Himalayan Lakes Designation of International Importance

Himalayan Lakes Designation of International Importance

January 2008  - To commemorate the Ghunsa 
tragedy, in which the lives of 24 conservationists from the Nepalese 
government and WWF were lost in a helicopter crash, the government of 
Nepal has announced the designation of four new high altitude Wetlands of 
International Importance. 
The helicopter went down on September 23, 2006 in Ghunsa, Nepal. WWF lost 
seven colleagues - Chandra Gurung, Mingma Norbu Sherpa, Harka Gurung, 
Yeshi Lama, Jill Bowling Schlaepfer, Jennifer Headley and Matthew Preece - 
in the crash. 
The country lost its minister of state for forests and soil conservation, 
the secretary of that ministry, the director general of national parks and 
wildlife conservation, the director general of forests, several of its 
most distinguished defenders of natural resources and overseas specialists 
who were champions for conservation in Nepal. 
They were returning from a trip to Ghunsa, in the mountains of eastern 
Nepal where they had participated in a ceremony in which the government of 
Nepal handed over to local communities responsibility for managing the 
Kanchenjunga Conservation Area, a place known for its beauty, biodiversity 
and rich cultural heritage. 
At the ceremony in Kathmandu on the first anniversary of the crash 
September 23, 2007, Ramsar's Assistant Advisor for the Asia-Pacific 
Pragati Tuladhar delivered an address on behalf of the Secretary General 
and presented Ramsar site certificates for the four new sites to the 
government of Nepal.

The paperwork has now been completed and the sites have been added to the 
Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance. 
The designation of these lakes under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands 
means the government undertakes to protect them and report on its progress 
in doing so. 
Together they are an extraordinary group of Himalayan lakes, says the 
Ramsar Secretariat. All are within national parks and the first of these 
is already a UNESCO World Heritage site - Sagarmatha National Park - the 
site of Mount Everest, the world's tallest mountain. 
The Ramsar Secretariat commended government of Nepal for this initiative, 
and acknowledged WWF Nepal "for its considerable assistance in preparing 
the groundwork for these designations." 
Gokyo and Associated Lakes - 4,710 - 4,950 meters 
Gokyo and Associated Lakes. 23/09/07; Sagarmatha; 7,770 ha; 27°52'N 
080°42'E. Within Sagarmatha National Park, UNESCO World Heritage site. 
A system of glacial lakes at 4,710m-4,950m altitude in the high Himalayan 
region at the base of Cho Oyo (the world's 6th highest mountain), not far 
from Mt. Everest, at the headwaters of the Dudh Koshi River which is part 
of the Ganges river system. 
The alpine pasture meadow and sloping mountain terrain support IUCN Red 
listed rare and vulnerable species, such as the kutki plant, the Himalayan 
tahr or goat, the snow leopard, wood snipe, endemic species like the 
flowering plant Kobresia fissiglumis, and many important birds. 
The system is a vital source of water for downstream communities. 
Eight hotels with campgrounds serve ecotourists and religious visitors. 
Garbage and sewage left by visitors is difficult to dispose of and such 
pollution pressures represent a potential threat, as does overgrazing and 
deforestation caused by mountaineering expeditions seeking firewood. 
The site is two days' walk from Namche, the nearest town. 
Gosaikunda and Associated Lakes - 4,054 - 4,620 meters 
Gosaikunda and Associated Lakes. 23/09/07; Bagamti; 1,030 ha; 28°05'N 
085°25'E. Within Langtang National Park. A treeless region with shrub land 
interspersed by rocky slopes and alpine pasture, with a complex of at 
least 15 lakes and ponds. 
IUCN Red listed endangered and vulnerable species of animals and plants 
are present. The site has religious associations for Hindus and Buddhists 
and is the locus of the important Gangadashahara and Janaipurnima 
festivals. 
Human uses include grazing during summers, and there are four hotels with 
campgrounds for trekking groups and pilgrims. Threats to the site include 
pollution from the huge gathering during the festivals. There is a 
religious ban on the killing of animals within much of the site. 
Phoksundo Lake - 3,611 meters 
Phoksundo Lake. 23/09/07; Karnali; 494 ha; 29°12'N 082°57'E. Within 
Shey-Phoksundo National Park. A glacial lake near Ringmo in the Dolpo 
region, the deepest lake in the country, that is the centre of endemism in 
the eastern Himalayan region and a vital source of freshwater for 
downstream, with the highest waterfall 167 meters in Nepal a short walk 
from the lake. 
The lake, alpine meadows, and bogs provide habitat for a number of rare 
and vulnerable plants and animals, including the snow leopard, musk deer, 
and grey or Tibetan wolf. 
The site has great cultural and religious importance, with traditional 
Tibetan culture of the upper Dolpo and both Buddhism and the ancient 
Tibetan Bon-Po religion of the lower Dolpo both observed in Ringmo 
village. There is some grazing and cultivation, but tourism, dependent 
upon the wetland, is the base of the economy. 
Overgrazing and pollution from the 42 households of Ringmo village are 
seen as potential threats to the site. 
Rara Lake - 2,900 meters 
Rara Lake. 23/09/07; Karnali; 1,583 ha; 29°30'N 082°05'E. National Park. 
The largest lake in Nepal, lying at about 2,900m altitude and providing 
water to the important Kamali River. 
The area has developed unique floral and faunal assemblages with a number 
of rare and vulnerable animal and plant species, and the wet alpine 
pasture, moraines, and damp stream banks along the lake area are the 
natural habitats for endemic species of plants. 
The endemic frog Rara paha is found at only one other location in the 
Central region, and three endemic species of snow trout are found only 
here. 
Two temples in the area are the venue for a number of religious festivals. 
Principal threats come from pollution caused by army personnel and 
tourists and unregulated fuelwood collection, especially during festivals. 

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