Excelsior Correspondent
LEH, Oct 12: Department of Wildlife Protection and (United Nations Development Programme) UNDP organised a daylong workshop on Secure Himalaya Ladakh.
Secure Himalaya Ladakh is implemented by Government of India and UNDP supported by Global Environment Facility (GEF) Project.
The workshop was attended by Hill Council Chairman Gyal P.Wangyal, Deputy Chairman Tsering Sandup, Executive Councilor Konchok Stanzin, Deputy Commissioner Leh Sachin Kumar, Resident Representative UNDP India Shoko Noda, Joint Secretary (Ministry of Environment & Forest MeEF & CC GoI Jigmet Takp, Soumitra Dasgupta Inspector General of Forest MoEF & CC, Regional Wildlife Warden Ladakh Sajid Sultan, Secure Himalaya Project Associate Siddharth Nair, Preetpal Singh (Chief Conservator of Forests) CCF Ladakh, J&K Chief Wildlife Warden Suresh Gupta and resident of Changthan region.
“Conservation of Ladakh’s fragile ecosystem is very challenging at this altitude but ancestor since time immemorial is living harmoniously with this harsh environment and wildlife for centuries and we must continue this lifestyle and pass on our posterity’, said Gyal, adding that increasing tourism influx and industrialization pose a great threat to the fragile environment so need of the hour is to think seriously about factors affecting the environment, ecosystem and wildlife of Ladakh.
Speaking about the journey of conservation in Ladakh, Joint Secretary (Ministry of Environment & Forest MeEF & CC GoI Jigmet Takpa said that Ladakh has unique biodiversity where man and wildlife live harmoniously in same ecosystem. Terming it as prestigious projects in Himalaya, Takpa said that lots of innovation has done in Ladakh successfully and same will be replicated in rest of the Himalayas. He said that nature has kept Ladakh very high, dry and cold but it has rich biodiversity including many endemic species. He added that conservation needs closure everywhere but here in Ladakh human being and wildlife coexistence and live in harmony and it is called landscape level of conservation.
Resident Representative UNDP India Shoko Noda said that UNDP is focusing on enhancing conservation based livelihood especially those empowers women and youth.
Under the Secure Himalaya Ladakh project a vehicle for rescue and antipoaching activities was inaugurated by the dignitaries. Documentary film was screened on biodiversity of Ladakh.
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