JPAM UPDATE 20, April 1999
NEWS FROM INDIAN STATES
WHAT'S AVAILABLE
Community involvement in wildlife
tourism Tourism, conservation,
sustainable development Ecotourism
in Corbett and Binsar
Abhayaranya Baithak Vrutant
Sonchiriya ka atank Cost benefit
analysis of Satpuda National Park
India's Tiger Crisis Status Report on
Melghat Tiger Reserve Aranya Varta
This issue comes just before the 3rd National Consultation on Wildlife Conservation and People's Livelihood Rights (Bhopal, May 1-3, 1999; see UPCOMING below). This consultation is part of a series of national dialogues (dubbed 'Building Bridges") which has attempted to bridge the gap between the viewpoints and activities of urban conservationists on one side and social activists and local communities on the other. As repeatedly pointed out in the Update, and stressed at the first two Consultations, there is a commonality of interest amongst these various sectors, especially in their struggle against the dominant industrial and 'developmental' interests which are bent on destroying natural habitats and turning local communities into cheap labour. Unfortunately, in the past, inappropriate policies, severe distrust, and other factors have blinded many of us to this common interest.
The need to forge an alliance amongst all those interested in the protection of wildlife and the security of livelihoods of communities who depend on wildlife habitats, has been especially sharply highlighted in the last few months. In state after state, where the procedure for settlement of rights is going on as per Supreme Court orders (see Editorial in Update 15, and news items on the WWF case in Update 15, 18, 19), there is talk of denotifying or deleting substantial sections of national parks and sanctuaries. Some of these are well-intentioned, to relieve people of the shackles placed by wildlife laws; others seem to have hidden motives (e.g. in Great Himalayan National Park, Himachal Pradesh, where the existence of two tiny villages is being used as an excuse for deleting a whole valley from the Park, the real reason being a proposed hydel project). Whatever the motives, however, what is certain is that with some exceptions, such steps are not going to benefit either wildlife or local people, for industrial and commercial forces are just waiting for the opportunity to grab the area's resources. In the face of this threat, conservationists must see the need for strategies which integrate livelihood concerns within protected areas, and human rights advocates must see the need for protected areas (albeit more participatorily managed ones) and the Wild Life Act to keep destructive forces out.
The 3rd Consultation will be a good forum to bring up these
issues, assess follow-up in the case of specific actions which have been jointly
taken by conservationists and human rights activists, and plan some more such
actions. Pl. come for it!
This issue has some items on
trans-border cooperation in South Asia, between India and Nepal on one hand,
and India and Pakistan on the other. These agreements are very significant. In
particular, the Indo-Pak one could be a small but important step in showing that
environmental conservation can be a powerful tool for forging peace. What
better way to deal with our borders than to declare them no-war zones which are
dedicated to the conservation of wildlife habitats? Congratulations to
our officials who have had the vision to forge these trans-boundary
partnerships, and we hope that their implementation will be enthusiastically
followed up.
Denotification or not?
Kishore Rao, Addl. IGF (Wildlife), Ministry of Environment and Forests, has pointed out that the term 'denotification' is incorrect for the process we have described above. Since PAs where settlement process is going on are not finally notified, they cannot be 'denotified'. Mr. Rao is technically correct, for PAs are only "intended" until finally notified. However, given that in all PAs, even when only "intended": (a) the Wild Life Act's provisions fully apply to them; (b) people are usually restricted from exercising their traditional resource use practices even before settlement takes place; and (c) there is some immunity from industrial / commercial pressures; we think it is not wholly incorrect to call a process of knocking off portions of these PAs as denotification, or dereservation. His point, however, that the term should not be used loosely, is well-taken.
NEWS FROM INDIAN STATES
Lunch feast of migratory birds at Kolleru
Sixty two birds, many of them migratory, were served at a lunch feast
hosted by MRD Balaram, a Telugu Desam party leader. The feast was held at
Kolletikota village, an island on Kolleru lake (a bird sanctuary) in the Krishna
district. The food served is supposed to have included the meat of 30 whistling
teals and 25 spotted ducks along with other routine fare like chicken and
mutton.
The Chief Minister of
the state, Chandra Babu Naidu, immediately ordered the arrest of the culprits
and non-bailable warrants were issued for the arrest of Balaram and three
others.
Source: Pushpa Iyengar. 'TDP leader hosts bird lunch
for bigwigs'. The Times of India, 24/03/99.
'Eluru feast: CM orders
arrest of culprits'. The Hindu, 24/03/99.
'Kolletikota feast: warrants
issued against four'. The Hindu, 26/03/99.
Contact: Chief Wildlife Warden - Andhra Pradesh, Aranya Bhavan,
Hyderabad 500004. Tel: 91-40-232668 / 230561. Fax: 237889.
The Kakoijana reserve forest in Bongaigaon district of Lower Assam is under
threat from indiscriminate tree felling, stone quarrying and poaching of wild
animals. The reserve forest spread over an area of 2000 hectares is home to a
number of species such as the golden langur, binturong, pangolin, flying
squirrel, python, wild pig, civet cat and barking
deer. Source: Samudra Gupta Kashyap, 'Poaching threatens reserve in Assam',
Indian Express, 02/01/99.
A local NGO,
Appropriate Technology Mission, Assam (ATMA), is mobilising people in
the 21 villages in and around Kakaoijana to save the forest. It has also
approached the government to declare the reserve forest a wildlife sanctuary
under the Wildlife (Protection) Act.
Forest staff killed in Manas
A group of miscreants killed three staff members of the Forest Department on
the night of 20th Dec. 1998 when they attacked the Kahitama beat of
the Manas National Park. The three were Bimal Chandra Kalita, Forest Guard, Hav.
Bentik Sangma, and Constable Chandra Keswar
Gogoi. Source: Email from Belinda Wright dated 19/02/99, on
nathistory-india@lists.princeton.edu.
A communication from
Dr. SP Singh, the Field Director of the Manas Tiger Reserve, said that all the
three were excellent workers and now their families are left with no source of
income. An appeal has been made for financial help for the families and the
contributions can be sent by cheque /draft to the Trust address given
below.
Contact: Member Secretary, Wildlife Areas Development and Welfare
Trust, Rehabari, Guwahati - 8, Assam. Also, WPSI, Thapar House, 124
Janpath, New Delhi 110 001 Tel: +91 11 6213864 /
Source: Jagdish Krishnaswamy on email dated 29/01/99 on nathistory-india@lists.princeton.edu.
Source: 'Ropeway in city, swimming pool in KNP mooted as tourism schemes'. The Sentinel, 03/01/99.
