Abstract
Ecological resettlement (ER) is widely debated and frequently linked to impoverishment, yet quantitative, multi-scale evidence remains limited. This study evaluates long-term poverty dynamics among communities resettled from Chitwan National Park and Parsa National Park in Nepal. Using data from 240 household surveys (25% sampling), five focus groups, 25 key informant interviews, and secondary sources, we compare poverty levels before resettlement, within five years after relocation, and in 2024. Multidimensional poverty index (MPI) analysis and Chi-square tests reveal a significant decline in MPI from 47.36% to 6.87%, aligning with national rural averages. Poverty incidence and intensity decreased significantly (p < 0.05) across both sites. MPI outcomes were strongly associated with location, ethnicity, land and livestock ownership, and access to markets, forests, schools, and healthcare. Results indicate that a well-designed ER can reduce long-term poverty while advancing conservation. Integrating income and non-income indicators, including local wealth-ranking systems, strengthens poverty assessment and informs socially inclusive conservation policy.