Ladakh's nomads could lose lifeline to sanctuary

The decision by Jammu and Kashmir's Leh district to declare the Changthang region a highaltitude wildlife sanctuary has put Ladakh's Changpa nomads in a fix. The nomads have, for long, been using the land for grazing their livestock including their famous pashm goats. They say the decision will hem them in, though they have, for centuries, been living in harmony with Changthang's ecosystem. The administration's decision has threatened other communities too (see box: Livelihood loss?).

The move to create the wildlife sanctuary, through a notification issued by the Leh district magistrate in January 2007, is part of the administration's plan to strictly implement the Jammu and Kashmir Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1978.The notification is in compliance with a Supreme Court order of September 2002, restricting human activities in protected wildlife areas and also follows a visit of the Central Empowered Committee (cec) to the Pangong lake