Annapurna Conservation Area
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The annapurna conservation area has been claimed as one of the best trekking area in the world. It is alos most visited trekking area in the country. The area spread covering four district of central Nepal elevation begin 790 Meters to the highest 8,091 Meters of Mt. Annapurna & 8163 meters of Mt. Dhaulagiri. Ghandruk is the first experience and futher down Ghorepani that provides fantastic view of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri Range. Equally eye catching are hills of Rhododendrone that bloosms every spring. The turning point of Annapurna Circuit is Jomsom. The trek south east from Jomsom leads to the sceic Tilicho lakes area altitude of 5000 Meters, in the circuit route, is the famous Hindu & Buddhist religious sites Muktinath Temple and Monastery. The vegetation includes in this region is various species of orchid and rhododendrone. Wildlife includes 100 different types of mammals including rare snow leopards and blue sheep. The region boast of around 478 species of birds including multi colored Oimpheyanm Koklas, and blood pheasants. In addition the region also home of 39 species reptiles and 22 species of amphibians. Best time to visit the park is between spetember to may. The best gateway to the region is Pokhara and beshishar in the central Nepal. Pokhara is easily accessible by air and by land from Katmandu. All tourist facilities like food and accommodation are international standard available in Pokhara.
ACAP of NepalAnnapurna Conservation Area ProjectMost trekkers hear about ACAP the first time when they enter the Immigration Office in Bhrikuti Mandap, Kathmandu, to get a trekking permit to different trekking areas in Nepal. You are required to pay a fee to get into any national park or conservation area that falls under Annapurna Conservation area.
ACAP was launched in 1986 with the initiation of *King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation (KMTNC) to protect the environment with sustainable community development in Annapurna area by the local people without any intervention from the Nepalese Government and/or any other institutions. This is the first and the largest conservation area in Nepal that covers 7,629 sq. km. The head office of ACAP is in Ghorepani that lies at an elevation of 2775m. ACAP office in Kathmandu is situated in Sanchaya Kosh building in Tridevi Marg, Thamel. Approximately 25,000 trekkers visit the Annapurna region every year and the trekking fee collected from the tourists supports more than 40,000 local people. Thus, ACAP with the participation of the trekkers have been able to increase the standard of living of the local population, protect the environment and develop sustainable tourism.
ACAP is divided into seven unit conservation offices and spread out in 5 districts of the Western Development Region of Nepal covering 55 Village Development Committees. Each village development committee is assigned to carry out the responsibilities to manage, utilize and protect all the natural resources within the respective VDCs.Some activities of ACAP are as follows: Conservation of Resources (with programs like forest management and wildlife management activities, soil and water conservation, training for local nursery workers, forest guards and leaders, promotion of alternative energy and fuel-efficient technologies, restoration of sites of historical, culture and archaeological importance, research and survey on subjects like biodiversity and wildlife census and formation of local institutions like conservation area management committees and sub-conservation area management committees)
Community Development (with programs like improvement, maintenance and construction of schools, trails and bridges, general health and sanitation facilities with health and family planning clinics, adult literacy, extension of agro-forestry and agriculture through training, demonstrations and seeds distribution and other programs targeted to women, youth and socially and economically deprived people for their income generation)
Tourism Management (with programs like formation of local lodge management committees with hotel and lodge management training for lodge operators, brochure and publicity materials, information posts, visitor centers, helicopter evacuation for visitors for search and rescue during emergency, training for trekking guides and eco-camp site development)
Conservation, Education and Extension (with programs like conservation education classes in schools with conservation awareness camps, indoor and outdoor conservation education centers, education materials development, village clean-up campaigns, programs on mobile audio-visual extension, natural history museum and visitor information services, environmental resource library, study tours and training for villagers).ACAP is a non-profit organization which is supported and sustained by various trusts and the fees collected from the tourists trekking in the Annapurna area. The money is utilized in many ways to maintain the two main objectives in the area of sustainability:
Objective 1 - Protect Natural and Cultural Heritage Objective 2 - Education to Sustain the Economy and Social Benefits of Tourism.
through the promotion of various projects like the following:
Creation of safe drinking water to the local villagers and tourists in the Annapurna area. A project on this is financed by New Zealand Overseas Development Assistance Fund which is enabling the training and building of drinking water stations in many villages around the Annapurna Conservation Area. Creation of nurseries to sustain woodland Education for efficient use of stoves Creation of kerosene depots for fires to prevent the burning of wood Creation of rubbish bins and toilet facilities Creations of health posts and telephone connections Provide financial assistance in the form of low cost and/or subsidized loans for hydroelectric generators and solar powered water heating.
