Chief Secretary joins Launch of Changthang Visioning Report, Charts Shared Future for Rangelands, Wildlife and Communities.

Chief Secretary joins Launch of Changthang Visioning Report, Charts Shared Future for Rangelands, Wildlife and Communities.
Leh, October 8, 2026: Chief Secretary, UT Ladakh, Shri Ashish Kundra, joined the launch of the Changthang Visioning Report, titled “Vision from the Highlands: Building a Shared Future for Rangelands, Wildlife and Communities,” at The Grand Dragon, Leh, today.
The event brought together representatives of the administration, LAHDC Leh, WWF-India, conservation and academic institutions, pastoral communities, youth and women’s groups, religious leaders and other stakeholders to deliberate on a shared and sustainable future for the Changthang landscape.
The launch was also graced by His Eminence Palga Rinpoche and Shri Tashi Gyalson, former Chief Executive Councillor, LAHDC Leh. Senior representatives from the Wildlife Department, Animal Husbandry and Sheep Husbandry departments, Changthang district administration and other concerned institutions participated in the programme.
Representing WWF-India, Mr. Ravi Singh, Secretary General and CEO, WWF-India; Mr. Jamshyd N. Godrej, Trustee, WWF-India; and Dr. Sejal Worah, Programme Director, WWF-India, along with members of the WWF-India Western Himalayas team, attended the launch.
The visioning process brought together diverse stakeholders to reflect on the interconnected future of rangelands, wildlife, pastoral livelihoods, cultural traditions and community well-being in Changthang. Pastoral representatives, Gobas, women’s groups, youth organisations, community leaders and local institutions contributed their experiences, traditional knowledge, concerns and aspirations, highlighting the importance of community perspectives in shaping the future of the landscape.
The programme also witnessed the participation of Shri Konchok Stanzin, former Executive Councillor and Councillor from Chushul, along with representatives from the University of Ladakh, GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment, Snow Leopard Conservancy–India Trust, Himotthan, NABARD and other partner organisations. Religious leaders associated with monasteries across Changthang also participated in the event.
The report seeks to promote a shared approach towards conservation and livelihoods, recognising the ecological, cultural and socio-economic significance of Changthang’s high-altitude rangelands. The launch marked an important milestone in the continued engagement of WWF-India’s Western Himalayas Conservation Programme with Changthang and provided a platform for taking forward partnerships, practical action and long-term landscape stewardship.
The launch assumes added significance as 2026 is being observed as the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, highlighting the ecological, cultural and livelihood importance of rangelands and the pastoral communities that have sustained them over generations.
The Changthang Visioning Report ultimately seeks to provide a shared direction for the future of the landscape, placing healthy rangelands, thriving wildlife and resilient pastoral communities at the heart of long-term conservation and sustainable development.