Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) has been recognized by the United Nations as one of its World Restoration Flagships.
- This was done ahead of the 6th session of the UN Environment Assembly in Nairobi, Kenya.
About the World Restoration Flagships:
- It is an award that honours large-scale, long-term ecosystem restoration efforts with the aim to reverse ecosystem degradation worldwide.
- It is conferred by UNEP (UN Environment Programme), FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization), and partner organizations.
- It is a part of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-30).
- It supports global commitments to restore 1 billion hectares in alignment with the Paris climate agreement, the Aichi biodiversity targets, the Land Degradation Neutrality targets, and the Bonn Challenge, recognizing initiatives biennially until 2030.
- In 2024, notable selections included the Restoring Mediterranean Forests Initiative by Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia, and Türkiye; Pakistan’s Living Indus initiative to restore 25 million hectares of the Indus River basin by 2030; and the Acción Andina movement’s goal to plant 30 million trees across 800,000 hectares in South America.
- Other winners are the Sri Lanka Mangrove Regeneration Initiative, the Regreening Africa initiative restoring over 350,000 hectares in eight African countries, and the Forest Garden Program in nine African countries, alongside Nepal’s Terai Arc Landscape Initiative supporting tiger populations.
About the Terai Arc Landscape (TAL):
- The Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) spans 5.10 million hectares across India and Nepal, including vital tiger reserves and protected areas.
- It houses India’s important Tiger Reserves and Protected Areas such as Corbett Tiger Reserve, Rajaji National Park, Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, Valmiki Tiger Reserve and Nepal’s Bardia Wildlife Sanctuary, Chitwan National Park, and Sukhla Phanta Wildlife Sanctuary.
- It is a home to flagship species like the Bengal tiger, the greater one-horned rhino, and the Asian elephant, along with other important wildlife.
Ref: Source
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