About KL-India

Khangchendzonga landscape is one of the seven-transboundary landscapes identified by International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) in the Hindu Kush Himalayas. The landscape is located at the southern stretch of Mount Khangchendzonga, the third highest mountain in the world that spreads across Nepal (eastern part), Indian state of Sikkim and northern parts of west Bengal and further extending to JD national park in Bhutan (in western part).

Khangchendzonga Landscape (KL) represents a highly complex and diversified system in terms of biological, cultural and physical attributes leading to richness of biophysical and life support values ranging well beyond its physical boundaries shared by Bhutan, India and Nepal (N 26°21’40.49” and N 28°7’51.25” latitude and E 87°30’30.67” to E 90°24’31.18” longitude), covering total area of 25,085.8 Km2, sharing 56% by India, 23% by Bhutan, and 21% by Nepal.

The Khangchendzonga Landscape as a whole offers life support systems to over 7.2 million people (87% in India, 11% in Nepal and 2% in Bhutan). The three countries, viz. Bhutan, India and Nepal signatories of CBD, came up to share the transboundary problems and looking jointly for a unique cooperation initiative.

Some of the important and transboundary protected areas include Kangchenjunga Conservation Area (KCA, Nepal-India), Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve (KBR, India-Nepal), Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary (BRS, India-Nepal), Singalila National Park (SNP, India-Nepal), Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary (PWS, India-China-Bhutan), and Toorsa Strict Nature Reserve (TSNR, Bhutan-India).

The Khangchendzonga landscape, a part of one of the 34 ‘biodiversity hotspots’, is one of the biodiversity and culturally richest biomes and recognized as one of the most critical centers of biodiversity in the world.

This entire KL complex represents tremendously rich biodiversity and great cultural diversity; the welfare of the resident communities within landscape and the millions downstream can largely be linked with KL potential for its unique and immensely valuable ecosystem services.

The Indian part of KL covers total area 14,061.7 Km2 along altitudinal gradient, ranging from 40 m in Jalpaiguri district to 8586 m asl of Mt. Khangchendzonga in Sikkim. The KL-India comprises the state of Sikkim, and northern part of West Bengal (district Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri with Alipurduar) along N 26°29’13.56” to N 28°7’51.6” latitude and E 87°59’1.32” to E 89°53’42.96” longitude.