The illicit and reckless trade of khair Acacia catechu in the Palamau
Tiger Reserve has reached alarming proportions. Not only are the branches of the
prized tree cut, the roots are also dug up destroying any chance of
regeneration. The police allege that members of naxalite groups like the People'
War Group (PWG) provide illicit cover to the traders and take a handsome levy
for the khair katha that is smuggled out of Palamau. There are reports
that the foresters, forest guards and range officers too accept a 2% levy from
this operation. Even the core area of the tiger reserve is not free from this
illegal activity. Source: 'Loot of green gold unabated in tiger project area.' Hindustan
Times, Patna, 16/12/98.
The Saidoop
block of the Reserve including Labhar naka, Kaer, Mundoo, Soorkumee, Maromar,
Baresarn, Bendee, Lepda, Cher and Sarju are the havens for the illicit trade.
Powerful transporters and politicians of Manika, Latehar, Chandwa and Balumath
are also involved, as are the illegal operators of the Siknee
colliery.
The rise of various
chewing pouches in the last few years has seen a tremendous rise in the
smuggling of khair from Palamau.
Contact: Field Director, Palamau Tiger Reserve, Daltonganj 822101,
Bihar. Tel: 91-6562- 22650.
Source: Subodh Mishra. 'Killing of migratory birds goes unchecked'.
Hindustan Times, 19/01/99, quoted on email by Nalin M, dated 19/01/99, on
nathistory-india@lists.princeton.edu.
Contact: Chief Wildlife Warden, Bihar, PO Hinoo, Ranchi 500237.
Industries threaten blackbuck
The blackbuck in the district of Bhavnagar and the surrounding areas,
including the Velavadar National Park, are being threatened by the setting up of
industries and salt pans in the area. This has resulted in additional human
activity like the construction of asphalt roads and increased flow of trucks for
the transportation of raw materials and goods. Further details are not
available.
Source: H.H. Sanghani. 'Mushrooming industries endanger black bucks', The
Times of India, Ahmedabad, 05/12/98.
Contact: Chief Wildlife Warden, Gujarat, Block 14, Dr. Jivraj Mehta
Bhavan, Old Sachivalaya, Gandhinagar, Gujarat. Tel: 91- 2712-30007. Fax:
21097.
Lion reintroduction in jeopardy
The political leadership in Gujarat has refused to send lions to Madhya
Pradesh for the proposed lion introduction programme in the Kuno Palpur Wildlife
Sanctuary. Their argument is that the lions are a heritage bestowed only upon
Gujarat. Source: Bharat Desai, 'Lions for tigers deal may fall
through', The Times of India, 15/03/99
The Principal Chief
Conservator of Forests, Gujarat, the Chief Minister of the state, Keshubhai
Patel and the BJP MLA from Junagadh have all expressed their opposition to the
movement of lions outside the
state.
It is also reported
that the MP government is facing opposition to the project from those living
around Kuno, the site for the relocation of the animals. Chief Minister Digvijay
Singh is however taking a personal interest in the project and has even sent his
ministers to persuade the people to accept the rehabilitation package.
Contact: Chief Wildlife Warden, Gujarat, (as above). For more
information on the lion relocation project contact Ravi Chellam, Wildlife
Institute of India, PO Box. Chandrabani, Dehradun 248001. For more
information on the people's resettlement process contact Arpan Sharma,
C/o College of Social Work, Nirmala Niketan, 38 New Marine Lines, Mumbai
400020.
Plan to restore Sultanpur and Bhindawas lakes
A Rs. 50 lakh plan for the restoration of the
Sultanpur National Park near Gurgaon is soon to be launched. The lake receives
250 species of migratory birds every year.
Source: 'Rs. 50-lakh plan to restore Sultanpur park's glory'. The Times of
India, 22/01/99.
As a part of the plan five
cusecs of water will be piped to the lake from the Gurgaon water supply scheme.
The Union government has already sanctioned Rs. 43.05 lakh for the project which
is to be completed before the onset of the
monsoon.
Another plan for the
biological control of water hyacinth in the Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary has
also been approved by the State Wildlife Advisory Board. It has been proposed to
release two American weevils in collaboration with the Directorate of Biological
Control and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Bangalore for
the purpose.
Contact: Chief Wildlife Warden, Haryana, C-18, Forest Complex, Sec- 6,
Panchkula, Haryana 134109. Tel: 91-172-561224 / 561213.
JAMMU AND KASHMIR Source: 'Proposal to amend J&K Wildlife Act', The Hindu,
29/03/99
State Wildlife Act to be amended
The
J&K Wildlife Department (JKWD) has formulated a proposal envisaging
amendments to the State Wildlife Protection Act 1978. The draft proposal aimed
at amending the act has been prepared in consultation with environmentalists and
lawyers and would be soon introduced in the state assembly and legislative
council.
Presently J&K
is the only state in the country where killing of endangered species is still
allowed. According to the present Act, a royalty of only Rs. 200 needs to be
paid to shoot a Himalayan brown bear, and Rs. 50 for a Tibetan wolf. The hunting
license for species like the Tibetan antelope, Ibex and Tibetan wolf for an
Indian citizen is only Rs. 500 (Rs. 1500 for a foreigner). Also traders dealing
in 'shahtoosh' shawls can continue their business by paying an amount of Rs.
25,000, though shahtoosh trade is banned all over the
world.
In response to the
proposed amendments, the America based Kashmir Environmental Watch Association
(KEWA) has termed the amendments as a far cry from what is needed to save
J&K' s endangered wildlife. The organisation has said that the amendments
seek only to increase the hunting and license fees, and as a result the official
tolerance and endorsement of hunting continues.
Email from KEWA kewa_com@yahoo.com dated
01/04/99 on nathistory-india@lists.princeton.edu.
Contact: Chief Wildlife Warden - J&K, T.R.C., Srinagar 190001.
Tel: 91-191-544575, 91-194-452469.
KEWA, C/o Nasir Tak, 1164 Templeton
Place, St. Louis, Mo. 63017, USA.
A group representing the local inhabitants of the Rajiv Gandhi National Park
in Nagarhole had filed a complaint alleging the failure of the World Bank's
management to comply with its policy and guidelines with respect to indigenous
people and involuntary
resettlement. Source: 'World Bank not to probe Karnataka's eco- project'. Financial
Express, 27/12/98.
The
World Bank has however ruled out for the time being any further investigation
into complaints, following a recommendation to this effect by its Board. This
decision followed a comprehensive assessment by the Bank's Inspection Panel as
well as the clarifications of the Karnataka government in response to the above
mentioned complaint.
The three tribal organisations in Kodagu - the Nagarhole
Budakattu Janara Hakku Sthapana Samithi, the Karnataka Rajya Moolanivasi Vedike
and the Budakattu Krishikara Sangha have been in the forefront of the movement
for sometime.
On the other
hand the Indian Institute of Tribal Education (IITE), at Thithimathi in Kodagu,
and Living Inspiration for Tribals (LIFT), also in Kodagu have advocated that
the tribals be moved out of the Nagarhole National Park. The IITE has proposed a
three year plan for the rehabilitation of the tribals outside the park.
