Overview
With increasing tiger population and geographically located in Nepal-India border, the Banke-Bardia complex is a hotspot for tiger poaching. At least nine seized tiger parts in 2018 and 2022 originated from the complex. Wildlife criminals exploit local people to poach tigers and transport illegal wildlife parts and products. Local communities living in periphery of national parks are in poverty and risk of their involvement in poaching and illegal wildlife trade (IWT) is high. The aim of the project is to reduce tiger poaching in the Banke-Bardia complex by increasing law enforcement capacity and developing conservation stewardship.
Alternative crop farming in Taranga
Homestay management training in Chure hill communities
Cooking training for homestay operators
Predator-proof coral in Hattidamar
Ginger collection in Taranga
Project objectives
- Increase community stewardship in conservation through diversified alternative livelihood opportunities
- Increase awareness of community towards poaching and IWT
- Enhance capacity of frontline park staff to handle IWT
Expected outputs
- 440 IWT-sensitive and human-tiger conflict vulnerable households benefit from improved livelihood skills
- Engage local communities of Chure hills in homestay tourism
- 25 local people capacitated in nature guiding
- ~4,000 people and 6,000 students reached through awareness camps
- 90 frontline park staff trained in law enforcement skills
- 4 Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) are active in wildlife rescue in high human-wildlife conflict areas
Project partners
Bardia National Park, Banke National Park, Ujyalo Nepal Bardia and Tharu Women Upliftment Center
Project Cost
UK £ 392,308 (£ 346,276 IWTCF, £ 46,032 NTNC)
Project Duration
April 2021 – March 2024
Project Partners: Bardia National Park, Banke National Park, Buffer Zone User Committees (BZUCs)
Project Donor Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), UK Government
Principal Investigator (PI): Dr. Naresh Subedi, Conservation Program Director, NTNC (nareshsubedi@gmail.com, 9855056934)
Co-PI: Ajit Tumbahangphe, Conservation Officer, Bardia Conservation Program, NTNC (atumbahangpfe@ntnc.org.np, 9858025107)
The project is supported by the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund (IWTCF), funded by Defra, UK Government.
