Pleione 7(1): 39 - 45. 2013. ISSN: 0973-9467 © East Himalayan Society for Spermatophyte Taxonomy Survey for the Orchids of Shivapuri National Park in Kathmandu (Nepal) and their conservation Lokesh R. Shakya and Devendra M. Bajracharya Department of Botany, Amrit Campus, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal [Received revised 06.05.2013; Accepted 16.05.2013] Abstract Shivapuri National Park is country’s ninth national park established in 2002. The landscape is mountainous and is situated on the northern fringe of Kathmandu Valley, the capital city of Nepal. It covers an area of 144 sq km. The altitude ranges from 1366m to 2732 m. About 80% of this area is covered with good natural forest. At the lower belt the forest is dominated by Schima wallichii and Castonopsis indica. At the upper belt the forest is dominated by Quercus glauca, Q. semicarpifolia and Rhododendron arboreum. Shivapuri National Park is rich in orchids. Buchanan-Hamilton (1802-1803) and Wallich (1820-1821) is pioneer plant explorer in Nepal. They collected many plants from Nepal especially from Kathmandu Valley. David Don (1825) described 17 new species of orchids from Shivapuri National Park based on their collection in the book “Prodromus Florae Nepalensis”. Present survey of Shivapuri National Park Area recorded 77 species of orchids. The status of every species of orchids is recorded from the fieldwork. The conservation includes both in situ and ex situ. The ex situ conservation and propagation of threatened species has been carried out at Amrit Campus, Kathmandu. Key words: orchid survey, Shivapuri National Park, conservation INTRODUCTION Shivapuri National Park (SNP) is country’s ninth national park established in 2002. It lies within three districts of Nepal’s Central Development region including the northern part of Kathmandu districts, the southern part of Nuwakot and western part of Sindupalchowk. It lies between 27º45’– 27º52’N latitudes and 85º15’– 85 º 30’ E longitudes. The water source for SNP is the two major river systems, the Bagmati and Bisnumati. The landscape is mountainous and is situated on the northern fringe of Kathmandu Valley, 13 kilometers (eight miles) from the capital city of Nepal. It covers an area of 144 sq km. The altitude ranges from 1366 m to 2732 m amsl. About 80 % of this area is covered with good natural forests. At the lower belt, the forest is dominated by Schima wallichii and Castanopsis indica. At the upper belt the forest is dominated by Quercus glauca, Q. semicarpifolia and Rhododendron arboreum. The climate of Shivapuri area ranges from subtropical to warm temperate. The park is a spiritually significant place for the popular shrines and meditation centers in the natural surroundings. The park consists of several religious and cultural heritage sites