Annapurna Conservation Area

The King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation (KMTNC)
Established in 1982, the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation (KMTNC) is named after the late King Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev. The Trust is mandated as an autonomous, non-profit, and non-governmental organization to work in the field of nature conservation.

For over two decades, KMTNC has successfully undertaken over 100 small and large projects on nature conservation, biodiversity protection, and sustainable rural development. The Trust focus on holistic and integrated conservation and development programs with the participatory involvement of local people. The programs undertaken by the Trust are divided into three geographical areas – the Mountain Program with the focus on the mid-hills and high mountains, the Terai Environmental Program focusing on the lowland Terai, and the Kathmandu Valley. The Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) and the Manaslu Conservation Area Project (MCAP) are two major projects in the mountain environment. Likewise, the Trust activities in the lowland Terai are in and around Chitwan National Park , Bardia National Park and Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve. The only project of the Trust in Kathmandu Valley is the management of the Central Zoo.

Annapurna Conseervation Area

The Annapurna Conservation Area (ACA) contains some of the world's highest peaks (> 8,000m), the world's deepest valley - the Kali Gandaki Valley, Nepal's largest protected area (7,629 km2), and Nepal's most popular trekking destination with over 50,000 annual visitors. Of all protected areas in Nepal, different areas within Annapurna receive both highest and lowest average rainfall (5,600 - 400mm).

Within the altitudinal range of 1,000 - 8,000m, ACA has an entire habitat gradient from sub tropical sal forest to perennial snow harboring 22 different forest types with 1,226 plant species including 55 endemics. About 101 species of mammals including many rare and endangered species like snow leopard, musk deer, Tibetan argali, and Tibetan wolf are found. Of 478 species of birds that are found in Annapurna, 38 breeding species belong to a group that are at risk in Nepal. The Kali Gandaki River is a major divide for bird distributions where species typical to both east and west Nepal occur. Also, Annapurna is the only protected area in Nepal where all 6 Himalayan pheasants of Nepal, are found,

1. Annapurna Conservation Area Project

The project launched in 1986 as a pilot program, the objective of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project is to integrate the biodiversity conservation and community. ACAP is the first protected area that has allowed local residents to live within the boundaries and maintain their traditional rights and access to the use of natural resources.

The Annapurna Conservation Area Project has completed the preparation of the Management Plan. The Plan focuses on building local institutions to carry out ACAP's activities. Moreover, it focuses on the withdrawal of the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation in the future. Local people themselves will mange ACA with minimal interventions from the government or NGOs such as the KMTNC. With the application of participatory approach, the main ACAP activities include natural resources conservation program, conservation and extension program, sustainable community development program, alternative energy program, and agricultural development program. Other areas of focus include programs such as livestock development, sustainable tourism management, motivating women in conservation and development, cultural heritage conservation, and reproductive health.