Nepal Conservation Research and Training Center (NCRTC) was established in 1989 in Sauraha. The center emphasizes on community oriented programs, making research and training on wildlife and its habitat extension, community forestry and community development, women and micro-enterprises development. Apart from all this, the center also provides training to the park personnel and conservations workers in various fields.
Bardia Conservation Program (BCP) was launched in 1994 as a regular project for wildlife research and monitoring. Apart from this, BCP has been mobilizing and supporting local efforts in conservation and development programs like community forestry, conservation education, health care, school support and women development.*King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation (KMTNC) is managing Central Zoo – the only zoo in Nepal, located in Jawalakhel, Lalitpur since 1995. The zoo was first established in 1932 by late Prime Minister Juddha Sumsher J.B. Rana as a private zoo but it was later opened to public by the Government in 1956. The zoo in Nepal boasts of housing 500 animals from 94 different species, out of which 30 are mammals, 52 are birds and 8 are reptiles. The zoo is open on all other days except Mondays. KMTNC has also introduced a program called “Friends of Zoo” to promote participation of the community, especially the school students towards zoo development by raising awareness on zoo conservation and it has been successful in collecting more than 2000 members for this cause. Apart from ACAP, KMTNC is also implementing Manaslu Ecotourism Project (MEP) in the Manaslu area since 1997. The goal of MEP is to develop the Manaslu region into a conservation area with improved access and infrastructure and strengthening local manpower to manage tourism and conservation activities.
For additional information, please contact:King Mahendra Trust for Nature ConservationP O Box 3712, Jawalakhel, Lalitpur, NepalPhone: 977-1-5526571Fax: 977-1-5526570
ACAP was launched in 1986 with the initiation of *King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation (KMTNC) to protect the environment with sustainable community development in Annapurna area by the local people without any intervention from the Nepalese Government and/or any other institutions. This is the first and the largest conservation area in Nepal that covers 7,629 sq. km. The head office of ACAP is in Ghorepani that lies at an elevation of 2775m. ACAP office in Kathmandu is situated in Sanchaya Kosh building in Tridevi Marg, Thamel. Approximately 25,000 trekkers visit the Annapurna region every year and the trekking fee collected from the tourists supports more than 40,000 local people. Thus, ACAP with the participation of the trekkers have been able to increase the standard of living of the local population, protect the environment and develop sustainable tourism.
ACAP is divided into seven unit conservation offices and spread out in 5 districts of the Western Development Region of Nepal covering 55 Village Development Committees. Each village development committee is assigned to carry out the responsibilities to manage, utilize and protect all the natural resources within the respective VDCs.Some activities of ACAP are as follows: Conservation of Resources (with programs like forest management and wildlife management activities, soil and water conservation, training for local nursery workers, forest guards and leaders, promotion of alternative energy and fuel-efficient technologies, restoration of sites of historical, culture and archaeological importance, research and survey on subjects like biodiversity and wildlife census and formation of local institutions like conservation area management committees and sub-conservation area management committees)
Community Development (with programs like improvement, maintenance and construction of schools, trails and bridges, general health and sanitation facilities with health and family planning clinics, adult literacy, extension of agro-forestry and agriculture through training, demonstrations and seeds distribution and other programs targeted to women, youth and socially and economically deprived people for their income generation)
Tourism Management (with programs like formation of local lodge management committees with hotel and lodge management training for lodge operators, brochure and publicity materials, information posts, visitor centers, helicopter evacuation for visitors for search and rescue during emergency, training for trekking guides and eco-camp site development)
Conservation, Education and Extension (with programs like conservation education classes in schools with conservation awareness camps, indoor and outdoor conservation education centers, education materials development, village clean-up campaigns, programs on mobile audio-visual extension, natural history museum and visitor information services, environmental resource library, study tours and training for villagers).ACAP is a non-profit organization which is supported and sustained by various trusts and the fees collected from the tourists trekking in the Annapurna area. The money is utilized in many ways to maintain the two main objectives in the area of sustainability:
Objective 1 - Protect Natural and Cultural Heritage Objective 2 - Education to Sustain the Economy and Social Benefits of Tourism.
