A recent study conducted by WWF-Pakistan has shed light on the perilous impact of rapid infrastructure development on the habitat of Snow leopards and their prey species in the Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) region.
“Rapid infrastructure development, primarily roads, potentially degrades the Snow leopard (Panthera uncia) habitat resulting in disrupting the big cats’ movement and increasing human-wildlife conflict in the Gilgit-Baltistan region. The prey species of the Snow leopard such as Himalayan ibex and domestic livestock are also killed due to heavy traffic on the highways,” according to the report.
The study, conducted as part of the Building Ecological and Sustainable Transport/Linear Infrastructure for Snow Leopards in the Hindu Kush Karakoram Himalaya Landscape in Pakistan (BEAST) project, revealed that increased human footprint, primarily through the construction of roads, is posing a significant threat to the habitat of the elusive big cat.
The project was supported by ‘With Snow Leopards’ Small Grant (SLSG) initiated by the Tencent Foundation and Shan Shui Conservation Center with support from Huatai Foundation, Amity Foundation, and Pecking University Center for Nature and Society.
According to the study, the construction of roads has not only fragmented the Snow leopard habitat but has also led to an alarming increase in human-wildlife conflicts, with instances of vehicle-wildlife collisions involving Snow leopard prey species such as Himalayan ibex and domestic livestock becoming increasingly common.
Highlighting the need for a balanced approach between infrastructure development and wildlife conservation, the study emphasized that the Gilgit-Baltistan region is home to diverse wildlife, including vulnerable Snow leopards, whose survival is threatened by linear infrastructure projects.
The report pointed out that the linear infrastructure development, which cuts through the landscape such as roads, has fragmented the Snow leopard habitat, restricting wildlife movement and posing a threat to the Snow leopards and their prey species such as ungulates.
Focusing on the broader theme of road ecology, the study gathered evidence on infrastructure-related threats to Snow leopards and their habitat, including wildlife-vehicle collisions, increasing human-wildlife interactions, and land use changes. Major roads such as the Karakoram Highway (KKH) and Gilgit-Shandur Road were identified as particularly impactful on Snow leopard habitats.
In response to the findings, WWF-Pakistan launched the Sustainable Infrastructure Initiative in 2019 to advocate for sustainable and green infrastructure planning and development in the Hindukush-Karakoram-Himalaya (HKH) region.
Commenting on the study, WWF-Pakistan Director General Hammad Naqi Khan emphasized the importance of meticulous planning and sustainable infrastructure development to mitigate the detrimental impacts on the environment and wildlife species. He stressed the need for further investigations on wildlife movement patterns to assess the impact of infrastructure development on wildlife populations in critical habitats.
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The report proposed several recommendations, including the construction of wildlife corridors and crossings, proactive law enforcement measures to prevent hunting and poaching, and the implementation of mitigation steps to safeguard the native ecology and wildlife species.
While exact population figures of Snow leopards remain elusive, WWF research from 2020 suggests that there are fewer than 7000 Snow leopards globally, with a significant population inhabiting the northern mountain ranges of Pakistan, including the GB region.
[…] posed by infrastructure development in GB. The report, part of the project titled “Building Ecological and Sustainable Transport/Linear Infrastructure forsSnow Leopards in the Hindu Kush Karakoram Himalaya Landscape in […]