Demand for engaging local experts in Sikkim butterfly tourism activities

BIJOY GURUNG

GANGTOK, : A one-point memorandum was submitted to Tourism minister Tshering T. Bhutia for engagement of local experts in any schemes or initiatives of the department related with butterfly watching tourism in Sikkim.

Prominent butterfly experts and enthusiasts of Sikkim including Sonam Wangchuk Lepcha, Puja Bantawa Rai, and Sonam Pintso Sherpa submitted the representation to the minister on Friday.

In their memorandum, the group requested the Tourism minister for “inclusion and first-hand priority preference of local butterfly experts for any kind of schemes, works or initiatives under the Department of Tourism, Government of Sikkim”.

The group explained that inclusion of local butterfly experts in such initiatives will create an opportunity for local youths and provide bigger platforms as desired by Chief Minister PS Golay.

“Local experts will enhance and encourage more youths to take part in any activities related to butterflies in the State by the department. Local experts are more informed than other non-local experts when it comes to species distribution, geography and seasonality of butterflies found in Sikkim,” the memorandum reads.

It was also highlighted that local experts can communicate with the target groups in local language, providing ease of learning and clarity for delivering successful outcomes. Inclusion of local experts will contribute in extensive exploration and biodiversity documentation of the subject which will be an ecological asset to the State, the group submitted.

It was informed that the Tourism minister gave a positive response to the memorandum, and assured the group to take necessary action in this regard.

Sikkim is home to over 800 species of butterflies, making it one of India's richest biodiversity hotspots. Over the past decade, a growing number of local youth have developed a deep interest in studying and documenting the vibrant butterfly species found in their villages and surrounding forests. This passion has not only been sustained but also strengthened through the formation of community-based butterfly groups in Sikkim. As a result, many of these dedicated individuals have emerged as knowledgeable butterfly experts, recognized at both the State and national levels for their contributions to conservation and biodiversity research.