Projects
Securing Livelihoods, Conservation, Sustainable Use and Restoration of High Range Himalayan Ecosystems (2019-2022)
The SECURE Himalaya project is a part of “Global Partnership on Wildlife Conservation and Crime Prevention for Sustainable Development” (Global Wildlife Program) funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
The project promotes sustainable management of alpine pastures and forests in the high range Himalayan ecosystems to secure conservation of globally significant wildlife, including endangered snow leopard and their habitats to ensure sustainable livelihoods and socio-economic benefits for communities in the selected high-altitude landscapes in the Trans- and Greater Himalayan regions.
It contributes to the Global Snow Leopard Ecosystem Protection Program (GSLEP), a joint initiative of 12 range country governments, international agencies, civil society, and the private sector. The key components of the project are as follows:
- Conservation of key biodiversity areas and their effective management to secure long-term ecosystem resilience, habitat connectivity and conservation of snow leopard and other endangered species and their habitats.
- Securing sustainable community livelihoods and natural resource management in high range Himalayan ecosystems.
- Enhancing enforcement, monitoring and cooperation to reduce wildlife crime and related threats.
- Knowledge, advocacy, communication and information systems established.
Kailash Sacred Landscape Development Initiative (KSLCDI) (2014-15)
The Kailash Sacred Landscape Conservation and Development Initiative (KSLCDI) is a program initiated by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) to synergize the collaboration among the Nations of China, India, and Nepal, working for the conservation and development of the vital landscape. The programme is focusing on five areas –
- Innovative Livelihoods,
- Ecosystem Management,
- Access and Benefit Sharing,
- Long-term Conservation and Monitoring, and
- Regional Cooperation, Enabling Policies and Knowledge Management.
The Kailash Sacred Landscape (KSL) is an area encompassing over 31,000 km2 in a remote south-western portion of the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) of China and adjacent area in India and Nepal. This region forms an ecosystem vital to millions of people in all three countries, being the source of four important rivers—Indus, Sutlej, Brahmaputra and Karnali, and is an essential habitat for a wide variety of flora and fauna, including several endangered species. As the landscape interlinks trans-boundary ecosystems, any disturbance to the ecosystem at any point impacts the entire KSL.
The Uttarakhand Biodiversity Board is a collaborator with this project, responsible for the implementation of the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) component of the project.