|
Need for designating Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZ) in the vicinity of BNP: |
|
Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZ) in the vicinity of BNP: |
|
Ecologically Sensitive Regions (ESRs’) are the ‘ecological units’ that may be easily affected or harmed. It is a bio-climatic unit (as demarcated by entire landscapes) wherein human impacts have locally caused irreversible changes in the structure of biological communities (as evident in number/ composition of species and their relative abundances) and their natural habitats’ (Section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act 1986 (EPA)). This approach of conservation or ecological planning considers spatially both ecological and social dimensions of environmental variables. Ecological sensitive regions with exceptional biotic and abiotic elements are being degraded or lost as a result of unplanned developmental activities. Landscapes sustainability as a basic goal for development requires comprehensive picture of the biophysical and socio-cultural information of a region and this approach provides an opportunities and constraints for decision-making and sustainable management of natural resources. Conservation by prioritisation of sensitive regions has been widely used to improve ecosystem by conservations practices. This study prioritises the regions in the 5 km buffer region of Bannerghatta National Park (BNP), considering attributes (biological, Geo climatic, Social, etc.) as ESR1(Regions of highest sensitivity or Ecologically Sensitive Region 1), ESR2 (Regions of higher sensitivity), ESR3 (Regions of high sensitivity) and ESR4 (Regions of moderate sensitivity).
Sustainable development of a region requires a synoptic ecosystem approach that relates to the dynamics of natural variability and the effects of human interventions on key indicators of biodiversity and productivity. Conservation has become challenging task as in the face of increasing human pressures on ecosystem. An anthropogenic disturbance on landscape is of much higher intensities compared to natural disturbance processes (such as wind and fire), which alter abiotic and biotic environments across wide areas.
The spatial conservation planning considering both ecological and cultural dimensions will results in as ecologically sensitive regions (ESR). Ecological sensitive regions treasure sensitive natural elements that could be degraded or lost as a result of uncontrolled or incompatible development. ESR will aid in demarcating regions for conservation and community usage based on ecological and social / cultural dimensions. Ecological dimension refers to the natural environment such as ecosystems and ecological processes. While, cultural dimension refers to the human culture such as political, social, technological and economic aspects. ESR are identified based on the quality, the scarcity, or the role they play in the ecosystem and culture, to maintain essentially the ecological characteristics and integrity.Section 5(1) of Environment (Protection) Act 1986 (EPA), Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), Government of India regulate the location of industries and carrying out certain operations on the basis of considerations like the ecological sensitivity. The MoEF had set up Committee to identify parameters for designating Ecologically Sensitive Areas in the country to counter the rapid deterioration of the environment, both nationally and internationally. The committee has defined ecological sensitivity or fragility as permanent and irreparable loss of extant life forms from the world; or significant damage to the natural processes of evolution and speciation. Eco-sensitive regions have been delineated based on biological, economical, socio cultural values depending upon the context and the area or location for conservation. ESRs are the areas that are ecologically and economically very important but, vulnerable to even mild disturbances and hence demand conservation. These are the `unique’ regions that are biologically and ecologically valuable and are hence irreplaceable if destroyed. The delineation of ESR is done considering a set of variables, which are location specific and represent entire system or mimic major system’s functionalities.