through the promotion of various projects like the following:
Creation of safe drinking water to the local villagers and tourists in the Annapurna area. A project on this is financed by New Zealand Overseas Development Assistance Fund which is enabling the training and building of drinking water stations in many villages around the Annapurna Conservation Area. Creation of nurseries to sustain woodland Education for efficient use of stoves Creation of kerosene depots for fires to prevent the burning of wood Creation of rubbish bins and toilet facilities Creations of health posts and telephone connections Provide financial assistance in the form of low cost and/or subsidized loans for hydroelectric generators and solar powered water heating.
Nepal Conservation Research and Training Center (NCRTC) was established in 1989 in Sauraha. The center emphasizes on community oriented programs, making research and training on wildlife and its habitat extension, community forestry and community development, women and micro-enterprises development. Apart from all this, the center also provides training to the park personnel and conservations workers in various fields.
Bardia Conservation Program (BCP) was launched in 1994 as a regular project for wildlife research and monitoring. Apart from this, BCP has been mobilizing and supporting local efforts in conservation and development programs like community forestry, conservation education, health care, school support and women development.*King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation (KMTNC) is managing Central Zoo – the only zoo in Nepal, located in Jawalakhel, Lalitpur since 1995. The zoo was first established in 1932 by late Prime Minister Juddha Sumsher J.B. Rana as a private zoo but it was later opened to public by the Government in 1956. The zoo in Nepal boasts of housing 500 animals from 94 different species, out of which 30 are mammals, 52 are birds and 8 are reptiles. The zoo is open on all other days except Mondays. KMTNC has also introduced a program called “Friends of Zoo” to promote participation of the community, especially the school students towards zoo development by raising awareness on zoo conservation and it has been successful in collecting more than 2000 members for this cause. Apart from ACAP, KMTNC is also implementing Manaslu Ecotourism Project (MEP) in the Manaslu area since 1997. The goal of MEP is to develop the Manaslu region into a conservation area with improved access and infrastructure and strengthening local manpower to manage tourism and conservation activities.
For additional information, please contact:King Mahendra Trust for Nature ConservationP O Box 3712, Jawalakhel, Lalitpur, NepalPhone: 977-1-5526571Fax: 977-1-5526570
GIS based Management Information System for Annapurna conservation area, NepalNawa Raj ChapagainGIS Officer,King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation,Annapurna Conservation Area ProjectAnnapurna Conservation Area (ACA) is the largest protected area in Nepal with an area of 7,629 sqkm (5.18% of total area of Nepal). The ACA region stretches from the low land sub-tropics of the middle hills to the permanent snow-cover of the Himalayas and beyond to the alpine grasslands in the Trans-Himalayan region and parts of the Tibetan plateau. Spreaded over 55 Village Development Committees (VDCs), ACA is inhabited in around 420 settlements by nearly 120,000 people belonging to more than 10 ethnic groups. King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation (KMTNC), an NGO, has been managing ACA through its Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP). The objectives of ACAP are:
To conserve the natural resources of the ACA for the benefit of the present and future generations;
To bring sustainable social, institutional and economic development to the local people; and
To develop tourism in such a way that it will have a minimum negative environmental impact. ACA was started in 1986 as a pilot project to implement Integrated Conservation and Development Programme (ICDP) and now it has become a successful ICDP model for the whole world. Recognizing the potentiality of utilizing GIS and database management systems in programme formulation, monitoring and evaluation, Geographic Information System (GIS) section of ACAP has just finalized Annapurna Conservation Area Management Information System (ACAMIS) plan and is working on database creation for it. Need for GIS based MISACA represents considerable share of physiographic, climatic, biotic, socio-economic and cultural extremities in Nepal. Being the largest protected area in Nepal, ACAP has a broad range of programme components and activities (see box 1). Since ACAP's intervention 14 years ago, the local people, their economy and natural resource base of the area have undergone changes. Similarly, ACAP's grass-root approach in implementing the diverse range of programmes has established numerous local level institutions. Co-ordinating projects, monitoring and evaluating progresses and maintaining a central database system all based on GIS have become urgent need for the ACAP. In future it is expected that the development of a GIS based MIS will assist in efficient allocation of resources in project formulation and design.ACA implements the concept of multiple landuse management to achieve site-specific goals of conservation and development. ACA has been classified into 5 landuse management zones, viz. (i) wilderness zone (ii) protected forest/seasonal grazing zone (iii) intensive