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Ambitious plans to conserve Himalayan Snow Leopards face fund crunch
GANGTOK, May 13: An ambitious
project to protect one of the Himalayas’ big cats has failed to take off
from the drawing board.
'Project Snow Leopard', the Union Environment Ministry's innovative
conservation project for the high altitude Himalayan landscape, may not see
the light of the day, at least not in this financial year.
This Project has been stalled by a year with the Planning Commission not
allocating any money for it in the 2007-08 Budget.
The Project envisages using the elusive and endangered
high-altitude cat, of which 200-600 specimens are estimated remaining in the
wild in India, as a flagship species to work with communities on
conservation of the habitat in the higher ranges of five States – Sikkim,
Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh.
The Environment Ministry has set up a steering committee, including senior
officials from the Centre as well as the five States, to give impetus to the
Project. But the Planning Commission, working to revamp the allocation
process under the 11th Five-Year Plan for the environment ministry, has put
on hold most new projects that were proposed. 'Project Snow Leopard' is one
of the casualties. The PSL committee has reportedly placed a budget demand
of Rs. 30 crores for putting into operation the Project in 2007-08.
But now with the Planning Commission holding back money for the Project, the
work done by the Environment Ministry over several years along with the
State governments and research organisations will not get translated into
action at the field level this year.
Project Snow Leopard is a conservation initiative modelled after Project
Tiger and Project Elephant. Its purpose is to preserve the ecosystem to
which snow leopards belong through cooperating with local residents,
governments, scientists, and NGOs.
This news has worried conservationists. Snow leopards today are globally
threatened with extinction. “The Himalaya – the highest and the most
imposing of the mountain ranges on earth and a global biodiversity hotspot
covers nearly 4,00,000 km2, about 12 percent of India’s geographical area.
The high altitudes of the Himalaya (above 10,000 ft) harbour a unique and
rich but highly threatened wildlife assemblage, which includes large
carnivores such as snow leopard, Himalayan brown bear, Tibetan gazelle,
Tibetan antelope, Black-necked crane,” says Usha Lachungpa, Senior Research
Officer, Forest, Environment & Wildlife Department. “Sikkim has a good
presence of Snow Leopards but the exact number is uncertain as there has
been no census conducted on these beautiful cats owing to topography and
man-made boundaries,” she adds.
Ms. Lachungpa cities many examples of how the existence of Snow Leopards is
threatened today. “Increasing population coupled with the mainstream
development process has influenced the patterns of farming, transport,
communication and market relationship. This has brought about a change in
the traditional lifestyles of the Himalayan people which has in turn,
affected the ecological balance.”
As a consequence, several instances of apparent conflict between people and
wildlife have been observed in the high altitudes. This conflict is
manifested in the form of retaliatory hunting of carnivores such as snow
leopard, or keeping wild herbivores that damage crops or pastures away from
their traditional foraging areas. Since high altitude wildlife of Himalayas
is spread across many national boundaries, its conservation also depends on
political and military influences. Negative ecological impacts of tourism,
mountaineering and pilgrimage have also been documented in the region.
Absence or ineffectiveness of local institutions, lack of awareness among
people and poor implementation of laws has further hampered wildlife
conservation. “The rise in the number of stray dogs in high altitude areas
is also a cause for concern. These dogs prey on smaller animals which upset
the food chain of the Big Cats,” Ms. Lachungpa said.
Feeling the urgent need to formulate a plan of action to conserve this
Himalayan Big Cat, the International Snow Leopard Trust (ISLT) and the
Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF) have been organizing and carrying out a
series of State-level conferences in cooperation with the Wildlife Institute
of India and Governments of Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Himachal
Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir with the purpose of identifying regions that
need to be included in the Project Snow Leopard. This series of conferences
resulted in a concept paper calling for a scientifically sound and socially
responsible high altitude wildlife conservation strategy involving the State
and Central Governments, representatives of the local communities, and
conservation and development NGOs.
Sikkim was one of the first States to give its inputs towards the draft
proposal of the Project Snow Leopard.
