Naitwar, a typical Rawain settlement, sprawling on the either sides of the river Tons, serves as the entry point for the Sanctuary and National park. This place is well connected by road with Dehradun, Rishikesh, Chakrata and Uttarakashi. Most spectacular, popular, and convenient trek to the P.A., is the one from Shankri to Hari-ki-dun, that presents a complete overview on the P.A., environment. The trek passes across cultural focals, agricultural areas and densely forested tracts with rich wildlife, rivers and mountain streams and waterfalls, to finally terminate into the vast and beautiful Hari-ki-dun meadow which makes a buffer zone between the timberline and the perpetually snow bound area. Those interested in high Himalayan environment, can further extend their ‘trekking’ from Har-ki-dun to many destinations like, Sangla Valley, Harshil, Kharasali-Yamunotri, Barkot etc. In each case, it involves crossing over of one or the other high pass. Besides Hata Peak, Black Peak, Swargarohini, and Banderpunch can also be conveniently approached from here. Yet another area of major tourist interest is Jakhol- Bhararsar environ. Geo-morphologically, the P.A., area falls exclusively within the middle and great Himalayan zone of Garhwal. The terrain is highly rugged and mountainous, widely intersected by rivers, streams and seasonal nallahs. The Supin and Rupin are the two prominent river systems which meet at Naitwar to form the Tons-the main tributary of the Yammuna. The P.A. is also widely criss- crossed by a series of large and small ridges, of which three are prominent. Incidentally, all the three ridges originate from Dhauladhar range. One separates the watersheds of the Rupin and the Supin. The other divides the watersheds of the Supin and the Panchgain river. The third one moves in south- easterly direction to Banderpunch through Swargarohini and then turns towards easterly direction reaching upto kedarkantha. Its southern part separates the catchment of the Tons with the Yammuna. Two other ridges originate from Changsil, one going towards kotigad and the other moving in south eastern direction to ultimately descend down at Naitwar. Altitude wise, Naitwar and Banderpunch, with a height of 1410 mt. and 6317mt, respectively, are the lowest and highest points within the P.A. Broadly speaking, the higher zones of this reserve are under perpetual snows, are are occupied by block mountains, glaciers, moraines, and sloping or undulating meadows. Lower reaches are dominated by dense forests-mainly coniferous in nature, with occasional stretches of unproductive

The gentler warmer aspects in the temperate belt of this tract have either been converted into agriculture and habitation or transformed into secondary scrubs, anthropogenic grasslands owing to removal of forests. The sub-alpine forests in the area have undergone maximum degradation and fragmentation due to anthropogenic activities such as collection of non-timber forest produce such as bamboo, medicinal and aromatic plants (until recently, before the sanctuary rules were made more strict), livestock grazing and camping by the shepherds. Grazing and trampling of saplings by livestock is the biggest threat to regeneration of vegetation in the entire tract. To meet the fodder demand systematic lopping of various broadleaved tree species, especially moru and Kharsu oaks is done during winter and spring seasons. Owing to high seasonality and low primary productivity, the area supports relatively low ungulatet herbivore biomass. Furthermore, with the increase in the biomass of domestic livestock and resultant degradation of habitat the wild ungulates have suffered competitive exclusion. Uncontrolled fires have caused tremendous damage to the biodiversity of the area. The migratory herders and local people deliberately set fire on the mountain slopes to maximize the growth of grasses. The hill slopes are generally burnt during two seasons- one during winter when shepherds descend from the higher altitudes and second during May-June which is much more damaging. Recurrent fire in the area has led to preponderance of grassy slopes and scattered pine while broadleaf species such as oaks have vanished. Other impacts of fire in the area include: change in species composition, loss of micro-flora and fauna, loss of regeneration of fire sensitive species, loss of birds, reptile eggs and young ones and loss of insects due to break in their life cycles, soil erosion resulting in landslides and invasion by alien invasive species such as Eupatorium adenophorum, soil desiccation and increased run-off and loss of primary productivity.

Chronic stress in the habitat leads to decline in primary productivity and failure of regeneration of various timer and multi- purpose. There are frequent cases of wild animals (e.g., Himalayan black bear, porcupine, wild pigs, langur and macaques) getting into villages to raid orchards and food crops. This is largely due to lack of adequate natural food available to these wild animals in the forests. There have been increasing complaints about crop damage by wild animals by the local communities. By and large it can be assuemed that habitat has considerably deteriorated by acute biotic pressure imposed by the local communities.