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ENVIS CENTRE S I K K I M On ECOTOURISM ISSN: 0974-6072

KNP SPECIAL Newsletter Volume 14 Number 2 July-September 2016 Khangchendzonga National Park, : India's new UNESCO World Heritage Site!

Khangchendzonga National Park lakes, glaciers and spectacular, snow- prestige to the park, but also entitles it (previously named Kanchenjunga capped mountains covered with to financing from the World Heritage National Park) also Kanchenjunga ancient forests, including the world's Fund. Biosphere Reserve is a National Park t h i r d h i g h e s t p e a k , M o u n t "The UNESCO recognition will give a and a Biosphere reserve located in Khangchendzonga. further push to eco-tourism in our Sikkim, India. It was inscribed to the Besides, the National Park is highly state, while also helping us to regulate UNESCO World Heritage Sites list on regarded by the state's local the high influx of visitors to more July 17, 2016, becoming the first population because of several popular destinations with only a "Mixed Heritage" site of India. The mythological stories that are minimal negative impact of tourism," Khangchendzonga National Park, a said Hon'ble Sikkim Chief Minister lesser-known destination in Sikkim, associated with the caves, rivers, Pawan Kumar Chamling. has been declared has a World Heritage lakes, forests and other natural Site by UNESCO. The 40th World elements in this place. The Heritage Committee at Istanbul, park gets its name from the Turkey has inscribed Khangchendzonga mountain Kanchenjunga National Park of Sikkim, India as a ( a l t e r n a t i v e s p e l l i n g UNESCO's World Heritage Site on Khangchendzonga) which is 'Mixed' criteria recognising the 8,586 metres (28,169 ft) tall, outstanding universal values for its the third-highest peak in the both natural and cultural significance. world. The total area of this Located at the at the heart of the park is 849.5 km2 (328.0 sq Himalayan range in Sikkim, the Park is mi). There are many glaciers View of the Mighty Khangchendzonga from a camping site. home to dozens of lofty mountain in the park including the peaks, 18 glaciers, lakes, waterfalls Zemu glacier. Animals like and some unique flora and fauna. A KNP's Rich Biodiversity musk deer, snow leopard and favourite among trekkers, this place Himalayan tahr all make their home in  Flora: has a unique biodiversity that includes this park. an interesting mix of wildlife species The area of the Park broadly comes and the presence of plains, valleys, The UNESCO designation not only adds u n d e r C h a m p i o n a n d s e t h ' s classification type. Sub-Group IIB become very rare in the area. The wild mainly comprises of East Himalayan Northern Mantane Temperate Forests: dogs in the Khangchendzonga Sub-tropical Broad-leaf Hill Forest, and Group 12- Himalayan Moist Biosphere Reserve are believed to East Himalayan Moist Temperate Temperate Forest: Sub-Alpine Scrub belong to the rare and genetically Forest, East Himalayan Mixed Forest, alpine Scrubs and Pastures. distinct subspecies C. a. primaevus. Coniferous Forest, East Himalayan Thus, the flora of the Park can be Sub-Alpine Birch/Fir/Rhododendron The Park is rich in bird-life with around broadly subdivided into three forest Forest, Moist Alpine Scrub Forest and 550 species and sub-species like the Zones: Alpine Pastures. flamboyant high- altitude Pheasants 1. Temperate Broad-leaved forest which include Monal Pheasants, (1,829-2,730 mts) dominated by Tragopan phasants and Blood KBR includes areas of high religious Quercus Lineata, Quercus Lamellosa, Pheasants (the State Bird); Tibetan significance that some of the Quercus Pachyphylla, Schima Wallichii, snow Cock; Himalayan Snow Cock, Mountains/ Peaks, Lakes, Caves, Castanopsis species, Acer Campbellii, Snow Partridge, Hill Partridge, Rocks, Stupas (Shrines) and Hot- Engelhardtia, Juglans regia, Michelia Lammergyer, Forest Eagle-Owl, Springs are sacred and pilgrimage cathcartii, Magnoilia Campbellii and Tibetan Horned Eagle-Owl; Eagles; sites. The State Government of Sikkim Cinnamounm Obtusifolium. Falcons; Hawks; and Snow & Rock has banned scaling