Jigmet Takpa is an Indian Forest Service Officer from Ladakh. His accomplishments in the field of bidiversity conservation, sustainable rural development and climate change mitigation are testament to his dedication. The biodiversity conservation, rural development and renewable energy projects which he has pioneered in Ladakh have established a benchmark in the Himalayas, the state of Jammu & Kashmir and the nation which others follow. He currently holds the post of the Chief Conservator of Forests (wildlife) and Project Director, Ladakh Renewable Energy Development Agency (LREDA).

Takpa’s personal initiatives to address the development and conservation challenges facing the fragile ecosystem of Ladakh include establishing flagship projects in identifying, devising and adapting suitable technologies for efficiently managing the natural resources of the high altitude Himalayan regions through projects in natural resource conservation and renewable energy. He has played a key role in realizing the Project Snow Leopard, Ladakh Ecotourism Project and “Ladakh Renewable Energy Initiative”  and is currently directing the implementation of the Rs. 4.73 billion projects, launched by the Union Cabinet, GOI on 26th Feb 2010 in Union Budget. As a result, Ladakh is witnessing the holistic development of renewable energy which will alleviate the longstanding problem of energy shortage in the region as well as reduce the tremendous expenditures of the Government of India in sustaining the energy sector in Ladakh.

Q.How you got selected in the IFS? Please tell us about your career in the Forest Service?

Getting into the Indian Forests Services was cherished dream. Right in the college time I got interested in the issue of the ecology and environment. Just after engineering I started preparing for the IFS and got through IFS in 1990.

After the training in Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy, Dehradun and probation in  Kathua Jammu, I worked in Jammu as Deputy Conservator in Social Forestry from 1994-96. In 1996 I got posted as DFO Leh. Since then I have been working in Ladakh in various capacities.

Q.Why you choose to work in Ladakh for so long, being an All India Service Officer you could have built a good career for yourself in the state and at the center.

First of all, Ladakh is my home. Secondly, I believe that whatever you achieve in your life is because of your education is given by your parents, support from your family, your own hard work and most important is that because you belong to Ladakh. So before pursuing a career for yourself at the state and national level, I think one must pay back to the region where you belong to.

Q.What are the departments you handled during said period?

Initially, I worked as DFO Leh for two and a half year than In Employment Department for 2 years. After that, I have been working in Department of Wildlife Protection in various Capacities with additional Charge of Project Director Ladakh Renewable Energy Development Agency (LREDA).

Q.How you describe the Ladakh’s ecology.

The region, best described as a high altitude cold desert interspersed with rugged mountains, low precipitation and extremely cold, long winters sees to particularly low amounts of resources available patchily in both space and time.

Ladakh possesses a unique assemblage of biodiversity adapted to exploit such harsh conditions, Ladakh is situated at the junction of two biogeography realms, the faunal and floral communities are composed of species from both these zones. The habitat of Ladakh, consisting of sparse steppe vegetation is inhabited by species of open rolling slopes and wide basins such as the Tibetan wild-ass (kiang), gazelle, argali, wolf and the Snow-Leopard, which are almost all considered globally and nationally threatened. Hence, Ladakh assumes added importance in conservation of its unique assemblages.

Q.What are the threats and challenges of biodiversity conservation?

The main threat to Ladakh ecology is the unplanned and uncontrolled tourism in the biological hot spot areas, the uncontrolled and unplanned development in the ecological fragile zones, encroachment and destruction of the biological rich areas by the army,  paramilitary forces and local in the tourism business.

Another problem is that the peak tourist season coincides with the breeding season of the migratory birds. Furthermore, poverty and the lack of sustainable alternate livelihoods for the people of Ladakh, lack of integration of livelihood and biodiversity in development planning around biodiversity-rich areas, and the lack of financial and social incentives for resource-dependent communities has been a challenge to the biodiversity conservation of the region

Q.What are the Projects that you conceived and implemented in the field of environment and Wildlife?

