up with several The cumulative effect of both of partnerships with local people as issues of CF which are categorized these means of alternative energy is resource managers, beneficiaries and stewards to achieve its goal through proper management of Box 7: Major Achievements: Sustainable Forest Management forest resources under appropriate Restoration of degraded forests management regime. Community Natural regeneration (ha) 7,200 forestry, collaborative forestry, Plantation (ha) 863

private forestry and leasehold Forest management forestry have been identified as the CF operational plan (new and revision) (No) 286 potential forest management modes Collaborative forest Management Plan (No) 3 in TAL. Leasehold forestry plan (pro-poor) (No) 29 TERAI ARC LANDSCAPE-NEPAL „ ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT 23

expected to reduce the consumption of fuelwood by 8,300 MT annually. This amount is equivalent to the total growing stock of more than 64 ha of natural forest in Terai (DFRS, 1999).

One of the important work conducted in joint cooperation of the partners during the fiscal year was study on the forest cover change between 1991-2001. With the effort of the government and other conservation partners, there Increasing blackbuck population has been significant improvements © WWF-Canon / Jeff FOOTT in the rate of change of forest cover During this fiscal year, a total of 588 sweeping operations (133), in Terai compare to 1980s. The rate hectares of grassland inside the 4 camping operations (10), and of forest cover change was found PAs (RCNP, RBNP, RSWR and patrolling (97). As the result of ot be around 0.06% per year PWR) were managed for different strategic undertaking of APO jointly compare to 1.3% for Terai in 1980s. species adopting combination of by PA and protection unit (Royal management interventions as Nepalese Army), rate of rhino 3.2.3 Species and Ecosystem prescribed by the earlier research poaching stabilized not to increase Conservation and studies. Similarly, 5 wetlands in RCNP. APO teams were able to Interventions under the species and were managed, 848 km fireline and seize 3 rhino horns, 2 tiger skins, 6 ecosystem conservation program forest trail were maintained, 7 new kg tiger bones, a home made gun are concentrated towards ensuring waterholes constructed and 2 from poachers. Likewise, 72 the maintenance of viable population restored during this year. poachers including 55 rhino of key species through habitat poachers and 6 tiger poachers management and reduction of During this fiscal year with the were apprehended by APO teams threats. This also involves activities support of TAL/CARP, PAs in RCNP. Legal measures were aimed at effective management of undertook APOs more strategically taken against 119 offenders by the protected areas. through effective mobilization of RCNP (Custody-17, under local informers at strategic locations investigation-14, on trial-27, fined The major activities conducted (RSWR-7, RBNP-2, RCNP-16, and released-61). In addition, APO under this thematic program PWR 4) for surveillance and regular teams of four protected areas have includes regular activities inside the protected areas like habitat management, anti-poaching Box 8: Major Achievements: Species and Ecosystem Conservation operations, monitoring of wildlife Grassland Management (ha) 588 and research, as well as the Wetland management (No) 5 activities related to minimizing Waterhole construction (No) 9 human-wildlife conflict and buffer Species Conservation (No. of Species) 4 Formation of eco-clubs (No) 139 zone development (Box 8). Awareness and education (No of events) 396 24 TERAI ARC LANDSCAPE-NEPAL „ ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT

