Leh: On the eve of World Wetlands Day, celebrated annually on 2 February, the Founder President of the Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre (MIMC), Leh, Bhikkhu Sanghasena, extended warm greetings to the people of Ladakh and to nature conservationists worldwide, while urging collective action to safeguard wetlands and life-supporting ecosystems.
In his message, Bhikkhu Sanghasena highlighted the vital role wetlands play in sustaining life on Earth. He noted that wetlands are essential ecosystems that regulate water systems, maintain ecological balance, support biodiversity, and provide livelihoods for communities across the globe.
Referring to the World Wetlands Day 2026 theme, “Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge: Celebrating Cultural Heritage,” he emphasized its special significance for Ladakh. The region’s high-altitude wetlands, he said, are among the most unique and fragile ecosystems in the world, serving as the lifeline of water in Ladakh’s cold desert environment.
Bhikkhu Sanghasena also drew attention to the exceptional ecological importance of Ladakh’s wetlands, which are the only breeding grounds in India for rare species such as the Black-necked Crane and the Bar-headed Goose.
He praised Ladakh’s communities for centuries of harmonious coexistence with nature, guided by religious and cultural values rooted in compassion, restraint, and respect for all forms of life. Wetlands, he remarked, were traditionally regarded not merely as resources, but as sacred living systems deserving care and reverence.
In the face of increasing threats from climate change and unsustainable practices, the MIMC founder stressed the need to revive traditional ecological wisdom alongside scientific understanding. He called for stronger community-based stewardship to ensure wetlands continue to nurture biodiversity, sustain livelihoods, and inspire spiritual and cultural values for generations.
Concluding his message, Bhikkhu Sanghasena urged everyone to reaffirm their shared responsibility to protect these precious ecosystems, offering prayers for harmony between humanity and nature.
