| Ayubia National Park ایوبیہ ملی باغ | |
|---|---|
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape) | |
 A view of Ayus pine forests | |
  | |
| Location | Abbottabad, Pakistan |
| Coordinates | 33°51′54.83″N73°8′19.57″E / 33.8652306°N 73.1387694°E /33.8652306; 73.1387694 |
| Area | 33.12 km2 (12.79 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 8,000 ft (2,400 m) |
| Established | 1984 |
| Visitors | 250000 |
| Governing body | Wildlife and Parks Department, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa |
Ayubia National Park (Urdu:ایوبیہ ملی باغ), also known asAyubia (Urdu:ایوبیہ), is aprotected area of 3,312 hectares (33 km2)[1] located inAbbottabad District,Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province,Pakistan. It was declared a national park in 1984.[2] Ayubia was named afterMuhammad Ayub Khan (1958–1969), secondPresident of Pakistan. The area supportstemperate coniferous forest andtemperate broadleaf and mixed forest ecoregionhabitats, with an average elevation of 8,000 feet (2,400 m) above sea level.[3]Ayubia National Park is surrounded by seven major villages and three small towns ofThandiani,Nathiagali andKhanspur.[4] The park has been developed as a resort complex from a combination of four mini resorts ofKhaira Gali,Changla Gali,Khanspur andGhora Dhaka inGalyat.[5] Currently, it is managed by the Wildlife and Parks Department ofGovernment of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Ayubia National Park was established in 1984 in an east corner ofKhyber Pakhtunkhwa province ofPakistan. In 1998 it was expanded form its original size of 1,684 hectares (4,161 acres)[6] or 16.84 km2 (6.50 sq mi) to 3,312 hectares (8,184 acres). Since then it has been managed by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Wildlife Department. The purpose of establishing it was to conserve thetemperate forests. Originally, the park stood at an area of 857 acres (3.47 km2), but in 1998 it was expanded to cover an area of 1,685 acres (6.82 km2).
The total population of Ayubia and surrounding villages as per a 1996 census is 18,097 people living in 2,311 households.
The climate of the park is cool in the summers, but harsh in the winters. While it remains only placidly hot in May and June, the cold sets in when the monsoons come to lash in late July and early August. In the winters cold increases in severity gradually until the west winds bring rains, which eventually turn into snow. The park remains snow-capped through the later part of winters.
The park holds 104 species of plants. The main floral species areCedrus deodara,blue pine,yew,silver fir,horse chestnut andoak. Around 21 plants belonging to 19 families are known for their medicinal properties. Many of these are used in treatment ofjaundice,stomach ulcers,snake bites, internal infections,diabetes,psoriasis and more. Some plants are said to haveanti-carcinogenic effect as well. Also, some are used as biologicalinsecticides andpesticides, mostly due to their insect-repellent nature. TheWorld Wide Fund for Nature has launched anethno-botanical initiative here "to demonstrate the sustainable use of plant resources as a means for protectingbiodiversity.There are 23 mammals, 203 birds and 13 herpto-fauna in the park.Mammals found in the park include:
Some of the Himalayan specialty birds of Ayubia include:
The park has been managed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Wildlife Department under the 1975 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Wildlife Act. The headquarters of the park is atDunga Gali,[8] which is situated at a distance of 50 km fromAbbottabad and 25 km from Murree.
Standing at some 26 kilometers from the tourist hotbed of Murree Hill Station, over 100,000 tourists flock to Ayubia National Park and the places around every year. It is well known for its picnic spots.
This National Park also features the "Pipeline Walking Track" that runs from Ayubia to Nathiagali and is 4 kilometers in length.
Since there are 7 villages and 4 major towns around it, and since this area attracts a very large number of tourists annually, there is a large number of hotels and restaurants around the park. In addition to riding trails, hiking places, picnic spots and motels, there is achairlift in Ayubia that takes the tourists to a nearby summit calledMukeshpuri for a view of the forested hills. Thischairlift was the first recreation facility of its kind inPakistan and is still a major attraction for domestic tourists. The famousPTDC motel is located here.
In September 2023, the park faced a proposed de-notification, a decision contested by wildlife department officials, bio-environmentalists, and legal experts who have labeled it as unlawful. Concerns have been raised that this de-notification is primarily driven by a motive to expand grazing areas for illicit activities, notably timber smuggling. If the de-notification is approved, the organization Galiyat Tahaffuz Movement intends to legally challenge this decision in court.[9]