As the Divisional Forest Officer of Leh District (1996-1999), I led pioneering work in plantation projects, also known as the Social Forestry Initiative, I also supervised a programme on conservation of medicinal plants, in-situ and ex-situ, in biological hotspots, establishing plant nurseries in Leh, Changthang and Nubra in order to document and conserve the medicinal plants. I drafted the ‘Seabuckthorn Regulations for Ladakh’ in order that Sea buckthorn (Hippophae, the ‘wonder plant of Ladakh’) could be harvested and commercially processed and marketed for the benefit of the locals.

As Regional Wildlife Warden of Ladakh, I drafted the first ever Management Plan for Hemis High Altitude National Park, the Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary, and Changthang Cold Desert Sanctuary, Conservation of Tsomoriri and TsoKar Wetlands (under the Honourable Prime Minister Reconstruction Plan). And also initiated micro level planning (MLP) in the Changthang region, Pioneered the concept of protecting the entire Himalayas under an umbrella conservation project entitled “Project Snow Leopard”, similar to flagship schemes in other parts of India such as “Project Tiger” and “Project Elephant”.

Mobilized communities in Ladakh to join wildlife conservation efforts, through awareness building and law enforcement methods. I led various efforts to reduce wildlife-human conflicts, introduced alternative livelihood improvement projects to reduce pressure on natural resources and dependency on livestock.

Q.What conservation model you adopt to conserve the ecology of Ladakh?

The conservation theory in India and also throughout the world stems from the hypothesis that man and wildlife cannot coexist. Therefore to conserve a biodiversity-rich spots, the area is declared as National Parks and sanctuaries. This is called  “island” model which considers wildlife habitats as 'islands' surrounded by a 'sea' of non-habitat.  And for an area to be declared as National park the right of the communities has to be extinguished and the communities residing inside the National Parks has to be relocated outside the protected areas. This was the case with India’s flagship programme, “The Project Tiger”, which has failed to protect the decline of the tiger population for various reasons.

The biodiversity values in the Trans-Himalayan tracts are widespread in the landscape.  Based on these ecological, management and social contexts, it was found more prudent to opt for a very radical conservation approach where in addition to the Protected Areas the whole landscape is conserved. This also needs a commitment for joint management of areas so that genuine issues of the traditional users of the area are also met. It is termed as the landscape model.  Department has applied this approach of conservation for last one decade. The communities inside and outside the Protected area is made to live in harmony with the wildlife.

Q.What are the livelihood projects you carry out and why such a scheme required for biodiversity conservation?

The issue is not only of biodiversity conservation but the lack of livelihood opportunities, its integration to biodiversity conservation and the development of communities in this region. The livelihood programme aims at Increasing sustainability of protected area network through maximizing local benefits to strengthen linkages between conservation and livelihood security of local communities that live in and adjacent to these areas.

The various livelihood project initiated by the department are:

a) “Ladakh Ecotourism Project”, Ecotourism includes programs that minimize the negative aspects of conventional tourism on the environment, and enhance the cultural integrity of local people.

b) “Ladakh Home Stays”, Ladakh Homestays offer guest a unique opportunity to stay with, and share the traditional culture of Ladakhi people in remote villages, while trekking through habitat of the endangered snow leopard.

c) The Ladakh Snowleopard Enterprise” to  Women empowerment, confidence and capacity building of villagers in tourist attendance, women self Groups to market the handicraft and handloom products,
 
d) Naturalist Guides training for educated unemployed youths.

e) Waste management to cash on the trash,

f) Eco café for the women self help Groups to market their local produce,

g) Local travel agents bring the ecotourism business in the hand of locals.

Q.What Projects you implemented in the field of Renewable Energy?

I played a key role in the development of renewable energy in Ladakh, establishing a state level nodal agency, the Ladakh Renewable Energy Development Agency (LREDA). Through this agency, I completed the solar electrification of all the remote un-electrified villages way back in 2001.

I also coordinated a survey for geothermal energy in Ladakh which is expected to generate 50-150 MW, in collaboration with the Geological Survey of India, National Geophysical Research Institute and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT-Bombay). Now Collaborating with the JK PDD for exploration of Geothermal energy in Puga valley, and with the DRDO in Chumathang.

