towards project snow leopard - Nature Conservation Foundation

Towards Project Snow Leopard • 53
2.3.2. Ecological benchmarks and restoration for target species: Establishment of baselines and
identification of ecological targets of restoration in degraded habitats.
2.3.3. Due priority should be given to research, baseline surveys, and resource mapping: Research
and monitoring greatly helps in taking informed management decisions. This is an
ongoing process and needs to be continually encouraged. An effort should be made to
make research more management oriented. In this regard for most PAs or biodiversity
rich-areas effective long-term ecological monitoring programmes should be set up for
key taxa.
2.3.4. Obtain support of religious institutions (especially in the Buddhist areas) in high-altitude
areas for wildlife conservation: Often religious sentiments can be used to promote
conservation. Such a sentiment is strongly propagated in the Buddhist religion that
incidentally is the dominant faith in the PSL areas of the state. The local monasteries
and the Dalai Lama can be approached to help create awareness and support the
cause of conservation.
3. Brief Action Plan for Psl, Formulation
• Workshop report/ output: NCF to provide draft by November end, 2004
• Forest Department to provide inputs by: 15 January 2004
• Finalize state level document: January end, 2005
• Feedback on Project Tiger by state officials, with particular reference to ways in which the
project administration & financial disbursement can be made more effective: November
end, 2004
• Formulation of core group by state: November end, 2004
• If necessary, plan another consultation
The Core Group includes members of the Arunachal FD and NCF-ISLT, who will work
closely regarding the finalization of the draft state-level document. They will also spearhead the
further consultations within the state with local Government (District Administration, relevant
Government departments, Army, ITBP), NGOs, Panchayat bodies, village and Anchal levels
officials, village chiefs, village elders and religious institutions.
The Core Group from the state will consist of the Additional PCCF (WL), Mr. P. Ringu, Member
Secretary, apart from few other members of the State and from NCF ISLT will be represented
by Dr Charudutt Mishra (Director, NCF-ISLT-India), Dr. Aparajita Datta, Associate Ecologist,
NCF, Yash Veer Bhatnagar, Associate Director, ISLT-India
Interest groups that need to be in the PSL process:
• Local level: Panchayat bodies, village and Anchal level bodies, village headmen