Langtang National Park and Buffer Zone (14334)
Nepal, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2025
National site name: Langtang National Park and Buffer Zone
Central coordinates: Latitude: 28.6667, Longitude: 86.0000
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 1300 to 7245
Area of KBA (km2): 1655.23294
Protected area coverage (%): 99.05
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The IBA lies in Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Sindhupalchok District of Bagmati Province.<div>Several wetlands such as the Ramsar-listed Gosaikunda Lake add cultural and biodiversity significance to the area. LNP is connected to Qomolongma Nature Preserve of Tibetan Autonomous Republic in China, Manaslu Conservation Area through the Ganesh Himal range, and Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park through stretches of community- managed forests (Kathmandu Forestry College 2013).<br>LNPBZ conserves the watershed of the Melamchi, Larke, Yangri, Balephi and Trisuli rivers which provide water for the Kathmandu Valley, as well as hydropower generation (DNPWC 2007). </div>
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: A total of 380 species is listed for LNPBZ (BCN and DNPWC 2019). There have not been any studies of the species that occur in the Buffer Zone. <br>LNPBZ supports significant populations of Wood Snipe (Buckton and Morris 1993, Chaudhary and Khatidwada 2013, Basnet et al. 2021), Red-headed Vulture and wintering Steppe Eagle.<br>Other globally threatened species recorded are: Eygyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus, Greater Spotted Eagle Clanga clanga, Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax, Eastern Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca, Saker Falcon Falco cherrug and Yellow-breasted Bunting Emberiza aureola, but they are rare or vagrant in LNPBZ. Further fieldwork may show that LNPBZ supports significant populations of some of these species.<br>LNPBZ also supports significant populations of the restricted-range Hoary-throated Barwing and Nepal Cupwing from the Central Himalayas (EBA 129). LNPBZ . The park has the highest known density of Nepal Cupwing in Nepal. Spectacled Finch Callacanthis burtoni, a restricted range species from the Western Himalayas (EBA 128), is a vagrant to LNPBZ.<div>Non-bird biodiversity: A total of 46 species of mammals has been reported (Karki and Thapa 2001) including the globally threatened Snow Leopard Panthera uncia, Clouded Leopard Neofelis nebulosa, Red Panda Ailurus fulgens, Himalayan Black Bear Ursus thibetanus and Himalayan Musk Deer Moschus chrysogaster, and near-threatened Himalayan Serow Capricornis thar, Himalayan Tahr Hemitragus jemlahicus, Himalayan Goral Naemorhedus goral and Assam Macaque Macaca assamensis (DNPWC 2015). Incomplete checklists of herpetofauna show 11 reptiles and amphibians species found in the park, 40 species of fish, 10 of spiders and 58 of butterflies. More than 1,043 plant species are found in the park, including 21 endemic species (LNP 2020). A 2005 survey collected more than 800 lichen species (DNPWC 2007).</div>
Manageability of the site: Site identified based on BirdLife International's Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, under which manageability is strongly recommended but not explicitly documented
Delineation rationale: Protected IBAs extended to include designated Buffer Zones
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: LNPBZ comprises rocks and ice (60.7%), forests (29.9%), grassland (4.9%), shrubland (2.8%) and cultivation (1.7%). A wide variety of habitats exist within the park. Tropical forest of Sal Shorea robusta covers 0.2 % of the park and subtropical forest of Schima wallichii/Castanopsis indica and Chir Pine Pinus roxburghii covers 2 %. Higher up lower temperate forests of Quercus lanata, Q. lamellosa and Pinus wallichiana cover 4.8 % of the park and upper temperate forests of Q. semecarpifolia (often with Tsuga dumosa) cover 9.9 %. The subalpine (21.5 %) and alpine (21.5 %) zones are by far the most extensive. Subalpine forests are of Abies spectabilis, Betula utilis, Tsuga dumosa, Larix spp., Rhododendron spp., and Juniperus spp. (Green 1993). Larix is restricted to the subalpine area. There are pure Rhododendron and mixed Quercus/Rhododendron forests. Tsuga forests characterise the riparian floodplains along the river valley of the Langtang Khola. Higher up, Abies and Pinus wallichiana form large expanses of forests in places (DNPWC 2015).
