The API-Nampa Conservation Area is a protected area in the Far-Western Development Region, Nepal. It was established in 2010 and covers 1,903 km2 (735 sq mi) encompassing 21 Village Development Committees in the Darchula District. The western boundary is formed by the Mahakali River, and the northern by the international border with Tibet. Adjacent to the east is the Bajhang and Baitadi districts. It ranges in elevation from 518 to 7,132 m (1,699 to 23,399 ft) at the Himalayan peak API and is within the circumscribed area of the Kailash Sacred Landscape.
Named after the two peaks API and Nampa, it was established to conserve the unique biodiversity and cultural heritage of the area. It is inhabited by 54,358 people living in 8966 households. A grasslands plateau is at the center of the area. It is intermixed with various forest types.
Api Nampa is Nepal’s youngest conservation area and maybe also the best preserved. Due to the few numbers of tourists that have reached this area of Nepal, you can experience untouched nature and authentic Nepali traditions. The conservation area is named after Mount Nampa (6757 m) and Mount API (7132 m), Far West highest mountain. Between these peaks, a central plateau of grassland is located. The grassland has a mixed variety of oaks, pine forests and temperate deciduous forests. The diverse climatic conditions and altitudinal variation of the area have provided habitats for many rare and threatened wildlife species, Snow Leopard,and Clouded Leopard, Himalayan Musk Deer, Red Panda, Himalayan Black Bear, Langur, Himalayan tahr, Goral and serow etc. and Birds are included Daphne (Lophophorus impejanus), Himalayan Monal (Crimson spp), Snowcock, Blood Pheasant, Red-billed Chough, and Yellow-billed chough etc.
Also, the local communities have kept their traditional way of life. They mainly live from agriculture, collections of medicinal and aromatic plants as well as artisan productions. The community of the Byas, for example, still practices a nomadic lifestyle. They move between the high altitude grasslands in the summer months and to the lower valleys, close to Darchula town, in the wintertime.
Named after the two peaks API and Nampa, it was established to conserve the unique biodiversity and cultural heritage of the area. It is inhabited by 54,358 people living in 8966 households. A grasslands plateau is at the center of the area. It is intermixed with various forest types.
Api Nampa is Nepal’s youngest conservation area and maybe also the best preserved. Due to the few numbers of tourists that have reached this area of Nepal, you can experience untouched nature and authentic Nepali traditions. The conservation area is named after Mount Nampa (6757 m) and Mount API (7132 m), Far West highest mountain. Between these peaks, a central plateau of grassland is located. The grassland has a mixed variety of oaks, pine forests and temperate deciduous forests. The diverse climatic conditions and altitudinal variation of the area have provided habitats for many rare and threatened wildlife species, Snow Leopard,and Clouded Leopard, Himalayan Musk Deer, Red Panda, Himalayan Black Bear, Langur, Himalayan tahr, Goral and serow etc. and Birds are included Daphne (Lophophorus impejanus), Himalayan Monal (Crimson spp), Snowcock, Blood Pheasant, Red-billed Chough, and Yellow-billed chough etc.
Also, the local communities have kept their traditional way of life. They mainly live from agriculture, collections of medicinal and aromatic plants as well as artisan productions. The community of the Byas, for example, still practices a nomadic lifestyle. They move between the high altitude grasslands in the summer months and to the lower valleys, close to Darchula town, in the wintertime.