Subject: #21, PROTECTED AREA Update
(Formerly JPAM UPDATE : News on Action towards Joint Protected Area
Management)
No. 21 JULY 1999
CONTENTS
EDITORIAL
NEWS FROM INDIAN STATES
Arunachal Pradesh
Poaching on the rise in Namdapha
Assam
Army to the rescue of Kaziranga
Ecodevelopment plan for Kaziranga
Successful Pygmy hog conservation project
Demand for new protected areas in Assam
Police withdraw from Manas
Orang in trouble
Bihar
Mass hunt in Dalma
Goa
Two new PAs created
Gujarat
"Involve industry in saving marine park" - expert
Salt farms in Dhrangadhra Wild Ass Sanctuary
Himachal Pradesh
Part of the Great Himalayan NP deleted
Jammu & Kashmir
City NP cleared for golf course
Karnataka
Villagers set fire to Dandeli forests
Threats to Kudremukh
Controversies in Nagarhole
Ecodevelopment plan in Nagarhole
Kerala
Land for Sabrimala pilgrims
Madhya Pradesh
Pachmari designated as Biosphere Reserve
Sal borer plague dies out in Kanha
Part of Madhav NP given away for dam
Illegal mining in PAs in MP
Madhya Pradesh / Rajasthan
Inter - State Chambal waters sharing treaty signed
Manipur
Loktak lake threatened
Three new PAs in Manipur soon
Maharashtra
Nisarg Vihar inside Sanjay Gandhi NP opposed
Developmental threats to Melghat
Orissa
Trouble in Chilka
Olive Ridley nesting at Gahirmata
Satkosia to be transferred
Akhand Shikar in Simlipal
Rajasthan
Plastic bags banned in Keoladeo Ghana NP
Controversy in Ranthambore
Cattle compensation scheme for Ranthambore
Sambhar lake under threat
Sikkim
Large scale tree felling affecting PAs
Tamil Nadu
Chital population up in Mudumalai; threat from dam
Tamil Nadu / Karnataka
Threats to Cauvery WLS
Uttar Pradesh
Forest fires, weeds affect Corbett
Pesticides threaten Corbett ecosystem
Protest against train deaths of elephants in Rajaji
West Bengal
Large scale timber smuggling from Buxa
Poachers, illegal settlers threaten Sundarbans
NATIONAL NEWS FROM INDIA
3rd National Consultation
New siting rules for industries near PAs
Project Tiger being strengthened
Fund for children of parents killed by wild animals
Turtle sensitive areas to be identified
Forest staff insurance scheme
Ecodevelopment: World Bank Meet; WWF Study
WWF Case in Supreme Court
NEWS FROM SOUTH ASIA
Bangladesh
'World Heritage Site' status for Sundarbans
Nepal
Wild buffaloes cause terror near Koshi Tappu
Pakistan
Suggestion for national park in Indus delta region
Sri Lanka
Illegal mining threatens nature park
First mangrove park to be set up in Sri Lanka
Protected area adversely affects Veddah tribals
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Global Tiger Forum conference
Rhino / Tiger Fund invites proposals
New Conservation Sub-Committee at the BNHS
New organisation to support conservation work
WHAT'S AVAILABLE
Judgements under the WL(P)A- 1972
People and Parks Programme documents
World Bank Inspection Panel on Nagarhole
Indian Journal of Biodiversity.
Environ
Study on Jambughoda Wildlife Sanctuary
Ecodevelopment in Corbett Tiger Reserve
EDITORIAL
The WWF case on protected areas (PAs) in the Supreme Court, about which we
have been reporting in every issue, continues to take its toll (pl. see
NATIONAL NEWS, below). Given the lack of guidelines for carrying out the
process of settlement of people's rights in PAs, widespread problems have
been reported regarding the manner in which state governments are handling
the process. On the one hand, in many PAs people's rights are not being
recorded or settled properly, and on the other, vested interests are taking
advantage of the situation by pressing for deletion/denotification of
substantial parts of the PAs. The latter step is ostensibly being taken to
ease the shackles on local populations (and in several cases this is the
genuine intention), but in many cases is only an excuse for
industrial/commercial interests to gain entry. The example of Great
Himalayan National Park (see below, pg. 6), is indicative of this.
Unfortunately, there continues to be no concerted national response to this
crisis being faced by both PAs and their wildlife and human inhabitants.
Most of the country's conservation agencies (including NGOs) have failed to
take it seriously, or to gather together into a powerful response. Without
this, decision-makers and the judiciary is likely to remain unmoved, as
indicated by the Supreme Court's recent dismissal of a detailed
intervention on these issues by several NGOs and community-based
organisations. This intervention had presented evidence of the ground
situation in the wake of the Court's order, and had asked it to direct the
government to frame detailed guidelines and monitoring procedures for
carrying out the settlement process. Its rejection ("we don't want the
scope of the petition to be expanded", Justice Bharucha apparently told our
advocate) exposes the weaknesses of a judicial system in which victims are
hard-pressed to make their voice felt.
A positive move has been made by WWF-India and Kalpavriksh, by asking the
Union Ministry of Environment and Forests to set up a process of preparing
guidelines and monitoring mechanisms. Only time will tell if this will
have its intended effect.
Meanwhile, just as a couple of issues back we pointed out the unusually
large number of stories relating to mining in PAs, this time we have to
point readers to yet another menace: river valley projects. There are as
many as 5 stories in this issue, of PAs affected by such projects. While
the country undoubtedly needs to tap hydel energy, a national debate and
policy is needed on where to site these, especially so that critical
wildlife habitats are off-limits to them. In the absence of such a policy,
wildlife officers and NGOs will continue to fire-fight, grappling with
proposal after proposal by power-hungry state governments and central
agencies.
On the positive side, the third successive National Consultation on
Wildlife Conservation and People's Livelihood Rights was held in Bhopal on
May 1-3, 1999 (see NATIONAL NEWS). Over 50 participants, including social
activists, villagers, forest officers, and researchers, agreed to formally
set up a Conservation and Livelihoods Network, to work on various aspects
of participatory conservation. This Network's primary challenge will be to
help in resolving the conflicts that PAs and other wildlife habitats are
facing.
Finally, readers would have noticed a change in the newsletter's name, from
JPAM Update to Protected Areas Update. A number of you have pointed out
that the news we are carrying is not restricted to joint PA management
issues, but rather covers a broader array of issues relating to PAs. Hence,
taking a cue from one of the favourite engagements of botanists and
zoologists, this nomenclature change. Your reactions to this would be most
welcome.
NEWS FROM INDIAN STATES
ARUNACHAL PRADESH
Poaching on the rise in Namdapha
Poaching in the core of the Namdapha Tiger Reserve is on the rise. In
February 1999 forest officials seized a number of animals including a dead
sambar and barking deer from a camp within the park. Lisu tribals have
migrated into India from Myanmar and settled in and around the core area of
Namdapha. Although initially helpful to wildlife officials, they now appear
to have turned to poaching under the influence and support of traffickers
from across the Myanmar border.
Source: 'Poaching on the rise', Tigerlink, Vol.5, No.2, June 1999
'Namdapha National Park', Nature's Beckon News, Vol. C / No. 1, June 1999.
Contact: Moloy Baruah, President, Early Birds, 26 Surujmukhi, PO
Silpukhuru, Guwahati, Assam.
ASSAM
Army to the rescue of Kaziranga
Ecodevelopment plan for Kaziranga
An Indian army project in Kaziranga National Park is expected to help
marooned animals during the floods. In less than three months after the
devastating floods here last year, army engineers had constructed 10
highlands that will serve as a refuge for animals from the flood waters of
the Brahmaputra. (See Update 10 & 19)
The entire cost of Rs. 2 crores, for constructing the highlands, was met
by the army. Some of the old forest camps are being replaced by permanent
concrete ones, and some educational and awareness activity is also to be
undertaken under an UNESCO assistance scheme.
According to another report, the park authorities have also chalked out an
ecodevelopment programme for the villages located on the fringes of the
park. A plan of Rs. 73 lakhs has already been submitted to the central
government for this. According to the park director, BS Bonal, development
of fisheries, roads, sericulture, school buildings, and installation of
tube wells are some of the activities that have been proposed. The
villagers living around the park had played a major role in saving animals
during the floods last season, and the park authorities had paid an amount
of Rs. 100 per deer rescued as an incentive to the villagers.
The Director also said that the park area was to be increased and six
extension areas would be added in phases, nearly doubling the area of the
park from the present 430 sq. kms.
This year too reports of flooding of the Brahmaputra are beginning to come
in, but it is yet to be seen if Kaziranga is also affected.
Source: C Shekhar Nambiar. 'Army to the rescue of `Kaziranga', Newstime,
04/02/99.)
R Dutta Choudhary. 'Bid to involve villagers in wildlife conservation',
The Assam Tribune, 17/02/99.)
Nirmalya Banerjee. 'Kaziranga animals to get flood protection', The Times
of India, 13/04/99.
Contact: Field Director, Kaziranga National Park, PO Bokaghat 783612,
Assam.
Successful Pygmy hog conservation project
A project for the breeding in captivity of the endangered pygmy hog has
been very successful. The number of pygmy hogs in the breeding centre on
the outskirts of Guwahati has increased from six to fifty one in just three
years.
The programme had been embroiled in a major controversy when the scientists
involved in the project were accused of smuggling blood samples and rare
bio-diversity out of the country for cloning and genetic breeding. A Public
Interest Litigation was also filed in the matter before the Guwahati High
Court. Recently however the court dismissed the petition, saying it found
nothing wrong in the activities of the centre and additionally, it
commended the good work that was being done.
The centre had been set up under the Pygmy Hog Conservation Programme
(PHCP) in 1995, after the animal, which was believed to be extinct, was
sighted in the Manas National Park. According to Dr. Gautam Narayan, the
director of the project, the only viable population of the species now
exists in this park.
Now there are proposals to release the captive bred hogs into the wild and
one of the areas suggested is the Nameri Sanctuary in the state.
Source: 'Fresh lease of life for pygmy hog', The Hindu, 06/03/99
Contact: Dr. Gautam Narayan, Pygmy Hog Conservation Programme (PHCP), Barua
Bhavan, 107, MC Road, Uzan Bazaar, Guwahati 781001, Assam.
