Leh Hill Council chairman reviews livelihood initiatives in Changthang

Chairman of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh, Tashi Gyalson reviewed the conservation and livelihood efforts in far-off Changthang region of the Union Territory and discussed the same with the WWF- India representatives.

A meeting was held in which Executive Councillor Tashi Namgyal Yakzee along with councillor from Changthang and officials from the Centre for Pastoralism (CFP) were also present.

The meeting focused on key conservation and livelihood initiatives in Changthang, including a visioning exercise in the Changthang Cold Desert Wildlife Sanctuary, livelihood training programmes, and measures to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts.

WWF-India presented findings from its visioning exercise conducted across 16 villages through 26 community consultations, assessing conservation priorities, sustainable rangeland management, and biodiversity protection. CFP complemented this by conducting assessments in the Durbuk Sub-Division.

The meeting also highlighted the completion of a month-long livelihood training programme across 10 villages, leading to seven months of continuous training in Nyoma and Durbuk. This initiative focused on handloom weaving, value addition and enterprise development, resulting in the establishment of seven micro-enterprises.

Tashi Gyalson commended WWF-India for its dedicated efforts and acknowledged that its documentation aligns closely with the vision of the Hill Council. He reaffirmed his commitment to supporting this vision document, recognising its importance in guiding future policies for the newly established district of Changthang.