This biosphere reserve is situated in Chitral District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, which borders Afghanistan to the north and west. The Chitral area has spectacular landscapes with 543 glaciers and 31 mountain ranges reaching altitudes of 7,000 m and more above sea level, including three peaks in Tirich Mir. The site sustains the populations of a wide range of near-threatened or vulnerable species, including the Kashmir Markhor (Capra falconeri cashmiriensis) and Siberian Ibex (Capra sibirica), two wild species of goat, the Ladakh Urial (Ovis vignei vignei), a wild species of sheep, and the Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia). The biosphere reserve is home to a population of 210,000, as well as to the unique Chitral culture developed over many millennia across more than a dozen distinct peoples and many languages, including endangered Indo-Aryan languages such as Kalasha and Kalashamum. The natural beauty and cultural diversity of the biosphere reserve make it a popular and growing destination for ecotourism.

The Chitral area has spectacular landscapes with 543 glaciers and 31 mountain ranges. Chitral Bashkar Garmchashma Biosphere Reserve, Pakistan.© Project Director/Conservator Wildlife 10BTTP Wildlife Component Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pershawar

The Chitral area has spectacular landscapes with 543 glaciers and 31 mountain ranges. Chitral Bashkar Garmchashma Biosphere Reserve, Pakistan.© Project Director/Conservator Wildlife 10BTTP Wildlife Component Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pershawar

The Chitral area has spectacular landscapes with 543 glaciers and 31 mountain ranges. Chitral Bashkar Garmchashma Biosphere Reserve, Pakistan.© Project Director/Conservator Wildlife 10BTTP Wildlife Component Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pershawar