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The main challenges for biodiversity conservation in LNPBZ are pressure on forest resources for energy, livestock rearing and construction materials and by forest fire, poaching, concentration of tourism in pocket areas, illegal collection of NTFPs and overgrazing (BCN and DNPWC 2019, DNPWC 2007). Forest fire is one of the most damaging impacts for the habitat of wildlife, including birds (Pramod Bhattari, Chief Conservation Officer, LNPBZ in litt. to C. Inskipp, 17 January 2023).<br>Pheasants, Himalayan Musk Deer and Red Pandas are illegally trapped or hunted. Tourist demands have increased pressures on forests, especially those close to trails, lodges and villages (BCN and DNPWC 2019).<div>A rising population of mainly subsistence farmers has impacted the environment chiefly through forest degradation and overgrazing by their livestock. Only a third of the park’s residents were estimated to understand the importance of conservation, but peoples’ participation in conservation efforts was increasing. The 34 villages within the park plan and manage local conservation themselves through forest user groups and committees (Basnyat 2004). </div><div>Tourist demands have increased pressures on forests, especially those close to trails, lodges and villages. The spread of tourist lodges was uncontrolled in the park adding to the negative environmental impacts. Litter and water pollution also continue to be major problems. In response the DNPWC set up a Lodge Management Committee in the park. Lodge owners and park officials are the Committee members and their aim is to improve lodge management and provide guidelines for the management of lodges (Basynat 2004). </div>
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Small-holder farming | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Problematic native species/diseases | Unspecified species | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression | Increase in fire frequency/intensity | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Gathering terrestrial plants | Unintentional effects (species being assessed is not the target) | Ongoing |
| Energy production & mining | Mining & quarrying | Ongoing | |
| Energy production & mining | Renewable energy | Only in the future | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing | |
| Residential & commercial development | Tourism & recreation areas | Ongoing | |
| Transportation & service corridors | Roads & railroads | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: <div style="text-align: justify; ">Basnet, H, Shrestha, MB, Thakuri, DC, Pun, T, Chaudhary, D, and Baral, HS (2021) Ecology and status of Wood Snipe Gallinago nemoricola in Lamtang National Park, Nepal. Wader Study 128(3):220-225. DOI10.18194/ws.00243</div><div style="text-align: justify; ">Basnyat, S. 2004. Tagging along to Langtang. Nepali Times. No. 187, 12-18 March 2004. http://www.nepalnews.com/ntimes/issue187/trekking.htm</div><div style="text-align: justify; ">BCN and DNPWC 2019. Birds of Langtang National Park. Bird Conservation Nepal and Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation. Kathmandu, Nepal</div><div style="text-align: justify; ">Buckton, S and Morris, P (1993) Observations of Wood Snipe Gallinago nemoricola in Nepal. Oriental Bird Club Bull. 17: 31–35.</div><div style="text-align: justify; ">Chaudhary, H and Khatiwada, JR (2013) Status of Wood Snipe Gallinago nemoricola and its conservation in Langtang National Park, Nepal. Ibisbill 2: 108-113.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (2007) Langtang National Park management plan. Kathmandu. </span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (2015) Protected area information. Langtang National Park. http://www.dnpwc.gov.np/national-parks-langtang.asp Downloaded 15 March 2015.</span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Green. MJB (1993) Nature reserves of the Himalaya and the mountains of central Asia. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK.</span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">Karki, J and Thapa, B (2001) Birds of Langtang. Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation and Bird Conservation Nepal, Kathmandu. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Kathmandu Forestry College (2013) Chitwan-Annapurna landscape. Biodiversity important areas and linkages. Kathmandu: Hariyo Ban Program, WWF Nepal program. http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/pa00k358.pdf Downloaded 19 March 2015.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">LNP 2020. Management Plan of Lamtang National Park and its Buffer Zone (2077/78-2081/82), Lamtang National Park Office, Dhunche, Rasuwa</div></div></div></div>
Contributors: Site identified based on Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas by the BirdLife International Partnership