Resunga and Madane—both protected forests in the district of Gulmi—are major destinations for birding.

According to conservationists, more than 25 percent of the total 886 bird species found in the country are spotted in Resunga and Madane forests. Of late, the bird species and their numbers have increased in the area owing to the conservation efforts of the locals in collaboration with the authorities concerned.

“A total of 202 bird species were spotted in Resunga forest during the census held in 2015. Now 230 species of birds including some rare species are found in the area. The number of bird species has climbed to 258 from 207 some four years ago,” said Bharat Panthi, assistant project officer of Bird Conservation Nepal.

According to him, locals, various organisations working in the conservation sector and the government authorities have been working in coordination to preserve the biodiversity in the area.

In 2015, the government declared Resunga as a protected forest, including 11 community forests and some part of the national forest. Madane was also declared protected forest last year. Resunga and Madane forest cover 3,100 and 13,761 hectares of land respectively.

Resunga forest lies just a few kilometres above Tamghas, the district headquarters of Gulmi, and Madane is around 50 kilometres west from Tamghas. “We have noticed an increase in the flow of birdwatchers in both Resunga and Madane of late,” said Panthi.

Additionally, Resunga is an important habitat for vultures. Eight different vulture species including red-headed and Egyptian vultures are found homing in tall trees in Resunga.

The hilly forests are suitable habitats for several bird species as there are natural water sources in the area. The division forest office has constructed ponds in the protected forest for preserving biodiversity. “We constructed two ponds in Resunga and one in Madane so that the birds and other animals get easy access to water throughout the year,” said Madan Dhungana, assistant forest officer.

The Division Forest Office and the Bird Conservation Nepal have launched several awareness programmes in the protected forest areas to encourage people’s participation. “Earlier, the locals were nonchalant about the wildlife in the forest. But with the government giving the protected status to the forests, locals have started taking interest in the conservation of biodiversity,” said Junga Bahadur Kunwar, chairman of Resunga Community Forest Users’ Group.