K Jeevan Chinnappa, 'Adivasi's crusade gains
momentum'. The Hindu, 25/01/99.
Contact: Nagarhole Budakattu Janara Hakkustapana Samithi, Nagarhole,
Virajpet Taluk, Kodagu District, Karnataka. Tel: 91-8276-74 487; Fax:
74 091. (see also, JPAM Update 17)
Mining in Kudremukh National Park
The future of the Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Limited (KIOCL) is uncertain as
its mining lease is getting over in July 1999 and the government has shown no
signs of extending it. Source: Kingshuk Nag. 'Govt. dilly-dallying on mining lease extension worries
KIOCL'. The Times of India.
The Union Ministry is of the opinion that the open
cast mining is damaging the flora and fauna of the region and the afforestation
programme taken up by the company is not up to the mark. While the project has
destroyed rosewood and sandalwood trees, acacia has been planted as
compensation.
Though the
company is hopeful that the lease which was started in 1969 will be extended,
the state government's stand is that the matter is being examined. Meanwhile a
Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Karnataka high court by
local environmental groups (see JPAM Update 18). This is also expected to
determine the fate of the company.
Contact: Environment Support Group (ESG), Reservoir road,
Basavanagudi, Bangalore 560004. Telefax: 91-80-6657995. Email: admin@leo.ilban.ernet.in;
esg@bgl.vsnl.net.in; Website: http://www.cfar.umd.edu/~venu
Alternate route for Sabrimala pilgrimage
In
light of the tragedy on Makaravilakku day at the Sabrimala shrine where over 50
people were killed, an alternative route is being suggested. The
present one passes through the grasslands of the Periyar Tiger Reserve and is
narrow and unpaved.
The
alternate routes suggested also pass through the Tiger Reserve. However, under
the Forest Conservation Act the sanction of the Central Government will be
needed to develop it.
Source: P.P. Mathai. 'Alternative route can make Sabrimala pilgrimage
safer'. The Times of India, 03/02/99.
Contact: Chief Wildlife Warden, Kerala, Vazhudacaud, Trivandram
695014. Tel: 91- 471-322217 / 204896. Fax: 325804.
MAHARASHTRA Source: 'Forest Officials nab swami for poaching', Indian Express
quoted on email from Chetan Agarwal dated 18/02/99 on
nathistory-india@lists.princeton.edu. Swati Deshpande-Aguiar. 'BMC, forest
department at loggerheads over tree felling'. Indian Express, 26/01/99.
Poaching, tree cutting inside Sanjay Gandhi National
Park
Forest officials in
Mumbai recently arrested a swami from his hideout inside the Sanjay
Gandhi National Park, Borivli. He was found to be in possession of a tiger skin
and two cheetal (Spotted deer) skins. The ashram of the swami was
located in the forest area near the Kanheri caves, and officials suspect that it
was being used as a shelter by criminals operating in the
area.
There are already
three ashrams in the park, which house more than 20 swamis. The
ashrams flourish despite a Bombay High Court order of 1997 banning all
constructions within the
park.
In
another development a conflict has arisen between the Forest Department and the
Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), over the cutting of over 100 trees by
the FD inside the park. The FD recently cleared a large patch of land near the
entrance of the park to make way for a park-cum-botanical garden. The BMC
maintains that any tree in the urban area comes within the jurisdiction of the
Maharashtra (Urban Areas) Preservation of Trees Act 1975. Accordingly the BMC
Tree Authority has the sole power to sanction the cutting of trees in the urban
area. Since Borivli Park is within the city limits, the FD should have taken the
permission of the BMC. The FD says that the forest office itself is a tree
authority and therefore does not need any permission from the BMC. It points out
that the plot of cleared land was falling prey to encroachers and was being used
as a public toilet.
Contact: DFO, Sanjay Gandhi Rashtriya Udyan, Borivli (E), Mumbai
400066, Maharashtra.
New entry to Sanjay Gandhi National Park
Source: 'National park will open entry point in Mulund', The Times of
India, 11/02/99.
Faced with the problem
of handling 25 lakh visitors a year, the Sanjay Gandhi National Park has decided
to open a new entry point at Mulund. Local MLA Kirit Somayya will provide RS. 3
lakh from the MLA's fund for the project. The blueprint for the 50 acre project
which would cover the north-west range of the hills has been prepared by the
Chief Conservator of Forests, M.G. Gogate and Asst. Conservator Satish
Phale.
However, various
environmentalists including the WWF have raised objections to this project,
saying that it is not in the interest of national park and the wildlife
here.
Vaishnavi C. Sekhar. 'Greens voice concern over Nisarga
Vihar project', The Times of India, 15/03/99
Contact: DFO, Sanjay Gandhi Rashtriya Udyan (as above)
Noise pollution affecting birds in Karnala
According to the Conservator of Forests incharge of Karnala Bird Sanctuary,
the bird population has been affected by noise pollution and habitat
destruction. Traffic on the highway nearby has trebled in the last ten years.
Recent studies in Europe have shown that the noise of highway traffic drowns the
mating calls of birds, resulting in less mating
success. Source: Gunvanthi Balaram. 'Noise pollution drives away birds from Karnala
sanctuary'. The Times of India, 18/01/99.
Additionally the
habitat of the 4.8 sq. kms. sanctuary, which was notified in 1971, is being
degraded by local headloaders who cut down branches to feed fuelwood to the
farmhouses and dhabas that have mushroomed in the vicinity. Tourists are
also extremely noisy, and litter the place. Many areas in the sanctuary are
covered with plastic litter and shards of broken beer bottles.
Contact: Mr. Nitin Kakodkar, DCF (Wildlife), LBS Road, Naupada, Thane
(W) - 61, Maharashtra.
Meeting on Joint Management of Koyna Sanctuary
The Koyna Jivan Hakka Sanrakshana Sanghatana organised a three-day meeting on
'Forests, People, and the State', at Koregaon in Satara district, on 19-21
February, 1999. The main focus of the meeting was on how to work towards a joint
management system for Koyna Sanctuary which contains many villages, inhabited
primarily by Marathas and Dhangars. Contact: B.J. Avinash, Satyashodh, Koregaon, Satara 415501 Tel: +91
2163 20020
The meeting was attended by villagers of
Koyna and Bhimashankar Sanctuaries, representatives of the NGOs Satyashodh,
Vrikshmitra, RANWA, Kalpavriksh, Parisar, YUVA, and Shaswat, and the Assistant
Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) and Range Officer (Wildlife), Koyna Sanctuary.
Discussions included the ongoing process of settlement of people's rights in
PAs, and the impact of people's traditional resource use activities. Special
focus was on how to move towards a more participatory system of management, for
both the Sanctuary and its surrounds. Joint Protected Area Management, Joint
Forest Management, Ecodevelopment, and other possible paths to this were
examined. Threats due to proposed mining along the boundary, and the possible
connection of this with proposed denotification of a part of Koyna Sanctuary,
were also discussed.
