JAIPUR/ALWAR: The special report on the death of male tiger ST-1 at the Sariska tiger reserve was submitted to the state government on Monday. The report comes on the 90-day mark, failing which the suspension of the two officers in the death of tiger would had been revoked.
According to M L Meena, special officer appointed by the state government to probe in the killing of ST-1, "I have submitted my report today. Now, it is on the state government to act on it." He, however, refused to divulge any details in the report.
Two officers of the forest department DFO B Praveen and ACF Mukesh Saini had been suspended after the recovery of the body of ST-1 on November 15. The officers were suspended on allegations of negligence and misinformation in tracking the animal.
However, looking into the seriousness of the crime the state government had immediately announced setting up a special probe panel into it and had appointed ML Meena to look into it. ST-1, the first male tiger to be relocated to Sariska, had been poisoned to death.
The state government had asked Meena to submit the report in seven days. However, Meena missed the mark and could submit it only on the 89th day. Meena's failure to submit the report in 90 days could have meant revoking the suspension of the two officers as under the law it is mandatory to give the reason for suspension of any officer in 90 days.
In fact, Meena had been issued a show cause notice by the state government for failure to submit the report. Many even accused Meena of a deliberate move for delaying the report in a bid to shield the two officers.
"I had to do many field visits, interview a host of people and do a lot of investigation. The delay was a fall out of all this," Meena said.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Will tigress be collared before being released? Vijay Pinjarkar, TNN, Feb 15, 2011
NAGPUR: Heard of radio-collaring a tiger in Maharashtra? No? For the first time, the forest department is contemplating to collar the Katlabodi tigress which they had successfully rescued from a 35-feet-deep well, 40 kms from Nagpur on February 7.
"We are preparing for the post-monitoring of the tigress and exploring all the available methods," said N Rambabu, conservator of forests (Nagpur Division).
The forest department is making 'preliminary inquiries about getting a radio-collar'. "If we don't get it easily and early, we won't waste time as the tigress is fit to be released back into the wild. We are also in touch with the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) officials," Rambabu added.
Rajesh Gopal, member-secretary of the NTCA, did not respond to calls made by TOI and neither did he reply to a text message.
If all goes well, the Katlabodi tigress will be the first case of cat collaring in the state. This will also be the first success story of a rescued tigress being released to back where it belongs. Earlier, the wildlife wing had fixed chips in leopards that had strayed into the Ordnance Factory in Chandrapur.
"I see no reason why we should not keep track of the tigress. Thousands of animals are being studied and followed through radio collar or marking," said Asad Rahmani, director of Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS).
Rahmani added that the forest department is quite capable of executing their plan. They can put a radio-collar that can fall off after the battery is worn out or even before that.
"These days we get tailor-made radio-collars for a particular study for a particular animal and even for a particular sex with a set programme to provide required information. Radio-collaring, satellite tracking, ringing and banding are well-known techniques to study animals and also to follow the movement of the released animals," said Rahmani, who is also a member of the National Board for Wild Life (NBWL).
Another NBWL member Kishor Rithe said, "I don't see any problem. It's a good opportunity that has come walking to the forest officials. Collaring will help in knowing the source population. If not a collar, they should at least fit a transmission chip. The chief wildlife warden needs to take a call."
Nitin Desai, director of Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI), Central India, suggested a satellite collar, which may cost somewhere between Rs 2-2.5 lakh.
Prafulla Bhamburkar, manager of Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), said that collaring the tigress is necessary as the officials will not only know its movement but also help infuse many inputs towards conservation of tiger corridors.
"Till today we don't know the exact status of tigers, the group they belong to or the place from where they have come. The WTI will support monitoring of the tigress," Bhamburkar said.
After the Sariska debacle in which the entire tiger population was poached, the Tiger Task Force (TTF) had in August 2005 recommended that all efforts should be made to encourage and facilitate intensive research and monitoring of tigers by using a variety of tools like photo-identification and monitoring, camera traps, radiotelemetry and DNA-based genetic studies in different landscape units.
Although radio-collaring is a good system to monitor animals, an intelligence report submitted to the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) in July 2009 had blamed 'radio-collaring' for the tiger deaths in the Panna tiger reserve in Madhya Pradesh.
However, experts disagreed. They said Panna tigers died due to human interference and added that it's very convenient to blame scientists and methods. They say section 28(1) of the Wildlife Protection Act (1972) has provision for scientific research, investigation and study of wildlife.