confiscated 2,113.3 c. ft. timber, 36 A regional workshop on June 2005 one of the eco-clubs were formed carts, 72 bullocks, 1 tractor, 1 was organized to share the during the fiscal year 2004-2005. motorbike, 4 boats and 18 Sal experiences on human-elephant The schoolchildren are actively wood logs from illegal loggers and conflict and mitigation measures. involved in creating awareness on poachers during this reporting Result of the workshop will be biodiversity conservation. period. Likewise, 402 traps set for helpful to prepare human-wildlife wild animals were dismantled conflict mitigation strategy for Nepal While the non-formal education has during sweeping operations. During Terai. immensely helped to disseminate this fiscal year, RSWR, RBNP and conservation message to adult men PWR, RCNP were supported for Efforts were made during the fiscal and women, the interaction and renovation of 2, 1, 4 and 1 APO years to conserve 4 species of workshops have been useful to posts respectively. special concern. This includes ex- impart specific information to situ and in-situ conservation specific target groups such as the The TAL Program also organized measures for Gharial, Tortoise, Gothalas (cow herders) and orientation programs for 55 Vulture and Blackbuck. Agharias (Traditional leasers who personnel of the Royal Nepalese are responsible for managing Army and 20 junior staff regarding WWF through camera trapping irrigation schemes). the laws governing wildlife monitored tigers in critical areas. conservation, problems of poaching The monitoring of translocated Print and electronic media were and illegal trade in wildlife products rhinoceros as well as the effectively mobilized to disseminate and legal procedures. endangered Bengal florican and conservation messages to its ungulates has helped to find out targeted audiences. Different radio TAL/CARP of WWF supported 12 their home range. KMTNC/BCC programs like Naso, Madhyabarti, Community based Anti-poaching has monitored tigers in Conservation for Development, We Operation Units (CBAPO) for its Barandabhar forest through camera are the world, Bhuparidhi, is being smooth functioning safeguarding trapping and pugmark methods. aired regularly through radio natural resources and biodiversity stations to disseminate the outside the PAs from illegal The restoration of critical biological conservation messages. activities such as poaching, illegal corridors and the ensuing Documentaries and conservation timber logging and smuggling, movement of wildlife have also success results are also being encroachment and illegal collection increased human-wildlife conflict. telecasted during special of NTFPs in close coordination with To protect foraging wild animals occasions. DFOs. 57 CBAPO members were from retaliatory actions of affected trained on the CBAPO concept, farmers, a 12-km long fence has 3.2.4 Soil Conservation and operational systems, their roles and been built and support was Churia Watershed responsibilities and prevailing laws provided to maintain 98.8-long Management and bylaws pertaining to CBAPO trench in the fringe areas. The 36 The foothill forests of Chure range concerns. CBAPOs have removed watch towers build during the year that fall in the landscape provide encroachment from 103 hectare of have helped local farmers to keep not only ecological service but also forest areas, dismantled 163 traps vigil on their crop fields. create biological pathway between set in the national forests for birds, protected areas for the movement small and large mammals and There is a network of 139 eco- of wildlife. The Chure range is very confiscated 5,462 cubic feet of clubs with 68,672 students across fragile and faces environmental timber from illegal loggers. the schools of the landscape. Forty degradation. These hills are the TERAI ARC LANDSCAPE-NEPAL „ ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT 25

program of TAL strategy. The Box 9: Major Targets: Soil Conservation and sustainable livelihoods development Churia Watershed Management activities are aimed at providing ISWM Plan Preparation (No) 5 income generation opportunities to ISWM Plan for priority sub-watersheds (ha) 175 win the support of local people and Micro watershed management (No) 15 thereby reduce the pressure on Micro watershed management (ha) 150 Treatment of hotspots (No) 23 natural resources. Sustainable livelihood program area constitutes of forest-based, agro-based and off southern-most range of hills lying degraded land and soil productivity farm income generating activities between the plains of Terai and the conservation of 29 ha. land. and productive infrastructure mountain ranges of the himalaya. Besides, other regular activities like development (including small scale periodic monitoring, coordination irrigation schemes, drinking water The Tenth Plan (2002-2007) has and awareness generation have scheme, access road, biogas and prioritized integrated soil and been accomplished. toilet etc.). Income generating watershed management in the activities involves skill development Churia hills to conserve water Formulation of Chure Area Program through training and extensions, source, increase land productivity, Strategy (CAPS) is almost finalized. community managed micro-credit minimize havoc caused by floods in This strategy is expected to be very schemes for sustainable financing the Terai, while providing beneficial in churia watershed the IGAs and technical supports for hydrological linkage of the Churia to conservation through integrated business development and the lowlands. watershed management, integrated marketing of IGA products. land-use planning, strengthening District offices of DSCWM, BISEP- participation and institutional Partners in TAL-Nepal have made ST and LFP-Terai have been coordination, promoting sustainable substantial efforts for enhancing the directly involved in soil conservation agriculture, making special livelihood of the local community activities in TAL-Nepal. In this fiscal provision for Churia forest and through several activities targeted year, planning for 5 sub- promoting awareness and to the poorest of the poor and watersheds have been completed education. marginalized groups. LFP has with the support of BISEP-ST in its promoted forest land allocation for project districts. The total area of 3.2.5 Sustainable Livelihoods poor and disadvantaged group of these sub-watersheds is nearly 175 Since the livelihood issues of the 34 CFUGs in Dang which is ha. Similarly, BISEP-ST has also local people are inextricably linked intended to improve livelihood of supported for 15 micro-watershed with conservation, sustainable them through cultivation of NTFPs management and community livelihoods development is a priority in the allocated land. In support of based soil conservation in 6 sites. The other activities accomplished in this fiscal year includes Box 10: Major Achievements: Sustainable Livelihoods construction of 8 runoff harvesting Expected coverage of the SL to total HH dam, 244.5 km torrent control and Agro-based + Off-farm IGA HH (No) 550 stream bank protection through Forest/NTFP based IGA HH (No) 970 bioengineering, integrated No of HH using Biogas HH (No) 978 management of degraded lands in No of HH using improved cooking stoves (No) 3,959 No of HH receiving some skill training (No) 2,300 3 sites, rehabilitation of 26 ha. 26 TERAI ARC LANDSCAPE-NEPAL „ ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT

