The Panchase Mountain Ecological Region (PMER) is a unique and rich ecosystem located in Nepal’s Mid Hill region and comprises the 17 Village Development Committees (VDCs) of Kaski, Parbat and Syangja districts. The PMER is part of the country’s Western Region (WR). With enchanting landscapes that offer spectacular views of Himalayan peaks including Annapurna, Dhaulagiri and Machhapuchhre, it is home to a diverse range of human cultures. Despite being an important ecological zone and one of the few ecosystems with both low and highland vegetation of distinct ecotype, the PMER has never been a priority for national environmental conservation. The core area of the PMER has been declared a protected forest and is dominated by the subtropical Schima-Castanopsis tree species and the lower temperate Oak-Laurel forest ranging in altitude from 1 450 to 2 589m above sea level. It is one of the few ecosystems where lowland and highland vegetation with distinct ecotypes can be found in the same geographical area. It is home to about 62 000 people living in an area of about 284km2 who are dependent on agriculture, forestry and ecotourism for a livelihood.
