Wetlands and Lakes at the Top of the World - BioOne
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Mountain Research and Development Vol 23 No 3 August 2003: 219–221
Wetlands and Lakes at the Biksham Gujja
Archana Chatterjee
Parikshit Gautam
Top of the World Pankaj Chandan
219
The Hindu Kush–Himalayan Mountains in biodiversity and are home to rare
extend 3500 km, cover 3.5 million km2, species. Whereas the mountains have
and include parts of 8 countries. They are attracted attention, there is very little docu-
home to many spectacular lakes and wet- mentation on water bodies in the region.
lands, a major source of water and regula- Some lakes are above 5000 m. Conserva-
tors of water storage. Eighty-four peaks tion of these fragile ecosystems is impor-
above 7300 m and innumerable others over tant, particularly in an era of international
6000 m are interspersed with thousands of tourism, climate change, and megaprojects
lakes and wetlands, some of which are rich in the region.
The WWF initiative The 3 Wetland and Lake Areas
For the past 4 years WWF has been focus-
ing on high-altitude lakes and wetlands in Tso Moriri is located in the southernmost part
the Ladakh region of India in the of the Changthang region of Ladakh. This lake
Himalayas. WWF-India is implementing is of about 140 km2 area and is at 4511 m.
projects with support from the WWF net- Although it is now a closed system, it once
work. The Ladakh region of India, part of had an outlet from the south to the Sutlej Riv-
the Tibetan Plateau, lies within the state er. Therefore the quality of water varies, from
of Jammu and Kashmir and is governed by fresh to brackish, depending on the freshwater
the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Develop- discharge of the 3 streams that feed it. The
ment Council. This area is also part of the village of Korzok is located on a small hill near
200 WWF sites that are globally important the lakeshore. It is the largest Changpa settle-
in terms of biodiversity. In Ladakh, wet- ment in Rupshu. About 205 families were
lands and lakes between 4000 and 5000 m recorded in 1995. Some of the villagers culti-
are located in an area known as Chang- vate a small plot of land below the village.
thang or Rupshu-Kharnak. A striking fea- There is a gompa (Buddhist temple) in the vil-
ture of this area is barren steep slopes lage. The streams discharging snowmelt into
with an undulating landscape, where the lake create an extensive and complex wet-
snowmelt streams flow into lakes and ulti- land ecosystem that provides feeding and
mately the Indus River. Many lakes and breeding areas for birds, including the highly
wetlands do not have outlets and thus endangered black-necked crane (Grus nigricol-
become brackish. lis) and bar-headed goose (Anser indicus).
Tsokar is located about 160 km southeast of
WWF’s area of focus in Ladakh Leh and 50 km northwest of Tso Moriri. It is
completely brackish, with salinity exceeding
Ladakh covers an area of approximately 50 ppt. The lake is of about 20 km2 area and
98,000 km 2. It is bounded on the north very irregular in shape, at an altitude of 4530
by the eastern range of the Karakoram m. Tsokar is surrounded by several marshes
Mountains and the Tibetan Plateau. The and meadows, forming a perfect breeding
altitude ranges from 3000 m (lower ground for several waterfowl, including very
Indus and Nubra valleys) to 7600 m rare species.
(Zanskar and Karakoram ranges). WWF
is currently focusing on 3 major wetlands Pangong Tso is a huge brackish lake located
and lakes—Tso Moriri, Tsokar, and Pan- 100 km east of Leh. This 700 km2 body of
gong Tso—that are seriously threatened water, a transboundary lake, straddles India
by unorganized tourism. Previously and China. It is also a closed lake, in a spec-
closed to tourism, the area was opened tacular setting surrounded by snow-capped
in 1994. Because of a lack of facilities mountains, and looks like a sea. Earlier on,
and clear regulations, its fragile ecosys- Pangong Tso had an outlet to the Shyok River, a
tems have been suddenly exposed to tributary of the Indus from the northwest, now
pressure from the outside world, with closed due to natural damming. Two streams
consequent impacts on local resource empty into the lake from the Indian side, form-
use. ing marshes and wetlands at the edges.