PCP, 2474 saving credit groups and tube wells, construction of 572 the effective management of barren has formed so far in the buffer zone toilets, and buildings for 28 schools. land in community forests. The of the 4 PAs. These CBOs have Similarly, support was provided to project and other partners are generated the community fund of construct 14 community buildings. promoting the concept in LFP's Rs. 70 million, which is utilized for There was spontaneous support for working districts, including Dang. the promotion of various IGAs. In most of the development activities addition, PCP has allocated Rs. 19 and the local people contributed In FY 2004/05, 58 CFUGs in Dang million as a trust fund in the name around 50 percent of the total cost were allocated 27 ha of community of Biodiversity Conservation Facility of the construction works. forest land to the poorest users (BCF), most of which has been identified through the well-being mobilized for green enterprises ranking. More than 800 households development. In the BZ of RCNP 3.3 Outstanding are engaged in optimizing the and RBNP, 50 % of the park Successes productivity from this land base. A revenue allocated for conservation record numbers of NTFP seedlings and development in BZ through Community forests allocate land has been produced and planted in BZMC is also utilized in development to the poor these lands. The CFUGs of some productive infrastructures In Dang, community forests are themselves produce seedlings for and in promotion of IGAs. being allocated to the poor plantation. The total number of households in the community. They NTFP seedlings produced and Altogether 115 skill development use community land to improve distributed is over 1 million of which training was provided to more than their livelihoods through various kurilo (Asparagus) is the most 3400 local inhabitants during this income generating activities, predominant. Reports from Bardia fiscal year. The main training demonstrating that community shows that 40,000 asparagus activities includes NTFPs forestry has the potential to plants can be grown in a hectare of management and cultivation, contribute to poverty reduction by land. Each plant can yield at least poultry, fishery, bee keeping, improving the livelihoods of the one kg of dry tubers (5-7 kg of raw vegetable farming, mushroom poorest Community Forest User tubers) worth Rs.80 per kg in a farming, cane furniture making, Group (CFUG) members through three-year period. This translates rope making, sewing and tailoring, veterinary and hair cutting. Apart from the training, the program are also working on developing community services including small scale infrastructure.

The main infrastructure development activities of the fiscal year include gravelling and maintenance of 117.5 km-long road, installation of 49 hume pipe, construction of 32 bridge and causeways. As part of community service, support was provided for

the installation of 85 water taps, NTFP farming in Dang © LFP TERAI ARC LANDSCAPE-NEPAL „ ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT 27

into a minimum income of Rs.3.2 million in three years or more than a million rupees per year from one hectare of land.

Rhino Count 2005 The Rhino Count 2005 at Royal Chitwan National Park found the population of Greater One-horned Rhinoceros had dropped from 544 in 2000 to 372-a 31 per cent decline in five years. Earlier count of Rhino was done on the year 2000.

At least 94 rhinos were lost to Rhino Count 2005 poaching and 66 to natural causes © WWF Nepal such as flooding, fighting, predation and age. The results of the Rhino aided in the arrest of 77 poachers businessmen. Events included a Count 2005 caused a sensation in and their accomplices. door-to-door campaign among the conservation community. It indigenous communities, sounded an alarm regarding the After the discouraging results of discussions with buffer zone user existence of this endangered Rhino Count 2005, Save the Rhino committees (BZUC), a speech species in RCNP. The hightened campaign kicked off on 22 May competition focused on rhino poaching has been attributed to the 2005, in the occassion of conservation, media trip for reduction in the number of anti- International Biodiversity Day, at journalists and interactions. poaching posts, from 32 to eight Meghauli in the Buffer Zone of Royal due to Maoist insurgency that Chitwan National Park (RCNP). The Formation and institutionalization changed national security priorities, theme was "Ustai Prani Ustai Pida, of District Forest Coordination and restrictions on the movement Milera Jogaun Ek Singe Gaida", Committee (DFCC) of park staff due to the ground which emphasizes the pain that all DFCC Directives were under situation. Despite the setback of a living creatures suffer and therefore, discussion for several months. reduction in the number of guard encourages everyone to unite in During this fiscal year, these posts, anti-poaching operations saving the rhinos. Directives were endorsed by backed by informant networks MFSC. After the endorsement of The main objective of the awareness the Directives by the ministry, program was to encourage local DFCC got a legitimate outfit. The communities to voice and act DFCC Directive, are based on collectively against poaching of the Forest Act 1993. Based on the Greater One-horned Rhinoceros in directives, all 8 districts under the and around RCNP. The target preview of BISEP ST formed audience of the week long Save the legitimate DFCC. Following the Rhino campaign was local same Directives, other program communities, media, students, also supported for the formation of

