Leh: In a major step towards institutionalising wildlife protection and ecological conservation in the Union Territory, Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Tuesday approved the constitution of the first-of-its-kind Snow Leopard and High-Altitude Nature (SHAN) Conservation Society.
The society will function as a dedicated institutional mechanism for wildlife conservation, biodiversity protection and community-led environmental stewardship across Ladakh’s fragile mountain ecosystems.
According to an official spokesperson, the Lieutenant Governor will serve as Chairman of the society. Its ex-officio members include the Chief Secretary, Member of Parliament from Ladakh, Chief Executive Councillors of LAHDC Leh and LAHDC Kargil, and the Principal Secretary, Department of Forest, Ecology and Environment.
The society also brings together experts and stakeholders from conservation, community and environmental sectors, including Palga Rinpoche, Head of Naljorling Monastery; Sejal Worah, Programme Director, WWF India; Sandesh Kadur, Explorer Trustee, National Geographic Society Board of Trustees; the President of Women’s Alliance of Ladakh; and Ghulam Mohammad Khan, Chairman, Ladakh Centre for Peace and Sustainable Development.
The SHAN Conservation Society has been tasked with promoting wildlife and habitat conservation, mobilising resources for ecological protection, supporting eco-development in snow leopard habitats, mitigating human-wildlife conflict and advancing sustainable eco-tourism and local livelihoods.
Speaking on the initiative, LG Vinai Kumar Saxena said environmental protection remains central to governance in Ladakh due to the region’s ecologically sensitive landscape.
“Environmental protection has been one of our foremost priorities in Ladakh, where fragile mountain ecosystems demand a development model that places conservation at its very core. The snow leopard is not merely a wildlife species; it is an integral part of Ladakh’s ecological identity and natural heritage,” he said.
He added that the SHAN Conservation Society represents an important institutional initiative aimed at promoting science-based and community-driven conservation while ensuring ecological preservation and sustainable livelihoods move forward together.
Officials said the establishment of SHAN reflects sustained efforts to build a stronger institutional framework for biodiversity conservation in Ladakh.
Designed as a multi-stakeholder platform, the society will support scientific monitoring and research, strengthen biodiversity management and conserve Ladakh’s unique alpine fauna, wetlands, flora and cold desert ecosystems.
The initiative assumes special significance for the protection of the snow leopard — Ladakh’s state animal and one of the world’s most elusive and endangered big cats.
Often referred to as the “Ghost of the Mountains”, the snow leopard is considered a keystone species whose survival is closely linked to the health of the Trans-Himalayan ecosystem. Its conservation is critical for protecting mountain habitats, watersheds, prey species and biodiversity that sustain life across the region.
Officials said the species has also emerged as a global symbol of Ladakh’s natural heritage and offers significant potential for responsible eco-tourism and community-based conservation.
