Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: Mongabay
Context: Nepal’s Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) initiative earns UN recognition for ecosystem restoration, boosting hopes despite challenges like infrastructure expansion and human-wildlife conflict.
What is Terai Arc Landscape (TAL)?
It is a transboundary biodiversity hotspot launched in 2001. It aims to conserve critical habitats for tigers, rhinos, elephants, etc., covering ecosystems of the Terai and Churia hills. Spanning over 900 km from the Bagmati River (Nepal) to the Yamuna River (India), it extends across 5 million hectares and supports over seven million people.
What is the Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) initiative?
The Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) initiative is a pioneering landscape-level ecosystem restoration project in Nepal aimed at creating dispersal space for tigers and reversing ecosystem degradation. It was launched in 2004 and has restored 66,800 hectares of forest, significantly boosting the Bengal tiger population in the region. The initiative connects different ecologically critical protected areas in Nepal and India, fostering transboundary conservation efforts.
About UN World Restoration Flagships (commenced in 2022)
These are initiatives recognized by the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030). The flagship is led by UNEP and FAO, aiming to counteract ecosystem degradation globally. The award offers technical and financial assistance, global attention, and inclusion in UN publications and campaigns. It’s part of the UN’s commitment to restore one billion hectares of ecosystems. Progress is monitored through the Framework for Ecosystem Restoration Monitoring