‘Save the Rhino’ campaign district level government officials and DFCCs in their respective districts. © WWF Nepal 28 TERAI ARC LANDSCAPE-NEPAL „ ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT

supporting the empowerment of respective DFOs in collaboration these institutions. with the CFM Committees. The revenue accrued through such Collaborative Forest forest management is shared Management between the government and the Large and contiguous tract of forest users in a proportionate manner. in Terai and Inner Terai cannot be For the first time in the history of handed over as community forests. Nepal, 3 Collaborative Forest DFCC Workshop Unless an approved management Management Plans (one each for © BISEP-ST plan is in place, no management Parsa, Rautahat and Bara district) The formulation and ultimate operations can be done in the were approved by the government endorsement of DFCC directives is government managed forests. of Nepal. Accordingly, forest anticipated to be a corner stone in Large tract of forest in Terai and management activities are started developing a decentralized Inner Terai thus lack recognization in 3 pilot CFM sites for which plans institution for the management of by a particular management mode. were approved. forest of Teari. The DFCC are At places, people tend to form instrumental in planning and management committees in Ad hoc Now, formation of collaborative coordinating forestry sector basis to exhibit their ownership for forests is voluntarily taking place in activities in the districts. Since all the forest resources in their various districts. Many other the key stakeholders are involved in neighbourhoods. This has created projects and programs are also the decision making, this a state of polarization among 7the supporting the process. With mechanism has been local people and management further experience gathered phenomenonal in reducing forest authority. The government with through the implementation of the use related conflicts among the conservation partners was working CFM at pilot sites, motivation to the users. In addition, DFCC has been to develop an appropriate mode of part of users and decentralization instrumental in bringing the concept forest management that is in line institutions in place, CFM is of inclusion of the users staying with the existing policies of the anticipated to be the mainstream away from the forest areas. The government and the demand of the forest management mode for Teari lessons learnt from the experience users. In 2005, as per the spirit of in future. of BISEP ST on formation and Revised Forestry Sector Policy, operationalization of DFCCs have 2000, a new approach for the been replicated in other districts management of Terai forests was 3.4 Key Issues also. This is indicated by increasing initiated with the support of BISEP number of visitors to BISEP ST ST. The management practice is Landscape level conservation districts to study and interact with known as Collaborative Forest approach has been identified as an DFCC members there. However, Management (CFM). Basically, the effective means of ensuring the absence of elected management practice is to sustainable conservation and representatives at DDC and rapid collaborate with all the users at enhancing livelihood, which is, turn out of the membership has local level, form a CFM group reflected in the major policy been a challenge on smooth involving the distant users as well documents of the country. functioning of DFCC. In addition, for the management of an identified Realizing the fact, the ministry has DFCCs need to become fully collaborative forest. The CFM initiated landscape level operational and financially schemes are developed locally. conservation through formulation independent. BISEP-ST is Activities are carried out by and endorsement of Terai Arc TERAI ARC LANDSCAPE-NEPAL „ ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT 29

