MAKALU BARUN (NEPAL) – STRICT NATURE RESERVE

“In the realm of nature, there is nothing purposeless, trivial or unnecessary.”
- Moses ben Maimon


Makalu Barun National Park and Conservation Area lies in the Solokhumbu and Sankhuwa districts of eastern Nepal. It is annexed to the Sagarmatha National Park in the eastern Himalaya, but has its own unique mandate of being the only “strict nature reserve” in Nepal. Mt Makalu, the world’s fifth highest peak, and the Barun valley, comprising unspoiled wilderness, make up the Makalu-Barun National Park and Conservation Area. The northern boundary is defined by the border with the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China while Saune danda delimits the southern boundary. The altitude of the region varies from 435 m at the bottom of the Arun valley and rises to the 8,463 m snow capped tip of Mt Makalu within a distance of 49 km.

Makalu Barun National Park was established in 1991 and formally inaugurated in 1992. The park and buffer zone comprise a vital component of the greater Mt Everest ecosystem, which 1,500 sq km is National Park with a scientific Reserve and 830 km is a buffer zone. The park and buffer zone comprise a vital component of the greater Mt Everest ecosystem, which includes Sagarmatha National Park (1,148 sq km) to the west and Qomolongma National Preserve (35,000 sq km) in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China to the north.

The inaccessible lower Barun valley, a glacier-fed tributary to the Arun River, and its tributary, the Saldima, flow through the pristine parkland protected by thick and extensive forests. These areas have been designated as Strict National Reserve with the aim of protecting the ecosystem in an undisturbed state for the scientific study, environment monitoring, education and maintenance of genetic resources.

Most part of the national park consists of remote wilderness with two small settlements and some seasonal temporary settlements in high pastureland. Having a wide range of altitudinal and climatic variations, the Makalu Barun area offers a remarkable and diverse habitat for a rich variety of flora and fauna. Each species is s storehouse of genetic codes and information, and any extinction is an irreversible loss to this planet.

Plants of all major ecological zones, tropical, subtropical, temperate, sub-alpine, and alpine – are found in the area. The vegetation comprises tropical Sal forest at elevations below 1,000 m; subtropical Schima castronopsis forest between 1,000-2,000 m; temperate zone oak. Maple and magnolia forest between 2000-3000 m. and sub-alpine shrubs of alpine pastureland between 4,000-5,000 m.

Due to very humid conditions; several species of flowers, rhododendrons, primulas and meconopsis among them, are found in abundance. The number of flowering plants in the Makalu Barun region is estimated to be over 3000 species including 30 species of rhododendrons and12 species of meconopsis. Similarly, out of 312 species of orchids found in Nepal, more than 59% occur in eastern Nepal alone. Some 48 species of orchids are found in Makalu Barun National Park. Likewise 19 species of bamboo, 48 species of primrose, 15 species of oak, 86 species of economically valuable medicinal and aromatic plants are also found in the area. An oak species, Lithocarpus fenestratus, has been recorded for the first time in Nepal in the park.

The park is home to a rich variety of wildlife too. Many rare mammals are found in the park although they are seldom seen due to the thick forests and their wariness of humans. Some 75 mammal species, 440 bird species, 30 reptilian an d25 amphibian species have been recorded in the park. The mammals include the snow leopard, clouded leopard, forest cat would, wild goat and wild boar. There is also an abundance of small wildlife, including Himalayan yellow-throated marten, Himalayan marmor, common otter, Himalayan squirrel and wooly hare.

The Barun valley is an important habitat for bird species adapted to high altitude. These include the dark sided thrush, slaty bellied tesia, broad billed warbler, spotted wren babbler, coral billed scimitar babbler and the olive ground babbler. Some notable birds in the park include Nepal hours marten, Himalayan monal, Darjeeling pied woodpecker, black eagle, common hill partridge and black bulbul.

The area is also rich in lower plants and animals such as micro-organisms, algae, fungi, bryophytes, arthropods, mollusks, amphibians and reptiles.

The buffer zone of the park is inhabited by some 32,000 people of diverse ethnic groups. Although all groups speak Nepali, the main groups may be linguistically classified according to their first languages as Rai (majority) and Sherpa and Shingsawa (Bhotia) farmers in minority each with their won rich cultural heritage Speakers of Tibeto-Burman languages other than Rai and Tibetan are also represented in smaller numbers.

A new park management approach by designating a part of the park as a buffer zone encourages the local people to become actively involved in protecting the national resources through traditional resource management system such as community controlled grazing and forest guardianship. Subsistence farming does not produce enough food for the entire year. As a result, the people’s livelihood is heavily dependent upon forest resources for animal fodder, fuel, food, and housing materials. Fertilizer, medicines and other uses, including clothing spun from “allo” nettles (Girandinia diversifolia), paper made from lokta bark (Daphne sp) and many items from bamboo, including furniture, baskets, musical instruments, containers and umbrellas. Knowing the value of these forests, the local people themselves are involved in conservation activities.

The natural treasure of the Makalu Barun area has not yet been widely publicized. The highlights of this rich natural paradise include beautiful mountains, pristine forests, a wide variety of plant and animal life and a simple and warm heated people with rich and varied cultures. With time, they can be expected to exert a strong pull on visitors. In fact, the Makalu Barun area is ideal for the development of ecotourism, a not-too-seriously promoted aspect of Nepal as yet, and something that has potential for development.

GETTING THERE

Trekkers and mountaineering expedition teams to Makalu either fly to Tumlingtar, the trailhead, form Biratnagar (an hour’s flight from Kathmandu), or travel by bus to Hile and trek all the way to their destination via Tumlingtar. Depending upon the destination, some even go to Khadbaari on their way to Makalu Barun while others may opt for different routes from Tumlingtar. Trekkers and mountaineers going to the base camp enter Makalu via Num. They stay overnight in Seduwa given the lack of lodging facilities further on. Trekkers generally prefer to camp in tents. The next overnight stop is Tashigaon, the last village on the way to Makalu base camp. Within the Makalu base camp spends only about two nights in inhabited areas after which trekking are confined to pure wilderness.

Ti takes five to six days to reach base camp from Tashigaon. Trekker passes through Khongma (flat high-altitude grassland), Mumbunk, Nehekharka, and Ramara and Hillary base camp. Some trekkers detour to Navagaon, the largest (42 houses) Sherpa village in the valley after Seduwa.

The other area of tourist interest is Khembalung. Generally, trekkers go from Tumlingtar, cross the Arun River and camp in Bumlingtar in Bhojpur district. From Bumlingtar, the trail passes through Tamku, Magitar, Chitre, Deurali and Gontala before finally arriving at Khembalung.