The project aims to stabilise and increase populations of tigers, rhinos and elephants in the Terai Arc Landscape (TAL). Specific areas to be targeted are: Parsa Wildlife Reserve, Chitwan National Park, Bardia National Park, Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve and their buffer zones; Basanta and Khata Corridors; and Mahadevpuri, Lamahi and Dovan bottlenecks.

Means of verification will include status reports on wildlife species, research reports on wildlife monitoring outside protected areas, forest and vegetation maps of protected areas and corridors/bottlenecks, and a monitoring plan exploring the details of measurements to assess populations and habitats in place.

Background
In the first phase of the project (2001-2006), activities were focused on restoration of the critical forest corridors and improving the livelihoods of local people through capacity building and the development of alternative livelihood opportunities. To that end, 6,816ha of forest in critical areas are now under community control, promoting sustainable management and ensuring equitable benefit sharing and the active participation of all user groups in decision making.

The support provided by the project for anti-poaching operations, a stronger information network, and surveillance and capacity building of park staff, has been helpful in qualifying reduction in poaching incidences inside and outside protected areas.

To encourage participation and deliver maximum conservation interventions, activities to improve the livelihoods of local people, especially poor and disadvantaged, have been implemented in the corridors and buffer zones of the landscape. Formation and strengthening of eco-clubs and their networks has contributed significantly in raising conservation education and awareness among school children and communities.

The important assumptions for the project are that the situation in Nepal is conducive to carry out conservation efforts in the protected areas, corridors/bottlenecks of Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) and government policies will include landscape level conservation.