Dachigam National Park Secures Top Rank in National Evaluation for Protected Areas
Srinagar, 28 June 2025: The Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir has achieved a landmark distinction as Dachigam National Park has secured the highest Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) score in India in the latest cycle conducted by the Wildlife Institute of India under the aegis of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India.
Dachigam topped the list of 438 National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries assessed across the country, scoring a remarkable 92.97%, a testimony to the park’s outstanding conservation standards, adaptive management, and ecological protection protocols.
This recognition is a tribute to the tireless efforts of the officials and frontline staff of the Department of Wildlife Protection, Jammu & Kashmir, who have worked with exceptional dedication and professionalism under the visionary leadership of senior officers.
The park’s success in areas like habitat improvement, anti-poaching vigilance, eco-development, and scientific monitoring has been consistently documented and lauded by national evaluators.Significantly, Dachigam remains the last bastion of the critically endangered Hangul (Cervus hanglu hanglu) — the Kashmir stag — found nowhere else in the world. Recent population estimation exercises indicate a positive trend in Hangul numbers, offering renewed hope for the survival of this iconic species.
This achievement reinforces the strategic role of Dachigam National Park in India’s biodiversity framework and highlights the need for continued investments in people-centric conservation, scientific research, and landscape-based planning in the Kashmir Himalayas.
Issued by:Department of Wildlife Protection
Government of Jammu & Kashmir
