Snow Leopards and 'Himalayan Homestays': Catalysts For Community-Based Conservation in Mountain Areas

In Ladakh and Sikkim, India, the Snow Leopard Conservancy (SLC) and Khangchendzonga Conservation Committee (KCC) carry out PES schemes for the conservation of the snow leopard. In the 'Himalayan Homestays" programme, households benefit from tourism in return for their conservation efforts. About 10-15% of homestay profits go into a village conservation fund that supports tree planting, garbage management and establishment of a village wildlife reserve. The fund can be accessed, to establish  e.g. predator-proof  corrals, pay a fulltime herder to guard livestock in high summer pastures, or insure livestock like yak through a national livestock Insurance scheme. On average $230 is generated during four month tourism season. KCC in Sikkim worked at broader scale to conserve ecological balance. A lesson learned is that when economic returns are  tangible communities assume their role as conservation partners and serve as effective environmental stewards.