Yaya Tso to become Ladakh’s First Biodiversity Heritage Site

In Context

• The Biodiversity Management Committee, the panchayat of Chumathang village, along with SECURE Himalaya Project recently resolved to declare Yaya Tso as Ladakh’s first Biodiversity Heritage Sites (BHS)  under the Biological Diversity Act.

About

• Yaya Tso is also known as birds’ paradise for its beautiful lake and  is located at an altitude of 4,820 meters.
• Yaya Tso is a nesting habitat for a large number of birds and animals, such as the bar-headed goose, black-necked crane and brahminy duck.
• It is also one of the highest breeding sites of the black-necked crane in India.

Biodiversity Heritage Sites (BHS) 

• These are areas that are unique, ecologically fragile ecosystems having rich biodiversity.
• The Indian State Government can notify the Biodiversity Heritage Sites in consultation with local governing bodies under Section 37 of Biological Diversity Act of 2002.
• India has 36 Biodiversity Heritage Sites spread across several states to date. The most recent addition was the Mahendragiri hill Biodiversity Heritage Site in Odisha.

About SECURE Himalaya

• It is a part of “Global Partnership on Wildlife Conservation and Crime Prevention for Sustainable Development” (Global Wildlife Program) funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
• The project promotes sustainable management of alpine pastures and forests in the high range Himalayan ecosystems to secure conservation of globally significant wildlife and their habitats.

Source:LM