towards project snow leopard - Nature Conservation Foundation

Towards Project Snow Leopard • 33
I wish to thank the Hon’ble Union Minister of Environment and Forests, Thiru A. Raja,
to have spared time for this workshop in spite of his very busy schedule. Jenab Tariq Hameed Karra,
Hon’ble Minister for Housing Urban Development, Forest and Environment, Jammu approached
the Ministry of Environment and Forests to assist in formulation of Snow Leopard Project, and
this workshop is a step forward in that direction. It requires a special mention that Hon’ble Union
Minister of Environment and Forests is accompanied by a team of Senior Officers Shri J. C. Kala,
Director General Forests and Special Secretary to Hon’ble Union Minister, Dr. Devendra Pandey,
Director, Forest Survey of India, Dehradun, Dr. P. R. Sinha, Director, Wildlife Institute of India, Dr.
Anmol Kumar, DIG (Wildlife), MoEF. This shows the commitment of MoEF in early launching
of the Project snow Leopard on the lines of some successful projects like the “Project Tiger” and the
“Project Elephant”.
I am extremely grateful to 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 Counsel, Leh, and Shri P. Namgyal, Hon’ble
MLC, Leh, who have graced the occasion amidst their otherwise very busy schedule. Their presence
here indicates the deep commitment of the Civil Society of Leh to the cause of conservation.
I would acknowledge the tremendous encouragement and guidance received from Shri,
Najmus Saqib, Commissioner/Secretary to Government, Forest Department, Jammu & Kashmir,
Shri. Irshad Ahmad Khan, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Jammu & Kashmir, in fine
tuning the administrative and technical details of the workshop.
Shri Jigmet Takpa, Regional Wildlfie Warden, Leh, Salim-ul-Haq, Wildlife Warden, Leh
and Shri N. C. Kala, DFO, Leh and their officers and staff had put in lot of efforts in organizing
the workshop. S/Shri Farooq Geelani, Naseer Kitchloo, Regional Wildlife Wardens of Kashmir and
Jammu, Dr. Mir Mansoor, Chief Wildlife Veterinarian & Biologist, Shri Bashir A. Mir, Accounts
Officer, Mrs. Ifshan Dewan and S/Shri Mushtaq Ahmad Parsa, rouf Zargar, & Intisar Suhail,
Wildlife Wardens of the department had rendered all assistance in managing the workshop.
I would be failing in my duty if I do not sufficiently acknowledge the effective role of
Nature Conservation Foundation and the International Snow Leopard Trust in catalyzing the
process for Snow Leopard Project. Media, Radio, Doordarshan and NGOs present here deserve
all praise for covering the proceedings of the the workshop and in generating the desired awareness
among the masses for wildlife conservation.
It is recalled that a workshop was organized in February 2004 at the Nature Conservation
Foundation office in Mysore, where the concept document of the Project Snow Leopard was drafted.
This was finalized after significant contributions from the Chief Wildlife Wardens of all the five
Himalayan states. This was followed up by organizing state-level workshops in each of the five states
in 2005. These workshops were attended by the cross-section of forest and wildlife departments,
including the forest ministers in most cases. The workshops identified the areas falling under