towards project snow leopard - Nature Conservation Foundation

92 • Appendix 1
even sand mining. These areas need to be brought under restoration programmes.
3.5. Awareness programmes: Programmes that spread conservation education and awareness
across the entire cross-section of the administration and civil society need to be developed.
These need to target citizens, policy makers, rural and urban schools, army, judiciary,
industry, media, tourism and other stakeholders.
3.6. Involvement of technical staff in monitoring and research: Wildlife department staff should
periodically be trained in evolving techniques in wildlife management on a continuing basis.
Their skills should be enhanced through training by scientists and through partnerships
with scientific organizations. Such organizations should be encouraged to work towards
research and conservation work in partnership with wildlife department staff.
3.7. Developing income generation programmes such as community-based ecotourism: For effective
conservation, income generation programmes are extremely important that can help
reduce peoples’ dependence on the natural resources. Community-based eco-tourism can
augment local incomes while also strengthening local participation in conservation. This
should be done through a proper eco-tourism policy and management plans, both at
macro and micro levels.
4. Expectations of the State Wildlife Department From Project Snow Leopard
4.1. Effective high altitude wildlife conservation: The Project Snow Leopard should lead to
measurable improvement in the status of wildlife populations and their habitats.
4.1.1. Administrative, financial, and others: The PSL should facilitate the formulation of well
informed, scientific management plans and micro-plans. Lack of resources has been
identified as a major constraint and it is hoped that the PSL will provide adequate
resources for the formulation and implementation of these plans.
4.1.2. Maintain and restore biodiversity status: The PSL should focus on maintaining the
wildlife values in good biodiversity areas, while those areas that have been degraded
should be restored.
4.1.3. Research, monitoring and information: Information on species, ecological communities
and ecosystems are lacking at present and it is hoped that the PSL will help bridge
this gap.
4.1.4. Infrastructure and resources: PSL needs to ensure timely formulation of management
strategies, and provisioning and timely release of funds for the necessary infrastructure,
adequate equipment and field-gear.
4.1.5. Training of staff and capacity development: Capacity development of the staff in
scientific skills such as management planning, wildlife monitoring and participatory
approaches is extremely important to keep them well informed and capable. PSL
should facilitate periodic training of staff, including study tours to other conservation