Save the Himalayas Foundation, New Delhi Inaugurates Ladakh Field Office; Shri Jigmet Takpa Invited to Guide Conservation Mission as Senior Advisor

Save the Himalayas Foundation, New Delhi Inaugurates Ladakh Field Office; Shri Jigmet Takpa Invited to Guide Conservation Mission as Senior Advisor

The Save the Himalayas Foundation, New Delhi, marked a significant milestone with the inauguration of its Ladakh Field Office, strengthening the Foundation's presence in the Himalayan region and reaffirming its commitment to protecting the fragile Himalayan ecosystem through conservation, research, education, and community engagement.

The Ladakh Field Office was inaugurated by Shri Jigmet Takpa, IFS (Retd.), Former Joint Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Former Principal Chief Conservator of Forests & Chief Wildlife Warden, Ladakh, Member of the National Board for Wildlife, Government of India, and Member of the Regional Empowered Committee of MoEFCC, Chandigarh. The inauguration was held with the blessings of Ven. Bhikkhu Sanghasena, Founder President and Spiritual Director of the Save the Himalayas Foundation.

Welcoming the distinguished guests, Dr. Pankaj Chandan, Senior Wildlife Scientist and Executive Director of the Save the Himalayas Foundation, described the opening of the Ladakh Field Office as a landmark achievement for the Foundation. He said the office would serve as a regional hub for coordinating conservation initiatives, scientific research, policy engagement, capacity building, and community-based programmes aimed at preserving the Himalayan environment while supporting sustainable livelihoods.

Addressing the gathering, Ven. Bhikkhu Sanghasena expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Shri Jigmet Takpa for graciously inaugurating the Foundation's Ladakh Field Office and for his lifelong dedication to wildlife conservation and environmental stewardship. He said that the Himalayas are not merely a mountain range but the ecological and spiritual lifeline of millions, and protecting them is a shared responsibility that transcends generations.

Highlighting Shri Takpa's distinguished public service, Ven. Sanghasena noted that his visionary leadership, commitment to biodiversity conservation, and contributions to environmental governance have left an enduring legacy. He added that the Save the Himalayas Foundation would greatly benefit from his wisdom, experience, and strategic guidance as it expands its efforts to conserve the fragile Himalayan ecosystem.

On this occasion, Ven. Sanghasena formally requested Shri Jigmet Takpa to accept the role of Senior Advisor to the Save the Himalayas Foundation, expressing confidence that his guidance would help shape the Foundation's conservation strategies and inspire meaningful action towards safeguarding the Himalayas.

As a mark of respect and appreciation, Shri Jigmet Takpa was presented with a Certificate of Invitation as Senior Advisor to the Save the Himalayas Foundation. The certificate acknowledged his exceptional contributions to wildlife conservation, ecological stewardship, and sustainable development, while recognising that his experience and leadership would be invaluable in advancing the Foundation's vision of protecting the Himalayas for present and future generations.

In his remarks, Shri Jigmet Takpa congratulated the Foundation on establishing its Ladakh Field Office and appreciated its integrated approach of combining environmental conservation with education, compassion, and community participation. He expressed his best wishes for the Foundation's future initiatives and assured his continued support and guidance in promoting the conservation of the Himalayan region.

The programme concluded with a special dinner hosted in honour of Shri Jigmet Takpa and the invited guests at Ankara Resort, where meaningful discussions were held on strengthening partnerships for biodiversity conservation, ecological restoration, climate resilience, and sustainable development across the Himalayan region.

The inauguration of the Ladakh Field Office marks another important step in the journey of the Save the Himalayas Foundation, New Delhi, towards building a strong network of conservationists, policymakers, researchers, and local communities committed to preserving the natural and cultural heritage of the Himalayas for generations to come.