Declaration of Eco-Sensitive Zones around 8 PAs in Sikkim

Background: Sikkim covering only 0.2 per cent of the geographical area of the country has tremendous biodiversity and has been identified as one of the Hot-Spot in the Eastern Himalaya. In Sikkim, there are 8 Protected Areas (PAs) which comprise of 1 National Park and 7 Wildlife Sanctuaries that covers 30.77 per cent of the total geographical area of the State.The PAs of the state have incredible significance as they possess a vast biodiversity. 

Therefore, in order to conserve and protect the area around the Protected Areas, 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.