Nepal a land of geographical variations with the lowest point of 60m (Kechana, Jhapa) to the highest point of 8848m (Everest) creates diverse climatic zones allowing for a wide range of ecosystems and biodiversity to flourish within.
In a world where concerns about climate change and loss of biodiversity are a major issue worldwide, a climate action plan along with the urgency of preservation of biodiversity is vital.
Hence, the role of protected areas like National Parks, Conservation Areas, and Wildlife reserves in order to help solve the issues with depletion of biodiversity along with climatic issues becomes crucial.
After the endorsement of the National Park and Wildlife Conservation Act in 1973 AD, the Government of Nepal has been empowered to act accordingly to establish protected areas for the conservation of native ecosystems.
Since then Nepal has been successful in establishing a fair network of protected areas, covering around 23.39% of the total land area. This includes 12 National Parks, 6 Conservation Areas, 13 buffer zones,10 Wetland Sites, 1 Wildlife Reserve, and 1 Hunting Reserve.
These Protected Areas play an important role in fulfilling Nepal’s commitment toward sustainable development goals, along with the objectives of the 2010 Convention on Biological Diversity.
