PROTECTED AREAS

  Nepal has given high priority to conserving and preserving the nature. There are eight national parks, five wildlife reserves and four conservation areNepal. The national parks, wildlife reserves and conservation areas have occupied 10144, 2398 and 17742 sq km area respectively. Altogether, the protected areas have covered 16.49percent (24284 sq km) area of the country.  

  Among the national parks, shey-phoksundo national parks are the largest (3555 aq km) and Rara National park is the smallest (106 sq km). The Royal chit wan National park is oldest national park of the country that is including in the world heritage site also. Similarly, out of the five wildlife reserves, Dolpatan Hunting reserve is the largest (1325 sq km) and shivapuri watershed wildlife reserve (144 sq km) is the smallest. Out of conservation areas, Annapurna conservation Area (7629 sq km) is the largest and Makalu Barun conservation Area (800 sq km) is the smallest in Nepal.

   These protected areas of different ecological regions have conserved different valuable flora and fauna.