Neeraj Vagholikar, Kalpavriksh (at editorial address).
Towards JPAM in Gnyanganga Sanctuary?
Botha is a small village in the Buldhana District of Maharashtra, which has
done exemplary work in Joint Forest Management. In May 1997, out the 1486 ha
land given to the Van Sanrakshan Samiti, Botha, 1471 ha area came to be included
in the newly declared Gnyanganga Sanctuary (total area - 32,282.38 ha). Thus the
control of the area shifted from the territorial to the wildlife wing of the
Forest Department. But in accordance with their MOU with the Govt. of
Maharashtra, the villagers continue their forest protection work. Interestingly,
the Chief Wildilfe Warden has indicated that there should be harmony between JFM
and the Sanctuary's objectives. Contact: JFM Network, Maharashtra, c/o Mohan Hirabai Hiralal,
Vrikshamitra, Tandon Wada, Gandhi Chowk, Chandrapur 442402. Tel: +91 7172-
58134.
On August 10, 1998, when the
villagers of Botha, had accompanied the wildlife division staff for patrolling
and confiscation of cattle, they were beaten up by the illegal graziers, the
wildlife staff being mute witnesses to this. Several villagers were severely
injured, and their faith in the JFM process was shaken. A team consisting of
members of NGOs from Vidarbha and Pune visited the area to investigate the
incident. The team has filed a report and has asked the Chief Wildlife Warden to
look into this matter urgently. They also interacted with various officials,
NGOs, villagers etc. to explore possibilities of JPAM being initiated in the
sanctuary, since it is surrounded by 28 villages, a large number of which are
already under JFM. The JFM work done here in the past 2 1/2 years has already
resulted in the improvement of habitat as the area was considerably degraded
earlier.
Neeraj Vagholikar, Kalpavriksh (at editorial
address).
Plan to save Chilka lake
A Rs. 27 crore project is being implemented to revive and restore the
ecosystem of the Chilka lake, the largest brackish water lake in India. The
10th Finance Commission has sanctioned this amount. This was
disclosed by the Chief Minister of the state at a workshop held in Bhubaneshwar
in Dec. 1998. The Workshop was organised by the Chilka Development Authority and
the Department of Water Resources of Orissa, in collaboration with the Indian
Institute of Tourism and Travel Management, Orissa Environmental Society and
Wetlands International, South
Asia. Source: 'Rs 27-cr. Action plan comes to the rescue of Chilka Lake'. The
Times of India, 14/12/98.
The government is also
reported to have taken a policy decision not to locate any polluting industry in
and around the lagoon and to stop the expansion of agricultural land along the
lake's periphery. Other measures to revive the lake include the treatment of the catchment areas, diversion of the early monsoon flow in the Mahanadi arm of the
Mahanadi river system, and the desiltation of the channel linking the lake to
the sea. Improvement of the Nalaban Bird Sanctuary, and the uplift of the
socio-economic condition of the villages located on the periphery of the lake
have also been
planned.
However, poaching in
the lake is on the increase. The railway station in the sleepy town of Bhusandpur, the gateway to the lake, has become a thriving market for poached
birds. The high demand for bird meat, a delicacy in places like Bhubaneshwar and
Balugaon, has given a boost to the poaching. A forest official at the
Nalaban Sanctuary said that the poaching operations happened largely at night,
by the spreading of nets on the water. The birds are forced to fly in panic by
firing a couple of shots. The birds then settle down only to be enmeshed in the
net.
'Poaching in Chilka'. Down to Earth,
March 15, 1999.
Rajaram Satapathy. 'Poachers rule the roost at Chilka
lake'. The Times of India, 22/01/99.
Contact: Chief Wildlife Warden, Orissa, Plot No. 8, Shahid Nagar,
Bhubaneshwar 751007. Tel: 91-674-513134 / 515840. Fax: 512502.
Project to save the crocodile successful
Source: Ashis Senapati. 'Orissa project saves crocodiles from the jaws of
death'. Indian Express, 26/12/98.
The Crocodile Research
Centre at Dangamal in the Bhitarkanika Sanctuary has successfully ensured the
protection of the endangered saltwater crocodile. The project which was started
in 1975 was taken up after a survey in 1974 found that only 24 crocodiles were
left in the area. The recent census has shown that the population of the reptile
is rising. 75 of the young bred in the centre have also been supplied to other
projects in the state.
Mass nesting of turtles on the Orissa coast
Source: Kartik Shanker on email dated 09/01/99, on
nathistory-india@lists.princeton.edu.
Tens of thousands of Olive Ridley turtles began nesting on the
beaches of eastern India in the last week of march. The nesting has commenced
after an absence of three years.
Meanwhile 'Operation Kachappa', a joint
programme of the Orissa Forest department, the Wildlife Protection Society of
India, the Wildlife Institute of India and others, has been started to ensure
the protection of the turtles. This programme is funded by the
Barbara Delano
foundation.
Operation Kachappa will provide the Forest Department with resources such as boats to help
them enforce the near shore ban on trawl fishing. A newsletter for sea turtle
conservation is also being brought out, the first issue of which has been
published.
Earlier reports
indicated that researchers found a marked increase in papillomas, a potentially
fatal disease causing tumour like growths on the soft tissues of sea turtles.
The growth often covers the eyes, causing blindness, leading to starvation and
death. There is strong evidence to suggest that the disease is related to the
toxic algae in waters polluted by chemicals from prawn farms nearby.
Belinda Wright on email dated 26/03/99,
on nathistory-india@lists.princeton.edu.
Contact: Kartik Shanker, A1/4/4, 3rd Main Rd, Besant Nagar, Chennai
600090
Tel: + 91 44 4952655 Fax: 4934862 email: kachhapa@vsnl.com;
mcg.shankar@vsnl.com
Belinda Wright, Wildlife Protection Society of
India (WPSI) (as above).
RAJASTHAN
Wild animal diseases in Sariska
Wildlife in the Sariska Tiger Reserve is facing serious health problems. In
the last two years there have been three casualties, according to official
figures. Unofficially the figure is placed much higher, at 12. Some
animals, including tigers and leopards, which were killed in road accidents or
were found dead, were found to be suffering from tuberculosis (TB) or liver
infection. Source: 'Sick in sanctuary'. Down to Earth, March 15, 1999.
Experts are now
debating the origin of the infection. Some believe that the infection was
brought to the sanctuary by monkeys and langurs who return to the forests after
making forays into towns. Some say that diseases of domestic cattle are being
contracted by the wild animals as they share the same water holes in the
park.
Sonu
Jain. 'Stray cattle may be behind TB cases in Sariska National Park'. Indian
Express, 30/03/99.
Contact: Chief Wildlife Warden, Rajasthan, Van Bhawan, Vaniki Path,
Deorali, Jaipur 302005, Rajasthan. Tel: 91-141-380832. Fax: 380496.
