Lahaul - Pangi (Himachal Pradesh)
In Himachal Pradesh, the project is being implemented in, Lahaul-Pangi landscape and Kinnaur has been selected as additional site for wildlife monitoring, awareness generation and capacity building aspects of the project.. This landscape lies between the Dhauladhar – Pir Panjal and Zanskar ranges in Himachal Pradesh in the upper catchment of Chandrabhaga (Chenab) forming a transition zone between the Greater and Trans-Himalaya and spread over an area of approximately 8000 km2. There is one protected area in the landscape called Seichu-Tuan Nallah Wildlife Sanctuary and sites of high conservation value include alpine pastures like Upper Sural Valley, rivers like Hudan and Sansari Nallah. This region boasts a wealth of medicinal plants, some of which are critically endangered due to their high commercial value leading to collection and trade on a large scale.
Project Progress
1. CONSERVING BIODIVERSITY
Constitution and Implementation of Landscape level Committees, Management Strategies and Plans and alliances built with relevant government departments like Animal husbandry, Biodiversity board, Tribal Affairs, Tourism, Special Area Development Authority.
Model Management Plan for Chandratal wetland complex developed and prioritised for site specific conservation action
Management actions for High Conservation Value Areas, including medicinal plant conservation areas, providing essential ecosystem services identified for enhanced protection and conservation of significant biodiversity
Implementation of pilot projects to reduce habitat degradation incuding solid and plastic waste management
State Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan developed and 35 Biodiversity Management Committees constituted to implement the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
Parataxonomists trained to assist the State Biodiversity Board and Forest Department in wildlife documentation and monitoring.
2. DIVERSIFYING LIVELIHOODS
Craft Cluster based handicraft workshops being organized to develop the capacity of community members, introduce new and innovative designs, products, processes, functional upgradations and market level interventions in the area of handloom and handicrafts.
3. PREVENTING WILDLIFE CRIME
Hotspots and Pathways of Illegal Wildlife Trade identified, enhanced capacity of frontline staff and community based surveillance strengthened for prevention of illegal trade and human wildlife conflict.
4. DIVERSIFYING LIVELIHOODS
SECURE Magazine developed to easily communicate findings of various assignments and studies to citizens, launched by Hon’ble Chief Minister, Himachal Pradesh in the State Wildlife Board meeting in June 2020.