use zone (iv) special management zone, and (v) biotic/anthropological zone. To better implement the concept of multiple landuse management GIS based comprehensive database system will allow to identify site-specific thematic management options paying due attention to local community's need and bio-physical setting of the area. ACA is one of the most popular trekking destinations in Nepal. There is increasing trend in the number of trekking tourists visiting ACA, which crossed 75,000 during 2000. Though we have not perceived any significant negative impact yet, we need to monitor their impact on physical as well as social environment so that we can maintain ACA as a major trekking destination for years to come. ACAMIS is expected to help assess the socio-cultural and environmental impacts of tourism. ACAP mobilizes local people in all of its conservation and development interventions. There are 539 local level institutions formed in ACA area for this purpose. The ultimate goal of ACAP is to make these local institutions self-reliant so that they can operate sustainably on their own without assistance from ACAP. So, ACAP has greater focus on empowerment of local institutions. As ultimately we will be handing over all responsibilities of managing ACA to the local institutions, it is highly desirable that we monitor and evaluate the empowerment level of local communities to ensure all of them will be empowered enough to manage the programmes on their own. ACAMIS will be an efficient way to monitor and evaluate the empowerment level of local institutions. Moreover, as ACAMIS is based on GIS, it will allow easy integration of both spatial and attribute data and will produce both graphical and tabular output. The two outputs will assist critical decision making processes based on statistical and visual results.
To conserve the natural resources of the ACA for the benefit of the present and future generations;
To bring sustainable social, institutional and economic development to the local people; and
To develop tourism in such a way that it will have a minimum negative environmental impact. ACA was started in 1986 as a pilot project to implement Integrated Conservation and Development Programme (ICDP) and now it has become a successful ICDP model for the whole world. Recognizing the potentiality of utilizing GIS and database management systems in programme formulation, monitoring and evaluation, Geographic Information System (GIS) section of ACAP has just finalized Annapurna Conservation Area Management Information System (ACAMIS) plan and is working on database creation for it. Need for GIS based MISACA represents considerable share of physiographic, climatic, biotic, socio-economic and cultural extremities in Nepal. Being the largest protected area in Nepal, ACAP has a broad range of programme components and activities (see box 1). Since ACAP's intervention 14 years ago, the local people, their economy and natural resource base of the area have undergone changes. Similarly, ACAP's grass-root approach in implementing the diverse range of programmes has established numerous local level institutions. Co-ordinating projects, monitoring and evaluating progresses and maintaining a central database system all based on GIS have become urgent need for the ACAP. In future it is expected that the development of a GIS based MIS will assist in efficient allocation of resources in project formulation and design.ACA implements the concept of multiple landuse management to achieve site-specific goals of conservation and development. ACA has been classified into 5 landuse management zones, viz. (i) wilderness zone (ii) protected forest/seasonal grazing zone (iii) intensive use zone (iv) special management zone, and (v) biotic/anthropological zone. To better implement the concept of multiple landuse management GIS based comprehensive database system will allow to identify site-specific thematic management options paying due attention to local community's need and bio-physical setting of the area. ACA is one of the most popular trekking destinations in Nepal. There is increasing trend in the number of trekking tourists visiting ACA, which crossed 75,000 during 2000. Though we have not perceived any significant negative impact yet, we need to monitor their impact on physical as well as social environment so that we can maintain ACA as a major trekking destination for years to come. ACAMIS is expected to help assess the socio-cultural and environmental impacts of tourism. ACAP mobilizes local people in all of its conservation and development interventions. There are 539 local level institutions formed in ACA area for this purpose. The ultimate goal of ACAP is to make these local institutions self-reliant so that they can operate sustainably on their own without assistance from ACAP. So, ACAP has greater focus on empowerment of local institutions. As ultimately we will be handing over all responsibilities of managing ACA to the local institutions, it is highly desirable that we monitor and evaluate the empowerment level of local communities to ensure all of them will be empowered enough to manage the programmes on their own. ACAMIS will be an efficient way to monitor and evaluate the empowerment level of local institutions. Moreover, as ACAMIS is based on GIS, it will allow easy integration of both spatial and attribute data and will produce both graphical and tabular output. The two outputs will assist critical decision making processes based on statistical and visual results.