Landscape Strategic Plan in 2004. conservation as one of the priority situation coupled with constant The strategic plan aims to programs in the forestry sector, the closures and blockades, restriction coordinate and synergize the efforts same is not adequately reflected in in movement, and the atmosphere of the several partners of the the national accounting systems. A of uncertainty adversely affected landscape in order to achieve mechanism to mainstream the the smooth functioning of program common goal of realizing TAL achievements against common activities in the ground. It often vision. However, there are several targets is essential. This report is hampered regular coordination with issues to be addressed in order to one such endeavor to reflect such concerned line agencies, local translate the strategies into ground achievements. bodies, and representatives of actions effectively. Few such issues local people. are captured in the following Reporting format section, which may have relevance and cycle Human wildlife conflict to more than the fiscal year in Supporting programs in the Like in the past, this fiscal year question. landscape operate under various 2004/05 also witnessed the loss of project management cycles. Many human life and damage of property Internalization and common partners follow July to June cycle. due to wildlife damage. Most of the understanding Few others follow Gregorian cycle. damage on property was caused Landscape level conservation This posses a challenge in collating by wild elephants. Very often such approach is a new approach of achievements for a periods like incidents occur beyond the conservation management. It has fiscal year or calendar year. jurisdiction of park authorities and not sufficiently matured across all Similarly, the reporting formats are the absence of proper the stakeholders in the desired different. The challenge is in compensation scheme further level. Although internalization generalization of the achievements complicates the matter. The process is on going but it requires and scaling up at a landscape level. change in land use in the traditional still more time. migratory routes of wild elephants Institutional mechanism often forces them to raid crop in the Coordination and monitoring TAL Implementation Plan has adjoining crop fields. Though the issue (inter and intra ministry) identified the need of a support unit buffer zone authorities provide Due to limited level of information under MFSC which can work as nominal compensation in cases of regarding the landscape level central body for the TAL related loss of human life or injury, or conservation approach, sufficient matters. This proposed support damage of crop or livestock within coordination across the ministry unit is expected to be very crucial the buffer zone, long-term solution and departments has not been for coordination, monitoring and to this problem is still necessary. taking place. Since the projects documentation of many program working at landscape level are also activities under TAL - Nepal. Since Communication in the process of action learning, the plan is in the process of A key challenge is to ensure better monitoring of the development endorsement, the formation of such communication across the TAL and interventions are not taken place as unit is still awaited. the different partner organizations. anticipated. There is a need to move away from Program implementation geographically focused projects 3.4.3 Reflection at national Terai Arc Landscape has been and programmes towards a Sector auditing system affected by insurgency during the Wide Approach (SWAp), whereby Although the 10th plan has reporting period. The general particular programmes are identified the landscape level deterioration in law and order undertaken right across the TAL. A 30 TERAI ARC LANDSCAPE-NEPAL „ ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT

first step in this direction would be community has been quit biodiversity loss in the Terai Arc improved communication and successful. Allocation of open Landscape. Unless macro level sharing of initiatives between community lands for such issues are taken into account districts and projects/programmes, households or providing them during program design and so that best practice is taken up off farm livelihood opportunities implementation, the program and mainstreamed across the are some key activities that have interventions focused on direct region. At present, the paid back effectively. causes of biodiversity loss are communication is in a vertical • Policy and advocacy work not effective enough to yield direction with less or no focus at requires more close coordination desired impact. Thus, macro and horizontal level across the and effective collaboration micro level analysis is imperative landscape level partners. The among the partners. It is for designing and implementing improvement in the communication desirable to have a common the program interventions. mechanism and mode will be useful understanding and agenda • Improvement of governance of for the future work of similar nature among the partners for local CBOs and other partners is and making landscape level pursuance of policy and imperative for maintaining conservation a reality. advocacy works. For example, transparency of various project's Collaborative Forest financial support to them. Management (CFM) is likely to Improved governance has found 3.5 Lessons Learnt have significant implication in to promote equity in benefit forest management of Terai. sharing, ensure effective The lessons learnt cannot be However, in absence of participation of minorities in attributed to the effort of a single common understanding among decision making. Participatory year only. However, for the sake of partners, CFM is not promoted monitoring and public hearing/ presentation, this report tries to in an anticipated manner in auditing could make the capture some major lessons learnt western districts of TAL. program and partners more over the reporting period. • Forest management in Teari has accountable to the community always been challenge in Nepal. needs as well as maintain quality Key lessons learnt are categorized The diverse objective and of the activities being in the following section: working modality of partners in implemented. This has been a • One of the prime lessons learnt Terai is the key factor behind successful model to operate in a during this period is the need of this. With the initiation of situation of conflict. developing a mechanism to formulation of TAL • Sustainable livelihood activities engage the poor and Implementation Plan and have to target those who are disadvantaged groups in the establishment of DFCC totally dependent on forest mainstream conservation mechanism, many such issues products for their livelihoods. It process. Based on the have been streamlined although is necessary to address the information generated through much needs to be done. problems relating to the demand participatory wellbeing • Macro level issues such as of firewood from industrial and assessment, livelihood population growth, migration urban areas that are responsible development activities targeted and internal displacement are for excessive extraction of to identified households in the more prominent causes of firewood from forests. TERAI ARC LANDSCAPE-NEPAL „ ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT 31 © WWF Nepal Program

