Lok Sabha Question No. 1076 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-08
Subject: SECURE Project
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: ANIL SHIROLE, George Baker, PARBHUBHAI NAGARBHAI VASAVA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1076

TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.02.2019

## SECURE Project

## 1076.   SHRI ANIL SHIROLE:

## SHRI GEORGE BAKER:

SHRI PARBHUBHAI NAGARBHAI VASAVA:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) the  salient  features  of  the  Securing  Livelihoods,  Conservation,  Sustainable  Use  and Restoration of High Range Himalayan Ecosystem (SECURE) Project;
- (b) the number of States being covered initially under this project along with the targets set under the project; and
- (c) the  details  of  the  funds  sanctioned  for  the  project,  State/UT-wise  including  West Bengal?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

- (a) & (b) The objective of SECURE  Himalaya  is  to promote the sustainable management  of  alpine  pastures  and  forests  in  the  high  range  Himalayan ecosystems that secures conservation of globally significant wildlife, including  vulnerable  snow  leopard  and  their  habitats,  ensures  sustainable livelihoods  and  community  socioeconomic  benefits.    The  project  is  being implemented    in  the  State  of  Jammu  and  Kashmir,      Himachal  Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Sikkim.

The project is  designed  in  full  accordance  with  the Global  Snow  Leopard and  Ecosystem  Protection  Program  (GSLEP,  2013)  -  a  collaborative program between the governments of 12 snow leopard range countries and other  partner  organizations  -  provides  the  overarching  implementation framework  for  improving  the  conservation  status  of  snow  leopards,  wild prey, and their  ecosystems across the entire snow leopard range. It is also designed in accordance with  the  National  Snow  Leopard  Ecosystem Protection (NSLEP) program for India (under the framework of the GSLEP) that collectively identify a suite of national and local actions that would be required to effectively conserve snow leopard, wild prey and their ecosystems in India.

The four outcomes of  SECURE Himalaya Project are:

1.Conservation of key biodiversity areas and their effective management to secure long-term ecosystem resilience, habitat connectivity and conservation

of snow leopard and other endangered species and their habitats.

- 2.Securing sustainable community livelihoods and natural resource management in high range Himalayan ecosystems.
3.  Enhancing  enforcement,  monitoring  and  cooperation  to  reduce  wildlife crime and related threats.
- 4 Gender Mainstreaming, Monitoring, evaluation and knowledge management.

## Project  Duration (7 years):

Project  Start Date: April 1, 2017

Project End Date: March 30, 2024

The Project area includes Changthang (Leh district, Jammu and Kashmir), Lahul-Pangi  (Lahul  &  Spiti,  Chamba  and  Kinnaur  Districts,  Himachal Pradesh),  Gangotri-Govind      and  Darma  Byans  valley,    Uttarkashi  and Pithoragarh  districts    (Uttarakhand),  Kanchenjunga-  Upper  Teesta  Valley, North Sikkim District (Sikkim)

## (c) Project Budget

Total Project Financing: USD 72,364,192 (total of 1 and 2 as per break up given below)

1. GEF Trust Fund:  USD 11,544,192

2.Total co-financing:

Government: USD 59,820,000

UNDP: USD 1,000,000

Total: USD 60,  820,000

Rs 221.00 Lakhs have been sanctioned to Government of Uttarakhand in FY 2017-2018.

West Bengal is not included in the  SECURE Himalaya project.

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