The Centre has launched a six-year project- called SECURE Himalaya– to ensure conservation of locally and globally significant biodiversity, land and forest resources in the high Himalayan ecosystem spread over four states in India - namely Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand and Sikkim.
It is launched by the Union environment ministry in association with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on the inaugural day of the Global Wildlife Programme(GWP) conference.
Its other aim is protection of snow leopard and other endangered species and their habitats.
The SECURE – securing livelihoods, conservation, sustainable use and restoration of high range Himalayan ecosystems – is meant for specific landscapes. It includes Changthang (Jammu and Kasmir), Lahaul – Pangi and Kinnaur (Himachal Pradesh), Gangotri – Govind and Darma – Byans Valley in Pithoragarh (Uttarakhand) and Kanchenjunga – Upper Teesta Valley (Sikkim).
Curbing illegal trade in some medicinal and aromatic plants which are among the most threatened species in these landscapes
The ministry on the occasion also launched India Wildlife mobile App and released the country's National Wildlife Action Plan for the period 2017-2031. The Plan focuses on preservation of genetic diversity and sustainable development through 103 wildlife conservation actions and 250 projects.