Demand for new protected areas in Assam
A NGO working in Assam, Nature's Beckon has suggested to the Forest
Department of Assam to bring the reserved forests of Bherjan, Barajan, and
Podumani in Upper Assam under the wildlife conservation network. These
areas are home to populations of some of rare primates found in the region
including the Capped langur, the Pigtailed macaque, the Stump tailed
macaque and the Assamese macaque.
Nature's Beckon has also appealed to the authorities that the three
contiguous reserve forests of Joypur, Upper Dihing and Dirak in the
Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts be declared a wildlife sanctuary. The
three reserved forests cover a vast area of nearly 500 sq. kms. and harbour
good populations of wild animals, including a diverse range of primates.
The population of the Golden langur in the Chakrashila WLS is also reported
to have gone up and Nature's Beckon has also appealed to the Forest
Department to increase the area of this sanctuary.
Source: 'Struggling to save vulnerable species', The Sentinel, 19/03/99.
Letter dated 15/05/99 from Soumyadeep Dutta to JPAM Update.
'An appeal for the conservation of the rain forests of Assam', Nature's
Beckon News, Vol C. / No. 1, June 1999.
Contact: Soumyadeep Dutta. Nature's Beckon, Datta Bari, Ward No. 1, Dhubri
- 783301, Assam. Tel: 03662-21067. Fax: 20076
Police withdraw from Manas Tiger Reserve
It is reported that the Superintendent of Police, Barpeta district has
recently withdrawn the battalion of Assam police that had been posted in
the Bansbari area of the Manas Tiger Reserve since 1989.
The presence of the police next to the Forest Range Office had been an
essential help during the last years of social unrest and increased
poaching. Their withdrawal now poses a threat to the park and local
conservation groups are calling for their redeployment in the area.
Source: 'Police withdraw from Manas', Tigerlink, Vol. 5 no.2, June 1999.
Contact: Bibhab Kumar Talukdar, Samanway Path (Survey), PO Beltola,
Guwahati - 781028, Assam. Email: bibhab@gw1.dot.net.in
Field Director, Manas National Park, Barpeta Road 781 315, Assam. Tel:03666
- 32253.
Orang Sanctuary in trouble
The population of the Great one horned rhino in Orang Sanctuary has fallen
drastically. According to the latest census in March 1999 only 46 rhinos
were counted here, compared to 97 in 1991.
Meanwhile in February, a few hundred villagers moved into the sanctuary,
began felling trees and erecting temporary structures in the Chandanpur
area. However, combined action by the administration and the police was
instrumental in evicting the encroachers within four days.
Source: 'Rhinos decimated in Orang'; 'Civil administration rescues Orang',
Tigerlink, Vol.5, No.2, June 1999.
BIHAR
Mass hunt in Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary
Defying prohibitory orders, thousands of tribals of the Singhbhum region
entered the Dalma WLS for the annual mass hunt in April. According to
initial reports the animals killed included barking deer, wild boar and
wolf. Besides killing the animals the tribals also set ablaze large tracts
of forests to 'improve visibility'.
Forest officials who tried to confiscate the weapons were resisted by the
tribals and altercations were also reported. This year however the turnout
of the tribals was much less than previous years, because the Forest
Department was successful in persuading the Dalma Shikar Samiti (DSS) not
to invite tribals from Orissa and West Bengal for the festivities.
Earlier in the month of March there were reports of large scale
destruction of the forests here due to fires. Many of the fires are set by
tribals to clear the forest floor of the leaf litter to facilitate the
gathering of mahua flowers and to ensure the sprouting of fresh green grass
for their cattle to graze on.
Earlier the Dalma Mukti Vahini (DMV) had urged the tribals in the area not
to use modern weapons in the annual mass hunt. The DMV also demanded that
the barking deer 'starving' in the deer breeding centre of the Dalma
Sanctuary should be allowed to return to the wild. At least three animals
here are supposed to have died in the last few years. Since 1996-97 no
funds have been allocated for the deer breeding centre, the local
authorities have been forced to seek funds from charitable institutions and
agencies that supply ,materials to the Forest Department.
Source: Rana S. Gautam. 'Defiant tribals feast on endangered species'. The
Times of India, 29/04/99
Manoj Prasad. 'Annual fire rages in Bihar Sanctuary, officials look on.'
Indian Express, 16/03/99.
'Barking deer starving at Dalma sanctuary'. The Times of India, 20/04/99
Contact: Chief wildlife warden, Bihar, PO Hinoo, Ranchi - 500237, Bihar.
Dalma Mukti Vahini, Chakulia, PO Bhadudih, via Chandil, W. Singhbhum,
Jharkhand 832401, Bihar.
GOA
Two new PAs created
Two new protected areas, the 208 sq.kms. Madei Sanctuary and the 211 sq.
kms. Netravali Sanctuary have been created in Goa. As a result the entire
stretch of the western ghats in the state are protected as sanctuaries and
/ or national parks. The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), has hailed
the move which has made Goa the state with the highest percentage of its
land under protected area 20.58%
Source: Gunvanthi Balaram. 'BNHS hails Goa's creation of two new wildlife
sanctuaries', The Times of India, 14/07/99
Contact: Durgesh Kasbekar / Vishweshwar Madhav, 1, Matruchaya, off Gulmohar
Cross Road No. 6, JVPD Scheme, Mumbai 400049, Maharashtra. Tel: 022
6250262. Email: wishoo@hotmail.com; vishum@bom3.vsnl.net.in
GUJARAT
Involve industry in saving marine park
Eminent naturalist, Lavkumar Khachar has advocated that the very industries
that pose a threat to the Marine National Park near Jamnagar, should be
wooed towards its conservation. The park was recently in the news when two
contractors and an Essar Oil executive were arrested for constructing a
jetty without environmental clearance.
He pointed out that even today the forest authorities are unable to
exactly demarcate the boundaries of the park and that 'all kinds of
activities' are going on unchecked inside the park.
He also cited examples of the sensitivity shown towards the environment by
some of the industries in the region like the Gujarat State Fertilizer
Corporation (GSFC) and Reliance Industries.
In a related development a division bench of the Gujarat High Court
dismissed two petitions challenging the validity of the permission granted
to Reliance Petroleum Ltd. (RPL) to construct the pipeline. The HC said
that in deciding the alignment of the pipeline, several experts had been
consulted and it had been aligned through an area which was barren, had no
significant biota and no live corals or mangroves.
Source: Shyam Parekh. 'Involve industry in saving marine park, says
veteran', The Times of India, 16/04/99.
'Gujarat HC scraps suits against RPL project', Business Standard,
18/05/99.
Contact: Lavkumar Khachar, 646, Vasturima, Gandhinagar 382022, Gujarat.
Chief Wildlife Warden, Gujarat, Block 14, Dr. Jivraj Mehta Bhavan, Old
Sachivalaya, Gandhinagar, Gujarat. Tel: 02712-30007. Fax: 21097.
Salt farms in Dhrangadhra Wild Ass Sanctuary
The Gujarat government is likely to allow salt farms on nearly 10% of the
4,953 sq.kms. Dhrangadhra Wild Ass Sanctuary in the Little Rann of Kachch.
A report by the Gujarat Environment Education and Research (GEER)
Foundation, Gandhinagar submitted to the state government has identified
seven different patches of land within the sanctuary on which the pans
could be established.
The report was prepared as a result of a High Court order to find a
solution to the tangled problem of saving the habitat of highly endangered
wild ass. The report suggests that the salt pans themselves do not cause as
much problem as the trucks carrying the 28.6 lakh tons of salt produced
every year, between March and May. Nearly 1000 trucks move about daily in a
haphazard direction in the sanctuary during this peak period.
Source: Rajiv Shah. 'Salt farms likely on part of
Wild Ass Sanctuary', The Times of India, 14/03/99.
Contact: GEER, G1, 194/3, Sector 30, Gandhinagar 382030, Gujarat.
Chief Wildlife Warden (see 'Salt farms in Dhrangadhra Wild Ass Sanctuary')
HIMACHAL PRADESH
Part of the Great Himalayan N P deleted
1060 hectares of the Jiwanal valley in the north of the GHNP has been
denotified (deleted) as part of the Settlement of Rights process in May
1999. The reason cited by the authorities is that there are rights of the
people of the villages Kundar and Manjhan in the area and that the
concerned area is of no ecological significance.
The real reason for the denotification is to make way for the Parbati
Hydel Electric Project that is proposed in the area. Researchers of the
Wildlife Institute of India (WII), which has an ongoing research project in
the park, recently conducted a survey of the deleted area. Their findings
indicate that the deodhar dominated forests here are very important habitat
for endangered species like the Western Tragopan, besides various species
of flora of medicinal value.
The Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee was slated to lay the
foundation of the project on June 5, 1999, but this was postponed because
of the crisis in Kargil. Later July 14 was fixed as the date, but had to be
out off again as the Election code of conduct came into operation.
Local environmental groups such as INTACH, Dhauladhar Public Education
Society, the Chipko Soochana Kendra and SINEW, along with Kalpavriksh have
strongly protested against the move. Subsequently, many other groups and
individuals too joined the protest. There are proposals to file a case
against the deletion.
Sources: SP Sharma. 'Projects eating up forests' The Tribune, 20/01/99.
SP Sharma. 'National park areas denotified', The Tribune, 30/05/99.
Ashwani Sharma, 'Two villages excluded from National Park', Indian Express,
31/05/99.
'Environmentalists protest to PM', The Tribune, 04/06/99.
Shishu Patiyal, 'Great Himalayan National Park ki jamin parvati pariyojana
ko saunpne par vivad', Jansatta, 05/06/99.
Contact: Premila Condillac, Shimla Initiative for Nature Environment and
Wildlife (SINEW), Shimla 171002, Himachal Pradesh.
Pankaj Sekhsaria, (at the editorial address)
JAMMU AND KASHMIR
City National Park cleared for golf course
Thousands of trees in the City Forests National Park in Srinagar, which
were chopped down to make way for a golf course, have been secretly sold
off to private contractors. This has happened despite the claim of the
state government that no trees had been cleared for the controversial
Sher-e-Kashmir International Golf Course (SKIGC) (see Update 19). According
to a local contractor 1252 quintals of rubinia trees were auctioned to
another private contractor. According to an official working on the
project, the trees should have been legally handed over to the State Forest
Corporation (SFC), but it would mean admitting that thousands of trees were
slashed for the golf course.
The State Wildlife department has also asserted that the course is illegal
as the SKIGC had encroached upon the national park. The golf course,
described as Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah's dream project, was discussed
in the Rajya Sabha last November and is also the subject of a PIL in the
Supreme Court.
