towards project snow leopard - Nature Conservation Foundation

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for eg. dependence of people on wilderness areas, resource extraction, livestock
population trends, are mostly lacking or is not suitably compiled and analyzed.
2.4.7. Lack of meteorological data / all weather station (simple and sturdy): There are almost no
weather stations in the high altitudes, hence data from large blocks of land is missing.
Again, data from the few existing stations is not in an analyzed form for helping with
any interpretation.
2.4.8. Lack of information on lesser faunal and floral elements to ensure that they do not lose
out: While information on the larger fauna and flora is scarce, information on ‘lesser’
taxa is mostly absent.
2.5. Other Constraints
2.5.1. Lack of training of forest field staff in wildlife monitoring and law enforcement: There
is a serious lack of training in modern techniques of wildlife monitoring and law
enforcement. This limitation affects their functioning in the field.
2.5.2. Lack of participatory conservation skills for forest field staff: While participatory policies
are framed and higher staff of the department is increasingly getting exposed to
participatory skills and its rationale, the frontline staff often is not exposed to such
training. This limits their understanding of the best ways to approach the community
and to solicit their help in conservation.
2.5.3. Lack of motivation amongst some field staff: By and large, the level of motivation in the
field staff is very low. It is probable that the lack of infrastructure and knowledge may
be resulting in low levels of motivation in the field staff.
2.6. Limitations/shortcomings of Present High Altitude Protected Area Network and
Management
2.6.1. Overlapping jurisdiction between various circles of the Forest Department.
2.6.2. Lack of management plans and zonation.
2.6.3. Lack of application of new skills like remote sensing, landscape ecology, GIS to make
management plans.
2.6.4. Lack of research backup for management actions resulting in adhocism.
3. Threats to Wildlife Conservation in Sikkim High Altitudes
3.1. Yak herders in Moist alpine Meadows of KNP
3.1.1. Yak grazing is non-traditional: While yak grazing is a traditional practice among
nomadic tribes on the trans-border areas, yak pasturing in the moist temperate and
alpine forests is non-traditional.