Package for relocation of 'Project Tiger' villages
A package is being prepared for the relocation of villages inside the
Ranthambore and Sariska Tiger reserves in Rajasthan. The package, to be carried
out with the assistance of the World Bank, would include the rehabilitation of
the villagers and compensation for their land. At a recent public hearing at
Sariska, the Deputy Field Director had declared that only the villages from the
national park (and not the entire Tiger Reserve) would be relocated, and the FD
was considering rehabilitation sites within the same forest blocks (see JPAM
Update 19)
Source: The Hindu dated 13/01/99 quoted by Nalin M on
nathistory-india@lists.princeton.edu.
'A long wait for Sariska Tiger
sanctuary'. The Hindu, 27/01/99.
Source: 'What's eating the vultures'. Down To Earth, 15/01/99.
The Forest Department has reported that the implementation of the
Ecodevelopment Project (EDP) in villages within a 5 kms radius of the Kalakad
Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTG) has helped reduce the pressures on the
protected area. The EDP was launched with the help of the villagers
in November 1994 under the Forestry Research Education and Extension Project
(FREEP). The other protected area covered under this project is the Great
Himalayan National Park in Himachal Pradesh. Funded by the World Bank, the
financial outlay of the project is Rs. 9.14 crore, with the state government
contributing 20%.
Source: P. Oppili. 'EDP helps preserve natural resources'. The Hindu,
Madras, 03/12/98.
Village Forest
Committees were formed in all the 113 villages and micro-plans were drawn to
provide employment oppurtunities to the villagers. Various income generating
schemes were introduced: setting up of small hotels, wig business, plastic and
alluminium utensil shops, selling of tea by bicycle, selling vegetables by
pushcarts, tea shops, poultry business, fodder farm, cement brick manufacturing,
tailoring and cobbling.
With
the formation of the committees it is reported that the number of villagers
entering the forests had come down. Before the launch of the EDP, more than 1500
people used to enter the protected area and collect 400 tonnes of fuelwood.
Under the EDP, 1200 of these have been provided assistance for alternative
income generating activities. A few months ago, members of a World Bank team
that visited the area expressed satisfaction at the implementation of the
project.
Contact: Field Director, KMTR, Project Tiger, NGO 'A' Colony,
Tirunelveli - 7, Tamil Nadu. Tel: 91-462-552663; Fax: 580115
Current Science special on KMTR
Current Science Journal has decided to bring out a special section on
research on animal behaviour and ecology, biodiversity conservation, sustainable
natural resource use, and social and management policies. The editors have
invited papers for this special section based on original research/conservation
work in the Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve. Last date for the receipt of
manuscripts is 15th April 1999. Papers received after this date will
still be eligible for publication in Current Science as regular
papers.
Contact: Dr. Madhusan Katti, Lecturer and Research Associate, Dept. of
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544 -
1003 USA. Tel: +1 609 258 1935 Fax. +1 609 258 1712. Email: mkatti@princeton.edu
Prof. P. Balaram, Editor, Current Science, PB No. 8001, CV
Raman Avenue, Bangalore 560080. Tel: +91 80 334 2546 Fax. 334 6094 Email:
currsci@ias.ernet.in
Source: 'Van Gujjars cannot be forced to leave habitat', The Hindu,
23/03/99
Email from Nirmal Ghosh dated 15/01/99 on
nathistory-india@lists.princeton.edu.
Contact: Friends of Doon Society, EBD Business Centre, 49 Rajpur Road,
Dehradun 248001, Uttar Pradesh. Tel: +91-135-654487.
Avdesh Kaushal,
Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra, (RLEK), PO Box. 10, 21, East Canal
Road, Dehradun 248001
Chairperson, National Human Rights Commission,
(NHRC), 1st Floor, Sardar Patel Bhawan, Parliament Street, New Delhi
110001. Tel: +91 11 3340891/ 3347065. Fax: 3340016/ 3366537.
Speeding train kills another elephant killed in Rajaji
One more adult elephant was killed by a speeding train at Raiwala in the
Motichur range of the Rajaji National Park. Another was also injured. This is
the fifth such incident in the last few
years. Source: Email dated 04/04/99 from A Christy Williams on
nathistory-india@lists.princeton.edu.
The last accident occured in September 1998 when three elephants, a calf its mother and 'aunt'
were killed. Scientists of the WII along with the National Park authorities had
petitioned the railway authorities to take two simple steps to avoid accidents
of this nature: reschedule the night running trains on the section and issue
strict orders to the railway drivers to slow down to a crawl in the forested
section that is also used by the elephants. Reportedly the railway authorities
had been positive about these suggestions, but this latest accident has shown
that no action has been taken.
Contact: A William Christy, Wildlife Institute of India (as above)
Email: acwill69@hotmail.com.
Sushil Kumar Dubey, Director, Rajaji
National Park, Shivalik House, Dehradun 248001.
Source: R.P. Nailwal. 'Doon sal borer epidemic may spread to more areas'. The Times of India, 09/01/99.
Threats to wildlife in Dudhwa and Katerniaghat
The line of the North East Railway that connects Lucknow, Sitapur and
Lakhimpur with Gola, Mailani, Palia, Dudhwa and Gonda, passes through the heart
of the Dudhwa National Park. Many animals including a tigress, an elephant, a
bear, a crocodile and fishing cats have been killed inside the park by speeding
trains.
Further, instances of the enterprising timber mafia felling trees
during the time a train takes to cross is not uncommon. Around 12 to
14 goods and passenger trains pass through the park everyday and more deaths
have been reported after dusk when the movement of wild animals is relatively
higher. Though the dismantling of the line may not be possible, the Forest
Department has suggested that the trains should at least run at a safe speed,
which will reduce the number of such accidents.
There have also been reports
of increased poaching in the protected areas in the region. In 1998 alone, at
least 15 cases of poaching were registered in Dudhwa and Katerniaghat Wildlife
Sanctuary. Equipped with sophisticated weapons, the poachers are alleged to be
ex-servicemen of the Gorkha regiment of the Indian army, resettled in Nepal.
According to the DFO, poaching in the area is rampant as the forest area spread
over an area of 500 sq. kms. is teeming with wildlife.
Simultaneously there
is a growing threat from the conversion of forestland to farms. In Katerniaghat,
3800 acres have been occupied by the central seed farm, where improvised
varieties of agricultural seeds are produced. According to the forest officials,
the activities of the seed farm and the large-scale use of chemical fertilisers
and insecticides is detrimental to wildlife.
Source: Anupam
Shashank and Ramesh Ramachandran 'Hapless forest dept. looks on while wild
animals pay with their lives'. The Times of India,
04/12/98.
'Encroaching farms strangle UP wildlife'. Hindustan Times,
30/01/99.
Contact: Chief Wildlife Warden, Uttar Pradesh, 17, Rana Pratap Marg,
Lucknow 226001, Uttar Pradesh. Tel: 91-522-283864. Fax: 283868.
