Dzongu’s Tunkyong Dho notified as Sikkim’s first Biodiversity Heritage Site

GANGTOK,: The State government has notified the sacred Tunkyong Dho (lake) under Hee-Gyathang GPU in Dzongu as Sikkim’s first Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS) under the Biological Diversity Act 2002.

The notification was issued on May 29, informs a Sikkim Biodiversity Board press release.

It was informed that Tungkyong Dho is believed to be one of the oldest natural dho (lake) directly related to the Hee-Youngmingmoo clan of Lepcha community in Dzongu. The lake spans over 0.0650 ha within the Mantayang Tingkyong ward under Hee-Gyathang GPU.

Each Lepcha clan of today has their own story to tell about their place of origin and their clans. The story of the creation of the ‘Hee-Youngmingmoo’ clans found mainly in the lower Dzongu has a very unique and ecological relevance with the story in preservation and conservation of the sacred Tungkyong lake and sacred ‘Deeng-Gnu Leek’, a mini fish (Danio sp.) it harbours.

“The newly notified BHS will highly benefit the local community as it will attract the eco-tourists from all across the globe which will directly or indirectly improve the socio-economic status of the local community in addition to bringing much needed finances for conservation and associated community development,” said the Sikkim Biodiversity Board.

As proposed by the Hee-Gyathang Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC), the Forest & Environment department through the Sikkim Biodiversity Board has already sanctioned Rs. 5 lakh under SECURE Himalaya Project for the conservation and management of Tungkyong Dho Biodiversity Heritage Site. This project includes activities like installation of signages, repairing of eco-friendly footpath around the lake, preparation of management action plan, etc.

With the BHS notification guiding the Hee Gyathang BMC in implementing the management plan, it is expected that this recognition will boost the morale of the BMCs and the local communities of the GPU in working towards the betterment of the environment in the long run, said the Sikkim Biodiversity Board.