Why in News ?

Government of India has been conserving snow leopard and its habitat through the Project Snow Leopard (PSL). Landscape Restoration For Snow Leopard Habitat is under processing. India reiterated on the occasion of International Snow Leopard Day 2020.

About Snow Leopard

• It is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
• The global population is estimated to number less than 10,000 mature.
• snow leopards usually live above the tree line on mountainous meadows and in rocky regions at altitudes from 2000 to 6,000 m based on the season
• It is threatened by poaching and various development process.
  • Reduction in alphine zone due to green house gases reduces their habitat threatens the population.

India on Snow Leopard Conservation

• In India, their geographical range encompasses a large part of the western Himalayas including the states and UTs of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.
• Protecting the snow leopard and its habitat ensures protection of the major Himalayan rivers that support the teeming millions downstream.
• It also ensures that the ecological balance is maintained in these fragile ecosystems.
• This multi-lateral programme comprises of 12 snow leopard range countries and they have developed national priorities and identified large landscapes to support viable populations of snow leopards.
• During the virtual meet community volunteer programme “HimalSanrakshak” was launched by Shri Supriyofollowed by the release of origami notebook based on the theme of combatting illegal trade in wildlife.
• The Government of India has identified the snow leopard as a flagship species for the high-altitude Himalayas.
• India is also party to the Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection (GSLEP) Programme since 2013.
  • India hosted the 4th Steering Committee of the GSLEP program in October 2019 at New Delhi.
  • This meeting resulted in the New Delhi Statement of strengthening the resolve of the snow leopard range countries towards conservation of the mountain ecosystems of Central and South Asia.
• First National Protocol was also launched last year on Snow Leopard Population Assessment which has been very useful for monitoring populations. This aims at
  • Developing landscape-based management plans,
  • Habitat restoration plans, livelihoods improvement
  • Mitigation of wildlife crime and illegal trade in wildlife
  • Human-wildlife conflict mitigation strategies
  • Improving awareness and communications strategies.

Source : PIB

GS III : Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment

Current Affairs Compilation : 24 October 2020