Project Snow Leopard

Topics Covered: Conservation related issues.

Project Snow Leopard:

Context:

International Snow Leopard Day was observed on 23 October.

• The day came into being with the adoption of the Bishkek Declaration by 12 countries on the conservation of snow leopards.

HimalSanrakshak:

On this day this year, the Indian government has launched community volunteer programme “HimalSanrakshak” to protect snow leopards.

Snow Leopard conservation in India:

• India has been conserving snow leopard and its habitat through the Project Snow Leopard (PSL).
• India is also party to the Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection (GSLEP) Programme since 2013.
• For conservation, 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.
• Project Snow Leopard (PSL) was launched in 2009 to promote an inclusive and participatory approach to conserve snow leopards and their habitat.
• Snow Leopard is in the list of 21 critically endangered species for the recovery programme of the Ministry of Environment Forest & Climate Change.

InstaLinks:

Prelims Link:

1. IUCN Conservation status of snow leopard.
2. About Project Snow Leopard.
3. Snow Leopards in India- distribution and conservation centres.
4. About GSLEP.
5. About Bishkek declaration.

Sources: PIB.