Biksham Gujja, Archana Chatterjee, Parikshit Gautam, and Pankaj Chandan
220
Changthang: a unique landscape and people The 3 sites, particularly the Tso Moriri
Ladakh is part of the state of Jammu and and Tsokar wetlands, host many of these
Kashmir, with Leh as the administrative species of flora and fauna. These sites are
capital. The 21,000 km2 Changthang sub- key staging posts on the migratory routes
division is part of Leh district, with high of various waterfowl. It is no coincidence
mountains, wide-open valleys, natural that most of the biodiversity of this region,
grasslands, and snow-fed streams. Stun- a cold desert, is near wetlands and lakes.
ning natural beauty, rugged mountains,
and a harsh climate are major attractions Working with people to conserve wetlands
for trekking. South Changthang has sever- on top of the world
al wetlands, lakes, and streams, including The objectives of WWF’s initiative are the
the 3 WWF sites (see Box). Changthang is following:
a cold desert, with an average annual
rainfall of less than 10 cm. Though there • To document the significance of the
are few people in the area, human settle- region’s ecosystems.
ments have existed for several centuries. • To identify current and future threats
The Changpas—people who live in to ecosystems.
Changthang—are primarily pastoral • To initiate specific measures that
nomads. address ecosystem threats, in partner-
ship with local communities and other
Significance of the region stakeholders.
FIGURE 1 The blue sheep or bharal The Ladakh region has a considerable • To identify specific sites that qualify as
(Pseudios nayaur nayaur), found in the 3 number of endemic species. About 700 Ramsar sites, protected areas, and
lake areas in Changthang, is considered a
low risk, near threatened species. plant species have been recorded, 285 of World Heritage Sites.
(Photo by Joanna van Gruisen) which are used in traditional Tibetan med- • To raise public awareness about the
icine. These plants have adapted to survive importance of these sites to the local
under extreme climatic variations and economy, culture, and spiritual beliefs,
intensive grazing pressure. Significant by engaging various local organizations,
mammals include the blue sheep or bharal including the military and civil adminis-
(Pseudois nayaur nayaur, Figure 1), Siberian tration.
or Himalayan ibex (Capra ibex), Ladakh • To identify gaps in information and
urial or shapu (Ovis vignei), Tibetan argali knowledge and in monitoring and
(Ovis ammon hodgsoni), Tibetan antelope research, by establishing a field pres-
(Pantholops hodgsoni), Tibetan gazelle (Pro- ence and involving scientific and tech-
capra picticaudata), kiang (Equus kiang), nical organizations.
and Tibetan wolf (Canis lupus chanku).
Most significant of all is the snow leopard Although WWF has achieved most of
(Uncia uncia), a flagship species (Figure these objectives to date, some will require
2). About 225 species of birds have been more time and resources. Several field-lev-
FIGURE 2 The 3 lake habitats identified. A WWF study recorded 15 el surveys have been conducted to docu-
also harbor the endangered breeding pairs of black-necked crane ment the flora and fauna, and more work
snow leopard (Uncia uncia), a
flagship species. (Photo by around the Changthang wetlands. needs to be done. The most significant
Joanna van Gruisen) achievements are listed:
• Presence on the ground: Establishment
of a field office in Korzok village at
4600 m near Tso Moriri to conduct
field surveys. The office in Leh works
with the civil and military administra-
tion and tour operators.
• Technical reports: Several field reports
have been published to document the
biodiversity of the region and identify
specific threats to the ecosystem. Nation-
al- and regional-level consultations have
Mountain Research and Development Vol 23 No 3 August 2003
Development
221
been organized to involve all stakehold-
ers in addressing certain threats.
• Ramsar sites: Tso Moriri has been desig-
nated a Ramsar site, and preparations
are under way to collect relevant infor-
mation to declare it a World Heritage
Site, applying ecological and cultural
criteria. Designation of Pangong Tso as
a Ramsar site is under way.