Source: Vikram Jit Singh. 'Srinagar National Park stripped brown to clear
the way for golf greens', Indian Express, 01/02/99.
Contact: Chief Wildlife Warden - J&K, T.R.C., Srinagar 190001, Jammu &
Kashmir. Tel: 0191-5445750, 0194-452469.
Neelu Sharma, 31 B/D Gandhinagar, Jammu (Tawi) 180004, Jammu & Kashmir.
KARNATAKA
Threats to Kudremukh National Park
The petition filed in the Karnataka High court against the Kudremukh Iron
Ore Company Ltd. (KIOCL) by the Environment Support Group (see Update 20)
last year was dismissed in November without prosecution, as the advocate
was not present to attend to some technical procedure. The ESG is trying to
get the petition re- admitted.
On the 14th of May a public hearing was held by the Karnataka State
Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) on the Kachige Hole dam at the Kalasa
village, in the Chickmaglur district. The dam is to be constructed by KIOCL
across the Kachige Hole, a tributary of the river Bhadra. The dam is linked
to the expansion of the mining activities of the KIOCL in Kudremukh and is
located inside the national park.
The KSPCB had circulated the executive summary of the Environment Impact
Assessment (EIA), but according to the local groups involved with the
issue, it has no information of substance and is mainly an adulatory
document, praising the KIOCL for its environmental sensitivity. It was also
demanded that the entire EIA report should be made available to the public
and that the hearing should be postponed to enable study and review of the
documents. The hearing has now been postponed to August 23, 1999.
Meanwhile it is reported that on the expiry of KIOCL's mining lease on
July 24, the MoEF has agreed to give a 'temporary' extension of one year.
The change of heart of the Karnataka government (which was initially
opposing the extension of the lease) was brought about by a commitment by
KIOCL, to pay Rs. 2 crore each year for the next 10 years to the state
exchequer for the maintenance of the national park. This will now allow
KIOCL to continue mining till a full EIA is conducted and a decision taken
on whether the lease should be extended for a longer period. Environment
Support Group (ESG) and Kalpavriksh have sent a protest letter to the MoEF,
citing violations of the Wildlife (Protection) and Forest Conservation
Acts, and the general implications of the extension, and have asked for the
immediate revocation of the extension. Legal action is being contemplated.
Source: Leo Saldanha on email dated 21/04/99.
Leo Saldanha. 'Public Hearing regarding Kachige Hole Dam in Kudremukh
National Park held / postponed', email to
nathistory-india@lists.princeton.edu dated 22.05/99.
'Centre may extend KIOCL mining licence temporarily', The Times of India,
17/07/99.
Minna Kumar. 'Kudremukh gets nod to mine iron ore for a year', The Times of
India, 27/07/99.
Letter to the Mr. Suresh Prabhu, Union Minister for Environment and Forests
by ESG and Kalpavriksh, dated 24/07/99.
Contact: Leo Saldanha, Environment Support Group (ESG), Reservoir Road,
Basavanagudi, Bangalore - 560004, Karnataka. Telefax: 080-6657995. Email:
esg@bgl.vsnl.net.in; Website: http://www.cfar.umd.edu/~venuindex.htmlront.aspmtfs.htmwsgview_of_TRIPS.htm
Controversies in Nagarhole
Ecodevelopment plan in Nagarhole
The Karnataka State Forest Minister blamed NGOs working in the Nagarhole
area for setting fire to the forests there. He made the allegations in
early April, after there were reports that fires had destroyed large parts
of the park. He also denied that the damage caused had been extensive.
NGOs, including the National Front for Tribal Self-Rule and DEED refuted
the charges made by the minister and demanded that the state government
hold an inquiry into the fire.
There was another major controversy recently over the issue of proper
rehabilitation of over 3000 tribal families, who had been displaced, mainly
by the Kabini dam roughly 20 years ago. Recently, however, under a Central
Government scheme some other tribal families are being moved out of the
park and being rehabilitated by the Forest Department on land that has been
earmarked for them. This angered the earlier displaced people who
justifiably felt that their rehabilitation should be given a priority. In
June 1999, some of them are reported to have forcibly occupied the area
earmarked for the new oustees. This resulted in physical confrontation of
these people with administrative, forest and police officials. The tribals
(earlier oustees) were reportedly beaten up and their huts were set fire
to. Many local NGOs have protested at the way the issue has been handled,
and have demanded that an independent investigation to identify and punish
the guilty. In addition, suggestions have been made that a long term plan
is made for the Park, with the involvement of local people, and the issue
of voluntary rehabilitation is dealt with urgency and sensitivity by all
relevant departments involved.
According to another report which quoted the Conservator of Forests
(Wildlife), Mr. C Dyvaiah, the ecodevelopment plan for the national park
has been making good progress. The project is being funded by the World
Bank and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and has an outlay of Rs. 390
million for a period of five years. The report says that the project has
helped in creating better forest roads, elephant proof trenches and for
solar fencing for a stretch of nearly 25 kms. encompassing the periphery of
the park.
Source: 'To move out or to stay is their dilemma', The Hindu, 31/03/99.
'NGOs' hand suspected in Nagarhole fire', The Hindu, 09/04/99.
'NGOs refute charges about forest fire', The Hindu, 18/04/99.
Roy David on emails dated 22/06/99; 24/06/99
S Bharath Kumar. 'Eco-development plan making good progress', The Hindu,
27/04/99.
(see Update 17)
Contact: JL Subramani Nagarhole Budakattu Janara Hakkustapana Samithi,
Nagarhole, Virajpet Taluk, Kodagu District, Karnataka. Tel: 08276-74 487.
Fax: 74 091.
Roy David, CORD V.S. Roy David, Coorg Organisation for Rural Development
(CORD), 119/ 1, 4th Block, Kushalnagar 571234, Karnataka.. Tel: 08276 74487
/ 73287. Fax: 74091
Email: david@giasbg01.vsnl.net.in
Villagers set fire to Dandeli forests
The non-availability of the vaccine to treat the monkeys affected by the
Kyasnoor Forest Disease (KFD), created a peculiar problem in the forests of
Dandeli WLS this summer. Fearing that the disease will affect them, the
villagers in the region set fire to large tracts of forest to drive away
the monkeys.
The disease first appears in monkeys and can be transmitted to cattle and
humans via ticks that are the carrier of the virus. The vaccine was not
available this season because the laboratory which produces the vaccine had
been closed due to staff and building problems. It is expected that the
vaccine will now be available only next season, when the lab is reopened.
Source: 'Villagers set forests on fire to contain disease', The Hindu,
11/04/99
KERALA
Land for Sabrimala pilgrims
The Central Government is reported to have taken up the demand of the
Travancore Devasom board for the allotment of at least 20 hectares of
reserve forestland to provide amenities to Sabrimala pilgrims.
The land has been demanded at Saramkuthi, Marakottom, Triveni,
Cheriyanavattom, and Valiyanavattom. 15 of these 20 hectares comes under
the Periyar Tiger Reserve.
An alternate route has also been suggested for the pilgrims, which will
also pass through the tiger reserve (see Update 20).
However, according to information received from groups in Kerala, the area
suggested for denotification is much greater (100 sq. kms.).
Source: 'Central Govt. may consider Dewasom Board's demand', The Times of
India, 15/04/99.
Letter from Mr. Kunhikrishnan to Ashok Kumar, WPSI.
Contact: Field Director, Aranya Bhavan, Forest Complex, S.H. Mount, P.O.
Kottayam - 686006, Kerala. Tel/fax: 0481-565940; Email:
root@trperiy.ren.nic.in.
Thiruvankulam Nature Lover's Movement, Thiruvankulam PO, Dist. Ernakulam,
Kerala.
MADHYA PRADESH
Pachmari designated as Biosphere Reserve
Following efforts of the Environmental Planning and Co-ordination
Organisation (EPCO), an advisory body to the Madhya Pradesh state
government, the Pachmari area has been designated as the first biosphere
reserve (BR) in MP, with effect from March 3, 1999. The total area of the
reserve is 4926 sq. kms, and includes the Satpura National Park, the Bori
and Pachmari sanctuaries and some surrounding areas. The 524 sq. kms.
Satpura National Park has been designated as the core zone and the rest is
the buffer area.
According to an official release, the designation of the BR will not
replace the existing sanctuaries or national park, but would support and
supplement them along with enhancing their values for conservation at the
national and international level.
The declaration of the BR has been done under UNESCO's Man and Biosphere
(MAB) programme. This is the 10th BR in the country and it has also been
proposed to declare the 3600 sq. kms. area of Amarkantak as the 2nd BR in
MP.
BRs have no legal status under the Wildlife (Protection) Act (WLPA) 1972
or any other law in India.
Source: 'Pachmari designated as Biosphere Reserve in Madhya Pradesh',
Madhya Pradesh Chronicle, 08/04/99
'Pachmarhi declared biosphere reserve', Indian Express, 04/07/99.
'Pachmari Biosphere Reserve', Enviro News, MoEF, Vol. 3, No.5, May 1999.
Contact: Field Director, Satpura National Park, Pachmari 461881, MP. Tel:
07578 52130.
Editor, ENVIRO NEWS, MoEF, Paryavaran Bhavan, CGO Complex, Lodi Road, New
Delhi 110003. Tel: 011 4364678. Fax: 4360740. Email:
envis@envfor.delhi.nic.in; harjit@envis.ac.in Website:
http://www.nic.in/envfor/envisndex.htmlront.aspmtfs.htmwsgview_of_TRIPS.htm
Sal borer plague dies out in Kanha
The sal (Shorea robusta) borer plague that had affected vast tracts of
forests in Madhya Pradesh is dying a natural death in large parts,
including Kanha Tiger Reserve. (see Update 20). It has been reported that
healthy growth has been seen on most of the trees that had earlier been
marked as diseased and threatened by felling.
It may be recalled that in November 1997, MP forest officials had
estimated that an area of 1,50,000 hectares of forest in the districts of
Rajnandgaon, Shahdol, Mandla, Balaghat, and Sarguja was affected, and the
then state forest minister had announced that nearly a million sal trees
would have to be felled 'to save the healthy forests'. Consequently 300,000
trees were cut down in 1997, before the central government asked the state
to freeze the felling in January 1998. These recent developments in Kanha
suggest that the environmentalists opposing the felling may have been
justified.
