Context: Recently, Yaya Tso Lake was declared Ladakh’s first biodiversity heritage site under the Biological Diversity Act.

• The resolution was signed after multiple rounds of consultations between the village stakeholders and the SECURE Himalaya project.

• The project will facilitate the official notification of the BHS after taking the application up with the Ladakh Biodiversity Council.

• The proposed Yaya Tso site will have an approximate area of 60 square kilometers, which will also include the lake's watershed.

Yaya Tso

• It is among the most beautiful lakes in Ladakh.

• It is known as a birds' paradise for its beautiful lake located at an altitude of 4,820 metres.

• It is a nesting habitat for a large number of birds and animals, such as the bar-headed goose, black-necked crane, and brahminy duck.

• It also has the distinction of being one of the highest breeding sites of the black-necked crane in India.

SECURE Himalaya project

• It is a part of the 'Global Partnership on Wildlife Conservation and Crime Prevention for Sustainable Development' (Global Wildlife Program) funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

• It promotes the sustainable management of alpine pastures and forests in the high-range Himalayan ecosystems.

• It contributes to the Global Snow Leopard Ecosystem Protection Program (GSLEP), a joint initiative of 12 range country governments, international agencies, civil society, and the private sector.

Project Landscapes

• Changthang, Ladakh Landscape, Jammu & Kashmir

• Lahaul-Pangi and Kinnaur Landscapes,

• Gangotri-Govind and Darma-Byans Landscapes,

• Khangchendzonga-upper Teesta Valley.