Dachigam National Park tops India’s MEE rankings with highest score, sets benchmark in wildlife conservation
Srinagar, June 28 (KINS): Dachigam National Park in Jammu and Kashmir has secured the highest score in the latest cycle of the Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE), emerging as the top-ranked protected area in the country, according to a spokesperson from the Wildlife Department.
The prestigious evaluation, conducted by the Wildlife Institute of India under the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, assessed 438 national parks and wildlife sanctuaries across the country. Dachigam stood out with an impressive score of 92.97 percent, reflecting its exceptional conservation practices, adaptive management strategies, and robust ecological protection protocols.
“This recognition is a tribute to the tireless efforts of the officials and frontline staff of the Department of Wildlife Protection, Jammu and Kashmir, who have demonstrated extraordinary dedication and professionalism under the visionary guidance of senior officers,” the spokesperson said.
The park’s achievements in habitat improvement, anti-poaching measures, eco-development, and scientific monitoring have been consistently acknowledged by national evaluators.
Dachigam is also globally significant as the last surviving habitat of the critically endangered Hangul (Cervus hanglu hanglu), also known as the Kashmir stag. Recent population estimates suggest a positive trend in Hangul numbers, offering renewed hope for the species’ long-term survival.
“This achievement reinforces the strategic role of Dachigam National Park in India’s biodiversity framework and underlines the importance of continued investment in people-centric conservation, scientific research, and landscape-level planning in the Kashmir Himalayas,” the spokesperson added.
Jammu and Kashmir Minister for Forest, Ecology and Environment, Javed Ahmed Rana, lauded the efforts of the Wildlife Department, calling the recognition a benchmark for protected areas across the Union Territory.
He emphasized that Dachigam’s success story should inspire similar conservation excellence in other ecologically sensitive regions of Jammu and Kashmir.(KINS)
