1 National parks
1.1 Definition
According to the Northern Areas Wildlife Preservation Act 1975, section 2(k), National Park means any comparatively large area of outstanding scenic merit and natural or cultural interest with the primary objective of protection and preservation of scenery, flora and fauna in the natural state to which access for public recreation, education and research may be allowed.

1.2 Declaration of National Park
According to section 5 of the above Act the provincial government may, by a notification, declare any area to be a National Park, Game Reserve or Wildlife Sanctuary and may alter the boundaries of such areas from time to time as deemed necessary. These areas provide varying degrees of protection to wildlife and their habitat.

1.3 Acts prohibited in a National Park
According to section 7 of the Wildlife Act 1975, the following acts are prohibited in a national park:
• Reside in a national park.
• Hunt, kill or capture, or be found in circumstances showing that it is an intention to hunt, kill or capture any animal in a national park.
• Carry a firearm or other hunting weapon in a national park.
• Introduce any domestic animal or allow a domestic animal to stray into a national park. Any domestic animal found in a national park may be destroyed or seized by, or on the orders of an authorized officer and shall be disposed of in accordance with the instructions of the Chief Wildlife warden.
• Cause any bush or grass fire (except at designated places) or cut, destroy, injure or damage in any way any tree or other vegetation in a national park.
• Cultivate any land in a national park.
• Pollute any water in, or flowing into, a national park.
• Introduce any exotic animal or plant into a national park.
Pick any flower or remove any plant, animal, stone, or other natural object from a national park.
• Write on, cut, carve, or other wise deface any building, mountain, notice board, tree rock or other object, whether natural or otherwise, in a national park.
• Fail to comply with the lawful orders of an officer while in a national park.
• Discard any paper, tin, bottle, or litter of any sort in the national park except in a receptacle provide for the purpose.

1.4 National parks of Northern Areas
This section lists and describes the national parks of this region.

Table . National Parks of Northern Areas

HWF=Himalayan Wildlife Foundation
Source: Virk, A.T., K.M. Sheikh and A.H. Marwat. 2003. NASSD Background paper on Biodiversity, IUCN Pakistan.

1.5 Khunjerab National Park (KNP)
KNP was the first national park in Northern Areas established on April 29th, 1975. It occupies 2,269 sq. km. in upper Hunza along the Chinese border, about 269 km away from Gilgit town. Khunjerab consists of two words “khoon” and ”jerab” respectively meaning khan and nallah in Wakhi dialect. It is said that this nallah was once under the occupation of mountain nomadic tribes and the Kirgiz (Ahmed, 1996).

A ruler of Hunza (1803-34) Mir Salim Khan frequently raided these nomadic tribes, looted their properties and took the men and women in slavery until they were finally compelled to leave this area forever. After taking over this land, the Mir returned to his summer pastures and employed professional shepherds known as “doghdars” and also started agriculture in the area by engaging supervisors known as “yarpas.”

Due to lack of resources, little development of park infrastructure took place until 1986 when a Park Directorate of KNP was established in the Northern Areas Forest Department. The main objectives of this park are protection, multiplication and propagation of rare and endangered species like Marco Polo sheep, blue sheep, Himalayan ibex, Tibetan red fox, wolf and snow leopard and protection of their habitat in a near undisturbed state.

With the construction of the Karakoram Highway through the Khunjerab pass and establishment of Taxkorgan National Reserve across the border in 1984, the possibility of an international “Peace Park” was created, which raised the significance of KNP.
Location
KNP is located between 35-37 N and 73-75 E. It is one of the highest parks in the world, most of it above 4000 meters (13,000 ft) in elevation.
Altitude
Ranges from 3660 meters (12,078 ft) at the entrance to the park to over 6000 meters (19,800 ft) in certain places. The Khunjerab Pass to China via the Karakoram Highway is at 4934 meters (16,282 ft).
Physical features
Khunjerab and Shimshal valleys are narrow and bounded by rugged mountains, barren cliffs and scree slopes but open out into plateaus at their heads. The main Khunjerab, Shimshal and Gujerab rivers flow westward and drain into the Hunza River.

All the waterways are perennial but the upper reaches freeze during winter. There is a variety of sedimentary, metamorphic and igneous rocks. Soils are generally shallow and immature, containing fragments of rocky material, drifted sand and clay. They are formed mainly by the deposition of glacial material carried down in valley.

Rivers and streams become blocked by debris causing subsequent blocking but eventually the water breaks through these blockades. The nearest meteorological station is at Misgar which is in a separate valley to the southeast. However there is also an automated weather station put up by WAPDA at the Khunjerab pass itself (M. Akram, Range Forest Officer, Khunjerab National Park, pers. comm.)
Wildlife in KNP

Table . Wildlife census report of KNP for the year 2004

Source: M. Akram, Range Forest Officer, Khunjerab National Park.

Table . Main causes of decline of wildlife population (large animals) in KNP

Source: Ali, A. 1998. Status of large mammal species in Khunjerab National Park. M.Sc. thesis. Pakistan Forest Institute, Peshawar.

Table . Reasons for increase of population of large mammals in KNP

Source: Ali, A. 1998. Status of large mammal species in Khunjerab National Park. M.Sc. thesis. Pakistan Forest Institute, Peshawar.

Table . Response of concerned communities towards wildlife conservation in KNP

Source: Ali, A. 1998. Status of large mammal species in Khunjerab National Park. M.Sc. thesis. Pakistan Forest Institute, Peshawar.

The table shows that the majority of the people of adjacent villages of KNP are in favor of wildlife conservation. Although Khunjerab Village Organization (KVO) was established in1992 for the conservation and protection of wildlife species surrounding the KNP, the WWF and IUCN are also initiating activities in the area. The IUCN trained porters and wildlife guides from adjacent villages. The WWF prepared a management plan for the park in 1993.

1.6 Deosai National Park
A PC-1 was prepared by the Northern Areas Forest Department called “Establishment of Wilderness Park in Deosai Plains, Baltistan” in 1993-94 (Tahir, 1993) .The project was initially launched for a period of five years 1993-98. The main objectives were:
Long term objectives

i- Proper survey and scientific investigation of Deosai and Satpara will be undertaken through wildlife specialists and experts. This survey will include enumeration of wildlife and identification of existing vegetation, as a basis for compiling a management plan for future implementation.

ii- Emphasis will be given to conserve the natural heritage of this wilderness area and measures will be adopted to improve the exiting habitat without altering its natural status. One measure will be to restrict human interference in the geomorphological features and scenic value of the region.

iii- Measures will be adopted to create drinking water facilities and to provide fodder on sustainable basis to the local people.

iv- With the implementation of this project, the existing flora and fauna would be protected more effectively and opportunities for scientific management/research will be enhanced.
v- All unlawful activities will be stopped and there will be no human interference, thus attracting naturalists, scientists ad wildlife lovers.
Short term objectives

• Development of infrastructure
• Recruitment of field staff

The Deosai area of the wilderness park has no permanent habitation. Some nomads do come to Deosai with their livestock from Kashmir for a short period in the summer season and go back in winter. An area of 2,400 sq. miles has been assessed to be covered by project parameters, which would be further confirmed during the execution of the plan. The Satpara area of this wilderness has a permanent population of 2,118 and a livestock of 5,286 animals. About 74 people along with their approximately 5,193 livestock go to the high range lands during summer but stay away from the Deosai area.