GIS based Management Information System for Annapurna conservation area, NepalOperational Concept of ACAMISThe main objective of ACAMIS is to help formulate sound management options (programs and activities) for Annapurna Conservation Area (ACA). It will be operationalized in five major steps, i.e., (a) database creation based on existing information (b) data gap analysis based on ACAMIS plan (c) data collection based on data gap analysis and database updating, (d) information extraction (for conservation and development strategy formulation and management options formulation), and (e) database updating based on field implementation, monitoring and evaluation. Fig. 1: Conceptual flow chart of developing/implementing ACAMISRelational Database Management System (RDBMS) will be followed to (a) maintain efficient database by segregating the data on smaller tables, and (b) expand the ease of querying with socio-economic and biophysical variables. MS-Access database software is planned to use to create and store all attribute data, which will be linked to spatial database in ArcView GIS through Open Database Connectivity (ODBC). Satellite image interpretation and digitization of analog maps available from various sources will be done to extract bio-physical and natural resource distribution data. Socio-economic and attribute data for ACAMIS will be collected basically from KMTNC/ACAP official records, Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) and secondary sources. Conventional researches and Participatory Action Research (PAR) will supplement both spatial and attribute database. Altogether ACAMIS plan proposes 72 data tables, grouped into following 10 components, be included in it: Background information, Natural resources (floral and faunal resources), Tourism management, Alternative energy resources, Communal development infrastructures, Cultural/historical heritage, Agriculture and animal husbandry, Social/development institutions, Enterprises, and Past conservation and development interventions. Outcome and Implementation Design of ACAMIS is based on the objectives, programme components and activities of ACAP. The ACAMIS will result in an extension module to the ArcView GIS and a comprehensive relational database in MS-Access. The ACAMIS will be flexible enough to accommodate changes in the requirement of conservation targets and development needs of local people based on first hand field experiences. To meet the requirement of variation in target group, according to the nature of intervention, the ACAMIS will be capable of analyzing and retrieving results for both settlement (point theme) and ward/VDC level (polygon theme). The database, importantly the attribute data, will be updated annually so that up-to-date database is available for formulating annual management programmes and assess changes over time.
Annapurna Conservation Area Project
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The Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) was launched in 1986 under the sponsorship of the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation. Covering an area of 7,629 square kilometers, this innovative protected area management system combines environmental protection with sustainable community development. Each year the Annapurna region welcomes more than 25,000 trekkers from all over the world to enjoy some of the most beautiful, and challenging, terrain in Nepal.
Divided into seven unit conservation offices and spread out in five districts of the Western Development Region of Nepal, the Annapurna Conservation Area Project covers 55 Village Development Committees. Each of these Village Development Committees is responsible for the management, utilization and protection of the natural resources that fall within its assigned area. This arrangement ensures that the vast area under the Annapurna Conservation Area Project meets with the conservation and sustainable development goals agreed upon.
Conservation of resources in the Annapurna region is being achieved by means of forest and wildlife management activities; soil and water conservation; training for local forest guards, nursery workers and leaders; promotion of fuel-efficient technologies and alternative energy sources; restoration of sites of historical, cultural and archaeological significance; research on subjects such as biodiversity and wildlife census; and formation of local conservation area management committees.