Source: Belinda Wright on email to nathistory-india@lists.princeton.edu
dated 17/04/99
Contact: Belinda Wright, Wildlife Protection Society of India, Thapar
House, 124 Janpath, New Delhi - 110001 Tel: 011 - 6213864 / 6238710. Fax:
6464918. Email: blue@vsnl.com.
Field Director, Mandla - 481661, Madhya Pradesh. Tel: 07642-50760/61.
Email: root@trkanha.ren.nic.in.
Part of Madhav NP given away for dam
The court of the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO), Revenue, in Shivpuri
district has passed an order excluding 2,062 hectares of land from the
Madhav NP falling on the western bank of the Sindh river. This has been
done to facilitate the Mohini Sagar dam which is part of the Sindh River
Project Phase II.
Source: 'Part of Madhav NP given away for dam', Tigerlink, Vol.5, No.2,
June 1999.
Contact: Chief Wildlife Warden, Madhya Pradesh, Van Bhavan, Tulsi Nagar,
Bhopal 462003, MP. Tel: 0755-57371 / 550942. Fax: 573762
Illegal mining in PAs in MP
According to the report of the Chief Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG),
the Wildlife (Protection) Act- 1972, is being violated in Madhya Pradesh as
illegal mining continues in many of the protected areas. The report has
discussed in length the mining that is going on in Ken Gharial Sanctuary,
Panna NP, and Shivpuri NP. (see Update 18)
Source: 'CAG report on illegal mining', Tigerlink, Vol.5, No.2, June 1999.
MADHYA PRADESH / RAJASTHAN
Chambal water - sharing treaty signed
Rajasthan and MP have just finalised the inter-state Chambal sharing
treaty. As a result of this several irrigation and hydel schemes on the
Chambal and Betwa rivers that had been held up for decades are likely to be
revived. It is expected that this will affect the hydrology and riverine
ecology of the National Chambal Sanctuary in MP and Rajasthan. The
sanctuary has the largest breeding population of the gharial, besides many
species of turtles and a viable population of the Gangetic dolphin too.
More details are however not known.
Source Jagdish Krishnaswamy on email to
nathistory-lists@india.princeton.edu dated 05/06/99.
MANIPUR
Loktak lake threatened
The commissioning of the Loktak hydro-electric project by the National
Hydel Power Corporation (NHPC) at the Loktak lake, the biggest natural lake
in Eastern India, has adversely affected the wildlife here.
Most parts of the Loktak lake fall within the Keibul Lamjao National Park
which is the only home in the world of the highly endangered Brow antlered
deer. Migratory birds using this lake too have suffered after the start of
the generation of the 105 MW of power because the water level in the lake
has gone down.
Source: 'Dwindling wildlife in Manipur causes concern', The Hindu,
09/02/99.
Contact: Chief Wildlife Warden, Govt. of Manipur, PO Sanjenthong, Imphal
795001, Manipur. Tel: 03852 - 223662. Fax: 222504
Three new PAs in Manipur soon
The Government of Manipur has announced that three new protected areas will
be declared in the state soon. The proposed sanctuaries include the Zeliad
lake and Buning valley in Tamenglong district and the Keilam range in
Churachandpur district.
Source: 'Manipur govt. to declare 3 more wildlife sanctuaries soon',
Natures's Beckon News, Vol. C / No.1, June 1999.
Contact: Chief Wildlife Warden, (see item above)
MAHARASHTRA
Nisarg Vihar in Sanjay Gandhi NP opposed
The World Wide Fund for Nature India (WWF-I) has filed a petition in the
Mumbai High court against the construction of 'Nisarg Vihar', a nature
centre proposed on a 50 acre area within the Mulund side buffer zone of the
Sanjay Gandhi National Park.
Earlier a new entry had been opened to the park at Mulund to reduce the
pressure of visitors at the main entry in Borivili. (see Update 20)
According to the petition, the creation of such an area was violative of
the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 and the Forest (Conservation) Act
1980. The petition also noted that the project was more like an amusement
park, not for the purpose of forest conservation, and that the project is
aimed more at securing political mileage in the forthcoming elections.
Source: 'Plea filed against building nature centre in national park', The
Times of India, 22/06/99
Contact: Divisional Forest Officer, Sanjay Gandhi Rashtriya Udyan, Borivili
(E), Mumbai - 400066, Maharashtra.
WWF- I, Maharashtra State Office, 204, National Insurance Building, 2nd
Floor, Dadabhoy Naoroji Road, Fort, Mumbai 400001, Maharashtra. Tel:
022-2048105.
Developmental threats to Melghat
The River Valley Expert Committee of the Union Ministry of Environment and
Forests made a visit to the site of the Chikhaldhara pumped storage project
in March, earlier this year. A meeting which was held to discuss the impact
of the proposed project, was attended by forest officials, researchers and
officials of the irrigation department.
Bittu Sahgal, a member of the committee has circulated a detailed note
explaining the reasons why this particular project should not be granted
permission.
In another development, various NGOs in the region have also voiced their
opposition to the Upper Tapi Irrigation project which is expected to affect
Melghat adversely. Environmentalists have expressed the apprehension that
the motive behind denotifying part of the sanctuary in the Project Tiger
area may have been to make the necessary land available for the project.
The state forest department has opened a new wildlife circle at Amravati.
This will be under the administrative control of the Field Director of
Melghat Tiger Reserve. There will be two wildlife divisions for Melghat,
with headquarters at Paratwada, while a separate wildlife division for the
sanctuaries of Ambabarwa, Wan, and is being established at Akot in Akola
district.
In another development the Tiger Conservation Action Force (TCAF) of the
Amravati based Nature Conservation Society (NCS) arrested three wildlife
traders in Akola on the 20th of May. The operation was aided by the Delhi
based Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI). Subsequently the Forest
Department too succeeded in arresting three more people and confiscating
some wild animal skins from them.
Source: Bittu Sahgal on email dated 17/04/99.
'Greens object to big projects in Melghat', Indian Express, 10/05/99.
Jawahar Dubey msconst@bom3.vsnl.net.in on email dated 11/05/99.
'Reserve status for tiger habitat', Business Standard, 04/05/99.
Sunil S Deshmukh on email dated 28/05/99
Contact: Bittu Sahgal, Sanctuary Asia, 602, Maker Chamber V, Nariman Point,
Mumbai 400021, Maharashtra. Tel: 022 - 2830061 /81. Fax: 2874380.
Email: bittusahgal@vsnl.com
Kishore Rithe, Nature Conservation Society, Pratishtha, Bharat Nagar, Akoli
Road, Near Sai Nagar, Amravati, Maharashtra. Tel: 0721 672359. Fax:
670308. Email: ncs@bom3.vsnl.net.in.
Field Director, P.O. Paratwada, Amravati, Maharashtra. Tel: 0721-662792 /
62493.
ORISSA
Trouble in Chilka
A number of significant events have happened in Chilka in the last couple
of months.
With the failure of the government to fulfill its promise of removing all
the prawn farming from the lake area, fisherfolk and their organisations
decided to take matters into their own hands. In April they launched a
massive operation, as a part of which nearly 5000 acres of prawn gheries
(farms) were destroyed.
About a month later, on 30th of May, three traditional fishermen were
killed in police firing at village Sorona, when they opposed the arrest of
their leaders who had been in the forefront of the demolition of the
aquaculture farms.
Describing the killings as a 'black chapter in the history of Orissa',
noted environmentalist Banka Behary Das asked for a total ban on prawn
culture in the lake and for the formulation of a new fishing policy to
guarantee the livelihood of the local fishing community. The National
Fisherfolk Forum also called for similar measures.
Later there was a call for a state wide bandh on June 5, World Environment
Day, in protest against the police firing at Sorona. In the first week of
July too there was big rally in Bhubaneshwar, where 25,000 fisherfolk
blockaded the main approach road to the state assembly house, under the
auspices of the Chilka Matsyajibi Mahasangh. The delegation that met the
Chief Minister was assured that all kinds of aquaculture will be banned in
the state, and a bill will be introduced in the monsoon session of the
Orissa assembly.
It was also suggested by many concerned that in spite of promises, the
authorities would not start the demolitions till the end of June, because
this is when the prawn crop matures. The latest information on this is
still awaited.
According to official estimates, the annual catch of fish from the Chilka
lake has fallen drastically in the last few years. Additionally the prawn
farms have also become a threat to the native and migratory birds that
throng this wetland.
Source: 'Fishermen launch 'mafia hatao, Chilka bachao' drive', The Times of
India, 26/04/99.
Biswajit Mohanty on email to nathistory-india@lists.princeton.edu dated
31/05/99.
'Ban sought on Chilka prawn culture', Business Standard, 03/06/99.
'Chilka fishermen take to streets', Indian Express, 06/06/99.
Bijay Chaki. 'Delay in eviction of prawn ghettoes raises eyebrows', Indian
Express, 19/06/99
'An appeal for urgent action: NFF on Chilka struggle' UPDATE, 20/06/99.
'Ban soon on prawn culture in Chilka lake', The Hindu, 27/06/99.
World Forum of Fish-harvesters and Fishworkers on email dated 03/07/99.
Contact: Biswajit Mohanty, Wildlife Society of Orissa, Shantikunj, Link
Road, Cuttack 753012, Orissa. Tel: 0671 611513 / 610980.Fax: 610980.
Email: biswajit@cal.vsnl.net.in
Banka Behary Das Orissa Krushak Mahasangh, 14, Ashok Nagar, Bhubaneshwar
751009, Orissa.
Update Collective, F-10/12, Malviya Nagar, New Delhi - 110017. Tel: 011
6426783. Fax: 6237724. Email: delforum@unv.ac.in;
delhi_forum@hotmail.com
Thomas Kocherry, WFF, Velankanny Junction, Valaithura, Thiruvananthapuram
695008, Kerala. Telefax: 0471 501376. Email : nff@md2.vsnl.net.in; Website:
http://www.south-asian-initiative.org/wffnt.aspmtfs.htmwsgview_of_TRIPS.htm
Olive Ridley nesting at Gahirmata
Following the initial reports of mass nesting by turtles off the Orissa
coast (see Update 20), there have been further reports of nesting at
different sites including a new one 27 kms. south of Gahirmata.
There have also been reports of large scale destruction of eggs, as they
have been washed away by wave action. It was estimated in April that
atleast 25% of the eggs laid in Nasi II were destroyed in this fashion.
