Action Plan and Management Strategies
The
remarkable sight of these graceful birds nesting peacefully amidst the village
setting has gradually become a tourist attraction. This could contribute to
enhancing support for conservation of these important wild life species,
especially the threatened pelicans. It could spread awareness of nature in the
broader public and bring economic benefits to the villagers, who are, by and
large, quite poor. Further development of tourism can therefore be quite
welcome. However, this tourism will impinge on a complex and delicate natural
ecosystem and therefore must be planned in a holistic fashion.
Proposed
Infrastructure Plan
The
proposed infrastructure initiatives:
1.
Improvement of approach roads,
2.
Construction of Machans (watchtowers),
3.
Information kiosks,
4.
Restaurants and
5.
Twin cottages.
Significance of the proposed
plan:
1.
The approach road to Kokkarebellur from the Bangalore Mysore highway has
already been developed. However tarring the crossroads within the village would
be unadvisable, as that would require widening, resulting in chopping trees,
finally creating distress among the birds. Leveling the mud road to facilitate
the movement of villagers would be the best alternative. This would be
significant as driving in the crossroads would increase the air and noise
pollution, thus harming the birds.
2.
The Construction of watchtower would also hinder the flight of the birds.
The Pelicans do no just nest on the top of trees but nest on even the lower
spread out branches of the trees, which would not require a watchtower. It would
be advantageous to set up “spotting scopes” on fixed tripods at specific
locations to view these huge birds.
3.
It is extremely important to develop an Information Kiosk, which can
educate and create awareness among the general public about the history of the
place and the birds. Involving the local youth group, Hejjarle Balaga (Friends
of Pelican), which is competent enough with excellent slides and information
brochures of Kokkarebellur capable to meet any tourist’s curiosity.
4.
Setting up of restaurants again must be managed locally to support the
cause of rural tourism.
5.
Twin cottages or guesthouses are definitely not demands of any tourists
(exemplified by Miss Sara Jolly who co-authored the book, Kokkarebellur: The
legendary village of Kokkarebellur, who managed to stay without any such
comforts for over an year) and might just encourage misuse.
A
holistic action plan for Kokkare Bellur may be based on the following
objectives:
As
the local villagers have provided ample protection for the birds since time
immemorial, we propose for the formation of a Village Forest Committee (VFC).
The VFC would manage the prevailing fragile ecosystem at Kokkarebellur and also
cater to the tourists visiting Kokkarebellur. The committee would continue their
age-old custom as caretakers, but in a highly organized sector, while the state
Forest and Tourism Department should provide support financially for the forest
committee. It is the uniqueness of this proposal in bringing the various
government departments such as the Karnataka Forest Department, Karnataka State
Tourism Development Corporation, Department of Minor Irrigation and Fisheries,
Zilla Panchayath, along with the Village Forest Committee.
Participants
in the Collaborative Endeavor:
·
Village Forest Committee (VFC),
·
Karnataka Forest Department (KFD),
·
Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC),
·
Mandya Zilla Panchayath
·
Department of Minor Irrigation and
·
Department of Fisheries
The
Village Forest Committee (VFC) in its part would oversee the following:
a.
Nesting sites: Ensuring the survival of existing nesting trees and
increasing nesting trees as Ficus, Tamarind, Thespesia and Acacia.
b.
Food supply for birds and chicks at Kokkarebellur.
c.
Continued access of guano (manure) from nesting birds to the villagers.
d.
Security for the nesting birds from threats such as
§
Electrocution from the low electric lines.
§
Persecution by fishermen at the tanks because of competition for fish
The
Karnataka Forest Department (KFD)
in its part would oversee the following:
a.
Nesting sites: Ensuring the survival of existing nesting trees and
increasing nesting trees as Ficus, Tamarind, Thespesia and Acacia.
b.
Creating incentives for villagers to maintain old nesting trees and plant
new ones with a transparent system of deciding on and disbursal of the
incentives.
c. The KFD needs to double the compensation provided to the villagers, which varies from Rs 150 – 600 (depending on the tree).
The
Karnataka State Tourism
Development Corporation (KSTDC) in
its part would oversee the following:
a.
Creating incentives for villagers to maintain old nesting trees and plant
new ones with a transparent system of deciding on and disbursal of the
incentives.
b.
KSTDC needs to make available a Matching
grant to
the villagers.
c.
Ensuring security from disturbance by visitors that increases chance of
predation by crows, or force the abandonment of nests must be addressed.
d.
Watch towers may become cause of such disturbance.
e.
Additional earning from visits by tourists through employment as guides,
charging of parking fee for vehicles, camera fee, paid toilet, opportunity for
running a restaurant or other tourist facilities.
f.
Good system to control
generation of garbage by visitors and its disposal
g.
Access to information on the birds and the ecosystem with the help of a
good Interpretation Center.
The
Mandya Zilla Panchayath in
its part would oversee the following:
a.
Maintenance
of attractive, hygienic environment in the village through creation of a good
water supply and box drainage system.
b.
Access to Kokkare Bellur and facilities for parking, food, water, toilet.
The
Department of Minor Irrigation and Department of Fisheries
in its part would oversee the following:
a.
Maintaining the surrounding water bodies such as Tailur Kere, Maddur Kere,
Gollarashettikere and Sole Kere from which the birds feed in good health.
b.
Commercial fishing in the tanks should be banned to ensure adequate food
(fishes) for these birds at places where the birds go fishing such as,
Mandakalli, Karanji, Veerapura, Kukkarahalli, Lingambudhi tanks along with the
earlier mentioned tanks.
c.
Persecution by fishermen at the tanks because of competition for fish.
d.
Desilting of the tanks to increase the storage capacity of the tanks for
ensuring their longevity.
Last Updated 31st July 2004 - Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - 560 012, India