Monday, January 20, 2025
Protected Areas of Nepal: Key Facts and Features
According to Economic Survey 2022/23, Until the mid-March of 2022, there are 12 national parks, 1 wildlife reserve, 1 hunting reserve, and 6 conservation areas, totaling 20 protected areas in Nepal constitution 23.4% of the total land area of Nepal.
Oldest National Park (NP) - Chitwan NP (952.63 sq km)- 2030 BS
—--2031 - shuklaphanta NP
—------2032 - Langtang NP; Sagarmatha NP ; Rara NP, Bardia NP
Largest NP - Shey Phoksundo NP - 2040 BS - 3555 sq km;
—-----Followed by Langtang NP: 1,710 square km,
—------------Makalu Barun NP: Encompassing 1,500 square km,
—------------------Sagarmatha NP: extends over 1,148 square km.
—------------------------Bardia National Park: 968 sq km
Smallest National Park - Rara NP - 106 sq km
—----To biggest Shivapuri NP 159 sq km
—---------------Khaptad NP - 225 sq km
—----------------------Shukaphnata NP 305 sq km
—------------------------------Parsa National Park: 627 square km,
—-----------------------------------Banke National Park: 550 square km
Recent date: Bank NP - 2067 BS
—2058 Shivapuri NP
—---2049 Makalu Barun NP
—-----2042 khaptad NP
—--------2040 shye phoksundo / Parsa NP
2044 - dhorpatan hr
Conservation area (CA) - largest to smallest -
------>Annapurna CA (7,629 sq. km)
-------------->Gaurishankar CA (2,179 sq. km)
------------------->Kanchenjunga CA (2,035 sq. km)
------------------------->Api Nampa CA (1,903 sq. km)
------------------------------>Manaslu CA (1,663 sq. km)
--------------------------->Blackbuck CA (16.95 sq. km)
2032 - Koshi tappu wildlife consrv.
-----------2049 - annapurna ca
--------------------2054 - Kanchenjunga ca
----------------->2055 - manaslu
------------------->2065 - krishnasar
2066 - gauri shankar
2067 - api nampa
| Protected Area | Established | Area (sq. km) | Location | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annapurna Conservation Area | 1992 (2049 BS) | 7,629 | Kaski, Lamjung, Myagdi, Mustang, and Manang districts | Largest conservation area in Nepal |
| Api Nampa Conservation Area | 2010 (2067 BS) | 1,903 | Darchula district in Province No. 7 | Located in the far west of Nepal |
| Krishnasar Conservation Area | 2009 (2065 BS) | 16.95 | Khairapur area of Bardiya district | Protection of blackbuck in natural habitat |
| Kanchenjunga Conservation Area | 1997 (2054 BS) | 2,035 | Northern Taplejung district | Rusty-bellied frog and Paha Blanford species |
| Gaurishankar Conservation Area | 2010 (2066 BS) | 2,179 | Borders Sagarmatha and Langtang National Parks | Located near Tibet’s autonomous region |
| Manaslu Conservation Area | 1998 (2055 BS) | 1,663 | Gorkha and Manang districts | Promotes biodiversity conservation |
| Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve | 1987 (2044 BS) | 1,325 | Rukum, Baglung, and Myagdi districts | Nepal's only hunting reserve |
| Khaptad National Park | 1984 (2042 BS) | 225 | Bajhang, Bajura, Doti, and Achham districts | Spiritual significance, biodiversity conservation |
| Chitwan National Park | 1973 (2030 BS) | 952.63 | Chitwan, Makwanpur, Parsa, and Nawalparasi districts | UNESCO World Heritage Site, one-horned rhinos, and Bengal tigers |
| Parsa National Park | 1984 (2040 BS) | 627.39 | Chitwan, Makwanpur, and Parsa districts | Rich biodiversity and natural habitats |
| Bardiya National Park | 1976 (2032 BS) | 968 | Bardiya district | Karnali and Babai rivers; home to nilgai and tigers |
| Banke National Park | 2010 (2067 BS) | 550 | Banke, Dang, and Salyan districts | Established for tiger conservation |
| Makalu Barun National Park | 1991 (2049 BS) | 1,500 | Borders Sagarmatha National Park to the west | Sacred Himalayan landscape; links with Kanchenjunga Conservation Area |
| Rara National Park | 1976 (2032 BS) | 106 | Mugu and Jumla districts | Home to Rara Lake, Nepal’s largest freshwater lake |
| Langtang National Park | 1976 (2032 BS) | 1,710 | Rasuwa, Nuwakot, and Sindhupalchok districts | Red pandas, Gosaikunda Lake, and Kyanjin Gompa |
| Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park | 2002 (2058 BS) | - | Chisapani to Kakani | Source of the Bagmati River |
| Shuklaphanta National Park | 1976 (2031 BS) | 305 | Kanchanpur district | Largest grassland (54 sq. km) and Rani Tal |
| Shey-Phoksundo National Park | 1984 (2040 BS) | 3,555 | Dolpa and Mugu districts | Nepal’s largest national park, includes Phoksundo Lake |
| Sagarmatha National Park | 1976 (2032 BS) | 1,148 | Khumbu region of eastern Nepal | UNESCO World Heritage Site, home to Everest and Dudh Koshi River |
| Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve | 1976 (2032 BS) | 175 | Sunsari and Saptari districts | Protects the wild water buffalo (Arna) |
