SECURE Himalaya Project and Third National Wildlife Action Plan for 2017 - 2031

Union Government launched SECURE Himalaya, a six-year project for conservation of locally and globally significant biodiversity, land and forest resources in high Himalayan ecosystem spread over four states viz. Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand and Sikkim.

Himalayas as Biodiversity

The Union Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) also unveiled third National Wildlife Action Plan 2017 - 2031 guiding road map for wildlife conservation.

SECURE Project

  • Launched by Union Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in association with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) .
  • Aims at securing livelihoods while promoting conservation, sustainable use and restoration of high range Himalayan ecosystems
  • Directed at specific ecosystems including Changthang (Jammu and Kasmir) , Lahaul - Pangi and Kinnaur (Himachal Pradesh) , Gangotri - Govind and Darma - Byans Valley in Pithoragarh (Uttarakhand) and Kanchenjunga - Upper Teesta Valley (Sikkim) .
  • Key focus is protection of snow leopard and other endangered species and habitats
  • Enhances enforcement efforts and monitoring to curb illegal trade in medicinal and aromatic plants- among most threatened species in these landscapes.

Third National Wildlife Action Plan for 2017 - 2031

  • First action plan was released in 1983 to 2001
  • Second National Wildlife Action Plan from 2002 to 2016 had protected area-centric approach to wildlife conservation.
  • Their Plan was initiated in February 2016 and drafted by a 12-member committee chaired by JC Kala, a former secretary. The main ideas in this plan are:
    • Include integration of climate change into wildlife planning- integrating climate mitigation and adaptation into wildlife management processes
    • Conservation of coastal and marine ecosystem
    • Mitigation of human-wildlife conflict
    • Focus on wildlife health

Approach for Third National Wildlife Action Plan for 2017 - 2031

  • Intrinsic Value of Wildlife: Adopts landscape approach to conservation shifting away from area-based approach. That is, uncultivated flora and fauna have an ecological value to ecosystem and to humankind irrespective of where they occur.
  • Climate Change: Due to climate change some species will have to be migrated which doesn՚t reduce their value. It calls for assisted migration of wildlife and anticipatory planting along ecological gradients, as climate change may result in die-offs of certain tree species that are unable to adapt to newer environmental conditions.
  • Recovery of Species: It gives emphasis to recovery to threatened species of wildlife while conserving their habitats, which include inland aquatic, coastal and marine ecosystems.
  • Human-Animal Conflicts: It calls for ending human-animal conflict owing to shrinkage, fragmentation, and deterioration of habitats generating animosity against wild animals and protected areas.
  • People՚s Support: Highlights increasing need for people՚s support for conservation of wildlife through eco-development, education, innovation, training, extension, and conservation awareness and outreach programs.
  • Participation of Private Sector: Calls for increased role of private sector in wildlife conservation ensuring adequate and sustained funding including Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds

Examrace Team at Aug 24, 2021