According to reports, the States plan to utilise some funds from sources
meant for national parks and sanctuaries to tide over the financial vacuum
created this year. Besides this, they have also requested the Centre to look
at allocating some money from other heads to tide over the financial squeeze
Source: Sikkim Express
Dated: 13/05/2007
WEST TASTES MOUNTAIN BIKING CHARM
HEE BERMIOK, May 13: The three-days long Kalez Valley Festival at Hee Bermiok constituency came to a close with an enthralling adventure sport event ‘Mountain Biking’ on 12 May at Hee Kyangbari, West Sikkim.
Sport enthusiasts from countries like Spain, Hungary, France, Britain,
America and Nepal took part in the sport. Altogether 19 adventure
lovers enrolled in this one-of-its-kind sport event. The biking started off
from Hee Goan 13th Mile upto Sammtar covering a distance of 30
kms. High fortitude and encouragements from spectators on either side of the
road boosted the spirit of the participants.
Suren Rai of Nepal successfully crossed the finish line in 1 hour 15 minutes securing the first position. Likewise Suresh Kumar Dulal (1 hour 18 minutes) and Chandra Bahadur Chettri (1 hour 20 minutes) both from Nepal, bagged second and third position respectively.
DN Thakarpa, the Speaker to Sikkim Legislative Assembly, present as the chief guest in the final day of the festival handed over cash prizes of Rs 25,000, Rs 20,000 and Rs 15,000 to the first, second and third winners respectively. The fourth and the fifth winners Padam Sadanglay and Sunil Shresthra were handed over with consolation prizes of Rs 5,000s each
Source: Sikkim Express
Dated: 13/05/2007
100 ORCHIDS OF NORTH EAST BLOOMS AT NEW DELHI
GANGTOK, May 14: The second book on Orchids of North East India by celebrated orchid expert and author from Sikkim, Mohan Pradhan was released on 01 May at New Delhi.
Ms Gursharan Kaur, wife of the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh released the book
at a special function held at the Prime Minister’s residence at 5 Race Course Road in the presence of Union Minister for Tourism & Culture, Ms Ambika Soni along with various MPs, formers MPs, members from various Central Government departments and other distinguished guests.
The book titled ‘100 North East Indian Orchids’ is the second book in a series being brought out by Mohan Pradhan. The first book titled ‘100 Sikkim Himalayan Orchids’ was published in 2005 and was highly recommended in book reviews by the American Orchid Society and the Orchid Society of Great Britain. The first book is presently one of the best selling Orchid books in United States of America and Canada.
A new hybrid of Orchid named in memory of Mahatma Gandhi on the centenary of Satyagraha Movement was also unveiled on the occasion. This particular hybrid of Orchid was developed by Mohan Pradhan at his nursery, Himalayan Flora & Biotech in Gangtok.
The two books are the first illustrated books on Orchids of the region. The last illustrated book on Sikkim Orchids was published in 1898. The books contain full page illustrations of some of the rarest and most beautiful orchid species along with extensive chapters on history, cultivation and tourists.
“This book with exquisite photographs captures the natural beauty of the North East. It brings alive some of the plants and tempts us to visit the region and observe these plants in their natural surroundings”, said Ms Gursharan Kaur adding that the North East should be perceived better from the people who live there.
Union Minister for Tourism & Culture Ms Ambika Soni said “I could not believe my eyes that anyone could have taken such gorgeous photographs. If one does not have a chance of going to North East, especially to Sikkim, then I think glancing through the photographs will make you feel that you are almost there”, acknowledging that the book ‘100 North East Indian Orchids’ will encourage those who want to branch out into doing different things.
The author, Mr. Pradhan has served as ‘Eric Young Orchid Scholar’ at the Royal Horticulture Society, United Kingdom – the first South Asian to do so in UK’s 197 years history. Mr. Pradhan is also credited with the registration of the first orchid hybrid from the state in 1998.
Mr. Pradhan is presently a life member of the American Orchid Society and an elected member of the Orchid Specialist Group/ World Conservation Union (worlds largest NGO) Geneva, Switzerland as well being the Secretary to its South Asian Regional Section.
Source: Sikkim Express
Dated: 17/05/2007