Source: Belinda Wright blue@vsnl.com on email to
nathistory-india@lists.princeton.edu dated 26/04/99
'Olive Ridleys' eggs facing threat', The Hindu, 16/04/99
Contact: Kartik Shankar, A1/4/4, 3rd Main Rd, Besant Nagar, Chennai -
600090, Tamil Nadu. Tel: + 91 44 4952655 Fax: 4934862 email:
kachhapa@vsnl.com; cg.shankar@vsnl.com
Belinda Wright, (WPSI) (see 'Sal borer plague dies out in Kanha')
Satkosia WLS to be transferred
Orders have been issued to transfer the Satkosia-Gorge WLS from the
territorial wing of the Forest Department to the DFO Wildlife, Satkosia. An
NGO working in the area, Wild Orissa, has also said that the ill equipped
forest staff has been unable to control the pressure of timber smuggling
and poaching. It suggests that the forest personnel need to be supplied
arms and ammunitions and that the area should be immediately placed under
Project Tiger.
On 24th April 1999, Forest guard Bhagwan Majhi in the Angul division of the
sanctuary was assaulted and killed by group of professional timber
smugglers, who are also involved in elephant poaching. The Wildlife Society
of Orissa reports that this is the second case of the murder of forest
personnel this year in Satkosia.
In another incident a tiger was poisoned to death in the Lebangi village
in the sanctuary. The skin, teeth and nails of the tiger were found
removed.
Source: 'Satkosia WLS'; 'Tiger Poisoned', Tigerlink Vol.5 No. 1999.
Contact: Surjit Bhujabal, Chairman, Wild Orissa, 5R-1, OUAT Colony,
Gopalbandhu Chowk, Bhubaneshwar -751001, Orissa. Tel: 0675 - 458784, 419272
Biswajit Mohanty, (see 'Trouble in Chilka')
Niladri Bihari Mishra, Central Hospital Colony, Banikala 758038,
Keonjhar, Orissa.
Akhand Shikar in Simlipal
Three people were arrested in connection with the killing of a sambar and a
giant squirrel during akhand shikar at Sarua in the Barhakamura range in
the core area of the Simlipal National Park. The incident happened in the
first week of April.
Reportedly 200 tribals armed with traditional weapons entered the park,
set up camp and even feasted on sambar meat after cooking it there.
Another attempt of akhand shikar was foiled in the Bhanjabasa range of the
core area of the park when the tribals were chased away by police and
forest personnel. (see Update 17)
Source: 'Tribals massacre wild animals during mass hunt'. The Times of
India, 03/04/99.
Contact: Field Director, Baripada - 757002, Orissa. Tel: 06792-52773.
RAJASTHAN
Plastic bags banned in Keoladeo Ghana NP
Entry of plastic bags has been banned in Keoladeo Ghana National Park in
Bharatpur. This followed the recent decision of the Rajasthan government to
ban the entry of plastic bags in all sanctuaries and national parks in the
state.
Rajasthan is the first state in the country to have introduced a
restriction of this kind.
According to another report released by the United Nations Population Fund
(UNFPA) on the occasion of World Environment day on June 5, the tremendous
increase in human population around the park has led to intense competition
for natural resources the water of the two rivers that feed the
sanctuary, the forest produce and the use of uplands as grazing grounds.
The report also pointed out that the park had emerged as a bone of
contention between the residents of the surrounding villages and the state
forest department.
Source: 'Keoladeo Rashtriya Pakshi Vihar me plastic ki theliyan le jane par
rok', Nayi Dunia, 10/02/99.
'Human population threatens Keoladeo National Park', The Times of India,
05/06/99, quoted on email dated 05/06/99 by Nalin M on
nathistory-india@lists.princeton.edu
Contact: Chief Wildlife Warden, Rajasthan, Van Bhavan, Vaniki Path,
Deorali, Jaipur - 302005, Rajasthan. Tel: 0141-380832. Fax: 380496.
Controversy in Ranthambore
The tiger's most frequented habitat around Raj Bagh and Padam Talao, in the
Ranthambore Tiger Reserve was closed to visitors for over two months to
facilitate a crew from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) to shoot
a film without any hindrance.
This decision of the park administration caused a lot of resentment among
travel agents, hoteliers, photographers, park guides and others, who
complained that the permission given for the shoot in the lake region was
at the cost of tourism.
The BBC crew was being assisted by Valmik Thapar of the Ranthambore
foundation and former Director of the park, Fateh Singh Rathore.
Sawai Madhopur based sources also alleged that the film crew had used
methods which violated the Wildlife (Protection) Act. This included the
transportation of a dead blue bull from one area of the park to the lake
region to use it as 'bait' to get better shots.
In another development, serious conflict has arisen between the state
forest minister on one hand and the forest secretary and some forest
officials on the other. It relates to reports that the Field Director of
the park has signed an agreement with a private party, an NGO named Tiger
Watch, to hand over the management of Ranthambore to it, leaving only a
supervisory role for the Forest Department. Tiger Watch is a group
registered in Mumbai, with former police chief Julio Ribeiro as its
chairperson and Fateh Singh Rathore as the vice-chairman. The memorandum of
understanding, which entitles Tiger Watch to provide funds for schemes in
the park and to formulate and implement projects here, (and not to take
over the park's management, as suggested in some media reports) was signed
between the Field Director of the park, Rajiv Tyagi and the vice-chairman
of Tiger Watch Fateh Singh Rathore. The contention of the forest minister
is that he was neither consulted nor informed about this. However the
forest secretary and the other officials have said this was not necessary.
Source: Prakash Bhandari. 'Ranthambore partly closed for film shoot', The
Times of India, 07/04/99.
'Van Vibhag ke bade afsaron ko bataye bina hi karar', Rajasthan Patrika,
19/04/99.
Rajesh Sinha. 'Minister, babus lock horns over tiger park', Indian Express,
08/06/99, quoted by Environment Support Group on email to
nathistory-india@lists.princeton.edu dated 10/06/9
Contact: Field Director, Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, Sawai Madhopur -
322001, Rajasthan. Tel: 07462 20223.
Tiger Watch, 16&17 Hansraj Damodar Bldg., 12/14 Goa Street, Ballard Estate
Mumbai 400001, Maharashtra.
Valmik Thapar, Ranthambore Foundation, 19, Kautilya Marg, Chanakyapuri, New
Delhi - 110021. Tel: 011- 3016261. Fax: 3019457. Email: tiger@vsnl.com
Chief Wildlife Warden, (see 'Plastic bags banned in Keoladeo Ghana NP'
Cattle compensation scheme for Ranthambore
The WWF- Tiger Conservation Program (WWF-TCP) has been extended to
Ranthambore TR and its two adjoining protected areas Sawai Mansingh and
Kailadevi Sanctuaries. The TCP will provide funds for information on
cattle/ buffalo killed by carnivores, 50% of the assessed cost of the
animal (the other 50% is to be paid by the park authorities), cost of
guarding the kill and the cost of transportation incurred by the nominated
NGO partner. While no compensation will be paid for cattle killed inside
the national park (since grazing is not allowed inside), it will be
provided for livestock killed in its buffer and inside the two sanctuaries.
This scheme of WWF-TCP has been successfully operational in protected
areas in UP, AP and Bihar (see Update 19).
Source: 'Cattle compensation for RNP', Tigerlink, Vol.5 No.2, June 1999
Contact: WWF- TCP, World Wide Fund for Nature-India, 172 B, Lodi Estate,
New Delhi 110003. Tel: 011-4616532; Fax: 4626837.
Sambhar lake under threat
Large scale extraction of salt coupled with lack of adequate flow of water
into the Sambhar lake, is adversely affecting the ecosystem of this
renowned wetland.
Several dams and bunds on the various tributaries of the rivers like
Roopgarh and Khandel have reduced the flow of water into the lake. In 1983
the lake had 9 ft of water, in 1995 this had fallen to 2.5 ft. and
presently it is only about a foot.
Simultaneously, various private salt manufacturers have set up operations
here since the mid 80s. The salt manufacturers too construct bunds to
retain water for their salt extraction works, further affecting the flow of
water to the lake.
This has had a direct affect on the avifauna, as is evident in the
reduction of the numbers of flamingoes that can be seen here.
Meanwhile the threats are growing as private salt manufacturers are asking
for rights to produce salt in the lake itself.
Source: Rohit Parihar. 'Dry Horizons', India Today, 08/03/99
SIKKIM
Large scale tree felling affecting protected areas
Recent disagreements between the army and the state forest department have
brought to light large scale deforestation in many parts of Sikkim,
particularly the twin valleys of Lachen and Lachung. Whereas the local
villagers blame the army, that was deployed here after the war with China
in 1962, the army blames the Bhutiya villagers living in the two valleys.
Influential local politicians had also illegally transferred thousands of
acres of forest land into private hands in 1993. Questions were recently
raised in the Indian Parliament about these transfers and the construction
by a former state forest minister of a private, three hectare tourist
complex adjoining the Rhododendron Sanctuary.
Last year the Forest Department stopped and penalised an army truck
carrying timber because it could be proved that the felled timber was from
the Shingba Wildlife Sanctuary in Lachung.
Army trucks usually do not heed stop signs at civilian checkposts and
there have been many cases of forest guards having narrowly escaped from
being run over by army trucks carrying timber. The forest officials do not
deny that the local people are involved in the illegal felling, but are
firm that the timber cannot move out of Sikkim without army complicity.
Source: Ranjit Dev Raj. 'Where have Sikkim's pine forests gone?', Inter
Press Service, quoted by Nirmal Ghosh (tigerfire@yahoo.com) on
nathistory-india@lists.princeton.edu dated 28/05/99.
Contact: Chief Wildlife Warden, Govt. of Sikkim, Forest Department,
Wildlife Circle, Sikkim 737102. Tel: 03592 22285 / 22978. Fax: 22978
TAMIL NADU
Chital population goes up in Mudumalai; threat from dam
A census conducted recently by the Forest Department, along with the
Nilgiris Wildlife and Environment Association (NWEA), the Bombay Natural
History Society (BNHS) and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) has
revealed that population of chital here has increased by leaps and bounds.
The density of the large herbivores estimated was: chital 30.45 per sq.
kms., sambar: 5.7; gaur: 6.81; elephant:2.46; common langur:14.44; giant
squirrel: 5.56.
The encouraging trend has been attributed to measures like anti-poaching
camps, strict fire control, regulated tourism, highway patrolling and ban
on film shootings. During the last 18 months, 34 special watchers belonging
to the Kurumbar, Irular and Kaatunaikar tribal communities had been
appointed.
