List of protected areas’ buffer zones of Nepal

The buffer zone introduced in Nepal after 4th Amendment of National Park and Wildlife Conservation Act 2073 in the year 2073.  There are 13 buffer zones established in protected areas (NP and WR) of Nepal covering total area 5687.78 sq. km (16.52 % area of total protected areas). The total area of protected areas in Nepal is 34,419.75 sq.km. (23.39% of land area of Nepal. The total people benefited by the buffer zones program in Nepal are 10,62,823. The 13 Buffer zone of Nepal which includes 12 National Park and 1 Wildlife Reserve which is the one and only wildlife reserve of Nepal; Koshi-Tappu wildlife Reserve.

What is Buffer zone ??

Buffer Zone is a peripheral area of a national park or reserve in order to provide:

1.   Protectionto reserve or parks itself

2.   To compensate villagers for the loss or access to natural resources

3.   provide facilities to use forest resource on a regular and beneficial basis for the local people.

About its Main Aim :

•      Buffer Zone Aim is to improve the living standards of rural communities at the same time as enhancing protection of national parks

•      Benefits of buffer zone:

•      Around 30-50 % of revenue collected from national park and wildlife reserve is spent on buffer zone conservation, management and community development works that benefit to local people.

·       Biological

·       Social

SN	Name of buffer zone’s	Area’s	Year
1	Chitwan NP	750.00	1996
2	Bardiya NP	327.00	1996
3	Langtang NP	420.00	1998
4	Shey phoksundo NP	1349.00	1998
5	Makalu Barun NP	830.00	1999
6	Sagarmatha NP	275.00	2000
7	Shuklaphanta NP	243.50	2004
8	Koshi Tappu WR	173.00	2004
9	Parsa NP	298.17	2005
10	Rara NP	198.00	2006
11	Khaptad NP	216.00	2006
12	Banke NP	343.00	2010
13	Shivapuri NP	……….	2015
Grand Total		= 5,422.17

Budget allocation of revenue in Buffer zone:

·       Conservation Program : 30 percent

·        Community Development Program : 30 percent

·        Income generating and Skill Development Program : 20 percent

·       Conservation Education Program : 10 percent 

·       Administrative Expenses : 10 percent

The buffer zone was declared in Eight five-year plan (1992-1997) according to the wildlife history of Nepal.  The First Buffer Zone was declared in 1996. The first National park of Nepal was Chitwan National Park  and the first buffer zone of Nepal are Chitwan National Park Buffer Zone and Bardiya National Park Buffer Zone. After that Later in 1998 Shey Phoksundo and Langtang BZ declared which is regarded as the second Buffer Zone of Nepal. After that Later on 1999 Makalu Barun NP Buffer Zone was declared which is regarded as the Third Buffer Zone of Nepal.