The Government of Sudurpaschim Province has formally declared and inaugurated the Badimalika–Ramaroshan Forest Conservation Area on August 12, 2026. Covering 498.4 square kilometres, this ecologically significant mid-hill ecosystem in Nepal features a remarkable mosaic of natural, religious, and cultural heritage. Spanning parts of Bajura and Achham districts, the landscape is endowed with high-altitude meadows, wetlands, forests, medicinal plants, wildlife habitats, traditional cultures, and sacred sites.
Its breathtaking scenery and unique cultural heritage hold immense potential for nature-based and cultural tourism, while the high-altitude pastures and natural resources remain vital to local livelihoods. However, this extraordinary landscape faces mounting challenges. Difficult terrain and limited tourism infrastructure constrain its potential, while unsustainable use of natural resources and increasing wildlife poaching pose serious threats to biodiversity and cultural heritage.
The declaration of the Badimalika-Ramaroshan Forest Conservation Area represents a crucial step toward addressing these challenges through a community-centered conservation approach. The process was built on extensive consultations with local communities, local governments, government agencies, and other stakeholders, with the aim of placing local people at the heart of conservation.
With financial support from Rainforest Trust and facilitation by the National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC), important preparatory work-including socio-economic and biological assessments, Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) processes, and GIS-based surveys was undertaken to support the establishment of the conservation area.
The newly declared conservation area is expected to safeguard the region’s biodiversity, promote the sustainable use of natural resources, strengthen nature-based tourism, and preserve its rich religious and cultural heritage-while creating opportunities for improved livelihoods and contributing to the socio-economic transformation of Bajura, Achham, and the entire Sudurpaschim Province.
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