Trees for Ecotourism™

About the Project

Tsomgo Lake also known as Changu Lake is a glacial lake, a popular tourist destination situated in East Sikkim district at a distance of about 40 km from the capital city Gangtok. The Tsomgo area is located at the fringe of Kyongnosla Alpine Sanctuary. The catchment forms an ideal habitat for several critical floral and faunal species found in the region. The major significance of this sanctuary is the number of scheduled animals it harbors [specified in Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972] which are given maximum protection at the National level. 

Initially for years together, Tsomgo remained undisturbed due to its poor accessibility, however, after the area opened for tourism in 1980, tourist traffic has been growing at an alarming rate. The fragile montane ecosystem in the area has been under stress for the past decade due to the detrimental effects of tourism on the ecosystem. This includes pollution and infrastructure development as well as the depletion of local natural resources that often result in rampant deforestation and other ecological destruction.

Ecologically, our ‘Trees for Ecotourism™’ project will help to improve the overall ecosystem health of the region. Trees, by acting as carbon sinks, will help to compensate for the greenhouse effect through carbon sequestration.

Why Trees for this Project?

• According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), “the three negative environmental impacts of tourism are the depletion of natural resources, pollution and physical degradation of ecosystems.”  

• An article  by India Today states that “Sikkim’s famous tourist destinations like Tsomgo Lake, Baba Mandir, Yumthang valley and Gurudongmar lake all together received 9,7,8101 tourists in the year 2022, as per the data provided by the Permit cell.”  The plantation project will help in the reduction of vehicular population, ecological restoration, wildlife habitat conservation, and offer better quality of life to local communities, making them more self-sustained.

• As the Tsomgo region has a limited number of trees, the project intends to prioritise afforestation initiatives by planting local species. Local species trees like rhododendron and silver fir improve the landscape since they can resist extreme weather like snow and help to minimize climate change. The article Forests: A natural solution to climate change, crucial for a sustainable future mentions that “Stopping deforestation and restoring damaged forests could provide up to 30 percent of the climate solution.”

Tree Species

The variety of trees planted depends upon agro-climatic conditions and the benefit of those trees in terms of flowers, fruits, fodder, fuel and non-timber forest produce for the local community as well as insects, birds, and animals.

For the Trees for Ecotourism™ project in the catchment zone of the Tsomgo watershed, the following tree species are selected:

Rhododendron (Rhododendron spp.)
Salix (Salix sikkimensis)
Silver fur (Abies alba)
Dhupi (Pinus juniperus)

The selection of trees for this project provides a balance of trees that will provide substantial environmental benefits as well as complement the livelihood of the locals. For example, the Rhododendron and Silver fir improves the landscape since they can resist extreme weather like snow and help to minimize and adapt to climate change. Salix species is a traditional medicine used to cure painful musculoskeletal joint pain, inflammation, and fever. This is also used as a fence by the locals. The juniper berry is used to create medication and used to treat gastrointestinal (GI) infections and intestinal worms, as well as upset stomach, intestinal gas (flatulence), heartburn, bloating, and loss of appetite. It is used as a fragrance in soaps and cosmetics manufacture.

Making a Difference-The Impact of Your Support 

Planting trees offer numerous benefits that span across multiple aspects. *

Sustainable Eco-tourism
The tree plantation will help in promoting sustainable eco-tourism and wildlife tourism by improving overall ecological health. The plantation of flowering species enhances the overall aesthetic appearance of the region. Plantation of fruiting and flowering species in the forest area is also helpful in securing and enhancing the bird habitat in the area.

Reclaim Degraded Forest Land & Revive Biodiversity
To ensure that our efforts have a positive impact on the environment, we conduct a rigorous assessment of the site and carefully select the trees that align with the location and the community. The plantation facilitates the conversion of degraded land into primary forests with indigenous tree plantation. It attempts to the preservation of the area's forest green cover and aids in conservation efforts.

Human-animal Conflict
Planting trees aids to protect wildlife habitat in order to promote conservation and prevent wildlife from entering human settlements, hence preventing human-animal conflict. Thus, the planted species serve primary purposes such as animal repellent, fodder source, livelihood diversification, and biodiversity benefits.

Generating Employment
Our project generates employment opportunities for the local communities since we are committed to working closely with them. They are involved in preparing the saplings in the nursery, transportation of the saplings, plantation and maintenance. 

Employment for Women
Tree plantation activities provide employment for women as many women workers participate in our projects. The workdays thus generated allow these women to contribute towards their household incomes and work towards empowering the women who benefit from the work.  

Habitat Protection
The trees will also help in conserving the local flora and fauna by providing them with adequate food and natural habitat sources. Tsomgo Lake, which shares a catchment area with Kyongnosla Alpine Sanctuary, is a biodiversity-rich environment home to Red Pandas, Himalayan black bears, and Musk deer, as well as migratory birds. A variety of birds and animals find shelter and nourishment in trees.

Carbon sequestration
Trees do an excellent job absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. A mature tree can absorb up to 20 kg of CO2 each year. Trees keep the temperature cool and reduce atmospheric stressors. 

*The environmental benefits of the trees reach their full potential as they mature.