towards project snow leopard - Nature Conservation Foundation

32 • Addresses
Shri A. K. Srivastava, Chief Wildlife Warden, Jammu & Kashmir
Thiru A. Raja, Hon’ble Union Minster for Environment & Forests, Government of
India, Jenab Tariq Hameed Karra, Hon’ble Minister for Housing Urban Development, Forest and
Environment, Jammu & Kashmir State, Shri Rigzin Jora, Hon’ble Minister for Power Development,
Industries and Commerce, Jammu & Kashmir, Shri Tsering Dorje the Chief Executive Councillor
and Chairman Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh, Shri P. Namgyal, Hon’ble
MLC, Leh, Shri J.C. Kala, Director General Forests and Special Secretary, Ministry of Environment
& Forests, Government of India, Shri. Najmus Saqib, Commissioner/Secretary to Government,
Forest Department, Jammu & Kashmir, Shri. Irshad Ahmad Khan, Principal Chief Conservator of
Forests, Jammu & Kashmir, Dr. C. Mishra, Executive Director, Nature Conservation Foundation,
Mysore, The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Wardens of Sikkim,
Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttranchal, senior officers from Jammu & Kashmir
Forest and Wildlife Departments, District Administration of Leh and Kargil, Senior Officers from
Defence and Para-military forces, representatives of Press, Radio, Doordarshan and leading NGOs
present in the workshop, distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen.
It gives me great pleasure to propose a vote of thanks to the distinguished guests and
participants, who have spared their valuable time to come all the way to Leh, Ladakh to attend the
National Workshop on Project Snow Leopard.
As we all know, the high Himalayan and Trans-Himalayan mountains are critical habitats
for highly endangered and unique species and are also the watershed of all major north Indian rivers,
crucial for the survival of millions of people downstream. Species such as the snow leopard and
its prey species occur all through the landscape from Arunachal Pradesh in the east, to Jammu &
Kashmir in the west covering five states in all. The snow leopard thus can serve as an effective flagship
species for guiding conservation efforts in this remote and harsh landscape, where conservation
efforts thus far have not been adequate.
I would profusely acknowledge the contribution of the Ministry of Environment and
Forests, Government of India in providing various kinds of administrative, technical and financial
support for organizing this workshop. The efforts of the Department of Wildlife Protection, Jammu
& Kashmir, along with the Nature Conservation Foundation and the International Snow Leopard
Trust, have led to today’s gathering of officials from all the five states forming the range of the snow
leopard in the country. This is probably the first time that such a high level gathering has been
possible to deliberate on the strategies for conservation of Snow leopard and its habitat.
It is indeed a proud privilege for the Jammu & Kashmir Department of Wildlife Protection
to host this important event. During the technical sessions today and tomorrow this august gathering
will deliberate upon the important issues being faced for conservation and development in these
fragile landscapes and evolve strategies that can effectively strengthen conservation here.