of sacred peaks and Pigeons. Most of these birds are also defilement of sacred caves, 2. Mixed Coniferous Forest (2,730 physically adopted for high mountain 3,650 mts) dominated by fir, Abies sacred rocks, sacred lakes, stupas and climate conditions and come down to sacred hot-springs. densa, Acer species, Spruce, Picea lower elevations during winter when mrindoides and Junipers (Juniperous the upper reaches are covered with Spiritual Aspect species) with associates of taller snow. The National Park has a deep seated v a r i e t i e s o f religious sentiment in Rhododendrons and connection with the Bamboo(Arundinaira people of Sikkim. species) They believe in the 3. Alpine Scrub and holy spirits that are Grass (above 3,650 living in the forests, mts) dominated by lakes and caves of common shrubs and this vast area and so herbs like Meconopsis it is easy to conserve species, Primula and protect the species, Prostrating Junipers, Iris THE KHANGCHENDZONGA BIOSPHERE animals and plants of the region. Gentiana, Anemone and Delhpinium. RESERVE: Regions of Sikkim that comes under its Besides, there are many medicinal t e r r i t o r y i n c l u d e Y u k s o m , Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve herbs too- like Aconitum species, 2 Gurudongmar, Muguthang, Lachen, (KBR) with an area of 2,931.12 Km Pi c r o r h i z a , O r c h i s l a t i f o l i a , Thangu, Chopta valley, upper ridges of represents a land area which upholds Nardostachys jamtamsi, Rheum emodi Dzongu and Green Lake. Some of the the Trans-Himalayan biota in the important religious natural elements and Panax pseudogingseng. eastern part of Hindukush Himalayas. located inside the park are  The chain of the Great Himalayan Fauna: , one of the holiest Mountain begins from Afghanistan and The Khangchendzonga (High Altitude) lakes in North Sikkim. There are also as it proceeds eastwards to include the National Park is a reservoir of diverse four holy caves located at different Highest Peak of the World, the Mount habitats- including some rare and location of the park area. They are said Everest, the Khangchendzonga endangered species like the Snow to possess a lot of power and it is Mountain Range, the third highest peak L e o p a r d , H i m a l a y a n R e d believed that whoever visits all four of of the World commences immediately them is bound to experience profound Panda(Sikkim's State Animal), Musk after the Everest Range and forms the spiritual cleansing. Sikkim is presented Deer, Nayan or the Great Tibetan major portion of the Khangchendzonga in Buddhism as a "hidden land" and as Sheep. Bharal or the Blue Sheep, Biosphere Reserve (KBR). Himalayan Tahr(Shaipii), Common per scriptures, what now constitutes Leopard, Goral, Serow, Barking Deer, KBR is endowed with one of the highest the park is the sanctum sanctorum, Lesser Cats, Wild Dogs, Tibetan Wolf, eco-systems in the world and it covers where religious masters have hidden Mountain Fox, Tibetan Fox, Himalayan varying eco-clines from sub-tropical to religious texts and treatises marked for Black Bear, Marmots Monkeys and many arctic, vast land of natural forests in discovery in later times. different biomes from 1220m to over Rodent species. A recent study The name of Khangchendzonga means 8586m above sea level. The vegetation revealed that the Asiatic wild dog has 'The Great Snowy Repository of Five Treasures' (from Tibetan gangs: snow, starts from Yuksom (145 km (90 mi) Inner-Line Permit from the State Home chen: great, mdzod: treasure, lnga: from ) in West Sikkim. Department. Permission of the State five). Necessary Permit can be obtained from Chief Wildlife Warden is also t h e W i l d l i f e E d u c a t i o n a n d mandatory for everybody visiting the Dzonga, Sikkim's guardian deity resides Interpretation center at Yuksom or park. The important and popular on Mt. Khangchendzonga from where, from the check post. State Tourism routes are: sitting like a king on a throne, he Department along with other travel presides over the beyul as the owner Lucanes Jakchen-Yabuk-Rest agents organize treks to Dzongri (4,050 and protector of the land, its people Camp (Marco Polo Camp) - Green metres (13,290 ft)) and other places. and natural resources. Lake The popular trek routes are: T h e f i v e p e a k s o f M t . Lachen-Thasngu (13,695 feet  Yuksom - Tshoka Dzongri Khangchendzonga are considered as (4,174 m)) - Muguthang (16,000 feet repository of five treasures: i) salt ii)  Bakim - Dzongri - Thangshing - (4,900 m)) - Thay La (17,000 feet gold and turquoise, iii) Buddhist Samuteng Goechala (5,200 m)) - Khyoksa La (18,000 feet scriptures iv) arms v) medicines and (5,500 m)) - Rest Camp - Green Lake.  