Conservation Areas

Annapurna Conservation Area – 7,629 km2 (2,946 sq mi)
The Annapurna Conservation Area is Nepal's largest protected area covering 7,629 km2 (2,946 sq mi) in the Annapurna range of the Himalayas across the Manang, Mustang, Kaski, Myagdi, and Lamjung districts. The area ranges in altitude from 790 m (2,590 ft) to the peak of Annapurna I at 8,091 m (26,545 ft).

History
The Annapurna Conservation Area was established in 1985 and gazetted in 1992. It is managed by the National Trust for Nature Conservation.

Climate
There are two distinct climatic regions within a span of 120 km (75 mi) and an altitude of 1,000 to 8,000 m (3,300 to 26,200 ft). Annual rainfall averages 3,000 mm (120 in) in the south, and less than 500 mm (20 in) in the north.

Kanchenjunga Conservation Area – 2,035 km2 (786 sq mi)
The Kanchenjunga Conservation Area is a protected area in the Himalayas of eastern Nepal. Established in 1997 it covers 2,035 km2 (786 sq mi) in the Taplejung District and comprises two peaks of Kanchenjunga. In the north it adjoins the Qomolangma National Nature Preserve in Tibet, and in the east the Khangchendzonga National Park in Sikkim.To the west it adjoins the Sankhuwasabha District.It ranges in altitude from 1,200 m (3,900 ft) to 8,586 m (28,169 ft).It also falls within the Sacred Himalayan Landscape, which is being developed by WWF Nepal in partnership with the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development.

History
When the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area was designated in March 1997, it was Nepal’s third Conservation Area. In April 2003, a Kanchenjunga Conservation Area Management Council was formed with the support of WWF Nepal, comprising seven Conservation Area User Committees, 44 User Groups, and 32 Mother Groups. These community based institutions support effective implementation of all planned activities. In August 2006, the Government of Nepal handed over the management of the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area to the Management Council.

Vegetation
The landscape of the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area comprises cultivated lands, forests, pastures, rivers, high altitude lakes and glaciers.

Fauna
Mammal species include the snow leopard, Asian black bear, and red panda.Bird species symbolic of the area include the golden-breasted ful vetta, snow cock, blood pheasant, and red-billed chough.

In 2012, a leopard cat was camera trapped at an elevation of 4,500 m (14,800 ft).This record constitutes the highest known record to date.

Manaslu Conservation Area – 1,663 km2 (642 sq mi)

The Manaslu Conservation Area is a protected area in Nepal. Established in 1998 it covers 1,663 km2 (642 sq mi) in the Mansiri Himal range of the Himalayas in the Gorkha District. The area comprises mountains, glaciers, and watercourses.In elevation, the area ranges from 1,400 m (4,600 ft) to 8,156 m (26,759 ft) at Manaslu.

Flora and Fauna
The region is home to 33 species of mammals including snow leopard, musk deer and Himalayan tahr. There are over 110 species of birds and three species of reptiles and over 1500-2000 species of flowering plants.

Blackbuck Conservation Area – 15.95 km2 (6.16 sq mi)

The Blackbuck Conservation Area is located in the Mid-Western Region,Nepal and was established in 2009 to conserve the endangered blackbuck.This protected area covers 16.95 km2 (6.54 sq mi) in the Bardiya District.

History
Attempts for the conservation of blackbuck in Nepal began in 1975 when a small herd was spotted in Khairapur VDC of Bardiya District. Realizing their fragile existence, immediate efforts were made to protect the herd. The government deployed five staff members, providing four of them with arms. A guard post was also established in the same year. This particular herd is the northernmost surviving herd of blackbucks in the world. In 2009, the herd numbered 202 comprising 73 males,111 females and 18 calves.
During 1995-1997,the Government of Nepal obtained private land for blackbuck conservation.


Api Nampa Conservation Area – 1,903 km2 (735 sq mi)

The Api-Nampa Conservation Area is a protected area in the Far-Western Development Region, Nepal. It was established in 2010 and covers 1,903 km2 (735 sq mi) encompassing 21 Village Development Committees in the Darchula District. The western boundary is formed by the Mahakali River, and the northern by the international border with Tibet. Adjacent to the east are the Bajhang and Baitadi districts.[1] It ranges in elevation from 518 to 7,132 m (1,699 to 23,399 ft) at the Himalayan peak Api, and is within the circumscribed area of the Kailash Sacred Landscape.

Named after the two peaks Api and Nampa, it was established to conserve the unique biodiversity and cultural heritage of the area.It is inhabited by 54,358 people living in 8966 households.A grasslands plateau is at the center of the area. It is intermixed with various forest types.

Fauna
Mammalian species include snow leopard, Himalayan black bear, red panda, common langur, Himalayan tahr, Himalayan musk deer, goral and serow. Birds include Himalayan monal, snowcock and blood pheasant.

Gaurishankar Conservation Area – 2,179 km2 (841 sq mi)

Gaurishankar Conservation Area is a protected area in the Himalayas of Nepal that has been established in January 2010, covering 2,179 km2 (841 sq mi) in the Ramechhap, Dolakha and Sindhupalchok districts and encompassing 22 Village Development Committees. It is contiguous with Tibet in the north.The protected area connects the Langtang and Sagarmatha National Parks.The Government of Nepal handed over the management of Gaurishankar Conservation Area to National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC) for 20 years in 2010. Following the models of Annapurna and Manaslu Conservation Areas, NTNC has been managing the area through its Gaurishankar Conservation Area Project.It is a part of the Sacred Himalayan Landscape.The headquarters is in Charikot.

History
In April 2006, the Dolakha Chamber of Commerce and Industries has requested the Government of Nepal and the Nepal Tourism Board to declare the Rolwaling area as a national park.

In January 2010, the Federation of Community Forest Users, Nepal expressed its disagreement against the decision to establish a conservation area and formed a National Struggle Committee to launch a campaign against the declaration, demanding that the community people should obtain management responsibility of the protected area.

Conservation Area Boundary
The Gaurishankar Conservation Area encompasses 22 VDCs,covering three districts. In Ramechhap, it includes the Chuchure and Gumdel VDCs.The Shyama, Suri,Chankhu, Marbu, Khare, Orang, Bulung, Laduk, Chilankha, Aalampu, Bigu,Kalinchok,Lamabagar and Gaurishankar VDCs of Dolakha also fall within its boundaries. And six VDCs of the Sindhupalchok District - Ghorthali, Marming, Listikot, Tatopani, Fulpingkatti and Gumba - are now part of the conservation area.

Flora and Fauna
The Gaurishankar Conservation Area is rich in bio-diversity. A total of 16 varieties of vegetation have been identified in the area, including forests of Pinus roxburghii, Schima-Castanopsis, Alnus, Pinus wallichiana, Pinus patula, Rhododendron, Quercus lanata and Temperate mountain oak forest.

Mammals
The Gaurishankar Conservation Area's mammalian population totals 34 species of mammals.One of the most rare animals in the area is the Red panda.

Birds
A total of 235 species of birds have been recorded from the Gaurishankar Conservation Area.

Others
The conservation area also has 14 snake species,16 species of fish,10 types of amphibians and 8 lizard species.

Kalinchowk Bhagwati Shrine

There is a famous shrine of the Kalinchowk Bhagwati in Kuri village in the Kalinchowk VDC. It is a famous pilgrimage site for Hindus.