With wetlands shrinking and land use shifting across Darjeeling’s tea-dominated landscape, the survival of the rare Himalayan salamander is becoming increasingly uncertain.
Recognising both the urgency of this threat and the promise of community-led solutions, the Whitley Awards 2026 have honoured conservationist Barkha Subba for her efforts to scale up protection of the species and its fragile habitat.
Barkha, a Scientific Adviser at the Federation of Societies for Environmental Protection (FOSEP), a Darjeeling-based NGO, is one of two Indians to receive the Whitley Award this year, conferred by the UK-based Whitley Fund for Nature (WFN).
The Whitley Fund for Nature supports grassroots conservation leaders across the Global South. The awards were presented by HRH The Princess Royal at the Royal Geographical Society in London.
Seven conservationists were honoured this year, including one Whitley Gold Award winner. Alongside Barkha Subba and Parveen Shaikh, the other awardees are Dr Marina Kameni (Cameroon), Dr Moreangels Mbizah (Zimbabwe), Dr Paola Sangolqui (Ecuador), and Dr Issah Seidu (Ghana). Indonesia’s Farwiza Farhan received the 2026 Whitley Gold Award.
Through her Whitley Award project, Barkha will scale up protection for the Himalayan salamander and its wetland habitat in Darjeeling. Parveen Shaikh, meanwhile, will expand community-led riverine bird conservation for the Indian Skimmer to Prayagraj in the Ganga basin.
“It feels wonderful to receive the Award,” Barkha told EastMojo via email. “Winning a Whitley Award is a powerful acknowledgement of the urgent need to protect the Himalayan salamander and the fragile wetland it inhabits,” she said.
Barkha’s project focuses on habitat restoration, removal of invasive species, screening for the deadly chytrid fungal disease, and community engagement through awareness programmes promoting sustainable land use and eco-friendly tourism.
A species under pressure
Wetland loss, unregulated tourism, and diversification of tea garden land use are altering habitats and shrinking the breeding areas of the Himalayan salamander. Around 30 breeding sites remain locally, many of them outside protected areas.
Endemic to India, Nepal, and Bhutan, the Himalayan salamander can grow up to 17 cm in length and live for up to 11 years. Once widely distributed across Darjeeling’s cool, shaded wetlands and forest fringes, the species is now increasingly confined to fragmented habitats.
Salamanders return to their natal sites to breed—a behaviour known as philopatry—making them highly vulnerable to habitat change and a key indicator of wetland health.
Darjeeling’s landscape, often referred to as the home of the “champagne of teas”, has seen rapid transformation. Tea gardens, which cover roughly one-fifth of the hill region, are under pressure from declining yields linked to climate change, erratic rainfall, and ageing plantations.
Competition from cheaper Nepal tea—often marketed as ‘Himalayan tea’—has intensified economic stress on estates. In response, many are diversifying into tourism. At the same time, the region faces mounting environmental challenges, including landslides, soil erosion, and shrinking freshwater sources associated with development.
The Himalayan salamander is currently listed as Vulnerable on the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), as wetlands continue to be drained, filled, polluted, or disturbed.
Barkha’s long-term goal is to establish a transboundary wetland conservation framework extending into Nepal and Bhutan.
Globally, wetlands—critical for flood regulation and carbon storage—are disappearing faster than any other ecosystem. One-fifth could be lost by 2050. When effectively managed, the world’s 1.4 billion hectares of wetlands provide ecosystem services valued at up to $39 trillion annually, according to the Convention on Wetlands.
Community-led conservation gains ground
“My immediate plans are to use the support to scale up our community engagement and fieldwork for Himalayan salamanders in Darjeeling,” Barkha said.
She will focus on seven key breeding sites: Margaret’s Hope and Nakhapani within tea estates; Namthing Biodiversity Heritage Site on government land; Majhidura, shared between the forest department and local communities; Mirik, which is privately owned; and two sites in Pokhriabong, jointly managed by the forest department and local residents.
“The Award provides credibility that makes it far easier to build partnerships and work closely with policymakers and institutions—so the conservation project becomes part of regional planning and not just a standalone initiative,” she said.
The wetlands that support Himalayan salamanders are also culturally significant, often associated with local deities and traditional rituals. In many villages, disturbing these water bodies has historically been discouraged, fostering a longstanding culture of conservation.
Barkha, who comes from an indigenous community in Darjeeling, describes the salamander as resembling “a tiny dragon that swims quietly in a mountain pond.”
Meeting one, she says, “feels like encountering a messenger from deep evolutionary time—a reminder of how long nature has endured and how quickly it can be lost.”
She noted that many local communities had begun protecting the species long before formal recognition or funding arrived.
“What keeps me going is what I see on the ground. I see communities standing up for places they love. I see young people choosing to protect rather than exploit. I see forest officials ready to listen and cooperate. I see a species that has survived for millions of years, still trying, still returning home,” Barkha said.
She added that the award will not only strengthen conservation efforts for rare species but also amplify the role of women and indigenous voices in Himalayan conservation.
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