Torsa Strict Nature Reserve or Toorse Nature Reserve is situated in far west Bhutan. It sprawls over 644 sq km and covers two Dzongkhags of Haa and Samtse. It is the only Nature Reserve or protected area in Bhutan that is uninhabited by humans. It was established to protect the temperate forests in the westernmost region of the country that includes broadleaf forests, and water bodies there including the small lakes of Sinchulungpa. This Nature Reserve is established at the place where River Toorsa enters Bhutan from Tibet and it is bordered by China in the West. It is considered an important bird area of Bhutan.
Torsa Strict Nature Reserve is known for the research on the biodiversity of the protected area, in the western regions of Ha district and the Paro district. Besides the varied landscapes and ecosystems, there is a military security area in this Nature Reserve near the Chinese border. The altitude ranges from 2000 m to 5000 m in the Toorsa Nature Reserve and the forests include broadleaf evergreen forests, broadleaf deciduous forests, coniferous forests, tropical grasslands, alpine and sub-alpine grasslands and scrub and shrub lands. The bird species found here include chestnut-breasted partridge, wood snipe and the endangered rufous-necked hornbill.