I formulated the comprehensive action plan for the development of renewable energy in Ladakh, which has been approved by the Union Cabinet, Government of India and is currently under implementation. The project includes the development of 11 micro hydro projects (over 12 MW) in the Leh, 40 solar power plants for remote villages, 60 solar power plants for institutions, solar water heaters for 40% of the building in Leh, 3000 solar greenhouses, 4500 solar cookers, solar dryers, solar passive housing projects and ground source heat pump projects. Other projects include upgrading of local water mills (gharats), pico-hydro projects, wind monitoring projects, and the implementation of solar wind hybrid systems.

Q.You coordinated the drafting of the vision Document? What was the need of such a vision document?

The Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh initiated the formulation of the vision document. I was appointed as the coordinator for the drafting of the Ladakh 2025 Vision Document, a roadmap for the development and progress of the region.

The Ladakh stands as a region with extremely hostile environment conditions with vulnerability in all senses of the word. Ladakh having witnessed an immense transition in an extremely short amount of time with the surmounting pressure of the tourism industry and depletion of natural resources on which the traditional economy had relied on throughout history. It is in this observation that Ladakh has exigently needed a development model that incorporates a holistic and sustainable approach to development, where the conservation of Ladakh’s fragile ecosystem, Cultural Heritage and human development are included in developmental planning through people participation. In a year-long process, where people from all walks of life participated in providing inputs for the development of Ladakh.  Ladakh Vision Document has been the first step towards an integrated development plan for the Leh District. It has also been implemented for a purpose to avert the excessive dependency of Ladakh on the outside world and to create communities which are self-reliant now the prospective 5-year plan and the annual plans are drawn in the lines of the Ladakh Vision Document 2025.

Q. What is the outcome of various initiative that you have initiated?

The most prominent examples in the impacts/benefits of the project are:

1. Biodiversity conservation in Ladakh through the landscape model has been a success for others to emulate. The census of key flagship species like snow leopard, wild yak, Asiatic Ibex, Tibetan Antelope, Black-necked Crane, and Bar-headed Geese shows rapid growth in its population. Throughout the world, the wildlife enthusiasts come especially to see a snow leopard in wild in Ladakh. Such a phenomenon is not known in any part of the world. Many species which were thought to be extinct in Ladakh such as lynx, Palas cat, Wild Yak, Argali are recovering and reclaiming the ecosystem and prospering.

2. The Ladakh Ecotourism Project in the Hemis National park is considered as a sustainable model. Ecotourism enterprise the local tour agencies and guide services, homestay, pony and porter services, and food services as well as such handicraft industries, which has generated revenues and foreign exchange.  These incomes generating activities offset the loss they make because of the various restriction imposed on the resources by park authorities but also the loss they make because of the wildlife damages.  After reaping the benefits from the ecotourism they have become the biggest advocate of conservation of wildlife. Hemis national park is best protected National Park for highly endangered Snow leopard in the world. While local inhabitants are those most directly affected by the establishment of parks and protected areas, they also stand profited the most by their conservation. By bringing residents into the business of ecotourism, not only local people met their economic needs, but they also have maintained and enhanced the "sense of place".

3. Village Electrification: villages now have access to electricity which has opened up many options in terms of livelihood and the general well-being of the residents.

4. Primary Health Centres/Community Health Centres: the health centres are able to provide services efficiently with reliable and independent power systems. X-rays, dental equipment, lighting, refrigeration of vaccines can be readily carried out without any disruption in power.

5. Educational Institutions: lighting in classrooms, computer education classes in the schools that were erratic and the general functioning of facilities in the schools have become functional

6. Hotels/Guest Houses: Hot water is available at many guest houses/hotels in the region without expenditure on kerosene and other fossil fuels. Tourism which is the mainstay income for the people of Ladakh has been greatly aided with the introduction of the systems.
  
7. Households: With the availability of hot water without expenditure on fossil fuels, space heating solutions, and minimizing the dependency on LPG and biomass on cooking required for energy needs, households are able to sense the immense impact in savings of income and also have more comfortable living conditions. In addition, the livelihood options have also opened up for the locals thus aiding in the alleviation of poverty in the region. Livelihood options include handicraft making, selling of vegetables in the market etc.

8. Ladakh prospective 5-year plan is drafted and unveiled based on its Vision Document. And annual plans are also the Annual plans are drafted in accordance with the Ladakh Vision Document 2025 mainstreaming the biodiversity in development planning.