Poaching in Suhelwa Wildlife Sanctuary
Recently two tiger cubs were found dead in mysterious circumstances in the
Suhelwa Wildlife Sanctuary. According to Forest officials the cubs had been
picked up stealthily from the sanctuary and were later found dead in the nearby
farmhouse of former MP from the Samajwadi party, Anand Singh Three workers
employed at the farmhouse were taken into custody and have reportedly admitted
that they captured the cubs from inside the sanctuary to the farm house. The
cubs were said to have died of starvation. Source: Anuradha Raman, 'Ex-servicemen turn wildlife poachers'.
Pioneer, New Delhi, 14/12/98.
Last year four tigers died due to
poisoning in Suhelwa. The skin market of Biratnagar in adjoining Nepal is
supposed to be completely dependent on the illegal hunting being carried out
inside Indian borders.
The Times of India, quoted on email
from Nalin M dated 21/01/99 on nathistory-india@lists.princeton.edu.
Anita
Katyal. 'Tigers continue to be poachers' dream catch'. The Times of
India, 02/03/99.
Contact: CWLW, Uttar Pradesh (as above).
Source: 'Environmentalists oppose road plan to Hemkunt'. The Times of
India, Mumbai, 22/02/99
Contact: Om Prakash Bhatt, Dasholi Gram Swarajya Mandal, Gopeshwar,
Dist. Chamoli 246401, Uttar Pradesh.
Source: Raj Saran Varma. 'Nawabganj sanctuary is gasping for breath'. The
Times of India, 29/01/99.
Contact: CWLW, Uttar Pradesh (as above)
Conservation action plan for the terai tiger
The Tiger Trust Society, an NGO established in 1997, has proposed to launch
an international campaign for the conservation of the tiger in the terai
belt. A conservation action plan (CAP) has been chalked out for implementation
in selected buffer areas of Corbett and Dudhwa National Parks. It would also
bring under its coverage contiguous tiger range areas of other reserve forests
adjoining the Nepalese
border. Source: Email from BNHS dated 22/03/99 on
nathistory-india@lists.princeton.edu.
CAP will emphasise on
educating local and tribal communities and the general masses. It will also
evolve methods to resolve the on-going conflict between humans and the big cats
and address the grievances of the local communities residing in the periphery
tiger reserves and sanctuaries
Contact: Irfan Hussain, Field Director, Tiger Trust Society, 14 Civil
Lines, Faizabad 224001,
Email:
aquiline@indiasite.com cybercaf@lw1.vsnl.net.in.
Mike Herd, a cameraman with the Discovery Channel, and his assistant, were
allegedly assaulted by armed hoodlums in the Sundarbans. Herd had earlier
objected to the dumping of garbage in the waters of the Katka canal by another
tourist boat. Source: Email from Nirmal Ghosh dated 04/03/99 on nathistory-india@lists.princeton.edu.
In a letter to
the British High Commission, Herd reported that several members of the crew as
well as tourists aboard the boat were injured. It is also reported that the
person responsible for the attacks is backed by some powerful people in Khulna
and that a few months ago he was allegedly caught red-handed while trying to
shoot a deer.
NATIONAL NEWS FROM INDIA
Source: 'Tribal storm brews over parks project'. Telegraph,
19/01/99.
Contact: Kusum Karnik, Shaswat, AT & PO Manchar, Dist. Pune
410503
V.S. Roy David, Coorg
Organisation for Rural Development (CORD), 119/ 1, 4th Block,
Kushalnagar 571234,
Karnataka.
Tel: +91 8276
74487 / 73287; Fax:
74091
Email:
david@giasbg01.vsnl.net.in
India's Ramsar sites under threat
Source: Rajaram Satapathy, The Times of India, 12/01/99, quoted by
Nalin M on email dated 13/01/99, on
nathistory-india@lists.princeton.edu.
Problems of various kinds
seriously affect the wetlands in the country that have been designated as Ramsar
sites. These include Chilka (Orissa), Harike (Punjab), Sambhar (Rajasthan),
Wular (J&K), Bharatpur (Rajasthan) and Loktak (Manipur).
The condition of
Bharatpur has worsened so much that the Ramsar secretariat at its recent meeting
in Kusiru, Japan reportedly threatened to delist it. While weeds, particularly
hyacinth, have reduced the 108 sq. kms. Harike Lake to a mere 48 sq.kms.,
construction of a barrage by the National Hydro Electric Power Corporation is
likely to wipe out the world's only floating sanctuary of Loktak Lake. Poaching
and deforestation on its edges are affecting the Wular lake, and Sambhar lake is
threatened by an express highway and salt pans all around.
Tiger Millenium conference
A three day Tiger Millenium Conference was held in New Delhi on
3-5th of March. Those who attended the meeting included members of
the Tiger Source: "Tiger reserves: Minister plans 'adoption' by the west'. The
Hindu, 27/01/99
range countries: Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmaar, Indonesia,
Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. China was however not represented.
The WWF tiger conservation
awards for 1997-98 was were also given on the occasion. One went to Kaziranga
National Park. The Field Director of the Kanha National Park, Rajesh Gopal, was
awarded for outstanding management of a tiger
area.
Earlier it was reported
that the Union environment minister Suresh Prabhu would use the oppurtunity of
the conference to request Western and European countries who have been voicing
concern over the dwindling tiger population of the country 'to adopt
tiger reserves and help in the reversal of statistics'.
'Conservation of tiger is high on govt's agenda'. The
Times of India, 04/03/99
BANGLADESH
Sundarbans to be declared a World Heritage Site
The world's largest mangrove, the Sundarbans, is to be declared a World
Heritage Site by UNESCO. This was decided at a meeting held in Bangladesh in
November 1998, which was attended by officials of the Ministry of Environment
and Forests, UNESCO and the World Conservation Union (IUCN). It is not known if
the Indian part of the Sundarbans is also to be similarly designated.
Source: 'Sundarbans to be declared world heritage site by
Dec.'. Bangladesh Observer, Bangladesh, 13/11/98.
INDO-NEPAL
Cross border migration of wild animals
Recently a
meeting was held between Indian and Nepalese officials to discuss the issues of
trans-border wildlife migration. Nepal has five protected areas on its border
with India: Royal Chitwan National Park, Parsa Wildlife Reserve,
Royal Bardia National Park, Royal Sukhlaphanta Wildlife Reserve and Koshi Tappu
Wildlife Reserve. India has along its border with Nepal, Dudhwa National Park,
Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, Suhelwa Sanctuary, Sobebarwa Sanctuary (all in
UP), Valmiki Tiger Reserve in Bihar, and the Singhalila National Park in West
Bengal. Though these are not back to back, there is still a large
migration of animals including endangered ones like the elephant, rhino, tiger,
and leopard. In 1995, 45 elephants reportedly crossed from Dudhwa to Royal
Bardia, and a rhino moved from India into Sukhlaphanta. Tigers too are believed
to move between Royal Bardia and
Suhelwa.
