Nepal’s diverse terrain and climate pattern gives rise to ecosystems that range from subtropical jungles in the low land Terai to arctic Himalayan highlands. There are nine national parks, three wildlife reserves, three conservation areas, one hunting reserve including 11 buffer zone areas in an around protected area, covering a total of 28,998.67 sq km. The total protected areas make approximately 20 per cent of the total land area of the country.
All three conservation area range from midhills to high Himalayas, and are inhabited by a wide variety of wild species, such as, the snow leopard, blue sheep and the Himalayan tahr including some rare species of wolf, black bears and lynx.
Annapurna Conservation Area: The Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) is the first and the largest conservation area in Nepal. It was established in 1992 and covers an area over 7,600 sq. km. The biological diversity of the Annapurna Region is equally rivaled by its cultural diversity. It is the most visited trekking area in the mountain region. The natural and cultural features of ACAP have made it the most popular tourist destination in the country, drawing more than 60 percent of the country's total trekkers.
Manaslu Conservation Area: The Manaslu Conservation Area (MCA) is the third and the youngest conservation area in Nepal. It was declared a conservation area in on December 28, 1998. The Government of Nepal handed over the management responsibilities to the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation for the next 10 years. It is the second conservation area the trust is managing besides the Annapurna Conservation Area.
Kanchenjunga Conservation Area: The Kanchanjunga Conservation Area (KCA) spread over 2035 sq. km. in Taplejung district lies in the northeast corner of Nepal. The conservation area is bordered by the Tibet Autonomous Region – China in the north, Sikkim- India in the east and Sankhuwasabha in the West. It is named after Mt. Kanchenjunga (8,586 m) – the second highest mountain in Nepal and the third highest in the world.
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