Shey-Phoksundo National Park and Buffer Zone (14343)
Nepal, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2025
National site name: Shey-Phoksundo National Park and Buffer Zone
Central coordinates: Latitude: 29.4333, Longitude: 82.9333
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 2200 to 6883
Area of KBA (km2): 3597.82743
Protected area coverage (%): 99.44
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Shey-Phoksundo National Park lies in the Dolpo and Mugu districts of Karnali Province in north-west Nepal. The northern boundary, stretching from the mountain pass of Namja in the west to that of Marim in the east, borders on the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China. About one-third of the park is situated south of the Kanjiroba Himal (6883 m), and comprises extensive high altitude grasslands interspersed with forests and scrub below 4,000 m.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: Kusi et al. (2018) complied a list of 300 bird species for Dolpa which includes the park and buffer zone, as well as a larger surrounding area. This list includes at least 293 species for SPNPBZ (Kusi et al. 2018) including the vagrant Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush Monticola saxatilis (Kusi et al. 2017). SPNPBZ supports significant populations of Cheer Pheasant. The globally threatened Common Pochard Aythya ferina, Wood Snipe Gallinago nemoricola, Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis, and Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus have also been recorded.<div>SPNPBZ supports important populations of the restricted-range Cheer Pheasant, Kashmir Nuthatch and White-throated Tit from the Western Himalayas (EBA 128) and Hoary-throated Barwing from the Central Himalayas (EBA 129).<br><p>Non-bird biodiversity: A total of 36 species of mammals, 36 species of butterflies, and six species of reptiles are found in the park (L. B. Bhandari, Chief Conservation Officer, SPNPBZ. There are a number of globally threatened mammals, including Himalayan Wolf Canis lupus himalayensis, Dhole Cuon alpinus, Red Panda Ailurus fulgens, Musk Deer Moschus sp., Common Leopard Panthera pardus and Snow Leopard Panthera uncia (Kusi et al. 2018). The park is especially important for the population of Snow Leopard and its prey species.</p><p>The park is also home to six reptiles and 29 species of butterfly, including the highest flying butterfly in the world, Paralasa nepalaica (DNPWC 2015).</p></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: <div>The park’s micro-climatic condition, ecology, ecosystem, flora and fauna resemble the Tibetan desert type. With altitudes ranging from 2,000 to 6,883 m, the park has a sub-temperate to Trans-Himalayan climate. </div>There are forests of oak Quercus semecarpifolia and conifers Pinus wallichiana, Abies spectabilis and Picea smithiana, and mixed deciduous forests along the Suli Gad river. Betula utilis forest is common in the Jagdula Khola and Garpung Khola valleys. Higher up there are limited shrubberies of rhododendron and juniper Juniperus. North of the Kanjiroba Himal lie the undulating hills of the Tibetan plateau where the vegetation is typically trans-Himalayan, dominated by Caragana, Cotoneaster and dwarf junipers Juniperus spp. (Prieme and Oksnebjerg 1995). Rangelands cover about 20% of the park and buffer zone and there are at least 55 rangelands varying from 1-20 ha in size.
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: SPNPBZ is facing several problems, gaps and issues which affect the park in reaching its potential. While the magnitude, extent, and severity of issues and threats differ, the majority of the problems act together, influencing the park’s conservation and management. Infrastructure development pressure, human-Snow Leopard conflict, and increasing human pressure for collecting the valuable Yarsha gumba are emerging challenges (L. B. Bhandari, Chief Conservation Officer, SPNPBZ). <div>The main challenge is ensuring a balance between conservation and development without compromising ecological balance, while meeting the local community’s needs. This challenge continues to emerge as development activities, such as road and hotel construction are increasing at a higher rate than ever before. The other main challenge is reducing livestock depredation by Snow Leopards Panthera uncia and wolves, which is the major reason for human-wildlife conflict and leads to retaliatory killings of Snow Leopards. Reducing anthropogenic impacts on local ecosystems during Yarsha gumaba collection poses a different challenge. Despite having such a unique representation of the Himalayan and trans-Himalaya ecosystems in the entire protected area network of Nepal, SPNPBZ has lagged in terms of long-term ecological and ecosystem research on vegetation and rangelands, in the face of climate change-induced shifts in vegetation, flowering patterns etc. (L. B. Bhandari, Chief Conservation Officer, SPNPBZ). </div>
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | 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 |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing | |
| Residential & commercial development | Tourism & recreation areas | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: <div>Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservaiton (2015k) Protected area information. Shey Phoksundo National Park. http://www.dnpwc.gov.np/index.php/page/22 Downloaded 28 April 2015.</div><div>Kusi, N, Lama, TL, Lama, PR and Werhan, G (2017) The first record of Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush Monticola saxatilis for Nepal. BirdingASIA 27:116-117.<br>Kusi, N Werhahn, G and Poudyal, LP (2018) Birds of Dolpa: Shey-Phoksundo National Park and adjoining areas. Nepalese Ornithological Union and Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation. Kathmandu, Nepal.</div>Priemé, A and Øksnebjerg, B (1995) The avifauna and conservation value of Shey-Phoksundo National Park Nepal. Forktail 10: 33-47.
Contributors: Site identified based on Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas by the BirdLife International Partnership