Dzongri Base Camp - Rathong seeds. It is believed that these Khangerteng Most of these trekking routes pass treasures will be made available to the through the Kanchenjunga National Sikkimese people in times of need.  Thangshing - Lam Pokhari - Park. Kasturi Orar - Labdang not ladang The Kanchendzonga National Park is - Tashiding. also home to many Glaciers. Some of t h e i m p o r t a n t glaciers located here are: 1. Zemu Glacier (26km long and 300km wide, one of the largest in Asia) Chirim Ritual held by the bongthing (shaman) of Payel village, Dzongu 2. Rathong Glacier

3. T o n g s h i o n g Permissions & Fees in the Park Glacier In accordance with the provisions of 4. Talung Glacier the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and 5. T e n t P e a k the Wildlife Rules made thereon, the Glacier Chief Wildlife Warden, Government of Sikkim grants permission to visitors P a r k s p e c i f i c i n t e n d i n g t o v i s i t t h e activities Khangchendzonga National Park for Trekking is one of the the purpose of photography, scientific most widely chosen research, tourism, transaction of activities in the lawful business and studying wildlife park. Besides there on payment of the following prescribed are other activities fees. which can be taken 1. ENTRY FEE : u p b y t o u r i s t s visiting the heritage  Indian Nationals Another popular trekking point site like Bird watching, camping, includes trekking to the Green Lake I. 350/- per head for the first 7 wilderness photography etc. The via Lachen, a village in North Sikkim as days. National park is also open to various the starting point. Foreign nationals media activities like Film making, II. 40/- per head -per day for would require a restricted area permit shooting documentaries and video logs additional days. from the Ministry of Home Affairs, but there is a nominal fees which has to Government of India, Delhi to visit the  Foreigners be paid to the authorities. park and the associated region. Indian I. 560/- per head for the first 7 Trekking- Most of the trekking routes nationals are required to obtain an days. II. 80/- per head -per day for (j) Defecate within 100 meters of any (b) Engage pack animals owned by additional days. water body. genuine Sikkim subjects who  Students (Indian Nationals) (k) Camp within 500 meters of the possess the Certificate of I. 80/- per head for the first 7 periphery of any lake. Identification. days (l) Cause environmental pollution. (c) Provide adequate cooked food for II. 20/- per head -per day for the trekking service providers additional days. (m) Defile sites of religious and while in a wildlife area and ensure cultural significances such as  Local Guides and Porters with the that they do not use firewood. sacred mountains, lakes, rocks, Team 10/- per head per day caves and shrines. (d) Obtain a permit and pay  Pack Animals 15/- per animal per prescribed fees before entering a day (n) Commit any other act that may be wildlife area. injurious to forests, water bodies,  Tent Pitching Charge 50/- per tent plants, animals or disturb the (e) Register at the forest/wildlife per day natural tranquility of such sites or check posts before entering a  Bed Charges in Log Hut 100/- per become a nuisance to fellow wildlife area. bed per day trekkers. (f) Arrange to carry sufficient 2. CAMERA-OPERATING FEE: (o) Leave any non-biodegradable kerosene and LPG for heating and  Still Camera 30/- materials in wildlife area during a cooking purpose.  