Bannerghatta National Park (BNP)
Location |
The Bannerghatta National Park (BNP) is situated in the districts of Bangalore Urban and Ramanagaram of the Karnataka State close to the Bannerghatta Biological Park at the North - East corner.National Park is named after the village Bannerghatta an historical pilgrimage centre. |
Area |
Extent : 260.51 Sq. km |
Climate |
Summer: From mid of February to end of May mean maximum temperature is 270 C and the maximum temperature goes upto 34-350C. |
|
Monsoon: The annual monsoon rainfall varies from 625mm to 750mm from June to Mid of November from South West and North-East-monsoons. |
|
Winter: From November to Mid of February. Mean |
Terrain |
Undulating with broken chains of bolder strewn hillocks and hills of rocky outcrop and watercourses. The highest peak in National Park are Bilikal Betta and Dodda Ragihalli Betta at an altitude of 1075 and 1035 M above sea level respectively. The lowest ground is the Rayatmalhole at 700m above sea level. Granite sheet rocks characterize the higher hills. |
Bannerghatta National Park (BNP) was declared as national park in 1974 with an area of 106.83 sq. km by Government of Karnataka vide Notification No. AFD.61 FWL 74, dated 6-25/9-1974 published in the Karnataka Gazettee dated 9-1-75 in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of Section 35 of The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (Central Act 53 of 1972). It had comprised 2 reserve forests spread over in the district of Bangalore urban and Bangalore rural. The various plans and proposals were considered by forest department, Government of Karnataka till 2009 to widen and develop the Bannerghatta National Park. These plans were created for reducing the pressure of the people residing in the periphery of the park, reducing human – animal conflict as well as depredation of crop by elephants, habitat improvement for increasing the carrying capacity of the park and the restoration of entire ecosystem. The plan envisaged managing the BNP on sound principles of latest wildlife management practices. Thus the management plan has approved in 2011 by an effective administrative setup with the addition of Kodihalli Range from adjacent Ramanagara Territorial Division for implementing the plan prescriptions. The total area of BNP now encompasses an area of 260.51 sq.km comprising of 13 reserve forests spread over the districts of Bangalore urban, Bangalore rural and Ramanagara asper Vide G. O. No. FEE 302 FWL 2011 (II), dated: 27.12.2011. The boundary of BNP is having highly irregular shape and it measures about 59 km in length and the width varies from 0.3 km to 13.8 km. BNP regions has 31 Beats under 6 ranges for effective management and protection.
Bannerghatta National Park is located in the southern elevated plateau that extends from the foot of the Western Ghats. The plateau receives less than 1000 mm annual precipitation with natural climax vegetation of dry deciduous types and are broadly divided into:
The forest types cover moist deciduous, dry deciduous forests, thorny scrub and grass lands with rich flora and fauna Historical vegetation of the district is in undisturbed parts such as the core areas of Chikkaragalli betta are with dense jungle of Shorea talura-Terminalia sp-Anogiessus latifolia series forest. Shorea talura tree being a member of Dipterocarpaceae (all other family members of Dipterocarpaceae occur in evergreen to semi-evergreen forest) is an endangered tree as per IUCN category. The distribution of this forest type in less disturbed areashighlights the ecological importance of the area. These forest types have disappeared in most other areas with high anthropogenic pressure and vegetation mainly consists ofChloroxylon swietenia-Anogiessus latifolia-Albizzia series. These ecologically fragile regions are undergoing severe land cover changes due to anthropogenic pressures. The landscape consists of fragmented forest patches, interspersed agricultural lands, pastures, habitations, etc. BNP is one of the oldest habitats of Asian elephants, supporting 100-150 population and large number of 200-300 migratory population also noticed from adjoining Tali reserve forest and Kaveri wild life sanctuary.
The land use analysis has been carried out in BNP and in buffer region (5 km). Land use changes within BNP region are minimal as compared to buffer region. The moist deciduous forest covered 50.4% (1973)and now 28.5 % (2015) due to anthropogenic pressure in BNP and its environs. Forests in Ragihalli, Manjunatha, Yelavantha, Bettahalli regions with good protection measures show minimal disturbance. However, implications of unplanned urbanization are evident in the buffer regions. Land use analyses in the buffer region (5 km) analysis highlights of urban sprawl in peri-urban regions has fragmented, dispersed urban patches in periphery accounting to 5462 ha(built-up area). The region has lost moist deciduous cover from 26.1 to 13.8 % with an increase in horticulture 8.5 to 11%(1973-2015). The region had lostthe large tracts of deciduous cover in Kanakapura taluk, Anekal taluk regions due to intensified horticulture activities and deforestation.The current study prioritizes the regions in the BNP buffer regions of 5 km, considering attributes (biological, Geo climatic, Social, etc.) as ESR1(Regions of highest sensitivity or Ecologically Sensitive Region 1), ESR2 (Regions of higher sensitivity), ESR3 (Regions of high sensitivity) and ESR4 (Regions of moderate sensitivity).