SUMMARY ASSESSMENT

„ CHAPTER 4

The past fiscal year 2004/05 was strengthening social institutions at loading to WTLBP using WWF very challenging. The insurgency the grassroots. This was a period supported TAL modality for three was in a heightened state, when the forestry sector began a western Terai districts. This was particularly in the Terai. Despite all gradual transformation from critical in bringing in the long the odds, conservation partners traditional forestry to forestry with awaited GEF/UNDP support in the were successful in achieving linkages to sustainable livelihoods. landscape level conservation in the remarkable results. The 4th western Terai. community forestry workshop The move to manage the Terai jointly organized by Department of forests was another important NTFP have been identified as the Forest with other partners was held achievement during the fiscal year. key sector that can improve the in August 2004. The workshop The government focused on livelihoods of local communities that opened discussions on governance institutional strengthening to are dependent on forest resources. and livelihoods as key issues in the streamline forest management in A policy for developing the sector management of community the Terai. Collaborative Forest has been formulated. All the forestry. Several fourth generation Management Plans for three pilot programmes and projects work on issues were identified. Approaches sites were approved and other issues related to NTFPs promotion to address them for the sustainable plans are in the pipeline. DFCCs during the fiscal year. management of community forests were established in at least 11 were discussed. The shift from pure districts of TAL Nepal to coordinate The core group to formulate the conservation and management of forestry sector development. SNV Implementation Plan on the basis of forests to issues like governance Nepal, a long-standing partner of the TAL Strategic Plan continued its and livelihoods were fundamental in the government, initiated front work with a focus on developing a 32 TERAI ARC LANDSCAPE-NEPAL „ ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT

financial model. This process was Wildlife monitoring was conducted rhinos at RCNP. Eventually, it will completed in the current fiscal year outside the protected areas: Khata contribute to local communities 2005/06. The implementation plan (Bardia) and Basanta (Kailali) in the feeling more positive towards thus prepared is in the process of critical corridors. Monitoring of the landscape level conservation. endorsement at the ministry. grassland succession and wildlife movement is being conducted in Despite all precautions, a few The results of the Rhino Count the Padampur area inside RCNP. committed conservation staff lost 2005 caused a sensation in the Community support to households their lives during this period. conservation community. It that voluntarily relocated from the Partners, including WWF, are sounded an alarm regarding the core protected area of RCNP was working to minimize the effects of existence of this endangered initiated at New Padampur. This this incident. Developing CFM in species in RCNP. The threat of was first time that conservation the districts, other than pilot habitat loss due to invasion of alien partners worked in developing districts, could not be achieved as invasive species in the protected alternative livelihoods strategies for anticipated. Similarly, the rhino areas was also identified as a displaced people. This approach is translocation was not conducted critical threat during the reporting highly appreciated by the people largely due to the security period. The declaration of the buffer who supported the voluntary situation and in a lesser extent zone at PWR and RSWR relocation from the core protected owing to the result of the Rhino completed the process of allocating area to enhance the survival of Count 2005. BZ to protected areas in the Terai. TERAI ARC LANDSCAPE-NEPAL „ ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT 33

REFERENCES

DFRS, 1999. National Forest Inventory Report, Department of Forest Research and Survey, Kathmandu

DoF, 2005. Forest Cover Change of Terai, Department of Forests, Kathamdnu

HMGN, 2006. Terai Arc landscape Implementation Plan (Draft)

HMGN, 2004. Terai Arc Landscape - Nepal, Strategic Plan (2004-2014)

LFP, 2005. LFP Terai- Annual Report (2004-2005)

PCP, 2005. Annual progress Report, 2004

WWF Nepal (2005) Terai Arc Landscape Program, Annual Technical Report ( July 2004- June 2005)

WWF Nepal (2002) Terai Arc Landscape- Nepal, FACT BOOK

Unpublished Annual Progress Reports/Sheets (DoF, DNPWC, DSCWM, BISEP-ST, NARMSAP) 34 TERAI ARC LANDSCAPE-NEPAL „ ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT

Appendix 1: List of the key partners and their programs/projects in TAL

SN Agency Project/Program Focus Area Coverage

1 DoF/HMG National Forest • Management of national forests All the 14 TAL districts Management Program • Protection and management in focused areas between Rautahat and Kanchanpur

Leasehold Forestry • Leasehold forestry for the poor Chitwan, Makawanpur Program

2 DNPWC/ Protected Area • Biodiversity conservation in PAs 4 PAs RCNP, RBNP, HMG Management Program • Conservation of key wildlife and their habitat RSWR and PWR) management