Video Camera 1000/- trek, and such materials shall be (g) The pack animal operator shall  Movie Camera 35000/- declared at the forest/ wildlife arrange for fodder for the pack check-post both before and after animals and ensure that they do 3. FILM-MAKING FEE: the trek. not graze freely in wildlife areas.  Feature Film 70,000/- (Foreigners) (p) Sell liquor, drugs and other 35,000/- (Indians) (One film at a (h) Keep to the permitted nature intoxicants within a wildlife area. time) trails and treks. (q) Carry out any research or study  Documentary film 36,000/- (i) Segregate degradable and non- within a wildlife area without the (Foreigners) 24,000/- (Indians) degradable litters and burn or bury p r i o r p e r m i s s i o n o f t h e (One film at a time) all bio-degradable items and carry Government. Expedition to High Altitude Peaks For back all other non-biodegradable (r) Indulge in hunting of any wild scaling & climbing of peaks permission items. animals or carry on the business of is to be accorded from Government of (j) Also inform the nearest Wildlife buying & selling any animals, Sikkim through Tourism & Civil Aviation Check Post, in case the parties animal, article, antique cultural Department and Home Department. come across forest fire, wildlife artifacts, trophy, uncured trophy offence by someone, death or Regulations: or meat of wild animals and carcass of wild animals during specified plants. DONT's: The parties shall not their nature trip. (s) Destroy or remove any wildlife, (a) Use firewood or kindle fire in (k) Obtain permission from the State infrastructures and plants /trees, wildlife and forest areas. Home Department and also from sign boards of the protected State Chief Wildlife Warden, (b) Damage or cut shrubs or thickets. areas. Forest for Alpine Expedition. (c) Pollute water body. (t) Swim in lake, river or approach Note: The actions stipulated above (d) Collect plants or their parts. glaciers inside the National Park/ protected area or camp in areas of are prohibited under the provisions of (e) Be accompanied by stray dogs or wildlife interest or their habitats. the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 pet animals. (amended up to 2006) and the Sikkim (u) Collect specimens of wildlife Wildlife (Regulation of Trekking) (f) Feed, shout, tease, chase, disturb (animals, birds, butterflies, Rules, 2005, which attract penalties or molest wild animals. insects, moths, etc.) without with fine or imprisonment to the (g) Play loud music or use loud permission of the competent offenders. authority. speakers. The Himal Rakshak DO's: The parties shall (h) C a m p o u t s i d e d e s i g n a t e d Nearly 60% of Sikkim (4,187 sq. km) lies campsites. (a) Engage trekking service providers above 3000 meters and most of this are who are genuine Sikkim subjects (i) Trek outside designated nature classified as Reserve Forests. This sub- and possess the Certificates of trails. alpine and alpine landscape of the Identification. conservation management. Such Officer. villagers, who are willing, were to be Best time to Visit recognized as Himal Rakshaks (honorary mountain guardians) and The best season to visit the their capacity building done. This Kanchenjunga national park is would result in a more effective, between April to May. Snowfall is heavy p a r t i c i p a t o r y “ o n g r o u n d ” during the winter months and monsoon conservation of the Himal jointly with showers occur from May to mid the Forest Department. Since it is their October. traditional livelihoods which compel How to Reach: the Himal Rakshaks to access the Himal, these livelihoods will be  Nearest airport: permitted in a regulated manner, I. Bagdogra Airport, Darjeeling Sikkim Himalaya locally referred to as provided they perform their duties and district, (222 km Himal, has a unique ecosystem and responsibilities. (138 mi)) comprises of 285 glaciers, 316 glacial The main duty and responsibility of a II. Gangtok Helipad, East Sikkim lakes and ten mountain peaks that rise Himal Rakshak is to assist whole district, Sikkim. above 7000 meters. heartedly in wildlife conservation work  Nearest railhead: New Jalpaiguri, It also harbours important tourism with regard to the following matters: Siliguri Junction (221 km (137 mi)) destinations like Tsomgo (Changu), a. C o n t r o l o f p o a c h i n g a n d  Nathu-la, Gurudongmar, Yumthang, clandestine trade in wild animals Nearest highway: NH 31A (Sevok Dzongri, Yambong, Maenam and and products / articles thereof. Gangtok) Barsey. Most of the peaks, lakes, rivers  Nearest town: Yuksom in West and and caves here are considered sacred b. Detection of offences under the Wildlife (Protection) Act and the Chungthang in North (20 km (12 and are visited by pilgrims to pay mi)) homage. rules made there under.  