The miraculous spring as called by locals, Ani Choeten Zangmo spring is a sacred spring and it is source of water for surroundings communities and downstream biodiversity and natural resources. However, due to the felling of trees for road construction, overgrazing and sustainable harvesting of natural resources, the spring is at a great risk of drying up and getting washed away by landslides. In addition, Drupchu Goenpa (monastery) looks after the spring and the monastery houses 150 monks. The monastery has huge fuel wood consumption as wood is used for cooking and heating. Currently, they consume 35 truckloads of firewood annually. Thus, problem of drying of lake and unsustainable consumption of fuel wood needs to be addressed.
Therefore, the project ?Protection of Ani Choeten Zangmo Drupchu and surrounding biodiversity? was carried out with Pema Lingpa Jae Drin Tshogpa to protect the Ani Choeten Zangmo spring and facilitate the monastery in using efficient and improved cooking system thereby preventing the drying of lake, loss of biodiversity and reducing heavy dependence on forest for fuel wood. Thus, project will ultimately conserve and protect environment.
The project has safeguarded the spring and monastery by protecting the spring through fencing, plantation of native tree saplings and developing eco-cultural trails. Through the project, the monastery was also provided with improved and efficient cooking stoves which have drastically reduced monastery?s fuel wood consumption by more than 60%. The project has protected and managed the spring and monastery resulting in sustainable management of spring, preventing loss of biodiversity and reducing heavy dependence on forest and natural resources.