Tourism management initiatives include programs for the formation of local lodge management committees, including training for lodge operators; tourism marketing and visitor centers; search and rescue facilities; training for trekking guides; and eco-campsite development. Conservation education includes programs in schools to raise conservation awareness; a natural history museum and environmental resource library; indoor and outdoor conservation education centers; village clean-up campaigns; and study tours and training for villagers.
The community development aspect of Nepal’s Annapurna Conservation Area Project includes programs for the improvement, maintenance and construction of schools, trails and bridges; adult literacy; extension of agro-forestry and agriculture through training and seed distribution; general health and family planning clinics; and programs for improving employment opportunities.
In working toward the goal of protecting the natural and cultural heritage of Annapurna, along with education to sustain the economic and social benefits of eco-tourism, the Annapurna Conservation Area Project is ensuring that visitors to this exquisite part of Nepal will always be assured of enjoying nature at its very best.
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The Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) was launched in 1986 under the sponsorship of the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation. Covering an area of 7,629 square kilometers, this innovative protected area management system combines environmental protection with sustainable community development. Each year the Annapurna region welcomes more than 25,000 trekkers from all over the world to enjoy some of the most beautiful, and challenging, terrain in Nepal.
Divided into seven unit conservation offices and spread out in five districts of the Western Development Region of Nepal, the Annapurna Conservation Area Project covers 55 Village Development Committees. Each of these Village Development Committees is responsible for the management, utilization and protection of the natural resources that fall within its assigned area. This arrangement ensures that the vast area under the Annapurna Conservation Area Project meets with the conservation and sustainable development goals agreed upon.
Conservation of resources in the Annapurna region is being achieved by means of forest and wildlife management activities; soil and water conservation; training for local forest guards, nursery workers and leaders; promotion of fuel-efficient technologies and alternative energy sources; restoration of sites of historical, cultural and archaeological significance; research on subjects such as biodiversity and wildlife census; and formation of local conservation area management committees.
Tourism management initiatives include programs for the formation of local lodge management committees, including training for lodge operators; tourism marketing and visitor centers; search and rescue facilities; training for trekking guides; and eco-campsite development. Conservation education includes programs in schools to raise conservation awareness; a natural history museum and environmental resource library; indoor and outdoor conservation education centers; village clean-up campaigns; and study tours and training for villagers.
The community development aspect of Nepal’s Annapurna Conservation Area Project includes programs for the improvement, maintenance and construction of schools, trails and bridges; adult literacy; extension of agro-forestry and agriculture through training and seed distribution; general health and family planning clinics; and programs for improving employment opportunities.
In working toward the goal of protecting the natural and cultural heritage of Annapurna, along with education to sustain the economic and social benefits of eco-tourism, the Annapurna Conservation Area Project is ensuring that visitors to this exquisite part of Nepal will always be assured of enjoying nature at its very best.
The Annapurna Conservation Area boasts some of the best treks in the planet. You can choose between a few days to a few months of rewarding trails. I had the pleasure of trekking thru this region with Kristof, a friend from Belgium. We managed to hike thru the Annapurna Circuit and the Annapurna Sanctuary trails. They are spectacular!This page in particular is designed as a guide to would be hikers in the region. Please keep in mind that nothing is set in stone in remote areas of the Himalayas so do expect things to change by the time you make it over there. Also, do take weather into account as it’s subject to change. You may get stranded for a few days waiting for a snow storm or rain to pass.
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Desert Scenery found in Mustang
As for times given on the “Things to do” tips, all I ask is for you to please take it as an estimate. The times given in the tips do not (DO NOT) include brakes such as the ones you’ll need to eat lunch, drink tea, enjoy the scenery, or to simply take pictures. If you are a gun-ho hiker then you will find the times given to be too long for you. If you prefer to take it easy and go slowly, then you will find you will be rushing to complete the trek with the times given. I guess the best thing is for you to take things at your own pace. We met this couple from California who where doing the Jomosom trail (typically 7-11 days) in a leisurely 5 weeks! It allowed them time to stay more then a few days in their favorite villages doing side-treks and the like. Personally, I would rather have more time to burn, then being rushed to the end. After all, we all travel to enjoy ourselves, no???
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