Extending a vital corridoR

A Connected Landscape From Bhutan to Burma (Myanmar) through Northeast India

The Bhutan to Burma Connected Landscape (B2B Connected Landscape) is an ambitious and innovative initiative aiming to create a continuous conservation corridor stretching from Royal Manas National Park in Bhutan to Htamanthi Wildlife Sanctuary in Myanmar. This 1,400-kilometer route passes through the Indian states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur, and Nagaland.

Developed by the Northeast Indian non-profit Aaranyak, the project collaborates with governments and other non-profits in India and Bhutan, and plans to extend into Myanmar when feasible. It links vital biodiversity hotspots, including national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, UNESCO World Heritage sites, and extensive community and private lands. Key conservation areas along this corridor include the Manas Biosphere Reserve, Pakke Tiger Reserve, Kaziranga National Park, and the Karbi Anglong landscape.

The B2B Connected Landscape is located in a region with some of the highest densities of endangered species worldwide, including Bengal tigers, red pandas and Asian elephants. It spans various habitats, from tropical forests and grasslands to the Himalayan foothills and alluvial floodplain wetlands. This project represents a significant commitment to preserving a contiguous, biologically diverse habitat while fostering community engagement in conservation and sustainable livelihoods. Aaranyak's applied conservation research and advocacy have secured a 1,100 square kilometer area along the Brahmaputra River, stretching from east of Kaziranga National Park to the west of Orang National Park. In Manas, their partnership with the forest department has improved living conditions, restored forest habitats, reduced poaching, and increased local tiger populations.

The goals of the B2B Wildlife Corridor are multifaceted. They aim to protect and enhance over 3.6 million acres of land, including protected areas, community conservancies, and safe wildlife corridors, contributing to global 30x30 conservation goals. They seek to boost management capacity for community institutions and protected areas, support community conservancies in Karbi Anglong, and secure habitats for one-horned rhinos along the Brahmaputra River floodplain. Additionally, the project aims to reduce wildlife trafficking in Northeast India, focusing on rhinos, elephants, and tigers, and promote sustainable, nature-based livelihoods for local communities. By fostering climate-friendly practices and ensuring coexistence with nature, the B2B Connected Landscape stands as a crucial step toward protecting global biodiversity and enhancing the relationship between people and the environment.