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Sacred Himalayan Landscape
Langtang National Park and Buffer Zone Support Project
A scenic beauty from Langtang area.
© Simon de TREY-WHITE / WWF-UK
Langtang National Park and Buffer Zone Support Project (LNPBZ SP) is a new project initiated by WWF Nepal, officially launched on 26 February 2007.The primary goal of the project is to conserve biodiversity, enhance livelihoods opportunities and sustain diverse cultures and traditions by integrated management of land, forest and water resources in Langtang National Park and Buffer Zone.
The Langtang area is best known for its pristine forests, high-elevation meadows of wild sheep, Tibetan-like culture and lovely mountain views. The name "Langtang" comes from the story of the ancient Buddhist lama who followed his lost yak into the valley - "Lang" means "yak" and "Tang" means "follow".
The Langtang National Park , established in 1976, has an area of 1710 sq km and buffer zone area of 420 sq km covering three districts Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Sindhupalchowk encompassing 26 VDCs. The LNP's buffer zone was declared in 1998.
The park holds its importance being the melting point between Indo-Malayan and Pale-arctic realms and represents the important ecosystems of both realms as the conservation priority (LNP Annual report). Langtang represents the good spectrum of vegetation type along the altitude range between 1000m and 7245m. Landscapes produced by the complex topography and geographical settings and altitude can be experienced by walking three days from the Bhotekoshi River to Langsisa. Being the nearest Himalayan park from the capital city Kathmandu, it is the third most popular trekking destination among all protected areas of Nepal .
In the coming years, the project will emphasize on the sustainable community management of the forest through community forest and the proper management of rangeland through highlander rangeland communities. The project will initiate major activities on snow leopard and red panda conservation and will support improve livelihoods of LNPBZ communities through eco-tourism and community based management of non-timber forest products/medicinal and aromatic plants.