In 2001, lands between India and Nepal boasted the largest number of tigers in the world – over 3,500.

Then things started to change. Increases in poaching, habitat loss, and degradation led to a sharp decline in tiger populations. By 2005, the number had dwindled to barely 1500. Something had to be done to save them.

Map of the Terai Arc Landscape from a 2017 study on TAL tiger recovery.

The mission to unite and protect the Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) began in the early 2000s. Named for its productive grasslands and savannahs, the TAL connects 14 protected areas between India and Nepal. In order to protect its tigers, Nepal organized a tiger dispersal model. They would expand and connect the protected areas in order to support larger and more diverse tiger populations. The project seeks to advance forest and ecosystem restoration, support species, and support the livelihoods of the communities living in and around the area.

In Nepal, nine corridors connect 2.3 million hectares of land – an area the size of Minnesota – and include over 75% of Nepal’s remaining forests. These corridors allow tigers and other wildlife to migrate between established protected areas.

This is good for population size, genetic diversity, and ecosystem health. In the two decades since its conception, the TAL has improved wildlife dispersal. The tiger population’s genetic diversity increased, which is vital for the survival of its species. When numbers were dwindling, tigers were led to inbreeding. This reduced fertility and increased disease vulnerability. Since the advancements of the TAL, the land has seen bounding advancements in ecosystem and wildlife health.

Who exactly is this wildlife?

The TAL protects many of the world’s endangered animals, particularly large species which are at higher risk of extinction. These animals often need huge swaths of land to roam. The one-horned rhino, Asian elephant, sloth bear, and South Asian river dolphin are all protected within the landscape. Although much of the TAL is grasslands and forests, near the Himalayas the TAL protects snow leopards and Himalayan black bears.

Many more living beings inhabit the TAL, including 6.7 million people.

Over half of the people live below the poverty line. The average annual income is 100 USD a year. Most rely on the forests for fuel, fodder, and building materials. Therefore, keeping the forests healthy supports both the human and wildlife communities living in the TAL. TAL project subsidies have supported local communities in endeavors to improve animal husbandry, cooking stoves, and energy sources. The Nepalese government has worked with organizations and TAL communities to make the local people the beneficiaries and stewards of the forests. CFUGs have legal authority over the management of their forest resources. With local communities managing, protecting, and using local forests, TAL restoration and conservation have been critically improved.

Bengal tiger in Chitwan National Park within the TAL.

World Wildlife Fund Nepal works with the government of Nepal on the TAL restoration and conservation program. Together they have restored 23,000 hectares of degraded forest, increased local community-based stewardship, and supported the populations of some of the most vulnerable megafauna in the world. Today, there are more than 3,300 tigers in India and Nepal. The TAL’s improved ability to support such a large number of large predators is indicative of the detailed and committed conservation efforts of the countries and organizations involved. Due to climate change and habitat fragmentation, many of the world’s ecosystems are being threatened, and large predators are often the first to go. The successful conservation efforts in the TAL are a model for conservation around the world.