Changthang Rangeland Visioning Meet Garners Unified Support from Community and Stakeholders
Leh, 25 June 2025, The Changthang Rangeland Visioning Multi-Stakeholder Meeting was successfully held on 25th June 2025 at Hotel Grand Dragon, Leh. The one-day consultation convened a powerful cross-section of community leaders, government officials, civil society organizations, and conservation experts to collectively shape the future of Ladakh’s high-altitude rangelands.
The meeting was graced by Hon’ble Chief Executive Councillor of LAHDC-Leh, Advocate Tashi Gyalson as the Chief Guest, and Hon’ble Executive Councillor Mr. Tashi Yakzee as the Guest of Honour. Their leadership and insights added gravitas to the event and demonstrated LAHDC-Leh’s continued commitment to inclusive, sustainable development across Changthang.
A strong representation of Councillors from Changthang region — including elected leaders from Chushul, Nyoma, Korzok, and surrounding belts — actively participated in the day’s proceedings. The meeting also witnessed the presence of senior officers from key departments of the UT Administration of Ladakh, including the Animal Husbandry, Sheep Husbandry, Wildlife, Rural Development, Tourism, and Culture Departments. In addition, prominent NGOs, civil society organizations, religious institutions, and media representatives attended and contributed to the discussions.
The consultation was organized by WWF-India’s Western Himalayas Conservation programme team under the Biodiversity. The WWF-India delegation included:
Dr. Sejal Worah – Programme Director, WWF-India
Ms. Vishesh Uppal – Director, Law, Governance and Policy
Dr. Rishi Kumar Sharma – Lead, Himalayas, WWF-India
The highlight of the event was the presentation of the Community Vision for Changthang — a roadmap co-created with local pastoralist communities during months of field engagement across the region. The Vision reflects aspirations around biodiversity conservation, rangeland stewardship, cultural integrity, and sustainable livelihoods.
A key outcome of the meeting was the unanimous endorsement of the Visioning Exercise by all stakeholders. More significantly, the gathering expressed strong collective support for the upcoming formation of the Rangeland Management Council — envisioned as a locally rooted, multi-stakeholder platform for participatory governance of Changthang’s rangelands.
This endorsement marks a milestone in Ladakh’s conservation and development landscape, offering a replicable model of how community voices, government policy, and ecological priorities can come together in harmony.