According to another report, the Tamil Nadu government is pushing hard to
revive the Pandiyar-Punnampuzha Hydro-Electric project in the Gudalur taluk
of Nilgiri district. If the project is permitted it is feared that prime
forests in Mudumalai would also be submerged. This would affect elephant
corridors and increase the already high levels of animal-human conflicts
here besides uprooting atleast 2,500 tribals. From latest available reports
the proposal has yet to reach the central government for environmental
clearance.
The Nilgiri Wildlife and Environment Association (NWEA) has been actively
opposing the dam.
Source: 'Chital population goes up by leaps and bounds in Mudumalai
sanctuary'. The Hindu. 22/06/99, quoted by Nalin M; (nalinm@aol.com) on
nathistory-india@lists.princeton.edu
'Dam threatening', Tigerlink, Vol.5 No.2, June 1999.
'Possible impact of the proposed Pandiar Punnampuzha Hydroelectric
Project on elephant population', DC Despatch, Supplement No. 1, September
1998, Indian Social Institute
Contact: AC Soundarajan, NWEA, C/o Dist. Forest Office (North division),
Mount Stewart Hill, Udhagamandalam - 643001, Tamil Nadu.
V Jayarajan, Action Committee against Pandiar-Punnampuzha dam,
Parisararakshavedi, Elambachi PO, Kasaragod Dist. 671311, Kerala.
Documentation Centre, Indian Social Institute, 10, Institutional Area, Lodi
Road, New Delhi - 110003
TAMIL NADU / KARNATAKA
Threats to Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary
The Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary which is located along the Cauvery river is
seriously threatened by two major dams for power and irrigation that are
coming up near the Hogenakal falls (Tamil Nadu border in Dharmapuri
district) and Mekedatu (Bangalore district).
With the successful implementation of the interim award of the Cauvery
tribunal, it is now certain that the above mentioned projects will be
completed.
The area has rich wildlife value and is the home of the highly endangered
Grizzled Giant Squirrel Ratufa macroura. It also lies on the elephant
migration route and is an excellent birding area.
Source: JN Prasad on email to nathistory-india@lists.princeton.edu dated
30/05/99
Contact: JN Prasad, Merlin Nature Club, 13, 8th cross, 30th main, Sarakki,
ITI Layout, JP Nagar phase I Bangalore 560078, Karnataka. Tel: 080 -
6644682 / 6653350. Fax: 6695226. Pager: 9612-412774
Email: jnprasad@usa.net
UTTAR PRADESH
Forest fires, weeds affect Corbett National Park
Wide spread forest fires affected large areas of Uttar Pradesh this summer.
It is estimated that over 60,000 hectares of forest in Kumaon and Garhwal
were destroyed.
The Corbett National Park too was badly affected by the fire. Exact
estimates of the damage caused here are however not available.
The weed menace too is reaching serious proportions in the park. According
to the UP Forest Department about 50 exotic weeds are threatening the
indigenous flora in Corbett and Rajaji. The Department has sought funds of
Rs. 9 crores to fight the weed menace which is supposed to cover an area of
over 600 sq. kms. According to experts from the National Botanical
Research Institute, biological and silvicultural operations are needed.
Also the villages of Dhikuli, Ringora, Dhela, and Savaldeo, on the south
and south eastern edge of the park are facing the problem of elephant raids
on crops. Two people were killed recently and in February two elephants
were found poached for their ivory. The reason for the increased conflict
is because of the loss of bamboo in the fires of 1995, and the floods that
disrupted the migratory routes of the elephants last year.
Source: RP Nailwal. 'Wild forest fires rage in Uttar Pradesh hills', The
Times of India,
23/04/99.
'Kumaon ke jungalon ki aag ki chapet me Corbett park bhi', Navbharat
Times, 18/04/99
'Weed menace in Corbett'; Corbett man-elephant conflict, Tigerlink, Vol.5
No.2, June 1999.
Contact: Field Director, Corbett Tiger Reserve, Ramnagar 244715, Nainital,
Uttar Pradesh.
Pesticides threaten Corbett ecosystem
According to a study by raptor expert, Rishad Naoroji, pesticide poisoning
is posing a major threat to wildlife in Corbett, including aquatic life,
and birds of prey like the Peregrine falcon and the Grey headed fishing
eagle.
The pesticide pollution is caused mainly by run-offs into the river
Ramganga of the agro-chemicals that are used in the nearby farms. It has
also been reported that traces of corroded metals like steel that were used
in the construction of the Kalagarh dam and were later submerged in the
reservoir have been found in the aquatic animals and animals who drink
water from the reservoir.
Naoroji says a series of tests of eggshell fragments from an abandoned nest
of a fishing eagle revealed the presence of organochlorine pesticides such
as DDT, Dieldrin and Polychlorinated Biphenyls. He is also confident that
this could be a major factor in the sharp decline in the numbers of these
birds.
Source: 'Pesticides threaten Corbett's eco-system', The Times of India,
03/05/99.
Contact: Rishad Naoroji, Godrej & Boyce Mfg. Co., Godrej Bhavan, 4A Home
St., Fort, Mumbai 400001.
Field Director, Corbett National Park (see 'Forest fires, weeds affect
Corbett NP)
Protest against train deaths of elephants in Rajaji
On May 28, 1999 a joint petition with 80 signatories representing over
300000 people was presented to the Railway Minister and other authorities,
urging action by the Indian railways to avoid killing of endangered wild
elephants on the 16 kms. Motichur Kansrao section of the Delhi-Dehradun
railway track (see Update 20)
Since 1987, 15 elephants, two leopards, and many other animals have been
run over by the trains in this section. The measures suggested to avoid the
killing of the elephants include the slowing down of trains while running
in this section, the flattening/widening out the narrow nallah like areas
through which the track passes, and as a long term measure the rerouting of
the track that runs via Doiwala-Kansrau-Motichur-Raiwala to run from
Doiwala to Raiwala through Rishikesh.
In response the Minister of Environment and Forests has written directly
to the Railways Minister supporting the demands made in the petition.
Source: Nirmal Ghosh on email to india-ej@unv.ac.in dated 28/05/99
Letter on email from Sanjay Bhatia, Private Secretary to Minister of
Environment and Forests dated 01/07/99
Contact: Nirmal Ghosh tigerfire@yahoo.com
A William Christy, Wildlife Institute of India (WII), PB 18, Chandrabani,
Dehradun - 248001, Uttar Pradesh. Tel: 0135 - 640111 15. Fax: 640117.
Email: acwill69@hotmail.com.
Sushil Kumar Dubey, Director, Rajaji National Park, Shivalik House,
Dehradun - 248001, Uttar Pradesh.
Sanjay Bhatia, MoEF, Paryavaran Bhavan, CGO Complex, Lodi Estate, New Delhi
110003. Tel: 011 4361748 / 4629133. Fax: 4362222.
WEST BENGAL
Large scale timber smuggling from Buxa
A sizeable quantity of timber has been smuggled out of Buxa Tiger Reserve
in connivance with forest officials. The incident happened in the area of a
teak plantation at Godumdabri within the reserve.
Whereas the Director of the park, Dr. S. Patel says that the quantity of
smuggled timber is about 2000 cu.m., other sources put this figure at
around 15,000 cu.m. The value of the of timber is placed at Rs. 25 crores.
Three range officers and an equal number of beat guards were suspended for
dereliction of duty. It was reported that the entire record in respect to
the transit pass (TP) books was in a mess and that many transit pass books
were missing.
The West Bengal Forest Minister too has admitted the lapse and assured
that the entire administration of the reserve would be overhauled.
Source: Anil Maheshwari. 'Mafia destroying forest wealth'. Hindustan Times.
27/04/99,
Subrata Nagchoudhary. 'State stumbles on timber scam'. Telegraph, 07/02/99.
'Timber gangs spread reach in tiger reserve'. Telegraph. 16/03/99
Contact: Field Director, Alipurduar - 736122, West Bengal. Tel:
03564-55129. Fax: 55577 / 79.
Poachers, illegal settlers threaten Sundarbans
Illegal settlers are causing widescale destruction of mangroves of the
Sundarbans, particularly on Jambu Dweep, the furthermost of the cluster of
islands here. The Supreme Court has banned human habitation on this island,
but over 20,000 people reside here, mostly in a place called Charso Bees.
The fishing business here, run mostly by Bangladeshis from Chittagong
records a turnover of about Rs. 1.5 billion annually.
Many settlers on the island are unaware that fishing in the protected area
is prohibited. It has repeatedly been pointed out by experts that the
destruction of the mangroves is one of the major causes of devastation
caused by the cyclones and floods every year.
While the West Bengal police has admitted that vigilance along the border
has been lax, the problem of migration is rooted in social factors. For
instance, many of the Bangladeshis have relatives in the South 24 Parganas
district in West Bengal. They come to visit and often stay on.
According to another report, poaching in the
Sundarbans has increased. This has prompted the state wildlife authorities
to step up vigil and redeploy its field staff in the tiger reserve. In the
last few months, at least two tigers have been poisoned in the Basirhat
range of the reserve. In April about 200 string traps used to snare both,
deer and tiger were found in the Sajnekhali area and deer meat is easily
available in the surrounding areas.
Source: Kritivas Mukherjee. 'Illegal settlers denude mangrove forests',
Madhya Pradesh Chronicle, 04/04/99.
'Poachers hold sway in Sundarbans', Telegraph, 16/04/99.
Contact: Field Director, Sundarbans Tiger Reserve, P.O. Canning Town,
Dist. 24 Parganas - 743329, West Bengal. Tel: 03218-55280 / 721683.
NATIONAL NEWS FROM INDIA
3rd National Consultation on Wildlife Conservation and People's Livelihood
Rights
The 3rd National consultation, organised by Kalpavriksh and Ekta Parishad,
was held in Bhopal on May 1-3, 1999. It was attended by over 50 people,
including forest officers, wildlife researchers, social activists,
villagers, and NGO representatives.
The various subjects discussed included the commercial and developmental
threats to wildlife habitats (mining, tourism, railways, highways and
poaching), the settlement of rights process in the WWF Supreme Court case
(see EDITORIAL and NATIONAL NEWS below), displacement of people from
protected areas, state forestry projects (particularly the Madhya Pradesh
Forestry Project), and laws and policies related to conservation.
In a joint statement issued later, the participants were unanimous that
"There is an urgent need for a new model of conservation which involves
local people in the planning and implementation of the management of
protected areas and other wildlife habitats. This will ensure the
livelihood security of the local communities and the conservation of
natural resources and wildlife."
