Shey Phoksundo National Park, Nepal

Geographical location:

Asia/Pacific > Southern Asia > Nepal

Summary

Shey Phoksundo National Park, covering an area of 3,555km2, is the largest and the only trans-Himalayan national park in Nepal. The park contains Phoksundo Lake, the country’s deepest lake and is home to rich wildlife, including the elusive snow leopard and blue sheep.

WWF is working with wildlife authorities to manage the park’s natural resources. This includes scientific work, such as wildlife surveys; and conservation and development programmes, including ecotourism and environmental education.

Background

The Shey Phoksundo national park, with its rich biological diversity, unique Trans-Himalayan ecology and stark natural beauty, is unrivalled in Nepal. This area was set aside to protect one of the last wild habitats of endangered species such as the snow leopard, wild yak, Tibetan antelope, and wild ass.

WWF's support has been instrumental in developing physical infrastructure and human resources for the park during the past 4 years. Staff quarters, office buildings, trails and tourist camping sites are already completed. This infrastructure development, coupled with the provision of field equipment, has greatly improved working conditions for park guards.

Another significant WWF contribution has been training for park staff. 2 mid-level staff members, who are natives of the region, received training in park management at the Royal Chitwan national park. The Shey Phoksundo warden, Mr Nima Wangchu Sherpa, completed his master's degree in range science at Montana State University. Recently, groups of local leaders and teachers completed a study tour in Chitwan and Pokhara. Similarly, local women are trained in income generation in Chitwan. 2 forest nurseries were also established to promote fast-growing species.

The Dhorpatan hunting reserve is very popular for trophy hunting in Nepal. Professor Per Wegie has completed some studies in the area regarding the blue sheep. However, the issue of hunting management in the area is still to be addressed.

Objectives

1. Improve and maintain local living standards while safeguarding the region's unique environmental and cultural heritage.

2. Develop alternative income sources through micro-enterprise activities which promote sustainable natural resource management.

3. Develop a tourism management plan which benefits local people and moderates environmental and cultural impacts of tourism on this sensitive region.

4. Reduce the impacts of grazing through improved livestock and pasture management i.e. improved fodder quality, increased livestock productivity, rotational grazing schemes and strengthened local rangeland management organizations.

5. Maintain existing forest cover and restore degraded forests through reforestation, agroforestry, user group forestry, alternative energy projects and village nurseries.

6. Strengthen the capacity of local communities and government institutions which manage and regulate the use of natural resources.

7. Develop a park management plan based on scientific principles, with people's participation.

8. Increase awareness of the importance of biodiversity among local people through environmental education.

9. Increase women's participation in the development programme through non-formal education (NFE) classes that increase literacy and teach health, sanitation, marketing, and tourism management, and by ensuring women's active participation in all aspects of planning and implementing phases of the programme.

10. Develop a hunting management plan for the Dhorpatan hunting reserve.