Question

The project snow leopard to conserve the endangered species launched by the union ministry of environment and forests covers which of the following states

Answer 1

The Project Snow Leopard is an initiative for strengthening wildlife conservation in the Himalayan high altitudes, covering Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim. It aims at promoting a knowledge-based and adaptive conservation framework that fully involves the local communities, who share the snow leopard’s range, in conservation efforts.

Launching the project, Minister of State for Forest and Wildlife S. Regupathy said predators such as the snow leopard — at the apex of ecological pyramid — suffered the most partly on account of their relatively smaller population and also because of man-animal conflict. This situation got aggravated by the hostile landscape forming its habitat.

“Considering these facts, snow leopard has been included in the list of species under Recovery Programme to be funded through the umbrella scheme of Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats,” he said.

With nearly 750 snow leopards in the country, the project will facilitate a landscape-level approach to wildlife conservation by developing scientific frameworks for comprehensive surveys, rationalising the existing protected area network and improving protected area management. It will develop a framework for wildlife conservation outside protected areas and promote ecologically responsible development.

The project will encourage focused conservation and recovery programmes for endangered species, promote stronger measures for wildlife protection and law enforcement and better understand and manage human-wildlife conflict. It will reduce existing anthropogenic pressures on natural resources and promote conservation education.

According to Director-General (Forests) P.R. Mohanty, Project Snow Leopard will be treated on a par with other flagship species programmes of the country such as Project Tiger and Project Elephant. The Environment and Forests Ministry will allocate at least 3 per cent of the total budgetary funds for the project.