ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT |
Anthropogenic activities due to these developmental projects have caused considerable fragmentation of natural habitats. Encroachments and conversion of forest lands for human habitation and agriculture, etc. have aggravated the fragmentation of otherwise contiguous habitats. Submersion and fragmentation of forests have seriously affected wildlife habitats and wildlife movements considerably. In recent times, it is reported that smuggling, poaching and hunting of rare species of fauna in the catchment. No effort was made to prevent the causal factors of fragmentation. It is noticed during fieldwork encroachments, poaching and smuggling is unabated and sometime it is done at authorities connivance. In addition to this extraction of industrial timber and clear felling of virgin forests to raise teak and eucalyptus plantations are persistent. This has hampered, ecosystem productivity, which is evident from conversion of perennial streams to seasonal streams, reduced biomass productivity and disruption of wildlife movement and migration corridors.
Prior to the Sharavathi River Valley projects, elephants used to move freely to the northern parts of Uttar Kannada. With the commissioning of various projects very little attention was paid to the animal migration corridors, so much so that, one small herd of elephants was trapped in the Gerusoppa and has disappeared now. Similar situation is observed in Kali river catchment small herds still live confined to Dandeli forest patch. In the absence of effective regulatory stipulations on environmental safeguards, and lack of understanding of niche requirement of fauna and flora he Sharavathi River Valley ecosystems have eroded considerably during the late twentieth century.
Some of the families returned to Sharavathi catchment due to lack of proper infrastructure at rehabilitated localities. This along with arrival of migrant workers and traders from neighboring states has led to large-scale encroachments. Other factors that has contributed to devastation of environment are quarrying, unplanned agriculture development and plantation activities. This has caused severe impact on the flora and fauna and their habitats as well as influenced silt movement ending up as depositions in the streams and ultimately in the reservoir.
Establishment of Monitoring team to plan, coordinate, implement and evaluate all the associated aspects as indicated in the recommendations.
Implementation of the Soil Conservation / Afforestation Program :
We thank Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL), Government of Karnataka and the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India for the financial assistance. We are grateful to Prof. Madhav Gadgil and Prof. Niranjan V. Joshi for useful suggestions during discussions.
