State Level Project Steering Committee Meeting (SLPSC) today approved the Annual Work Plan for the project “SECURE Himalaya” (Securing, Conservation, Sustainable Use and Restoration of High Range Himalayan Ecosystem) here its maiden meeting chaired by Commissioner/ Secretary Forests, Environment & Ecology, Manoj Kumar Dwivedi.The meeting was attended by Principal Chief Conservator Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden, J&K, Suresh Chugh, Member Secretary State Biodiversity Board / Director SFRI, OP Sharma, State Project Coordinator SECURE Himalaya /Chief Conservator of Forests (Eco Tourism), J Frankoi, Senior Technical Advisor UNDP, NewDelhi, SK Khanduri, DG, Planning, Satvir Kour, Special Secretary (Finance Department), Nazim Khan, Director Finance Forest, Environment & Ecology Department, Parvaiz Ahmed Handoo, Additional Secretary (Animal & Sheep Husbandry Department), Tilak Raj, Additional Secretary (Rural Development & Panchayati Raj Department), Sudharsan Kumar, State Nodal Officer SECURE Himalaya Project/Regional Wildlife Warden,Leh, , Sajid Sultan , National Specialist, Livelihood, UNDP, New Delhi, Parth Joshi,Wildlife Warden, Leh , Pankaj besides Team Members of Land Scape Project Management Unit of SECURE Himalaya Project.The SLPSC approved the Annual Work Plans for the Financial Years 2018-19 (December 2018 to March 2019) and 2019-20 to the tune of Rs 4.00 crore.
The Annual Work Plan envisages exploring energy smart and climate resilient solution in selected villages of Changthang region of Ladakh, supporting the black necked crane nest-adoption programme undertaken by the local community, involving incentivization schemes for the same, exposure visit / training programmes for Wildlife Department staff pertaining to tranquilization, capture and rescue of wild animals, GIS and Mapping etc, developing community-run Nature Information Centre at identified site in the landscape, organizing mass awareness activities for promotion of nature/wildlife sensitization, in selected zones and protected areas, preparing Land Use Land Cover Map, and creating Decision Support systems, Economic Valuation of Ecosystem services, livestock vaccination program to prevent spread of diseases to wild animals, drive to carry out Bird ringing and survey Program, understanding relationship between Changpas and their environment, understanding Bear-Human conflict in Zanskar Landscape, study on impact of tourism and recommendations for sustainable tourism.
The Annual Work Plan further included the construction of community water reservoirs (Zing) ,purchasing of equipment for Genetic lab (Research purposes),training and capacity building of master trainers from handicraft department, strengthening homestays in the landscape through improved market linkages and training, construction of 10 units of predator proof Corral Pens for Yaks and value addition to sheep & yak wool including product development and marketing support, funding the engagement/training of local villagers as wildlife watchers, to facilitate intelligence gathering, anti poaching, patrolling and surveillance etc, purchase of utility Vehicle for Human-wildlife conflict mitigation, survey, surveillance, and to aid in other departmental activities.The Committee also approved the constitution of a Technical Committee under the Chairmanship of Principal Chief Conservator of Forests/Chief Wildlife Warden, Jammu & Kashmir for adaptive planning process and scrutiny of studies proposed by UNDP Country Office, New Delhi under this project.It was given out that the SECURE Himalaya project, a Global Environmental Facility (GEF) funded project is being implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Government of India, in association with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).The project aims to promote ecological security, biodiversity conservation, livelihoods, sustainable use and restoration of high range Himalayan Ecosystems in the four states of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Sikkim.In J&K, the project is being implemented through J&K State Wildlife Protection Department and Changthang region of Ladakh has been identified as the project area with a tentative outlay of Rs 20 cr for a project period of 5 years.