Buffer Zone • Human wildlife conflict mitigation 4 BZs (Activities Development Program • Community based conservation and forest implemented through management Buffer Zone Management • Social development activities in Buffer zones Council)

3 DSCWM/ District Soil • Soil Conservation Rautahat, Bara, HMG Conservation Program • Watershed Management Makawanpur, Nawalparasi, Palpa, Rupendehi and Dang

4 DPR/HMG District Plant • Research and identification of the plant Banke and Kailali Resources Program species • Domestication of the high value plant species

5 SNV BISEP-ST • Collaborative forestry Rautahat, Bara, Parsa, • Formation of DFCC Makawanpur, Chitwan • Institutionalization of the local level institutions

6 USAID CARE Nepal/ • Advocacy Bardia, Dang and Kailali SAGUN • Right Based Approach (RBA) • Governance

7 KMTNC Protected Area • Support to PA management RCNP, RBNP and RSWR Management Support • Community development in BZs and their BZs Programs • Mitigating human-wildlife conflict

8 DFID LFP Terai • Forest management (different modes) Rupandehi, Kapilvastu and • Livelihoods (forest based) Nawalparasi

LFP Hill • Community Forest Management Dang • Livelihoods (forest based)

9 UNDP PCP • Review BZ policies BZ of all 4 PAs (RCNP, • Capacity building up of DNPWC, Park/ RBNP, RSWR,PWR) Reserve staff and local communities • Community mobilization • Sustainability and institutionalization • Human wildlife conflict mitigation

10 GEF/ UNDP, SNV WTLCP • Restoration of identified Critical areas Kanchanpur, Kailali and • Species and their habitat conservation in the Bardia Districts (including protected areas Protected Areas) • Buffer zone management. • Agro-biodiversity • Collaborative Forest Management

11 WWF TAL CBRP and TAL • Support for landscape policy 4 protected and identified PA and BZ; • Restoration of identified critical areas critical areas of TAL Support to WTLCP • Species and their habitat conservation in the Districts protected areas • Research and long term monitoring • Buffer zone management • Anti poaching operations • Livelihood related interventions Appendix 2: Accomplishments by Partners In TAL - Nepal

DoF DNPWC DSCWM DPR OTHER PARTNERS ACTIVITIES Unit National OFMP Hill PA BZ DSCP HPP BISEP-ST SAGUN PCP LFP LFP WWF/WTLCB NARMSAP KMTNC Total Leasehold Leasehold Terai Hill

1. GOVERNANCE 1.1 Support policy formulation, revision and advocacy 1.1.1 New policy formulation No. 1 2 3 1.1.2 Revision of existing policies No. 1.1.3 Policy Advocacy Seminars and workshops No. 1 1 2 1 5 Training and exposure visits (National) No. 5 4 7 1 2 19 Training and exposure visits (International) No. 1.2 Strengthen institutional capacity Government agencies Indv. 115 40 80 63 30 298 Non-Government organizations and community Indv. 380 960 480 940 1103 225 125 4213 based organizations 1.3 Building coordination among implementing agencies and partners Field Level coordination No. 25 40 19 15 35 20 10 164 District level coordination 3 2 1 5 9 15 2 37 National level coordination No. Transboarder coordination No. 19 1.4 Support DFCC Establish and strengthen DFCC No. 5 3 3 11 Implement financial decentralization mechanism Million Rs. 19 0.9 19.9 (eg. trust funds, revenue channeling) 2. SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT 2.1 Restore Degraded Forest Plantation Ha. 68 262 67 102 20 268 6 863 Natural Regeneration Protection Ha. 167 33 70 7000 7200 2.2 Sustainable management of the TAL Forest Develop Community Forest Operational Plans No 6 12 58 5 28 59 51 51 5 283 Develop Collaborative Forest Management Plans No. 8 3 3 Leasehold Forest Handover No. 15 15 Renew of Leasehold Forest Operation Plan No. 14 14

35 DoF DNPWC DSCWM DPR OTHER PARTNERS ACTIVITIES Unit National OFMP Hill PA BZ DSCP HPP BISEP-ST SAGUN PCP LFP LFP WWF/WTLCB NARMSAP KMTNC Total Leasehold Leasehold Terai Hill

