Union Minister Babul Supriyo said the government has been conserving snow leopard and its habitat through the Project Snow Leopard by implementing participatory landscape-based management plans involving local stakeholders.
Addressing an event on the International Snow leopard Day, the Minister of State for Environment Forest and Climate Change said India has identified three large landscapes, namely, Hemis-Spiti across Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh; Nanda Devi – Gangotri in Uttarakhand; and Khangchendzonga – Tawang across Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh for the conservation purpose.
He emphasised that states along with the Centre should resolve to bring up the population of snow leopards in India in the next five years.
Protecting the snow leopard and its habitat ensures protection of the major Himalayan rivers that support the teeming millions downstream. It also ensures that the ecological balance is maintained in these fragile ecosystems.
The multi-lateral Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection (GSLEP) Programme comprises 12 snow leopard range countries and they have developed national priorities and identified large landscapes to support viable populations of snow leopards.
During the virtual meet, community volunteer programme ‘Himal Sanrakshak’ was launched by Supriyo followed by the release of origami notebook based on the theme of combatting illegal trade in wildlife.