Editing Manaslu (section)

== Ecosystem ==
===Fauna===
Unlike many other regions, this valley is a sanctuary to many highly endangered animals, including [[snow leopard]]s and [[red panda]]s. Other mammals include [[lynx]], [[Asian black bear]], grey wolf, [[dhole]], [[Assam macaque]], [[Himalayan musk deer]], [[Himalayan blue sheep|blue sheep]], [[Himalayan tahr]], [[mainland serow]], [[Himalayan goral]], [[woolly hare]], [[horseshoe bat]], [[Himalayan mouse-hare]], and [[black-lipped pika]].<ref name="Project Proposal for Manaslu Conservation Area">{{cite book |last=Shah |first=Karan Bahadur |title=Project Proposal for Manaslu Conservation Area |display-authors=etal}}</ref> Over 110 species of birds, 33 mammals, 11 butterflies, and 3 reptiles have been recorded.<ref name=conserve/><ref name=diversity/> Conservation of wildlife in the area has been achieved by monks of the monasteries in the area by putting a hunting ban in place. This action has helped wildlife to prosper. The area is now an important habitat for the snow leopard, grey wolf, musk deer, blue sheep, and the Himalayan tahr.<ref name=mcap/>

Some 110 species of birds have been identified in the area, including golden eagle, [[Eurasian griffon]], [[Himalayan griffon]], [[blood pheasant|blood]], [[impeyan pheasant|impeyan]], [[kalij pheasant|kalij]] and [[koklass pheasant]]s, Himalayan and Tibetan [[snow cock]]s, and the [[crimson horned pheasant]].<ref name="Project Proposal for Manaslu Conservation Area"/>

===Vegetation===
Three main categories of vegetation have been identified in the area. These are categorized on the basis of altitude as low hill, middle mountain, and high mountain types with exclusive types of dominant forests and other associated species. The types of vegetation, however, tend to overlap the adjoining ones at places. Depending on the microclimate and other aspects, an overlap of vegetation is noticed in adjacent areas. However, the forest types are fairly well-defined. The flora in different forest types also does not show much variation. The valley basin has a rich [[ecotone]] diversity and includes nineteen different types of forests, most prominently [[rhododendron]], and also Himalayan blue pine, which is flanked by [[Ganesh Himal]] and the Sringi ranges. Medicinal herbs and aromatic plants have also been recorded in different forest types and adjoining vegetation. Overall, the presence of 19 types of forests and other forms of dominant vegetation have been recorded from the area.<ref name=conserve/><ref name=diversity/> An estimated 1,500–2,000 plant species grow here.<ref name="Project Proposal for Manaslu Conservation Area"/>