The Gaur (Bos gaurus), a globally vulnerable and protected priority species in Nepal, has experienced habitat loss and fragmentation, poaching, and zoonotic diseases. As a consequence, their population is isolated significantly in Parsa National Park and Chitwan National Park. However, their distribution even in these protected areas are limited with topographical features. This study focuses on habitat suitability modeling of the Gaur in Parsa National Park utilizing the ensemble modeling approach to identify key eco-geographical and climatic variables influencing gaur suitable habitat and estimate suitability in and around Parsa National Park, Nepal. Potential eco-geographical variables, after multicollinearity test were integrated with ground presence points for analysis. The model achieved an Area Under Curve (AUC) and True Skill Statistics (TSS) value of 0.981 and 0.867 respectively indicating its effectiveness in predicting a suitable habitat for Gaur. It revealed that isothermality, waterholes, mean diurnal range, mean temperature of wettest quarter, settlements, slope, and river, influenced highly in Gaur’s habitat suitability in and around Parsa National Park. Study identified only 35.84% (327.09 km2) area was categorized as a suitable area (low-medium: 102.92 km2 (11.28%), medium to high: 101.08 km2 (11.07%) and optimum: 123.09 km2 (13.49%)) for gaur distribution. Eastern part of park (newly extended area around Halkhoriya lake) and south-central section of park (around Bhedaha, Mahadev, Bhata Khola) show the suitable habitat for Gaur. However, wildlife-friendly infrastructure in the East-West Highway (that fragments the park) within park can facilitate Gaur’s movement among these crucial habitat patches. These findings highlight priority to restore water sources to maintain long-term protection of species considering existing geological condition and climate change scenario in the park.

Human-wildlife conflict (HWC) poses a significant threat to conservation, particularly in the region, where increasing wildlife populations intersect with dense human communities. This study examines the HWC scenario in one of the protected areas (Parsa National Park) of Terai Arc Landscape, where growing population of large mammals shares the resources in highly populated buffer zone. Analyzing official relief claims from the past five years (2018/19 – 2022/23) as indicators of damage intensity, the study found that elephants were involved in 45% of conflicts, followed by leopards at 29% and tigers at 13.5%. Trend analysis revealed the increasing trend in herbivore-related damage while decreasing trend of carnivore-related conflict, despite the increase in tiger population within the study area. Margina Marginalized communities were frequently affected by these conflicts, and human settlements displayed species-specific hotspots with no overlap, suggesting that species tend to avoid areas occupied by competitors and predators. Financial claims totaled NPR 9.47 million (~USD 80,275; with an average of ~ NPR 2 million per year), predominantly for elephant-related incidents (55%). However, there was significant difference in relief claim amount among trophic groups (F2, 448 = 4.308, p= 0.014). Statistical analysis showed that conflict intensity increased with greater distance from buffer zone forests (β = 0.0962, t = 2.616, p = 0.009) and decreased near water resources (β = -0.094, t = -2.482, p = 0.013). These findings underscore the need for habitat management interventions, such as enhancing water availability within protected areas and maintaining corridors to connect the park’s source populations with sink populations in degraded buffer zone and national forests. Implementing a field-based assessment process for wildlife-related damage could support human-wildlife coexistence in the region.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected humankind worldwide, slowing down and even reversing the progress made in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It has negatively impacted most SDGs but with positive impacts on a few. We discuss some initial impacts observed and explores potential impacts on the achievement of SDGs for Nepal. The study followed a knowledge co-creation process with experts from various professional backgrounds, involving five steps: online survey, online workshop, assessment of expert’s opinions, review and validation, and revision and synthesis. The pandemic has restricting impacts on the progress of most SDGs. However, it has also opened a window of opportunity for sustainable transformation. Many of the negative impacts may subside in the medium and long terms. The negative impacts on SDGs resulted from factors linked to the pandemic or the measures taken to control it. The key five impending factors are lockdowns, underemployment and unemployment, closure of institutions and facilities, diluted focus and funds for non-COVID-19 issues, and anticipated reduced support from development partners. The generated transformative opportunities are lessons learned for planning and actions, socio-economic recovery plan, use of information and communication technologies and impetus to the digital economy, reverse migration and ‘brain gain,’ and local governments’ exercising authorities. For sustainable transformation, the window to grasp these opportunities is short-lived and will get narrow over time, i.e., before rebounds occur following the past trajectories.