The fast-degrading environment is depriving Nepal's poor of the country's natural endowments of soil, water and vegetation, and is resulting in deteriorating living conditions of the poor.
The Royal Bardia National Park (RBNP or the Park) Buffer Zone Development Project I (BZDP or the Project) was designed to respond to these interrelated problems in the context of buffer zone development.

The project strategy was a combination of integrated rural development and integrated conservation and development. A recently evaluation has concluded that the Project has been a major contributor towards successful implementation of the buffer zone development programme around the RBNP.The BZDP II is based in the south-western Tarai in the Bardia district. The Park covers an area of 968 sq km and the buffer zone of the Park also covers an almost equal area (ie 879 sq km).

The buffer zone serves as the geographic focus of the project. The project area for Phase II covers approximately 600 sq km. The area forms a band approximately 5 km wide covering the north-eastern, eastern and south-eastern sections of the Park. Phase I activities began in the south-east and eastern parts of the Park, and Phase II will extend this area around the north-eastern part of the Park once it is officially designated as part of the Buffer Zone.According to the baseline study, the project beneficiaries number approximately 10,000 households (7,000 plus in the existing users committees [UCs]) in phase-II which includes the beneficiaries from the proposed area also.

The ethnic composition of the project area consists of Brahmin/Chhetri (4I%), Tharu (39%) and so-called low or occupational castes (10%) and others (11%). There are considerable variations in the ethnic composition between the UCs. Tharus are more predominant in the western half of the project area, whereas Brahmin/Chhetri predominate in the eastern/south-eastern parts of the project area.

In general, the project components and activities seek to redress the inequities and differential access to opportunities that face indigenous women, Tharus and Dalits. In addition, some project components and activities are specifically targeted at women or landless or other deprived and disadvantaged groups. In the context of Nepalese society, within the socially exploitative caste system there is a further layer of discrimination at the household level--between male and female members. Women generally do not enjoy the same rights, access to and control over resources and opportunities as men.

The BZDP II intends to improve the livelihood security of the poorest households in the Buffer Zone based on the initial findings of Phase I. The BZDP II is based on the belief that improved tenure and stewardship of the Buffer Zone forests, sustainable intensification of agriculture, empowerment of women and disadvantaged groups, and establishment and maintenance of infrastructures that transfer benefits from the Park to the residents of the Buffer Zone will lead to improved livelihood security in a manner that safeguards the resources and bio-diversity of the Park. The crosscutting themes of gender and social equity and participation will be addressed through a revised target strategy designed to mainstream these concerns in all project interventions.

BZDP's Priority Areas
The BZDP promotes the following areas in line with its priority themes and operations:
- Development of buffer zones to help in the conservation and regeneration of forests; capacity building and institutional strengthening of local populations, forest managers and organizations active in conservation and regeneration of forests;
-Development and implementation of forest management plans (FMPs) aimed at conserving forests and promoting sustainable exploitation of forest resources;
-strategic interventions aimed at building up the awareness and knowledge levels required for conservation and sustainable management of forests and also for the implementation of bio-diversity monitoring activities in the framework of projects.

The Project also directly supports His Majesty's Government's (HMG/N) policy regarding the management of buffer zones, especially the recent guidelines that outline specific procedures for buffer zone management plans and forest management plans.

The Project Strategy
The Project strategy is based on the belief that improved tenure and stewardship of the Buffer Zone forests, sustainable intensification of agriculture, empowerment of women and disadvantaged groups, and establishment and maintenance of infrastructures that transfer benefits from the Park to the residents of the Buffer Zone will lead to: improved livelihood security in a manner that safeguards the resources and bio-diversity of the Park; improved and diversified skills of the Project participants in on- and off-farm activities. Easy availability of alternatives that address their livelihood security will also help to reduce pressure on the natural resources of the Park and the Buffer Zone.

Major Project Intervention:
- Community Organization
- Buffer Zone Forest Management
- Non Formal Education
- Income Generation Activity
- Agriculture Extension
- Rural Infrastructure
- Dalit Student Scholorship
- Saving and Credit Activity for Dalit Groups

Major Programs Implemented by the Project
- Pit latrine construction
- Installation of hand pumps
- Installation of treadle pumps
- Installation of boring pumps
- Gravity flow drinking water system
- Irrigation rehabilitation
- Literacy classes (both BLC and ALC)
- River bank protection
- Farmers' field school
- Construction of wooden bridges
- Protection of planted areas
- Protection of forest
- Establishment of dairy
- Training for dairy cooperatives
- Improvement of breed
- Culvert construction
- Support to construction of UC building
- Hume pipe support
- Support to Lead Farmers by training and various capacity building
- Skill promotion training for Tharu women (bag weaving and others)
- Income generation programme for Dalits
- Promotion of Dalit savings and credit groups
- Group formation for buffalo farming
- Formation of women groups for income generation
- Construction of kanji house
- Distribution of fruit saplings
- Crop demonstration
- Training and exposure tour for UC office bearers
- Introduction of improved cooking stoves (ICS)
- Training and capacity building programme for Village Animal Health Workers (VAHWs)
- Installation of bio-gas
- Renovation of school building
- Demonstration of agro-forestry
- Forest management through FUGs
- Preparation of Forest Management Plan (FMP)
- Celebration of Farmers' Day, and so on.