Project Snow Leopard Launched 20 January 2009
Innovative Conservation Project for Indian High Altitudes
Project Operational in Five Himalayan States viz. Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh,
Thiru S. Regupathy said that Project Snow Leopard is a manifestation of the Government of India’s resolve to conserve biodiversity with community participation. To give it the same status of importance in the high altitude as that of Tiger in the terrestrial landscape, the ministry is launching the Project Snow Leopard in the country from today. Releasing a document on Project Snow Leopard here today, Mr Regupathy said that Snow Leopard is globally endangered species as well as the most important flagship species of the mountain region. They are at the apex of ecological pyramid suffer the most on account of relatively smaller population size and also because of man-animal conflict. This situation further gets aggravated by the hostile landscape forming its habitat. Referring to its globally endangered species status as well as the most important flagship species of the mountain region, the Minister informed that Snow Leopard has been included in the list of species under Recovery Programme to be funded through the umbrella scheme of integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats. Giving details of there habitat, Sh S Regupathy said there are more than 26 protected areas in the Himalayan landscape where snow leopard is reported. However, areas outside protected areas are equally important for a long range species like Snow Leopard.
Considering these facts, Sh Regupathy added that
The biodiversity of the Himalayans includes at least 350 species of mammals, 1200 species of birds, species of amphibians and reptiles, and numerous plants including many with medicinal properties. Over 335 species of wild relatives of cultivated crops are also found in the region. There are numerous biologically important wetlands that form breeding grounds for waterfowl. These areas also provide vital ecosystem services that are important for the dense human populations downstream and in the Indo-Gengetic plans.
The project will be operational in five Himalayan States viz. Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh,
The project stresses on a landscape approach to conservation wherein smaller core zones with relatively conservation values will be identified and conserved with support and the larger landscape will be managed in such a way that it allows necessary development benefits to the local communities. The project thus places greater importance to careful and knowledge-based management planning of the landscapes. The adaptive management planning will involve participation of all key stakeholders so that action is taken by incorporating local wisdom and support. For facilitating effective planning and action, the project will set up enabling administrative mechanisms from the village duster level to the Central Government. At the Central level, a Steering Committee chaired by Director General of Forests & Special Secretary to the Government of India will help guide the project. Each State will have a State Snow Leopard Conservation Society that will coordinate work by the Landscape-level Implementation Committees, which in turn will coordinate work by the village Wildlife Conservation Committees.
The Project Snow Leopard is an Innovative project that would help to arrest species declines in the Indian high altitudes and would lead to conservation based on sound scientific plans and local support. Species such as Snow Leopard, Asiatic Ibex, Tibetan Argali, Ladakh Urial, Chiru, Takin, Serow and Musk Deer will particularly benefit from this project.
http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=46855
It is a momment to rejoice for all wildlife lovers &conservationists in perticular and inhabitants of Trans-Himalayan and Himalayan region for launching of ambitious”The Project Snow Leopard”.It will provide a common platform and convergence for the all concerned who actually are working for the restoration of dwindling population of shy,solitary and beautiful snow leopard,its Habitat and prey species apart from many medicinal plants.People of study area should be involved actively in all major activities those are helpful to study the Species and its Habitat & prey base since most of the study area remains snowbound and local inhabitant are great source of vital informations.Help of Shepherd with migratory livestock visiting distant area could be of great value.
SLN member Yash Veer Bhatnagar shared this children’s article about Project Snow Leopard that was published in a supplement of the reputed national daily, “The Hindu”. To view photos, please follow the link below.
http://www.hinduonnet.com/yw/2009/02/03/stories/2009020350580100.htm
Project: Grey Ghost
PANKAJ SEKHSARIA
Destruction of habitat, poaching and retaliatory killings by shepherds have pushed the survival of the snow leopard tothe brink. But with the launching of Project Snow Leopard, there is hope.
Thick grey coloured fur that is marked with rosettes and broken spot markings keeps itwarm and helps it blendeasily with the vastmountain-scape
The upper reaches of the Himalayas have some of the most rugged and hostile regions on the surface of the earth. Mountain ridges, rocky outcrops and inhospitable expanses dominate the landscape that is characterised by extreme cold and harsh conditions. Life is tough and only the best can survive. And one among the best here is an incredibly beautiful creature, the snow leopard – an animal who many know as the “Grey Ghost of the Mountains”.