As per the analyses, 69 villages are in ESR 1, 78villagesin ESR 2, 79villages in ESR 3 and the rest 176villagesare in ESR 4 (in the buffer region of 10 km). The ESR 1 represents zone of highest conservation, no further degradation allowed. The ESR-1 reflects all villages within 1km of BNPwhich are to be treated as high sensitive region of conservation. ESR 2 represents a zone of transition for highest conservation and moderate conservation regions. These regions (ESR 1, ESR 2) are “no go area” for any developmental activities involving large scale land cover changes. ESR 3 represents moderate conservation region and only regulated development is allowed in these areas. ESR 4 represents least diversity areas and the developments are allowed as per the requirement by strict vigilance from regulatory authorities.
The Community based Conservation (CBC) of ESR 2 & 3 is essential as conservation of biological diversity (or wildlife) depends on the extent of involvement of local communitiesin decision-making, monitoring and regular management. Local communitiesknowledge and experience of wildlife and their habitats, would be invaluable in conservation endevours. This would also help the BNP administration in delineating the region for further usage by local communities on sustainable basis. The uncontrolled development should be discouraged in and around of pristine lakes, primeval forest patches, perennial water bodies. The village forest committees’ (VFCs) should be formed on priority for promoting conservation initiatives. The members should be involved for afforestation, wild life protection and controlling deforestation activities. Monitoring committee should be formed under the guidance of district forest officer (DFO) with powers conferred by subsection-3 of Environment Protection Act, 1986. The committee should include a representative from forest department, a representative from urban development (BDA), a representative of non-government organization, who are active in the field of conservation, an expert in forest ecology and environment, one of the village forest committee members (VFC), a representative from local stake holders. Suggestions regarding the management of ESR are:
Cluster-based economic development approach is considered an important aspect of a broader re-orientation of research and economic policy towards laying the foundations of a microeconomic approach for prosperity and growth. The past decades were under the spell of macroeconomics and the creation of market institutions in developing economies. While there is now fairly broad consensus on the type of macroeconomic and legal conditions necessary to achieve economic progress, it is also becoming clearer that these conditions are not sufficient. As a new approach to help economies reap the full potential of an improved macroeconomic and legal context cluster-based efforts have received a lot of attention. Clusters are groups of companies and institutions co-located in a specific geographic region and linked by interdependencies in providing a related group of products and/or services. Because of the proximity among them – both in terms of geography and of activities – cluster constituents enjoy the economic benefits of several types of positive location-specific externalities.
Cluster facilitators and need for institutional structure for implementation: Village panchayats form ideal units for implementation of cluster approach for integrated eco-friendly development. The success of cluster based development programmes will depend on the active participation of facilitators. The various Government departments, financial institutions and NGOs will have active roles to play for the success of the integrated cluster-based approach. In addition there is also need for block level facilitator committees for scrutinsation of developmental plans and review of progress achieved. The role of some facilitators, are indicated below:
Forests and wildlife departments: As forests constitute a major asset of the district the Forest Department need to be strengthened with adequate manpower at ground level.
Eco-tourism Department: Integrated community based eco-tourism development is being conceptualised to benefit some clusters of adjoining local self government units as a strategy to address high incidence of poverty among the communities while such areas are teeming with tourism potential
Horticulture Department
Financial institutions:
Government financing and micro-financing institutions to step in to promote cluster level development programmes through local panchayats, VFCs, BMCs, NGOs, departments, societies etc. Financing from charitable and voluntary organizations and NGOs and not-for profit financiers to be considered and may be recommended by related departments. Crop insurance, preferably, in identified human-wildlife conflict zone is highly necessary for future of biodiversity conservation. Financial literacy is very critical for participatory development progrmmes envisaged.
Mining and Geology
District administration/Zilla panchayat
Education Department (Primary and Secondary): Earlierinitiatives with high school students and teachers in Western Ghats show, they are effective in documenting many aspects of biodiversity and related knowledge existing at village level. With a reasonable time, say one or two days spent on motivating them and familiarizing them with the concepts of biodiversity documentation and data collection formats, they could contribute substantially towards building up a dynamic database at village level ready for integration into the People’s Biodiversity Registers. They are more effective in meeting and interviewing organic farmers, in noting down details on traditional cultivars, collecting details on sacred groves, major wildlife related details etc.