Two joint letters were also issued, expressing concern about mining in
protected areas, and the death of elephants in the Rajaji NP due to
speeding trains.
A decision was taken to formally set up the Conservation and Livelihoods
Network, and other follow-up action was agreed upon. These include: local
level studies and a national assessment of mining in PAs, national
collation of studies on tourism impact and crop damage by wildlife,
documentation of the settlement of rights process, state and PA-level
dialogues, and others. The joint statement also expressed serious concern
about the increasing trend to delete/denotify PAs by many state
governments.
Contact: Kalpavriksh, at the editorial address below (full copy of Joint
Statement, and of other documents, are available on request).
New siting rules for industries near PAs
The new siting rules under the provisions of the Environment (Protection)
Act 1986 are to be notified by the Ministry of Environment and Forests.
(see Update 19).
The eco-sensitive areas around which industrial units will be prohibited
include thickly populated cities, wetlands, national parks and sanctuaries,
bio-reserves, archeological monuments, highways and railway lines. The
restrictions also apply to modernisation and expansion activities of
existing units.
A 7 km. belt has been established around notified wetlands, national
parks, sanctuaries and core zones of bio-reserves where the new siting
rules will apply.
Source: SP Sagar. 'Eco-friendly siting rules on the cards'. Business
Standard, 31/03/99.
Contact: Additional Secretary (IA), MoEF, (see 'Pachmari designated as
Biosphere Reserve')
Project Tiger being strengthened
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has recently approved a
proposal of the Union Environment and Forests Ministry for continued
implementation of Project Tiger during the 9th Plan at an estimated cost of
Rs. 75 crores.
Activities cleared for strengthening Project Tiger include establishing
six new tiger reserves during the plan period (see Update 19), deploying
armed guards in disturbed tiger reserve areas like the North East,
rationalising and enhancing the amount of project allowances for all
categories of employees and continuous monitoring of tiger populations and
research in non - tiger reserves.
Source: 'Project Tiger being strengthened', The Hindu, 02/06/99.
Contact: PK Sen, Director Project Tiger, Annexe No. 5, Bikaner House, Shah
Jahan Road, New Delhi 110001. Tel/fax: 91-11-3389645, 3384428; Email:
dirpt@envfor.delhi.nic.in.
Fund for children of parents killed by wild animals
A new fund by the name 'Orphaned by wild animals fund' has been established
to assist the minor children of people killed by wild animals in project
tiger areas and national parks in the country. The fund is working closely
with the Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI), and other
conservation organisations to assist the families of forest guards and
villagers around the protected areas.
The fund hopes to provide assistance to four new tiger reserves every six
months, with the ultimate goal of covering all Project Tiger areas. The
first four parks identified for 1999 are Corbett, Dudhwa, Sariska and
Manas. The fund has already operated for approximately five years on a very
limited scale in the Corbett Tiger Reserve.
Source: Nirmal Ghosh tigerfire@yahoo.com on email.
Contact: Atul Kumar at atulkumar@prodigy.net
Belinda Wright, (WPSI) (see 'Sal borer plague dies out in Kanha)
Turtle sensitive areas to be identified
An expert committee on marine turtle conservation has decided to conduct a
nation wide survey to identify marine turtle sensitive areas. Official
sources said that the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has
agreed to give Rs. 3 crore for 'Project Sea Turtle' planned on the lines of
'Project Tiger. The Chief Wildlife Warden of all coastal states will be
involved in the project, and the Gulf of Mannar and the Andaman and Nicobar
islands have been identified as the most sensitive areas.
The committee expressed concern on the illumination used in turtle
sensitive areas which results in preventing turtles from coming on to the
beaches to nest.
Source: 'Turtle sensitive areas to be identified', The Hindu, 26/02/99.
Contact: Kartik Shankar (see 'Olive Ridley nesting at Gahirmata)
Forest staff insurance scheme
A number of NGOs have financed insurance schemes for forest personnel. The
Nilgiri Wildlife and Environment Association (NWEA) has the Janata
Insurance Scheme of the New India Assurance Co. Ltd. for tribal watchers in
Mudumalai and Mukurthi NPs. The Karnataka Tiger Conservation Project has
covered 253 temporary forest watchers in the protected areas of Nagarhole,
Bandipur, Kudremukh, and Bhadra through the Oriental Insurance Co. Ltd.
Tiger Watch too is financing a scheme under the Janata Personal Accident
Policy of New India Assurance that covers the 196 permanent staff of
Ranthambore TR.
Source: 'Forest staff insurance schemes' Tigerlink, Vol.5, No.2, June 1999
Contact: NWEA (see 'Chital population goes up in Mudumalai)
Wildlife First!, 248, 4th Main Road, Chanarajpet, Bangalore - 560018,
Karnataka.
Tiger Watch (see 'Controversy in Ranthambore)
Ecodevelopment: World Bank Meet; WWF Study
The GEF-sponsored project for ecodevelopment in 7 of India's PAs, was the
subject of a one-day meeting organised by the World Bank in New Delhi on
May 26, 1999. The meeting had two major objectives: identify generic
people-park issues which need to be addressed in the implementation of the
project, and identify processes and institutional arrangements by which
conflicts between conservation and people's rights to livelihoods can be
overcome.
Meanwhile, a critical assessment is being conducted by World Wide Fund for
Nature-India (WWF I), to recommend measures for the proposed second phase
of the ecodevelopment project. WWF-I plans to organise two meetings as a
follow-up to this assessment.
Contact: Lars Lund, Task Manager, Ecodevelopment Project, The World Bank,
70 Lodi Estate, New Delhi - 110003. Tel: 011 - 4617241; 4619491; Fax:
4619393.
S.S. Rizvi, Consultant, World Wide Fund for Nature-India, (see 'Cattle
compensation scheme for Ranthambore')
WWF Case in Supreme Court
The ramifications of the WWF-India case in the Supreme Court, which has
been reported about in various issues of JPAM Update, continue to be
serious. As is evident from what is happening in Himachal Pradesh and other
states (see NEWS FROM INDIAN STATES), some state governments are using the
opportunity presented to them by the Court's order regarding settlement of
rights, to delete/denotify areas from national parks and sanctuaries. This
is happening in the name of the local people (and in some cases genuinely
so), but is also being used by vested interests to gain entry into
ecologically and culturally sensitive areas. What has happened in Great
Himalayan National Park (see above, pg. 6), is an example of this.
Meanwhile, reports of inadequate recording of people's rights are also
coming in, though unfortunately detailed documentation of this aspect is
still lacking from most areas.
In an interesting turn of events in March 1999, the Supreme Court
admonished the central government for 'throwing up its hands' on various
matters relating to the lack of implementation of the Wild Life
(Protection) Act by state governments. The SC stated that
'If there is a
Central legislation, we think that it is for the Centre to implement it.
It cannot be that such legislations have to be implemented only by recourse
to Article 32 before this court. We now expect on the next occasion to hear
that some scheme has been evolved in this behalf."
Taking this as a cue, Kalpavriksh members who had coordinated a series of
responses from community-based groups from various PAs in India, worked out
an agreed strategy with WWF-India. They presented a joint letter to the
Ministry of Environment and Forests, urging it to set up a national
committee which could (a) draft guidelines for the process of settlement of
rights and other aspects of implementation of the Wild Life Act, such that
both conservation and livelihood needs could be met; and (b) monitor the
fulfillment of these guidelines by state governments.
Deletions/denotifications threatened?
A preliminary list of PAs where deletions are proposed or carried out, as a
part of the settlement of rights process, includes the following:
Himachal Pradesh: Great Himalayan National Park, and Lippa Asrang, Sangla,
Shikari Devi, and Rupi Bhaba Sanctuaries.
Gujarat: Balaram Ambajee, Dhrangadhra Wild Ass, and Kachch Desert
Sanctuaries, and Marine, and Gir National Parks.
Madhya Pradesh: Semarsot and Son Ghariyal Sanctuaries.
Maharashtra: Koyna and Radhanagari Sanctuaries.
Not all of these are confirmed. Forest officials have denied any such move
for Gir, for instance. On the other hand, this list is based on very
preliminary investigations, and is therefore likely to be an underestimate.
Unfortunately, an intervention filed by over a dozen groups, bringing to
the notice of the Court the serious impacts of the order on settlement of
rights, has been dismissed by the Court. Justice Bharucha stated that they
were not interested in 'expanding the scope of the case'; when advocate
Prashant Bhushan tried to argue that this was not the intention, he was
told that the intervention could not be admitted. This is a rather cruel
blow to attempts by all these groups to bring to light the ground
situation.
Given this rejection by the Court, the ball is now in the MoEF's court to
set up a mechanism to properly guide the settlement of rights process, and
in WWF-India's court to appraise the Court of these issues.
(Note: For a more detailed account of the impacts of the WWF case, pl. see
Ashish Kothari's 'To Save the Sanctuaries', in Frontline, July 30, 1999).
Contact: Ashish Kothari (see editorial address below)
SOUTH ASIA
BANGLADESH
'World Heritage Site' status for Sundarbans
In February 1999, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh formally declared
Sundarbans as a World Heritage Site. 1,400 sq. kms. of the 6,017 sq. kms.
of the Bangladesh Sundarbans was listed by UNESCO as a Heritage site in
1997.
The PM Sheikh Hasina announced that a US$ 82 million project for the
conservation of the biodiversity of the Sundarbans had been approved,
financed partly by a loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and also
from grants by donor agencies like the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
(The Indian Sundarbans was included as a World Heritage site in 1985) (see
Update 20.)
Source: 'World Heritage Site 'unveiled'', Tigerlink, Vol.5, No.2, June
1999.
NEPAL
Wild buffaloes cause terror near Koshi Tappu
Six Village Development Committees (VDCs) near the Koshi Tappu Wildlife
Reserve have been affected by the wild buffaloes that have been protected
in the reserve. The buffaloes are straying outside the reserve, rampaging
crops and attacking human beings too. The terror created by the buffaloes
even became an election issue. Residents of the affected villages are
demanding that the reserve must pay compensation for the damage caused by
the wild buffaloes.
