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22 LAKH TREES TO BE CUT
Telangana could lose more than 31.56 sq. km. of
forest cover to accommodate the Kaleshwaram
Lift Irrigation Project. While the Forest
Department estimates that some 22 lakh trees will
be cut to construct canals, reservoirs, and other
structures of the project, conservation NGOs
working in the area contend that the fi gure could
be much higher at 25 lakhs. Many of these trees
are over 100 to 200 years old. Around 391 plant
species were recorded in the project area as per
an Environment Impact Report prepared by the
Environment Protection Training and Research
Institute. Several species of fauna including insects,
arachnids, birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals,
are threatened with displacement. Though the
report states that the project will not impact
wildlife migration, activists suggest that project will
bisect the contiguous forest between Maharashtra
and Telanaga and between Warangal and Adilabad.
SECURING TRIBAL RIGHTS
In response to the National Tiger Conservation
Authority (NTCA)’s circular denying forest-dwelling
tribals land rights within critical tiger reserves, the
National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST)
clamped down on any displacement from these areas.
The NCST has asked the Ministry of Environment,
Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to revisit
policy to ensure tiger conservation does not infringe
on tribal rights. NCST secretary Raghav Chandra in a
letter to C. K. Mishra, Secretary (Environment) insisted
that the circular cannot override the Forest Rights
Act, which safeguards the rights of forest-dwelling
tribals. Demands to increase the present compensation
amount of Rs. 10 lakhs per family to Rs. 20 lakhs,
along with the assurance that no eviction is carried
out unless alternative land is provided, and that the
rehabilitation and relocation exercise be completed
within three years have also been made. The NCST
also intends to send teams for fi eld visits to Simlipal,
Melghat, Satpura and Bor to assess the programmes
being implemented by the NTCA.
CRIME STUDY IN
UTTARAKHAND
The Director of the Corbett
Tiger Reserve, Surendra Mehra, in
association with the Wildlife Institute
of India (WII) will conduct a study
on wildlife crimes in the reserve
and adjoining areas. The study in
Uttarakhand, where more than
600 wildlife crime cases have been
reported since the state’s formation
in 2000, hopes to serve as a
benchmark to handle wildlife crime
cases in the country. “Even if we
have caught someone with wildlife
parts, it takes at least a year to
register the case. The minimum time
taken in resolving a wildlife crime
is three years. The research will
prepare a comprehensive protocol
and format of the details needed for
quicker reporting of such cases,” said
Mehra. One of the fi rst tasks of the
research will be to gather details of
the cases and segregate them on the
basis of species (as per the Wildlife
Protection Act), off ences – hunting,
smuggling – and agencies involved- police, NGOs, Forest Department
and others – in cracking the cases.
“The evidence and forensic reports
play a key role in determining the
charges against the accused. We will
analyse the reports necessary for
strong evidence so it provides a clear
picture to our offi cers,” added Mehra.
PAS AT RISK OF
LOSING TIGERS
A survey of current management
methodologies in 112 sites located
in 11 tiger range countries, including
India, suggests that only 13 per centindia
SCAN
SHIVARAM SUBRAMANIAMThe Uttarakhand Forest Department and Wildlife Institute of India will commence a study on
wildlife crimes in the Corbett Tiger Reserve and adjoining areas to serve as a benchmark in
improving the handling of wildlife crime cases in India.of the tiger conservation areas
meet the global standards of
Conservation Assured | Tiger
Standards (CA|TS). Tigers have
consequently been lost from vast
areas of their potential range. Half
of the assessed sites report fairly
strong management although
improvements are required.
The remaining 35 per cent (the
majority of which are in Southeast
Asia) show poor management in
terms of enforcement against
poaching, engagement of
local communities and confl ict
resolution. The survey is the fi rst
and largest rapid assessment of
site-based tiger conservation
across Asia and has been driven
by 11 conservation organisations
and tiger range governments that
are part of the CA|TS coalition.
Three sites – Lansdowne Forest
Division in Uttarakhand, India,
Chitwan National Park in Nepal
and Sikhote-Alin Nature Reserve
in Russia have been awarded
CA|TS Approved status. “To
secure a future for wild tigers,
functional connectivity between
tiger habitats is essential. Through
an eff ective CA|TS framework,
robust management plans for
the tiger habitats and corridors
can be prepared and security
protocols can be established.
The accreditation of Lansdowne
Forest Division in May 2017, the
third CA|TS site globally and the
fi rst in India, is signifi cant since it
is a crucial link between the Rajaji
and Corbett Tiger Reserves,” said
Ravi Singh, Secretary General and
CEO of WWF-India.