Big question: Who’s invading my territory?
There are many striking features about this animal. Thick grey coloured fur that is marked with rosettes and broken spot markings keeps it warm and helps it blend easily with the vast mountain-scape; short limbs and powerful paws help it manoeuvre and hunt efficiently and a long tail that the animal uses to keep its nose warm and also for balancing itself on the steep terrain. At about a metre in length, the snow leopard’s tail is about as much as the rest of the animal’s body.
Lurking danger
The snow leopard is a very well adapted apex predator of its ecosystem, but all is not well for this unique animal. Destruction of its habitat, poaching for its beautiful fur coat and retaliatory killings by shepherds who lose their cattle to it are rapidly pushing it to the edge. Though the habitat of the snow leopard is spread over about two million sq. km in Central Asia and the Himalayan region, their total numbers worldwide are estimated to be only between 5000 and 7000 animals.
India is one of the important countries for the snow leopard and it is estimated that we have between 200 to 600 animals that are found in the five range states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. There have been a number of researchers and organisations that have been working in India to ensure the well-being of these threatened animals. Interesting work has been on to study its behaviour, to understand the major threats and importantly to engage with local communities to make them partners in snow leopard conservation efforts through environment education, ecotourism initiatives and methods to reduce livestock loss.
The government has also promised substantial financial resources and while this is a good starting point, it is very important that the project is taken forward well. The grey ghost that walks, may otherwise become just memories and images
There has also been a long-standing demand that the Government of India take a holistic view of the situation and institute a programme that approaches snow leopard conservation in an integrated manner. After many false starts, it seems now, this is finally beginning to happen. In January 2009, the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) announced the launching of Project Snow Leopard, an initiative for strengthening wildlife conservation in the Himalayan high altitude regions in general and for the `grey ghost’ in particular. It will be treated on a par with other flagship programmes like the Project Tiger and Project Elephant and executed in collaboration with two of India’s premier wildlife research organisations, the Dehradun based Wildlife Institute of India and Mysore based Nature Conservation Foundation. An important dimension is the acceptance that in snow leopard country wildlife presence overlaps in a major way with human use and conservation will be successful only if local communities are made partners in the effort.
Project Snow Leopard launched to save the species
News Agency of Kashmir 2/28/2009 7:00:27 PM
Jammu, Feb 28(NAK): An amount of Rs 1.26 crore has been earmarked by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, under the current annual plan for project snow leopard in the State of Jammu and Kashmir. The project not restricted to the Protected Areas (National Parks and Wild Life Sanctuaries) will extend all over the landscape to be implemented with the active involvement of local communities. Besides, the implementation of the project gives an opportunity for the conservation of this unique species along with the rich biodiversity in Himalayan and trans Himalayan Zone.
Snow Leopard is globally endangered species as well as the most important flagship species of the mountain regions of J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Sikkim and Arunanchal Pradesh.
The range of distribution of snow leopard in the country is generally close to the international borders. Poached for their attractive fur, organs and bones there are roughly just 4500 to 7000 snow leopards left in the World and India, home to approximately 400 to 600 snow leopards, of which 60 percent population is found in Ladakh alone. These are nearly 26 protected areas in the Himalayan landscape where snow leopard is reported. However, areas outside protected areas are equally important for conservation of this species.
With the launching of the project snow leopard in the state of Jammu and Kashmir the works to be taken up include habit improvement through pasture developments, construction of nature interpretation centre, purchase of patrolling vehicles, purchase of camera troops, binoculars, high resolution digital camera, survey and census equipment, construction of coral pens, equipment for handling human-wild animal conflicts micro level planning eco-development activities involving promotion of alternative livelihoods for the forest dependent local people, public awareness activities, compensation package for livestock depredation and crop damage.
Kashmir moves to save endangered snow leopards
Mon Mar 2, 2009 4:41pm IST
SRINAGAR (Reuters Life!) – Authorities in Kashmir have launched a special project to save endangered snow leopards, and plan to spend nearly half a million dollars to train people and buy equipment to curb poaching and habitat loss.