The meeting also
resolved to construct fish ladders or alternate passways for free movement of
aquatic fauna in trans-border rivers that are affected by dams and barrages. It
was also agreed to control illegal trade in fauna and flora, for which funds
will be made available. The Indo-Nepalese treaty of 1996 will be harmonised with
the requirements of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
of Flora and Fauna (CITES).
Quarterly meetings
between the field level staff, and annual meetings of ministry officials are on
the cards. Wildlife enumeration between the two countries is to be synchronised
and linkages are to be developed between the protected areas of Royal Bardia and
Katerniaghat, Chitwan, Parsa and Valmiki Tiger Reserve. The Koshi Tappu Wildlife
reserve is to be extended to the Koshi
Barrage. Source: Usha Rai. 'Wildlife ambassadors of the subcontinent'. The Times of
India. 22/03/99.
WWF Nepal has been
asked to provide compensation for cattle killed by tigers. The meeting also
resolved not to allow saw-mills to come up adjacent to forests on both sides of
the border.
Similar meetings have also been planned for between
India, Bhutan, and Bangladesh.
Contact: S.C. Sharma, Addl. IGF (Wildlife), MoEF, Paryavaran Bhavan,
CGO Complex, Lodi Estate, New Delhi 110003.
T. M. Maskey, Director,
Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, PO Box 860, Babarmahal,
Kathmandu, Nepal. Tel: + 977 1 227675; Fax: 250850
Elephants create havoc around Sukhlaphanta
A herd of elephants that migrated from the lower grounds of UP in India in
October 1998 has reportedly caused a lot of damage around Sukhlaphanta Wildlife
Reserve in the Kanchanpur district of the terai in
Nepal. Source: 'Elephants create havoc around Sukhlaphanta'. Kathmandu Post,
Nepal, 08/10/98.
According to the
farmers of the area, the elephants migrate towards the upper grounds of Nepal
along the Karnali river and destroy crops and houses in villages like Malakheti
and Godavari.
Indigenous people affected by Royal Chitwan National Park
Source: 'Indigenous people of Parasi fighting for survival', Kathmandu
Post, 03/01/99.
About
400 families of Parasis, who had been earning their livelihood from fishing for
decades, have been deprived of their livelihood by the Royal Chitwan National
Park. These families of the Majhi, Bote and Musahar communities have been banned
from fishing in the area including the Narayani river in the name of wildlife
protection.
The communities
have now organised themselves with the cooperation of an NGO named the Community
Development Organisation (CDO) and have formed the Majhi, Bote, and Musahar
Welfare Service Committee. They have appealed to the Chief District officer for
land and have submitted the list of families of these communities and the land
required for them. The Member of Parliament of the region has said that these
people will get land and search for alternative jobs in the near future.
No new tourist resorts inside Chitwan
Forest officials in Nepal have decided that no new tourist resorts are to be
allowed inside wildlife reserves, including the Royal Chitwan National Park.
However the 8 resorts already operating inside Chitwan will be allowed to
continue as they are operating under a 16 year contract that runs till
2009. Source: Amar Pradhan. 'No-entry to new resorts inside Chitwan Park'.
Kathmandu Post, 28/01/99.
Tourist operators
however fear, that the government plans to remove them from Chitwan in the near
future, and has already initiated measures to that end.
Proposal for trans-border protected area with India
It has been proposed to declare the Sir Creek Trans-border Area between India
and Pakistan a part of a protected wetland. One of the issues in the Indo-Pak
talks that began in September 1998 has been the defining of the international
boundary along Sir Creek, a 60 mile long estuary in the salty marshlands of the
Rann of Kutch between Gujarat in India and Sindh in
Pakistan. Source: Disarmament Forum, Vol. 1 No. 1, 1999 quoted on email from
Gaurav Rajen dated 13/01/99, to ramsar-forum-owner@hq.iucn.org
Sir Creek has been
a part of the conflict on the definition of the boundary between the two
countries. One approach to reaching agreement was under the Ramsar Convention on
Wetlands that has been ratified and signed by both India and Pakistan. It has
been said that Sir Creek has all the criteria to be declared a Ramsar Site.
The Government of Sri Lanka has approved the implementation of the management
plan for wildlife conservation, prepared under a Global Environmental Facility
(GEF) Project. Rs 55 million will be spent on this
plan. Source: Ramani Kangaraarachchi. 'Government approves Global
Environmental Facility Plan'. Sunday Observer. 15/11/98.
The overall objective
includes preparation of management plans for 6 main protected area clusters,
establishing of new protected areas and training of departmental staff. So far
management plans have been prepared for Uda Walawe, Yala and Wasgomuwa PAs.
Plans for Lunugamvehera, Minneriya, Horton Plains, Bundala and Victoria -
Randeligala-Rantambe PAs are under preparation. The plans are expected to be
completed by May 1999.
Paneetha
Ameresekere. 'Rs. 55m to develop national parks'. Daily News,
05/01/99.
UPCOMING
3rd Consultation on Wildlife Conservation
and People's Livelihood Rights, Bhopal, 1-3 May, 1999
A series of national consultations on wildlife conservation and people's
livelihood rights (called Building Bridges) was started in 1997. The
3rd consultation is being organised on 1-3rd May, and will
be hosted by the Ekta Parishad in Bhopal. The proposed agenda for the meeting
includes reports from specific PAs, issues of settlements of rights,
displacement of people from PAs, commercial threats to PAs (in particular,
mining), recent changes in laws and policies, and ecodevelopment. A major focus
will be on developing the modalities and functions of a proposed network on
conservation and livelihoods, dealing primarily (though not only) with protected
areas. The meeting is being called by Ekta Parishad, Tarun Bharat Sangh, and
Kalpavriksh.
Venue: Gandhi Bhavan, Shyamala Hills,
Bhopal.
Contact: Gautam Bandopadhyay, Ekta Parishad, O/3,
Anupam Nagar, PO Shankar Nagar, Raipur, Madhya Pradesh.
Telefax: 91-771-421926.
Ashish Kothari / Pankaj Sekhsaria
(at the editorial address)
Conserving Biodiversity in the 21st Century through Integrated Conservation and Development Planning on a Regional Scale, Mussoorie, June 28-30, 1999
This workshop targeting senior policy makers will be held at the Lal Bahadur
Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie from
June 28-30, 1999. It is being held in collaboration with the Wildlife Institute
of India (WII), Dehradun.
Contact: S.K. Mukherjee, Director, WII, PB 18, Chandrabani, Dehradun
248001. Tel: 91-135 640111- 15; Fax: 640117. Email: wii@wii.gov.in
Contact: Guido Visconti, Convenor, Dipartimento di Fisica, Universita
degli Studi di L'Aquila Via Vetoio, Coppito, 67010 L'Aquila, Italy.
