A Crisis Too Long Ignored

Across Nepal—especially in the western lowlands—a silent crisis is unfolding.
Human–wildlife conflict is rising, livelihoods are collapsing, and communities who live closest to wildlife carry the burden alone.

For decades, conservation in Nepal has been celebrated globally.
But the truth on the ground is different:

The crisis faced by communities is not acknowledged by donor-driven, external conservation systems.
Policies are written far away. Solutions arrive from outside.
And the people who live with elephants, tigers, and rhinos are left without support, voice, or safety.

This is why BCRCF exists.

Humble Beginnings

In just a few months since we’ve started, we’ve invested all out in preparation and trainings.

1. Empowering Local Leaders

  • Trained local youth and elders in GPS, camera traps, and Indigenous tracking.
  • Onboarded 18 Ban Pahuras, Tharu and Indigenous youth, into the Community Conservation Crisis Group (CCCG).
  • Delivered training in leadership, Indigenous rights, advocacy, and entrepreneurship.

2. Building Real Coexistence Systems

  • Designed a community-operated early-warning system for conflict prevention.
  • Launched an incident tracking system with 140+ human–wildlife conflict cases recorded.
  • Supported families in filing compensation for wildlife-related losses.

3. Ground-Up Research & Local Solutions

  • Conducted agricultural surveys with 60+ farmers for livelihood diversification.
  • Completed baseline surveys in 600+ households, mapping fears, needs, and opportunities.
  • Began R&D for community-owned micro-enterprises with secure, ethical markets.

4. Restoring Forests & Indigenous Biodiversity

  • Started a community-run nursery for native tree species essential for forest regeneration.
  • Initiated natural resource–based micro-enterprise development rooted in Indigenous knowledge.

How We Measure Impact

We do not measure success by outside metrics alone.

For us, impact means:

  • Communities feeling safe and heard
  • Indigenous knowledge respected and revived
  • Youth stepping into leadership
  • Women becoming decision-makers
  • Trust rebuilt between people and protected areas
  • Conservation that does not harm—but uplifts livelihoods

This is conservation that restores dignity while restoring nature.

Our Broader Vision

A community-led conservation model for Nepal—and the world

  • Reduce human–wildlife conflict with evidence-based, community-designed systems
  • Empower Indigenous leaders to shape conservation policy
  • Build coexistence networks across households, parks, and government
  • Establish Bardia as a global center for ethical, community-rooted conservation learning

Our Commitment

The crisis is real.
Ignoring it will cost both people and wildlife.

BCRCF stands for a new era of conservation—
one that is community-first, culturally grounded, and built on trust instead of fear.

We are just beginning, but we are building a model strong enough to inspire change far beyond Bardia.