Uttarakhand's Grassland Conservation SOP

• 27 Nov 2024

Why in News?

The forest department of Uttarakhand government will prepare a standard operating procedure (SOP) to conserve grasslands in the Upper Himalayan Region of the state.

• This initiative aims to address the increasing frequency of landslides and land subsidence caused by both natural and human activities.

Key Points

• Grassland Conservation Initiatives:
  • Dayara Bugyal, a sensitive ecological area, has shown positive results from previous ecological restoration efforts. To extend these benefits to other grasslands, the forest department plans to develop a SOP for conservation.
    • This SOP will focus on reducing biological pressure and preventing further degradation.
  • So far, conservation work has been carried out on approximately 83 hectares of land across 22 grasslands under the Bugyal Conservation Scheme.
• Snow Leopard Conservation Center:
  • During their visit, the officials also inspected a snow leopard conservation center under construction at Lanka near Gangotri.
    • The center is expected to be ready within a year, offering tourists an opportunity to experience the natural environment and observe snow leopards in their habitat.
  • Gangotri National Park has emerged as a significant trans-Himalayan national park over the past decade.
  • The Wildlife Institute of India has recorded a substantial presence of snow leopards in the park, which was relatively unknown until recently.