Protected Areas

Current Figure of Protected Areas in India ( As on December 2021)

Geographical Area of India = 32,87,263 km^{2     (Source: http://knowindia.gov.in)}

India has a network of 987 Protected Areas extending over 1,73,053.69 km2 (5.26 % of total geographic area), comprising 106 National Parks, 564 Wildlife Sanctuaries, 99 Conservation Reserves and 218 Community Reserves.  UNESCO has designated 6 Protected Areas as World Heritage Sites. Read More on WII ENVIS Website

Source: WII, Dehradun

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Wildlife Protected Areas of Sikkim

In Sikkim we have, presently, 9 Protected Areas which comprises of 1 National Park, 7 Wildlife Sanctuaries and 1 conservation Reserve that covers 30.77 per cent of the total geographical area of the state.

Declaration of Eco-Sensitive Zones in Sikkim 

In order to conserve and protect the area around the Protected Areas of the State, and to propagate the improvement and development of the wildlife therein and to prohibit industries, operations or processes around the boundary of 8 PAs of the State, the Central Government in consultation with Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has declared certain areas around the 8 PAs of the State as Eco-Sensitives zones through Notification mentioned below; 

1. Notification# S. O. 2166 dated 27th August 2014, notifies an area up to 200 meters around the boundary of the Khangchendzonga National Park as the Eco-sensitive Zone. The draft of the Notification was published on 3rd February 2014.


2. Notification# S. O. 2167 dated 27th August 2014, notifies an area up to 25 meters around the boundary of the Kitam Bird Sanctuary as the Eco-sensitive Zone. The draft of the Notification was published on 25th February 2014.


3. Notification# S. O. 2168 dated 27th August 2014, notifies an area up to 200 meters around the boundary of the Kyongnosla Alpine Sanctuary as the Eco-sensitive Zone. The draft of the Notification was published on 4th February 2014.


4. Notification# S. O. 2169 dated 27th August 2014, notifies an area up to 50 meters around the boundary of the Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary as the Eco-sensitive Zone. The draft of the Notification was published on 6th February 2014.


5. Notification# S. O. 2170 dated 27th August 2014, notifies an area up to 50 meters around the boundary of the Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary as the Eco-sensitive Zone. The draft of the Notification was published on 25th February 2014.


6. Notification# S. O. 2171 dated 27th August 2014, notifies an area up to 25 meters around the boundary of the Fambonglho Wildlife Sanctuary as the Eco-sensitive Zone. The draft of the Notification was published on 4th February 2014.


7. Notification# S. O. 2172 dated 27th August 2014, notifies an area up to 50 meters around the boundary of the Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary as the Eco-sensitive Zone. The draft of the Notification was published on 25th February 2014.


8. Notification# S. O. 2173 dated 27th August 2014, notifies an area up to 50 meters around the boundary of the Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary as the Eco-sensitive Zone. The draft of the Notification was published on 6th February 2014.

Conservation Zones

• Areylungchok Musk Deer Conservation Zone
• Blue Sheep Conservation
• Yongzokdrak Blue Sheep Conservation Zone
• Tholung-Kishong Conservation Zonation [Gazette Dated: 11/12/06]
• Narsing Conservation Zonation [Gazette Dated: 11/12/06]
• No Change in the Boundaries of Kitam Bird Sanctuary Notification: dt:16/02/05
• Kitam Bird Sanctuary [Gazette: dt-16/02/05]
• Phangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary [Gazette: dt-05/09/02]

The term wildlife encompasses all uncultivated flora and undomesticated fauna. Every species has the right to live and every threatened species must be protected to prevent extinction. Water, wilderness and wildlife are irrevocably interlinked. With mounting industrial and demographic pressures, wilderness areas, which are the richest repositories of wildlife and biodiversity have either shrunk or disappeared their continued existence is crucial for the long term survival of the biodiversity and the ecosystems supporting them. Effective ecosystem conservation is the foundation of long-term ecological and economic stability. Conservation of biodiversity is directly linked with conservation of ecosystems and thus with water and food security. Habitat loss caused by developmental infrastructural developmental projects for short term economic gains undermining ecological security. Read More

Sikkim Himalayan Zoological Park

Situated in the magnificence of Gangtok’s picturesque hill crest, Bulbulay, at altitudes ranging between 6,545-8,152 feet, the Himalayan Zoological Park sprawls over the expanse of a lush virgin forest reserve with an impressive total area of 230 hectares overlooking the majestic beauty of the Khangchendzonga range. It’s varied terrain ranging from steep rocky surfaces to gentle grassy slopes complemented by varying types of foliage offers congenial natural surroundings for many of Sikkim’s indigenous species, hence providing a comfortable and close to nature environment for the inmates to stay immersed in the wild.

Read more on http://gangtokzoo.org

Read more about Khangchendzonga National Park  http://www.knpsikkim.in