Email: guido.visconti@aquila.infn.it
Ashley, C., and Roe, D. 1998.
Enhancing Community Involvement in Wildlife Tourism: Issues and
Challenges. IIED Wildlife and Development Series no. 11. , London
In many countries, efforts are being made to involve local communities and
the poor in the tourism industry. Community involvement offers the prospect of
enhanced rural development, conservation and a more broadly based tourism
industry. This paper explores some of the challenges and identifies strategies
in this context, based on experience in a range of countries.
Contact: International Institute for Environment and Development,
Endsleigh street, London WC1H 0DD. Tel: 44-171-3882117. Fax: 3882826. Email: mailbox@iied.org Website:
http://www. Iied.org.
Goodwin, H., Kent, I., Parker, K.,
Walpole, M., 1998. Tourism, Conservation and Sustainable Development,
Case studies from Asia and Africa, London.
This report draws together the main findings from a three year research
project, funded by the British aid agency DFID, comparing nature based tourism
at sites in India, Indonesia and Zimbabwe. It explores the complex relationship,
at a local level, between tourists, 'host communities', the tourism
industry and the nature reserves where wildlife tourism takes place. The
research reveals that local stakeholders have little control over the form or
magnitude of tourism occurring around them, and remain vulnerable to external
events and decision making. Further, communities and protected areas are getting
few benefits from tourism, which also threatens to undermine its own resource
base.
Contact: IIED (as above)
Contact: Kusum Karnik, Shaswat (as above, National News from
India) 'Abhayaranya Baithak
Vrutant', Report of the meeting of people affected by
protected areas in western Maharashtra, organised in Tata Institute of Social
Sciences (TISS), in Sept 1998.
The report, in Marathi,
has a detailed account of a one day meeting that was held in September 1998.
Participants included community representatives and NGO members, and one forest
official, from PAs of Maharashtra (see JPAM Update 18). It
also has a list of the resolutions that were passed in the meeting.
Arjumand, H. 1998.
'Sonchiriya ka Atank', Gwalior
A report in Hindi on issues related to the Ghatigaon Great Indian Bustard
Sanctuary in Gwalior district, Madhya Pradesh. The report forcefully argues that
the declaration of the sanctuary has adversely affected the lives of the people
living in the area.
Contact: Hasrat Arjumand, Visthapan Roko Andolan, Jankidas
Baba ki Bagia, Gospura1, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh.
Kushwah, R.B.S., and Kumar, Vijay.
1998. Cost Benefit Analysis of Protected Areas, A case study of Satpuda National
Park, Madhya Pradesh, Journal of Tropical Forestry, April - June, 1998,
Vol. 14 (II).
The study was conducted under the research project 'Integrated Forest
Planning and Management of Protected Areas of MP with special reference to
Central Madhya Pradesh'. Economic indicators Net Present Value (NPV) and Benefit
Cost Ratio (BCR) have been computed.
Contact: R.B.S. Kushwah, ACF, Sanjay National Park, Sidhi 486661. Tel:
91 -9822 -51397
Environmental Investigation Agency.
1999. The State of the Tiger, India's Tiger Crisis, London
The report focuses on Madhya Pradesh, the self-proclaimed Tiger State,
as an example of problems facing India's tigers. With almost 1000 tigers,
MP alone accounts for 15-20% of the world's population. The report is a
strong indictment of the state's record: broken promises, good ideas dumped,
good staff removed, tiger habitats destroyed, and tigers and their prey poached.
This is the 2nd report of the EIA of the crisis facing the tiger. The
first was titled The Political Wilderness, India's Tiger Crisis,
published in 1996.
Contact: EIA, 69 Old Street, London EC1V 9HX, UK, Tel: 41-171
-4907040. Fax: 41-171-4900436. Email: eiauk@gn.apc.org Kumaon Mandal
Vikas Nigam and Corbett Tiger Reserve. 1998. Workshop on Stakeholder
Participation in Ecotourism in Corbett Country and Binsar Sanctuary, 23-24
September, 1998.
Background papers for a workshop involving various agencies and individuals
with an interest in tourism in these protected areas. Includes interesting
statistics on tourism in Corbett, guidelines for tourism in PAs, the draft
National Tourism Policy (1997), and Policy and Guidelines for Ecotourism in
India (1998).
Contact: Director, Corbett Tiger Reserve, Ramnagar 244715, Dist.
Nainital, Uttar Pradesh. Tel: 91-5947-85489; Fax: 91-5947-85376.
Rithe, K. and Bhoyar,
U. 1999. Status Report on Melghat Tiger Project. Nature Conservation
Society, Amravati.
A detailed report on the various threats facing this critical tiger habitat,
including biotic pressure, dual administration, poaching, roads, and
hydro-electric projects. The report is in the form of a letter to the Union
Minister for Environment and Forests.
Contact: Kishor Rithe, Nature Conservation Society, "Pratishtha",
Bharat Nagar, Akoli Road, Nr. Sai Nagar, Amravati 444605, Maharashtra. Tel:
91-721-672359; Fax: 670308; Email: ncsa@bom3.vsnl.net.in
Aranya Varta. Society for
Sustainable Development, Karauli.
Perhaps India's first Hindi newsletter dealing with protected area issues.
Arun Jindal of SSD has kept his promise of bringing this out. The
newsletter deals mostly with news from Rajasthani PAs. Subscription
is free; the newsletter is sponsored by WWF-India. Arun has asked for written
contributions.
Contact: Arun Jindal, Society for Sustainable Development, Shah Inayat
Khirkiya, Karauli 322241, Rajasthan. Tel: 91-7464-21065.
APPEAL FOR INFORMATION ON COMMUNITY-CONSERVED AREAS
Kalpavriksh is
planning to put together a directory of natural habitats conserved by
communities or individuals. We believe that there are not only a very
large number of these which meet the livelihood needs of people, but that they
also have considerable wildlife and biodiversity value. Sporadic attempts to
document such efforts exist, but there is no comprehensive, country-wide picture
as yet. Kalpavriksh members are preparing a format which can be used for such
documentation, and would be very grateful for any leads of the following kind:
Villages/localities
where communities or individuals are conserving habitats and species (forests,
wetlands, grasslands, nesting spaces, populations of individual species;
Any existing literature/material on
these sites, or on other sites; Names/addresses of persons (community
members/NGOs/govt. officials/researchers) who would be knowledgable about such
sites.
Kalpavriksh would be happy to send a copy of the
format to anyone who can help with this effort. There are at present no funds
for this project, but in any case we would like to get it going, and with a
widespread collaborative effort, we hope to be able to put this together without
large-
scale funding. Pl. contact Neema Pathak at the editorial address
below.
JPAM 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. JPAM Update 20 was prepared by
Pankaj Sekhsaria and Ashish Kothari.
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. Ideas, 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: 91-20-354 329 Email:
ashish@nda.vsnl.net.in
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Last modified on: Tue Feb 26 20:05:32 2002