annapurna Conservation Area

The Annapurna Conservation Area (ACA) is spread over 7,629 sq. km. of Kaski, Myagdi, Parbat and Manang districts in northwest Nepal.  Established in 1986, the conservation area is surrounded by high mountains and deep valleys. The conservation area is also home to 1,226 species of plants, 38 species of orchids, 9 species of Rhododendrons, 101 species of mammals, 478 species of birds, 39 species reptiles and 22 species of amphibians.  The symbolic species of the Conservation Area are the elusive snow leopard and its prey blue sheep.  The other mammals found in the region include Himalayan Black Bear, Langur, Red Panda, Marten, Jungle cat, barking deer, Serow, goral etc.  Among the avi-fauna are the 6 pheasants namely Damphe, Monal, Kalij, Cheer, Koklass and Blood pheasants.

The region comprises of the world’s deepest gorge of the Kali Gandaki river (2.4 km wide and 4.8 km long) between Mt Dhaulagiri and Mt Annapurna.  The Kali Gandaki river valley is a store house of the fossils from the prehistoric Tethys sea dating back 60 million year ago.  The other landmarks of the Annapurna Conservation Area are the world’s largest rhododendron forests of Ghorepani, and the highest glacial lake of Tilicho.

The cultural diversity of the region is equally vibrant.  Gurungs and Magars are the major ethnic groups in the southern belt, and the Thakali, Manange, and Loba in the north.  There are also Brahmins, Chhetris, Damai, and Kamis sparsely spread in the region.

Annapurna Conservation Area is a major trekking destination in Nepal. More than 40,000 tourists annually visit the conservation area. Ghandruk and Lwang are typical Gurung villages with scenic splendors. The King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation (KMTNC), a leading non-profit and non-governmental environmental organization in Nepal, launched the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) in 1986. ACAP’s grassroots philosophy involves local people in all aspects on conservation and development. The project aims to improve the socio-economic condition of the local people by integrating conservation and development. It encourages local people’s participatory involvement in the management of natural resources and community development activities.