Floral and Faunal Diversity Of Lulusar Dutipatsar National Park Upper Kaghan

lulusar lake

The word “lulu” means long and “sar” means lake so the lulusar means long lake and it is just because lulusar is the longest lake in kaghan valley. The Lulusar Dutipatsar National park is situated in naran valley 350 km away from mansehra , Khyber Pukhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan. At an altitude 11,200 ft (3,410 m) and located in between Ghatti Das and Baisel villages.

In April 2003, the Government of Khyber  Pukhtunkhwa declared an area of 75058 acres surrounding the Lulusar and Dutipatsar lakes as National Park. They have started management interventions in the area. It is the first national park which is established in private land. Lulusar Dutipatsar is famous for mountain scenery and beautiful lakes lush green pasture and meadows. Lulusar Dutipatsar national park is situated in district Mansehra. The area around Lulusar Dutipatsar is under huge pressure of over utilization and exploitation of natural resources.

 

 

Forexample Erosion and pollution had tremendously decreased the serenity and beauty of this area, in addition ill managed tourism activities and overgrazing of livestock has increased day by day. Beside, these Alpine Pastures are habitat of many internationally threatened Wildlife species. To arrest habitat degradation and losing beauty of this natural national asset, kpk Wildlife department declared this lake and its watershed as a National Park. This National Park was declared under section 16 of “kpk Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management Act 1975”.on 28 / 03 / 2003 through the (notification number SO (Technical)/VIII-Gen/2003 Government of NWFP).

 
Lulusar Dutipatsar national park is rich in biological diversity where wide variety of wild animals, birds and migratory birds are found.In Lulusar Dutipatsar national park there are two types of fishes found in the lake. Some of the important fauna of the park  are Himalayan ibex(Capra ibex sibirica), Brown bear(Ursus arctos), Marmot(Marmot flaviventris) snow leopard, (Uncia uncia), Important bird species of Lulusar Dutipatsar national park are Snow cock (Tetragallus himalayensis), Snow partridge (Lerwa lerwa), Himalayan Griffen vulture (Gyps coprotheresand), Himalayan Monal (Lophophorus impejanus) and Falcon(Falco jugger). Some the of the migratory birds come from Siberia to Lulusar Dutipatsar national during autumn and spring season. Important migratory bird species are Pintail (Anas Acuta), common teal (Anas crecca ), mallard (Ans platyrhynchos).

 
People disposed solid waste in the lake, due to which the population of Rainbow trout is decreased similarly people use dynamite in water and electric current causing decrease in trout fish population.

 
The Lulusar National Park is rich in biological diversity diversity where wide variety of flora including herbs, shrubs and medicinal plants are present in all over the national park. The important medicinal plants present in the national park are Aspagol (Plantago ovate) Thandi booti, (Tussilago farfara) Ban kakri (Podophyllun hexandrum) Chikee (Primula macrophylla) Beshmolo (Allium victrialis). Shrubs include, Grecian Juniper (Juniper exelsa), French marisk(Tamarix gallica) Jongi(Betula utilis) Sumbal (Barberis achycantha).Important herbs are  Chutyal (Polygonum paronchioides) Jogi badshah (Bistotrta affinis),Tindi jari (Oxyria digyana,) Banjameri (Thymus linearis ) Patmea(Nepta discolor), Ghorie (Phlomis bracteosa), Peli panja (Mysotis alpestris), Chalandri(Potentilla dryandanthoides).

 
Based on survey the  local people living in the national park area shows that most of the people in national park area were migratory herds , they came to the park during summer season i.e (June –August ) where they graze their livestock on pastures. Which result in the decrease of the flora of the park the Lulusar dutipatsar national park is famous for natural beauty and fresh water springs and lakes. Due to increase pressure of human and livestock the flora of the park is decreasing it is very significant that government should take immediate action on priority basis to conserve the biodiversity of national park.

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