Conservation Issues and WWF-India’s Interventions
Conservation Issues:
Following are some of the important issues in this landscape
- Habitat degradation due to deforestation, developmental activities, uncontrolled grazing practices and agriculture.
- Poaching, illegal extraction of natural resources and a thriving wildlife trade in the region due to its porous international boundaries with four countries – Nepal, Bhutan, China and Bangladesh.
- Poorly regulated tourism.
- Inadequate awareness on wildlife and environment among common people.
The goal of WWF-India’s KCL programme is to maintain the biodiversity values and cultural integrity of this landscape.
WWF-India’s Interventions
The goal of WWF-India’s KCL programme is to maintain the biodiversity values and cultural integrity of this landscape.
Following are the different activities that WWF-India is carrying out in this landscape in collaboration with its partners -
- Survey for enumerating present status of red panda, especially in the state of Sikkim. This is done in partnership with the Forest, Environment and Wildlife Management Department (FEWMD), Govt. of Sikkim. The team has now enumerated the probable distribution of red panda in the state. Intensive research in selected red panda habitats is underway to ascertain their micro-habitat details and food preference. Threats to red panda populations in its strongholds have been identified, and mitigation measures have been initiated in partnership with FEWMD, Rural Management and Development Department of Govt. of Sikkim and local community based organisations (CBOs).
- Participatory conservation of high altitude lakes in the state of Sikkim was initiated in partnership with The Mountain Institute (TMI) and FEWMD. WWF-India, along with these two agencies, formed the Sikkim Lake Conservation Guidelines that were approved by the Govt. of Sikkim as a Gazette notification. Later, using these guidelines, WWF- India worked with TMI, FEWMD, Sindrabong Khangchendzonga Ecotourism Society and Tsomgo Pokhari Samrakshan Samiti for conservation of Tsomgo Lake in East District of Sikkim.
- Capacity building of frontline staff of Forest Department and other government enforcement agencies on technical and legal matters for curbing wildlife crime. WWF-India also ensures better coordination between the Forest Department and other enforcement agencies for this purpose. .
- Bringing Sikkim specific environment and biodiversity related lessons in the curricula for students studying in VII standard has also been discussed with different schools in the state of Sikkim and the Dept. of Human Resource Development, Govt. of Sikkim.
- Capacity building programs for tourism service providers in partnership with the Khangchendzonga Conservation Committee, Kabi Endeavours and few other local CBOs were conducted in different parts of Sikkim in order to ensure sustainable and wildlife friendly tourism practices.
- WWF-India is also working with FEWMD, TMI and few other CBOs in Sikkim for documenting the status of Human – Animal Conflict in the four districts of this state and is also assisting the government to mitigate the problem
- In the Darjeeling hills, the Project SERVE (Save the Environment and Regenerate Vital Employment) has been implemented by WWF- India since 1996 with funding support from Projektwerkstatt Teekampagne, Germany. The main aim of Project SERVE is to reinstate the environment of Darjeeling hills with active participation of general public, government officials, local community members, students and teachers of schools, army personnel, local NGOs, tea garden managements and media persons. WWF -India is presently working with the villagers for developing nurseries to develop saplings of indigenous species; then arrange plantation of those saplings in degraded areas through participation of communities, schools, NGOs and government departments. WWF- India is also ensuring alternative livelihood of villagers through development of apiary, vermin-composting, floriculture, off-seasonal vegetable cultivation through metre-square gardening, etc. Awareness programs are conducted regularly in partnership with the stakeholders, mainly for school students in this region.
- In northern West Bengal, WWF- India is working with the Forest Department, Govt. of West Bengal to prepare a comprehensive Tiger Conservation Plan for Eastern Dooars, encompassing the Buxa Tiger Reserve and Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary.
Beneficiaries of Livelihood Assistance Work
Traning program for SSB Personnel
Stakeholders' Meet