The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife is set to convene this week, with a significant agenda item: the discussion of several new defense proposals that would involve diverting land from protected areas in Ladakh. These proposals aim to support military operations in the strategically vital region.
Specifically, the committee will review a proposal to use approximately 24.2 hectares of land from the Changthang Cold Desert Wildlife Sanctuary for an Ammunition Storage Facility in Tsogtsalu. Additionally, another proposal seeks to utilize 40 hectares from the same sanctuary to establish a Brigade Headquarters in Chushul, Leh.
The Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary is a critical habitat for a variety of species, including the Tibetan Wolf, Wild Yak, Bharal, Wild Dog, Snow Leopard, and Brown Bear. Its ecological sensitivity makes any land diversion a matter of significant concern.
Ladakh’s strategic importance, bordering China and Pakistan, is a key factor driving these defense proposals. However, the environmental impact is a major consideration. The meeting agenda notes that the proposed areas, while lacking tree cover, fall within protected zones, thus requiring adherence to Section 29 of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. User agencies must ensure minimal damage to the landscape and local habitats.
The proposals stem from the movement of the Brigade Signals Company to the eastern Ladakh sector in September 2024, necessitating the establishment of permanent headquarters. Forest officials have provided inspection reports, highlighting the presence of rare and endangered species, including significant breeding grounds for the Black-necked Crane and Bar-headed Goose.
The Union Environment Ministry acknowledges the strategic importance but stresses the need for minimal ecological disturbance in the fragile cold desert ecosystem. Other land diversion proposals to be considered include areas within the Changthang sanctuary for a training facility and portions of the Karakoram (Nubra-Shayok) Wildlife Sanctuary for an army camp and an artillery battery. The Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary is notably home to the Tibetan Antelope, Shapo, Wild Yak, Bharal, Snow Leopard, Himalayan Mouse, and Eurasian Lynx.