2.3 NTFPs Management Support to enterprise development No. 4 4 Seedling Production and Distribution (in '000) No. 9 50 65 680 804 Establishment of NTFPs Demo Plot No. 2 7 9 3. SPECIES AND BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION 3.1 Enhance Biodiversity Conservation in the Protected Areas Grassland Management Ha. 65 25 8 490 588 Anti-poaching Operations No. 2 2 1 1 7 Wetland Management No. 1 2 2 1 5 Fireline and Forest Trail Maintenance Km 505 90 15 238 848 Waterhole construction/maintenance No. 2 5 7 3.2 Conduct research/studies on landscape level conservation 3.3 Key species conservation (captive breeding and No. of 4 5 others) Spp 3.4 Conservation education and awareness Establish and support eco-clubs / green clubs No. 41 41 Conduct Awareness Campaigns/events No. 3 3 375 396 Communication (Publications, audio visual means) No. 1 1 1 1 4 Non-formal education programs (Gothala, agharia) No. 39 39 3.5 Control wildlife trade Implement CITES Requirements (awareness, No. sensitization etc) Strengthening CITES unit No. 1 1 2 Support Community Based Anti Poaching Operations No. 12 12 (CBAPO)

36 DoF DNPWC DSCWM DPR OTHER PARTNERS ACTIVITIES Unit National OFMP Hill PA BZ DSCP HPP BISEP-ST SAGUN PCP LFP LFP WWF/WTLCB NARMSAP KMTNC Total Leasehold Leasehold Terai Hill

3.6 Human Wild Life Conflict Mitigation Develop HWC mitigation strategy Develop mechanism to mitigate HWC (compentiation, No. 1 1 insurance etc) 4. SOIL CONSERVATION AND CHURIA WATERSHED MANAGEMENT 4.1 Conduct Land Use Planning Develop integrated watershed management plans for 5 5 priority watersheds Community based soil Conservation Sites 1 6 7 4.2 Implementation of SWS plans Degraded Land rehabilitation Ha. 26 26 Land Productivity Conservation Ha. 25 4 29 Micro Watershed management No. 15 15 Runoff Harvesting Dam / Conservation Pond No. 8 8 Hotspot treatment /Bio-engineering Km. 4.5 5 25 210 244.5 Intergrated Management of Degraded Land No. 3 3 5. SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS 5.1 Improve agrobased livelihood 0.082 0.082 Improve productive infrastructure facilties (e.g. No. 2 2 4 irrigation canal) 5.2 Promote Income Generating Activities (IGA) HHs 4 1,290 172 1466 IGA Group formation and institutionalization Sites 11 11 Promote off farm/off forest IGA No. 4 2 2 Promote forest based/NTFPs based IGA No. of Group 30 1 5 36 Skill Development Training Indv. 540 100 20 360 60 300 40 180 400 100 200 2300

37 DoF DNPWC DSCWM DPR OTHER PARTNERS ACTIVITIES Unit National OFMP Hill PA BZ DSCP HPP BISEP-ST SAGUN PCP LFP LFP WWF/WTLCB NARMSAP KMTNC Total Leasehold Leasehold Terai Hill

5.4 Promote ecotourism in Buffer Zone & corridors 2 2 Develop Infractstructure (eg. Observation towers, 89 89 roads bridges, etc) Training Local People (Guide Training Hospitality 0 Training, Lanuage Training 5.5 Promote alternate energy sources 0 Biogas plants 10 20 878 70 978 Improved Cooking Stoves 32 3,927 3959 5.6 Enhance community Infrastructure 35.5 35.5 Drinking Water Support 12 50 23 85 Hume Pipe Installation 12 37 49 Road construction/gravel/maintenance 87 26.5 4 117.5 Bridge/causeways construction/ maintenance 32 32 School building construction/mainenance 12 16 28 Community building construction 12 2 14 Construction of other services (toilet) 512 60 572

38 Terai Arc Landscape Facts

Area Coverage 49,500 sq km (Nepal and India)

Total Number of Protected Areas Eleven (11) (Nepal and India)

Protected Areas in Nepal 4; Parsa Wildlife Reserve, Royal Chitwan National Park, Royal Bardia National Park and Royal Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve.

Protected Areas in India 7; Valmikinagar Wildlife Sanctuary, Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, Dudhwa National Park, Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary, Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajaji National Park, and Corbett National Park.

Protected Area Covered 7,000 sq km (Nepal and India)

Forest Area Covered 27,400 sq km (Nepal and India)

Total Human Population (in Nepal) More than 6.7 million

Wildlife Population (in Nepal) 125 breeding tigers, 466 rhinos and about 120 elephants

World Heritage Sites (in Nepal) Royal Chitwan National Park and Lumbini

Ramsar Sites (in Nepal) Beeshazari Lake, Jagadishpur Reservoir and Ghodaghodi Lake