“Project Snow Leopard” was launched at the weekend to protect the elusive cats that roam the icy wilderness of the Himalayan region. About 60 percent of India’s estimated 600 snow leopards are in Kashmir at an altitude of about 3000 metres (9,800 feet).
Snow leopards, whose pelts command a high price on the international black market, are a protected species. But wildlife groups say their numbers are dwindling due to habitat loss and poaching by herdsmen.
The solitary cats are native to the remote mountain ranges of central and southern Asia, where their population is estimated to be around 7,000.
India has the third-largest population of snow leopards after China and Mongolia.
“With the launching of the project, the works to be taken up include habitat improvement through pasture development and construction of a nature interpretation centre,” a government statement said.
“The conservation project also includes the promotion of alternative livelihoods for the forest dependent local people, and public awareness activities,” it said.
Weighing up to 75 kg (165 lb), the snow leopard has a thick, soft grey coat with ringed black spots to help it camouflage itself among rocks.
Wildlife officials said about half a million dollars would be spent on buying patrol vehicles, powerful cameras and binoculars among other things. Forest officials and staff would also receive special training.
(For the latest Reuters news on India see in.reuters.com, for blogs see blogs.reuters.com/in/)
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Article from The Daily Rising Kashmir, 3 March 2009:
Project Snow Leopard: Activists call for active engagement of locals
Shabir Dar
Srinagar, March 03: With State wild life department spending Rs 1.26 crores for conservation and protection of Snow Leopard in Ladakh, wild life activists maintain that authorities should actively involve local population in the project.
Earlier, with the declaration of Snow Leopard as endangered specie by International Conservation Union (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Animals, state government in collaboration with Union Environment and Forest ministry started a conservation programme ‘Project Snow Leopard’ from Ladakh on February 28.
The project is being funded under Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats and Rs 1.26 crores have been sanctioned for the project.
“We have launched this project and its main feature is that it is not restricted to Protected Areas (National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries) but extends all over the landscape,” said chief wild life warden, A K Shrivastava.
He said the money sanctioned by union government for the project would be spent on habitat improvement through pasture developments, construction of Nature Interpretation Centre, purchase of patrolling vehicles, purchase of camera traps, binoculars, high resolution digital camera, survey and census equipments, construction of coral pens, equipments for handling human-wild animal conflicts, micro-level planning and eco-development activities.
But wild life activists maintain that under such a programme, there is less role of local population which lives around the habitat of Snow Leopard.
“Government should first aware the local population through awareness campaign. People should be trained fully about the conservation and protection of snow leopard,” said wild life activist Nadeem Qadri.
Another wild life activist Shabir Rasool said, “Government should actively rope in the local population in the programme.”
Meanwhile, wild life warden maintained that Snow Leopard Project is to be implemented with active involvement of local communities.
“Snow Leopard has listed in the endangered category partly on account of their relatively smaller population size and also because of the man-animal conflicts. This situation gets aggravated by the hostile landscape forming its habitat. But now in its conservation project we will be seeking participation of people in it,” Srivastava said.
“We have promotion of alternative livelihoods for the forest dependent local people, public awareness activities, compensation package for livestock depredation and crop damage,” he added.
Besides Jammu and Kashmir, Snow leopard is also found in the mountain regions of Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Sikkim and Arunanchal Pradesh. It is having the same status of importance in the high altitude as that of Tiger in the terrestrial landscape.
The range of distribution of snow leopards is generally close to international borders some of which are also conflict zones with massive presence of military and paramilitary forces.
Throughout the globe snow leopard is being poached for their attractive fur, organs and bones. Its left over population in globe is roughly 4500 to 7000 and India is home to approximately 400 to 600 snow leopards, of which 60% population are found in Ladakh alone, wild life officials said.
There are nearly 26 protected areas in the Himalayan landscape where snow leopard is reported. However, areas outside protected areas are equally important for conservation of this species.
Wild life activists maintain that implementation of Project Snow Leopard gives an opportunity for conservation of this unique species along with rich biodiversity in Himalayan and Trans- Himalayan zones.
“But it would require active involvement of local communities, capacity building of staff, developing grazing and management polices along with awareness initiatives,” Rasool said.
http://www.risingkashmir.com/?option=com_content&task=view&id=11069