SECURE Himalaya Project - Government of India Scheme to Protect Environment

SECURE Himalaya project was launched by the Indian Government to ensure the conservation of forest resources, land and biodiversity with local and global significance on the inaugural day of the Global Wildlife Programme (GWP) conference. This article shares details on the states that are implementing this program, the specific landscapes where this project will be implemented, the agencies collaborating for this project, and the main features of this project.

Aspirants can find information on the structure and other important details related to the IAS Exam, in the linked article.

Secure Himalaya Project – Implementing States & Collaborating Agencies

It covers the high Himalayan Ecosystem spread over Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. This project is a collaboration between the Environment, Forests and Climate Change Ministry (MoEFCC) and the UNDP (United Nations Development Programme). The project was launched in the background of increasing habitat degradation, fragmentation of area which is increasing due to the high dependence of the local communities on the natural resources and unplanned infrastructure.

Project Implementation – Specific Landscapes

1. Kanchenjunga – Upper Teesta Valley in Sikkim
2. Gangotri – Govind and Darma – Byans Valley in Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand
3. Lahaul – Pangi and Kinnaur in Himachal Pradesh
4. Changthang in Jammu and Kashmir

SECURE Himalayas – Main Features

1. SECURE Himalayas project is spread over 6 years.
2. The objective of the project is to secure people’s livelihood, restore, conserve and use sustainably the high range ecosystems of the Himalayas.
3. The key focus of the project is on improving the enforcement to ensure the reduction in wildlife crime, protection of snow leopard and other endangered species and ensuring a secure livelihood to the people in the region.
4. Protecting the people’s livelihood has taken topmost importance under the SECURE Himalaya since the relative remoteness and isolation of the communities in the mountains (which includes tribal communities) has rendered them the last preservers of their heterogeneous culture and local knowledge that has a global impact.
5. Stringent monitoring and better enforcement measures will be taken to inhibit the illegal trade in medicinal and aromatic plants in these parts. These plant species are especially vulnerable since they are threatened species.

The government also launched India Wildlife mobile App and released the National Wildlife Action Plan for the period 2017-2031 on the occasion.

Multiple Choice Question

Consider the following Statements

1. National River Ganga Basin Authority was formed under Section-3 of the Environment Protection Act, 1986 by the Central Government in 2009. It declared the Ganga as the ‘National River’ of India.
2. National Council for Rejuvenation, Protection and Management of River Ganga, also known as National Ganga Council replaced National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA). NGRBA was dissolved from 7th October, 2016.
3. The Paris Agreement was signed on 22 April 2016.
4. The Montreal Protocol came into force after the amendment of the Kigali Agreement, which is an environmental treaty signed by countries to phase out Ozone Depleting Substances (ODSs) from the earth’s atmosphere.

Which of the following options is correct?

A) Only Statement 1, 2 and 3 are true.

B) Only Statements 1, 3 and 4 are true.

C) Only Statements 2, 3 and 4 are true.

D) All the above-given statements are true.

Answer: A

Kigali Agreement is an amendment to the Montreal Protocol. After the Montreal Protocol came into force in 1989, it has undergone many amendments and the Kigali Agreement is the 8th amendment of the Montreal Protocol.

Candidates can find the general pattern of the UPSC Civil Service Exam by visiting the IAS Syllabus page.

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