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PROJECT : EAST HIMALAYA
BIRDING PROGRAMME
(Project undertaken by :
Association for Conservation & Tourism)
Area of Work in the First
Phase
EAST HIMALAYA
East Himalaya is a part of one of the EIGHT HOTTEST BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS of
the world. This is a part of the Indo-Burma region. Other then India, the
East Himalaya touches the countries of Nepal, Bhutan, China and Bangladesh.
Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and West Bengal occupies more than 100,000 sq. kms
of East Himalaya approx. Which is about 25% of the Indian Himalaya. This
shows a major portion of the Himalaya is existent in the East. Similarly,
the whole of Nepal and Bhutan are a part of the Himalaya. The topography
varies from the low foothills reaching upto the highest mountains of the
world, the Mt. Everest and the Mt. Kanchenjunga. A massive area is covered
with snow glaciers feeding a large network of rivers, the major ones being
the Brahmaputra, Ganga, Koshi and Teesta. The areas below the snow are
mainly used for forestry, agriculture, grassland habitations and
infrastructure such as dams, reservoirs and roads. The forest cover is about
140,000 sq. kms even after losing about two third of the forest in the last
few decades. The East Himalaya is the home of more than a hundred indigenous
communities. The biodiversity explored till date provides mind boggling
figures, about 8000 species of angiosperms of which 3200 are endemic, 800
species of birds, 150 species of reptiles, 80 species of amphibians, 200
species of fishes and the list continues. More than 80 wild relatives of
crops belonging to cereals, millet, pulses, oil yielding plants, spices and
fruits have been recorded here in scientific studies. Keeping in view
whatever little that has been described, the ecological importance of the
region is beyond question. The region undoubtedly is overpopulated and there
is a slow economic development. People live below the poverty line and are
dependent on land and local natural resources. The problems are increasing
everyday and the administration has tried everything that is possible
locally and globally but for AN INTEGRATED IMPLEMENT ABLE ECOTOURISM
PROCESS.
MT.KANCHENJUNGA REGION
Mt. Kanchenjuga, the third highest peak in the world and the highest in
India is a myth by itself. The people of Sikkim consider the mountain to be
their Guardian Deity and are referred to as Khang-chen-dzo-nga, the large
mountain of five treasures. This forms the backdrop of a large region and
eighty percent of the tourist attraction is the view of the range itself.
The view is so popular that it forms the picture of the hundred rupees
Indian currency note. The region mainly covers Sikkim & North of West Bengal
in India, Eastern parts of Nepal and connecting Bhutan. In the East
Himalaya, this is a composite region well connected with each other and
possesses a wide diversity of nature and culture. The ultra-varied
topography and its closeness to Bay of Bengal make it unique. North Bengal
houses the Singalila National Park, Neora Valley National Park & Senchal
Wildlife Sanctuary in the higher altitudes, the Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary
in Himalayan foothills of Terai, continuing with the Garumara National Park,
Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary and Buxa Tiger Reserve towards the Bhutan
approaches known as Dooars. Sikkim boasts of the Kanchendzonga National Park
& Singba Rhododendrone Sanctuary in the North, Fambong Lho Wildlife
Sanctuary & Kyongnosla Alpine Sanctuary in the East, Barsey Rhododendrone
Sanctuary in the West and the Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary in the South. There
are different ethnic groups throughout the region, some of them who were
always here, some migrated from the adjoining countries and many of them who
were brought by the then British rulers to work for them in tea gardens,
forests, railways etc. This forms a varied culture and religious base. The
Tantric Buddhism (Lamaism) is still a myth to the world. The Darjeeling
Himalayan Railway, which is the only of its type and now a World Heritage
Site is a pride for the region. The Darjeeling Tea today is the most
appreciated drink appreciated worldwide. The portions of Nepal and Bhutan
are equally rich in nature and culture. Keeping in view the natural &
cultural richness of the region and the poverty of the people here, the
Kanchenjunga region may be considered for developing an International
Ecotourism Park.
PROPOSED
CIRCUITS
There are five
intersecting and interconnected circuits in the Kanchenjunga Region which
houses numerous known, less known and unknown tourist destinations which
have to be developed locally and promoted globally to make tourism a tool
for conservation and faster sustainable economic development. The
Kanchenjunga Region International Ecotourism Park can be formed with these
five circuits mentioned hereunder.
-
Sikkim circuit - the
activity spread over the four districts of East, West, North & South.
-
Darjeeling circuit -
the areas west of river Teesta upto the Nepal border covering Singalila
Ridge.
-
Kalimpong circuit -
starting from East of Teesta upto the limits of Neora Valley National
Park.
-
Dooars & Bhutan
circuit - foothill stretch connecting with Bhutan covering Timphu, Paro
& Punakha.
-
Terai & East Nepal
circuit - foothills of Darjeeling circuit & East Nepal adjoining to Mt.
Kanchenjunga.
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