The Snow Leopard Conservancy India Trust |
| Legal status | Charitable Trust |
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| Headquarters | Korban House, Changspa, Sheldan, Leh, Ladakh, 194101, Jammu & Kashmir, India |
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| Location | |
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| Services | Snow Leopard Conservation |
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- Mr. David Sonam (Managing Trustee)
- Mr. Renzino Lepcha (Trustee)
- Ms. Rigzin Dolma (Trustee)
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Key people |
- Late Mr. Rinchen Wangchuk (co-founder)
- Dr. Rodney Jackson (co-founder)
- Dr. Tsewang Namgail (Director)
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| Affiliations | Panthera Corporation |
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| Website | snowleopardindia.org |
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Formerly called | Snow Leopard Conservancy |
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The Snow Leopard Conservancy India Trust (SLC-IT) is a non-profit cat conservation organization for the protection of the snow leopard (Panthera uncia), its prey species, and its habitat located in Ladakh, India. It primarily focuses on the Indian range of the snow leopard. Apart from conservation and ecological research on the snow leopard, the SLC-IT initiated the Himalayan Homestay Program in 2003.
History
The Snow Leopard Conservancy India Trust was formed in 2000 as the Indian branch of the Snow Leopard Conservancy. It became an independent Indian organization in 2003.
Community-based conservation is accorded the highest priority because the organization believes that the snow leopard and other wildlife of the Himalayas and other mountainous areas in Asia, cannot be conserved without the support of the local people who share resources with the snow leopard and other wildlife on a daily basis.[1] Thus, the organization has been relentlessly active at the community level, enhancing living conditions to ensure that local residents join the conservation effort.
Environmental Education
Environmental education through training and awareness is a major component of SLC-IT's conservation model. The conservancy produces educational materials like books, CDs and pamphlets regularly, highlighting the biodiversity and conservation issues in Ladakh. The organization partnered with Kalpavriksh, a Pune-based organization, in bringing up the Ri Gyancha (jewels of the mountains),[2] a biodiversity resource kit for Ladakh, which has been used by both children and educators. Teacher education forms a significant component of their educational programs, and they have recently begun providing education and training to both graduate students and adults.