• Learning from people: Working with FIGURE 3 The globally threat-
communities is a 2-way process. Learning of the great rivers of the world—the ened black-necked crane (Grus
nigricollis) is sacred to the
from people is extremely important, par- Indus, Ganges, Amu Darya, Hilmand, local population. The WWF is
ticularly in this area, where the popula- Brahmaputra, etc—and of water for more working in 3 wetlands, the
tion has developed customs and than 2.5 billion people. Conservation of most important breeding
grounds for this species out-
approaches concerned with sustainable wetlands requires a regional approach and side China. (Photo by Joanna
resource use. Most local people are Bud- cooperation among the countries in the van Gruisen)
dhists; they revere wildlife as a matter of region.
religious belief and custom. For example, WWF is attempting to launch a
the black-necked crane is considered regional initiative to conserve all the
highly sacred (Figure 3). The arrival of important wetlands in the Himalayas. A
this species in summer is considered a regional workshop on conservation of
very good omen for the year. Tso Moriri is high-altitude wetlands in the Himalayas
also sacred, and people do not bathe in it was jointly organized in Urumqi, China,
or do anything that will pollute the water. from 5 to 9 August 2002 by WWF, the
• Building local institutions: Conservation Ramsar Convention, and the government
is a long-term endeavor. External institu- of China. Participants from China, Pak-
tions can only facilitate initial efforts. istan, India, the Kyrgyz Republic, Nepal,
Local capacity building to continue the Bhutan, and Tajikistan submitted reports
task of protecting sites for the popula- and exchanged information. About 200
tion’s own benefit is extremely impor- wetland sites that could qualify as Ramsar
tant. WWF has helped local communities sites were identified during the workshop.
form a Tso Moriri conservation trust at Discussion and progress took place on the
Korzok village. The trust will work with following aspects: AUTHORS
the tourism industry, civil administration,
and local government bodies in taking • Identification of suitable sites for Ram- Biksham Gujja
Policy Advisor, Living Waters Program,
measures to protect these sites. sar listing, World Heritage declaration, WWF International, Gland, Switzerland.
and National protected areas.
Archana Chatterjee, Parikshit Gautam,
On the basis of experience to date, • Exchange of information and knowl- and Pankaj Chandan
conservation activities involving high-alti- edge between countries on experience Freshwater Program, WWF-India, New
tude areas in India will be further extend- in conserving high-altitude wetlands. Delhi.
ed to at least 10 more wetlands. Conserva- • Development of a common methodolo-
tion and management plans are being gy and identification of wetlands FURTHER READING
considered for each site. The process of shared by more than 1 country for Humbert-Droz B. 2002. Conservation and
collecting scientific information on the Ramsar designation. Impact from Development in India’s West-
biodiversity of the region is an ongoing • Increased regional cooperation in man- ern Trans-Himalayas and Its Complex of
High Altitude Wetlands. Report for WWF.
activity. Efforts will be made to publish sci- aging wetlands. WWF and Ramsar. 2002 Nov. Conserva-
entific information in the next 2 to 3 tion of High Altitude wetlands in the
Himalayas. Report of the regional work-
years, and partnerships will be formed to A follow-up meeting of the workshop shop held in August 2002 at Urumqi,
build up a database for this area. will be held in August–September 2003 to China.
discuss specific actions and explore the WWF-India. 2002 Jun. High Altitude Wet-
lands of Ladakh. A Conservation Initiative.
possibility of developing a regional train-
A regional initiative ing center. Partnerships are being built For the reports and additional information
around the idea that a major regional contact Biksham Gujja,
bgujja@wwfint.org, or Archana Chatterjee,
Water resources in this region are vital. effort is needed to conserve and protect freshwater@wwfindia.net, or visit
The mountains here are a source of some these unique sites. www.panda.org/livingwaters.You can also read
