The Site is a temperate Himalayan high altitude wetland ecosystem, which is an ecosystem found in only ten percent of India’s land area. The central lake is surrounded by peatland and a temperate forest of evergreen oaks, chestnuts and laurels, providing more than 680 species critical refuge from volatile mountain conditions. Notably, the Site serves as an important habitat and stopover site for birds migrating across the Himalayas, including the critically endangered Baer’s pochard (Aythya baeri). It is also home to the endangered red panda (Ailurus fulgens) and the vulnerable Himalayan black bear (Ursus thibetanus laniger), both of which are endemic to the region. The Site has religious significance as a pilgrimage destination for Sikkim Himalaya communities, which, with its scenic and cultural values, makes it a major tourist attraction in the state of Sikkim.