Nearest city: Gangtok Though most of lower and middle hill c. Preventing damage to the habitat forests have been brought under the of wildlife. GLIMPSES OF PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN Joint Forest Management (JFMC/EDC) d. Preventing smuggling of medicinal FROM VARIOUS AREAS INSIDE THE network, the upper hill forests of the and aromatic plants for trade. KNP: Himalayas, inspite of determined e. Preventing instances efforts, still continue to be under of bio-piracy by inadequate management, beset with tourists and others. threats and need urgent interventions. The main threats being unregulated f. R e d u c i n g t h e grazing, unplanned trekking tourism, negative impacts hunting and trapping of wild animals, from unplanned smuggling of medicinal and aromatic trekking tourism. plants, global warming and lack of g. C a r r y i n g t h e awareness amongst the security m e s s a g e o f forces. Effective conservation of the conservation to the Himal by forest staff alone is very people and enlisting difficult due to its high altitude, Moonset and sunrise over Jonsang peak North Sikkim their public support remoteness, tough terrain, harsh f o r n a t u r e a n d w i l d l i f e climate and limited resources conservation. available. Further lack of adequate infrastructure and facilities make h. Carrying our biological surveys and every patrolling visit more like an monitoring. expedition, with a large contingent of i. Render assistance to the forest support staff and resultant high personnel during their visits to the attendant costs. Himal. Hence it was decided to enlist the j. Any other matter related with the support of the villagers, practicing conservation of wildlife, which traditional subsistence livelihoods in may be entrusted by the the high altitudes of the Himalayas, in concerned Divisional Forest Mt. Muguthang Mt. Narsing High Altitude lakes in KNP

Zemu Glacier Thangshing

Indo Border at Boktok. View of Khangchendzonga range from Sakyom Upper Dzongu

Tholung Chu Fall Khacheodpalri Lake SWACHH SARVEKSHAN: Gangtok in Top Ten Cleanest Cities in I N D I A

The Union Ministry of Urban Development commissioned an Swachh Sarvekshan was conducted between 5 January 2016 extensive survey to study the progress of the Prime Minister and 20 January 2016. The Results, as per the latest available Narendra Modi's Swachh Bharat Mission and to rank 73 cities sources, are as follows: on sanitation and cleanliness. The survey, the first for the Swachh Bharat Mission, was conducted by the Quality Council of India (QCI) and was named Swachh Sarvekshan. It covered Swachh State/ all state capitals and another 53 cities with a population of Sarvekshan City Union above one million. It involved three streams of data Ranking Territory collection - interaction with municipal body, direct 1 Mysore Karnataka observation and citizen feedback. Swachh Sarvekshan 2 Chandigarh Chandigarh evaluated the work done in the following six measurable aspects of sanitation and hygiene: 3 Tiruchilapalli Tamil Nadu 4 NDMC Delhi  Strategy for Open Defecation Free town (ODF) and Integrated Solid Waste Management (SWM) 5 Vishakapatnam Andhra Pradesh  Information, Education and Behaviour Change 6 Surat Gujrat Communication (IEBC) activity 7 Rajkot Gujrat  Sweeping, door to door collection and transportation (of 8 Gangtok Sikkim solid waste) 9 Pimpri-Chinchwad Maharastra  Processing and disposal (of solid waste) 10 Greater Mumbai Maharastra  Provision of public & community toilet seats  Construction of household individual toilets Source: Wiki Pedia, Swachh Sarvekshan A CENTENNIAL EVENT! TIGER NUMBERS HAVE FINALLY INCREASED!