Source: 'Wild buffaloes create terror near Koshi Tappu reserve', Kathmandu
Post, 20/04/99
PAKISTAN
Suggestion for national park in Indus delta region
A three day seminar 'Mangrove Ecosystems Dynamics of the Indus Delta',
organised jointly by the Marine Reference, Collection and Resource Centre
of the Karachi University, the World Bank and the Forest Department of the
Sindh province has urged the Pakistan government to stop the degradation of
the mangrove forests in the Indus delta by declaring the Arabian sea
coastal areas a national park.
The mangroves are threatened by the reduction in the flow of silt-laden
sweet water from the river Indus and from camel, buffalo and sheep grazing,
cutting of trees for fuel and pressures of increasing population.
Presently it is estimated that 1,20,000 people are dependant on these
forests for their livelihoods 70% fishermen, 10 % livestock owners and
20% wood cutters.
The reduced flow in the Indus, after the construction of Kotri barrage in
1955 has resulted in sea water intrusion upto 30 kms. in the coastal towns
of Thatta and Badin, playing havoc with agriculture by increasing the
salinity of the sub soil water.
Source: Lori Pottingerby (lori@irn.org) on email to irn-wcd@igc.org dated
20/06/99
SRI LANKA
Illegal mining threatens nature park
Illegal mining for precious stones is threatening the Horton Plains
National Park, situated about 190 kms. from Colombo. The 36 sq. kms.
reserve was declared a sanctuary in 1969 and was upgraded to a national
park in 1988. Forest officials say that there is little they can do to stop
this illegal activity with the limited resources that they have for
patrolling the area.
Source: 'Illegal mining threatens nature park in Lanka', Indian Express,
Inter Press Service, 01/05/99.
First mangrove park to be set up in Sri Lanka
A 10 hectares mangrove park encompassing one of the country's richest
mangroves systems is to be created in Negomo. It is being promoted by the
National Aquatic Resources and Development Agency (NARA).
Source: Tharika Goonathilake. 'Plans to set up first mangrove park in Sri
Lanka', Daily News, 03/02/99.
Protected area adversely affects Veddah tribals
The Madura Oya National Park that was created in 1977 has seriously
threatened the survival of the Veddah tribals, who had been using the area
as their traditional home grounds for centuries.
In spite of a recent proclamation by the President of Sri Lanka, that the
tribals would be allowed to continue their traditional way of life, the
Veddahs continue to be driven out of their habitat, prohibited from hunting
and foraging, arrested, shot at and prosecuted for poaching and
trespassing.
The Gal Oya irrigation project of the 1950s and the Mahewali project of
the 1970s had led to the loss of 11,000 hectares of land, and later 51,468
hectares were turned into the Madura Oya NP as a compensatory measure. This
area was in fact the last of the habitats of the Veddahs, who had earlier
been driven out of several other places in Sri Lanka. This tribe is
supposed to be the only pure indigenous group in Sri Lanka.
Source: PK Balachandran. 'World's oldest tribal community faces
extinction', Hindustan Times, 09/03/99.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Global Tiger Forum conference
A conference of the Global Tiger Forum, comprising 14 countries will be
held in Dhaka in November 1999. This decision was made at an
interministerial meeting held in Dhaka in April earlier this year.
Source: 'Global tiger conference in Nov.' Bangladesh Observor, 17/04/99.
Rhino / Tiger Fund invites proposals
The Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Fund has recently sent out a request
for funding proposals for the year 2000. The programme 'supports projects
which develop local ability to manage, conserve and research the rhinoceros
and tiger through provision of funding, training and equipment.'
Funding is available for one year or less and preference will be given to
those requesting $ 30,000 or less, though higher amounts can also be
requested.
Source: 'Rhino / Tiger Fund Invite proposals', Tigerlink, Vol.5, No.2, June
1999.
Contact: Chief, Office of International Affairs, US Fish and Wildlife
Service, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, ARLSQ 730, Arlington, VA 22203 1622,
USA. Tel: 703-358-1754; Fax: 703-358-2849; Email: fred_bagley@mail.fws.gov
New Conservation Sub-Committee at the BNHS
At a recently held meeting of the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), a
new Conservation Sub- committee was set up with a mandate to stimulate the
5000 strong membership of the society into taking more pro-active
conservation actions.
A key aspect of the functioning of the Committee will be to promote
scientific investigation and consultation with a view to introduce
rationality and weight into natural resource utilisation debate.
Source: Bittu Sahgal (bittusahgal@vsnl.com) on email to
nathistory-india@lists.princeton.edu dated 10/06/99 from
Contact: Dr. Asad Akhtar, Bombay Natural History, Hornbill House, Shahid
Bhagat Singh Marg, Mumbai - 400023, Maharashtra. Tel: 022 2821811. Fax:
2837615.
New organisation to support conservation work
A new organisation, Association for species Conservation in India (ASCI)
has been set up to promote biodiversity conservation in India using a
scientific approach and relying on rapid information transfer. The
organisation will raise financial, material and technical resources from
mainly the professional and IT sectors in the US and India for direct field
based conservation in protected areas and habitats in India. More
information can be had from the ASCI web site at
http://www.ee.duke.edu/~achandra/asci.htmlt.aspmtfs.htmwsgview_of_TRIPS.htm
Source: Email dated 20/04/99 from Jagdish Krishnaswamy (jug@duke.edu) to
nathistory-india@lists.princeton.edu
WHAT'S AVAILABLE?
Gosian, Anjana. A Compilation of Judgements decided under Indian Wildlife
Act 1972. Tiger Trust, New Delhi.
A useful booklet, which also has various definitions and sections, used in
decisions given under the WL(P)A. A Hindi version of the same is also
available.
Contact: Sucheta Tiwari, Tiger Trust, 206, Rakesh Deep, 11, Commercial
Complex, Gulmohar Enclave, New Delhi 110049. Tel.: 011- 6516770 /
6853760. Fax: 6865212.
Royal Chitwan National Park, Park Management Planning Workshop.
Guidelines for Forestry Outside the BufferZone.
Guidelines for the preparation of Buffer Zone Users Group Plan.
Implementation guidelines for Area conservation Facility
Community-Based Biodiversity Conservation.
These documents provide a view of the Parks and People Programme of Nepal,
with a special thrust to the involvement of communities living adjacent to
protected areas. It advocates the conservation of PA resources by forging
partnerships between village-based user groups and government agencies.
Contact: Dr. TM Maskey. Park People Programme, PO Box 15113. Kathmandu,
Nepal. Tel: 977-1-222245 / 220850; Fax: 247056 / 227675; Email:
pppktm@mos.com.np.
World Bank Inspection Panel. The Inspection Panel Report and Recommendation
on Request for Inspection: India Ecodevelopment Project, Rajiv Gandhi
(Nagarhole) National Park. October 21, 1998.
A strong critique of the GEF-sponsored Ecodevelopment Project being carried
out at Nagarhole National Park, Karnataka. The World Bank has an
independent process of evaluating its funded projects, called the
Inspection Panel. On a request from local NGOs active in Nagarhole, the
Bank sent Panel members to investigate whether a full-fledged Inspection
process was warranted. The members have noted that there were fundamental
faults in the planning process for the project (especially a failure to
carry out adequate consultation), problematic assumptions concerning the
rights of adivasis in the Park, and implementational problems stemming from
differing orientations of the Bank management and local forest officials.
It strongly recommended a full investigation. Unfortunately, as far as is
known, the Bank has not yet authorised such a investigation. But this
report is still worth reading.
Contact: Lars Lund ( see NATIONAL NEWS FROM INDIA).
Indian Journal of Biodiversity. Ed: Kumar Ghorpade.
One of the first of its kind in India, this journal aims to "bring back to
readers the fun and excitement of Natural History studies", encourage
scientifically accurate studies and documentation, and stimulate
cooperation and coordination amongst people working on biodiversity issues.
The first issue covers diverse topics like the philosophy of wildlife
conservation, bird diversity and butterflies of the Western Ghats, flora of
Kalakkad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, insect diversity in India, and
bibliographies of botany and biogeography relevant to India. Possibly due
to lack of contributions for this inaugural issue, many of the articles are
by the editor (an accomplished entomologist) himself, which will hopefully
get balanced out in forthcoming issues.
Contact: Kumar Ghorpade, P.O. Box 8439, 1861 Bethel Street, St. Thomas
Town, Bangalore 560084, India. Tel: 91-80-5473836; Fax: 5472280; Email:
ghorpadek@hotmail.com.
Environ. Ed. in Chief: Prasun Mukherjee
A not-so-well-known magazine, which covers various wildlife and
environmental issues in an attractive colour-filled format. The latest
issue, Vol. VI No.4, carries topics such as Amarkantak, Nilgiri flowers,
Chilka, climate change, Kanha National Park, and Earth News.
Contact: Nature Environment and Wildlife Society, 117 Karnani Mansion, 25A
Park Street, Calcutta 700016. Tel: 91-33-2290429; Fax: 290429; Email:
vispub@giascl01.vsnl.net.in.
Pandya, TM. and Oza, GM. 1998. Bioregion Common Property Resource
Management Studies. International Society of Naturalists, Vadodara.
One of the few detailed studies of a single PA, this book focuses on both
biological and socio-economic
aspects of the Jambughoda Wildlife Sanctuary in Gujarat, western India. It
advocates the joint management of the sanctuary by forest officials and
local tribal communities.
Contact: G.M. Oza. International Society of Naturalists, Oza Building,
Salatwada, Vadodara 391001, Gujarat. Tel: 0265 428703. Fax: 421009.
Ecodevelopment spearhead team prashikshan. Corbett Tiger Reserve.
Interesting material that was used in training of the 'spearhead teams'
that are initiating ecodevelopment around the Corbett Tiger Reserve. In
Hindi.
Contact: Field Director, Corbett Tiger Reserve (see 'Forest fires, weeds,
affect Corbett')
PROTECTED AREAS Update is produced every two months, as a follow-up to the
workshop on Exploring the Possibilities of Joint Protected Area Management
(JPAM), organised at the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA),
New Delhi, in September 1994.
PA Update 21 was prepared by Pankaj Sekhsaria and
Ashish Kothari, Kalpavriksh.
Illustrations by Peeyush Sekhsaria
Several news items were accessed from Centre for Science and Environment's
Green File, but have been credited to their original sources.
This issue is partially funded by the
World Wide Fund for Nature India.
Comments, news and information may please be sent to the editorial address:
KALPAVRIKSH
Apartment 5, Shri Dutta Krupa, 908 Deccan Gymkhana, Pune 411 004,
Maharashtra, India.
Tel/Fax: 020-5654239 (pl. note change of number);
Email: ashish@nda.vsnl.net.in