Reaffirming his commitment towards environmental protection and wildlife conservation in the fragile high-altitude ecosystems of Ladakh, Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Shri Vinai Kumar Saxena, has approved the constitution of the first-of-its-kind Snow Leopard and High-Altitude Nature (SHAN) Conservation Society. The Society will serve as a dedicated institutional mechanism for wildlife conservation, scientific management of biodiversity and promotion of community-led environmental stewardship in the Union Territory.

The SHAN Conservation Society will promote, support and mobilise resources for the conservation of wildlife and their habitats, eco-development in areas inhabited by Snow Leopards and associated species, promotion of eco-tourism, and creation of sustainable livelihood opportunities for local communities.

Since assuming charge as the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Shri Vinai Kumar Saxena has consistently placed environmental protection and ecological resilience at the centre of governance. The establishment of the SHAN Conservation Society marks another significant milestone in this direction and is the outcome of sustained efforts to establish a robust institutional framework for biodiversity conservation in Ladakh.

The Society has been constituted as a multi-stakeholder platform to facilitate conservation of Ladakh’s unique alpine fauna, including the Snow Leopard, diverse flora, wetlands and fragile cold desert ecosystems. It will support scientific research and monitoring, strengthen biodiversity management, address human-wildlife conflict, encourage community participation in conservation initiatives and promote sustainable eco-tourism and livelihood generation.

“Environmental protection has been one of our foremost priorities in Ladakh, where fragile mountain ecosystems require a development model that places conservation at its core. The Snow Leopard is not merely a wildlife species; it is an integral part of Ladakh’s ecological identity and natural heritage. The SHAN Conservation Society is an important institutional initiative to promote science-based and community-driven conservation while ensuring that ecological preservation and sustainable livelihoods progress together,” said Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena.

The initiative holds special significance for the conservation of the Snow Leopard, the State Animal of Ladakh and one of the world’s most elusive and endangered big cats. Revered as the “Ghost of the Mountains”, the Snow Leopard is a keystone species whose presence indicates the ecological health of the Trans-Himalayan ecosystem. Its conservation is closely linked with the protection of mountain habitats, prey species, watersheds and biodiversity that sustain life in the region. The species has also become a global symbol of Ladakh’s rich natural heritage and offers significant potential for responsible eco-tourism and community-based conservation.

The Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh will serve as the Chairman of the Society. The Chief Secretary, Member of Parliament, Ladakh; Chief Executive Councillor, LAHDC Leh; Chief Executive Councillor, LAHDC Kargil; and Principal Secretary, Department of Forest, Ecology and Environment, will be the ex-officio members.

The Society will also include Ven. Palga Rinpoche, Head of Naljorling Monastery; Dr. Sejal Worah, Programme Director, WWF India; Sandesh Kadur, Explorer Trustee, National Geographic Society Board of Trustees; President, Women’s Alliance of Ladakh; and Ghulam Mohammad Khan, Chairman, Ladakh Centre for Peace and Sustainable Development, as members.