The number of tigers in the wild is With every tiger, we protect around as Tx2. In 2014, tiger range now 3,890! This updated minimum 25,000 acres of forest. governments agreed to announce a figure, compiled from IUCN data and new global tiger estimate by 2016, When tigers are protected, we save so the latest national tiger surveys, based on full, systematic national much more. As a large predator, the indicates an increase on the 2010 surveys. The new minimum estimate of tiger shapes the ecosystem in which it estimate of 'as few as 3,200', a first close to 3,900 tigers is based on the lives. Protecting the tiger benefits the ever in the last 100 years. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species hundreds of other species plants, account for tigers, updated for “For the first time after decades of mammals, birds and insects - that countries where national tiger surveys constant decline, tiger numbers are on share its habitat. So all that it takes to have taken place since the IUCN the rise. This offers us great hope and bring a change and save the planet, is a assessment. shows that we can save species and few #MoreTigers. their habitats when governments, What WWF-India does for Tigers In 2010 at the Tiger Summit in Russia, l o c a l c o m m u n i t i e s a n d tiger range governments across the WWF-India's work for tiger conservation conservationists work together.” world agreed to act to double wild aims to maintain and restore tiger Marco Lambertini, Director General tigers by the next Chinese Year of the habitats and critical corridors while of WWF International Tiger in 2022 as part of the Global Tiger protecting the tiger and its prey base in Initiative process. This goal is known the tiger landscapes within India, Why is this important? eventually leading to an increase and stabilization in tiger populations across Tiger Reserves. The ENVIS team: the country. Their work involves research & WWF-India currently works for tiger monitoring of tiger landscapes, Member Secretary conservation in seven tiger landscapes: managing human-tiger conflict, Dr. Anil Mainra, IFS  The Terai Arc Landscape providing strategic infrastructure support, capacity building of frontline  The Sundarbans Landscape Co-ordinator staff, working with local communities in Mr. D.T. Bhutia  The Satpuda-Maikal Landscape and around critical habitats and Additional Director, DST&CC  The North Bank Landscape corridors, environmental education &  The Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong awareness, policy & advocacy and Landscape working through TRAFFIC to reduce the Sr. Programme Officer Mr. Sherap N. Bhutia  The Western Ghats-Nilgiris Landscape threat of poaching. (For details on WWF India's Role in Tiger WWF-India also works in certain IT Officer-cum-Research Assistant Conservation please visit their page important tiger habitats that fall outside Mr. Prabhakar Gurung these tiger landscapes, namely www.wwfindia.org) Ranthambore, Similipal, Panna and Buxa IT Assistant-cum-DEO Ms. Kalzang Eden

Published by Shri Anil Mainra, IFS, secretary to the Govt. of Sikkim Ex-Officio Member Secretary to the State Council of Science & Technology for Sikkim and edited by Shri Dorjee Thinlay Bhutia, Additional Director on behalf of ENVIS centre Sikkim on Eco-Tourism As part of the programme on Environmental Information System(ENVIS) to the Ministry of Environment and Forests, *The Myanmar Government figure is 85 tigers from a 2010 estimate. However as there is no recent survey data available, this figure has not been included. Government of India.

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