In a court matter (October 2010), the Karnataka government and the forest department differed on radio-collaring tigers. While the Karnataka government said that there is nothing wrong with radio-collaring, the forest department rejected a proposal by wildlife researcher K Ullas Karanth to continue research on tigers by adopting radio-collaring.
Former PCCF of Madhya Pradesh, P M Lad was of the view that collaring is a secondary thing. The primary issue is that since the staff doesn't move around in the forest, it doesn't have adequate knowledge about straying tigers. "Officials should first know where the tigress came from and then go for the experiment. Radio collaring has both advantages and disadvantages," he added.
"We are preparing for the post-monitoring of the tigress and exploring all the available methods," said N Rambabu, conservator of forests (Nagpur Division).
The forest department is making 'preliminary inquiries about getting a radio-collar'. "If we don't get it easily and early, we won't waste time as the tigress is fit to be released back into the wild. We are also in touch with the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) officials," Rambabu added.
Rajesh Gopal, member-secretary of the NTCA, did not respond to calls made by TOI and neither did he reply to a text message.
If all goes well, the Katlabodi tigress will be the first case of cat collaring in the state. This will also be the first success story of a rescued tigress being released to back where it belongs. Earlier, the wildlife wing had fixed chips in leopards that had strayed into the Ordnance Factory in Chandrapur.
"I see no reason why we should not keep track of the tigress. Thousands of animals are being studied and followed through radio collar or marking," said Asad Rahmani, director of Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS).
Rahmani added that the forest department is quite capable of executing their plan. They can put a radio-collar that can fall off after the battery is worn out or even before that.
"These days we get tailor-made radio-collars for a particular study for a particular animal and even for a particular sex with a set programme to provide required information. Radio-collaring, satellite tracking, ringing and banding are well-known techniques to study animals and also to follow the movement of the released animals," said Rahmani, who is also a member of the National Board for Wild Life (NBWL).
Another NBWL member Kishor Rithe said, "I don't see any problem. It's a good opportunity that has come walking to the forest officials. Collaring will help in knowing the source population. If not a collar, they should at least fit a transmission chip. The chief wildlife warden needs to take a call."
Nitin Desai, director of Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI), Central India, suggested a satellite collar, which may cost somewhere between Rs 2-2.5 lakh.
Prafulla Bhamburkar, manager of Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), said that collaring the tigress is necessary as the officials will not only know its movement but also help infuse many inputs towards conservation of tiger corridors.
"Till today we don't know the exact status of tigers, the group they belong to or the place from where they have come. The WTI will support monitoring of the tigress," Bhamburkar said.
After the Sariska debacle in which the entire tiger population was poached, the Tiger Task Force (TTF) had in August 2005 recommended that all efforts should be made to encourage and facilitate intensive research and monitoring of tigers by using a variety of tools like photo-identification and monitoring, camera traps, radiotelemetry and DNA-based genetic studies in different landscape units.
Although radio-collaring is a good system to monitor animals, an intelligence report submitted to the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) in July 2009 had blamed 'radio-collaring' for the tiger deaths in the Panna tiger reserve in Madhya Pradesh.
However, experts disagreed. They said Panna tigers died due to human interference and added that it's very convenient to blame scientists and methods. They say section 28(1) of the Wildlife Protection Act (1972) has provision for scientific research, investigation and study of wildlife.
In a court matter (October 2010), the Karnataka government and the forest department differed on radio-collaring tigers. While the Karnataka government said that there is nothing wrong with radio-collaring, the forest department rejected a proposal by wildlife researcher K Ullas Karanth to continue research on tigers by adopting radio-collaring.
Former PCCF of Madhya Pradesh, P M Lad was of the view that collaring is a secondary thing. The primary issue is that since the staff doesn't move around in the forest, it doesn't have adequate knowledge about straying tigers. "Officials should first know where the tigress came from and then go for the experiment. Radio collaring has both advantages and disadvantages," he added.
Mixed views over Panna tigers' radio-collaring TNN
In 2009, a wildlife intelligence report had blamed 'radio collaring' for tiger deaths in Panna. It said that radio collaring compromised the overall security of the reserve. The report found that around 80% of tigers killed in Panna met their fate at the hands of poachers after they were radio collared.
The report said that radio collars restricted the movement of the animal for hunting its prey and free movement in the wild.
The radio-collar resulted in infections on the neck which later become fatal for the animal.
However, this may be because the standard operating procedures for radio-collaring were not followed. There are reasons to suggest that poachers may have also brought radio frequency catching devices to first locate the tiger and subsequently poach it.
Radio-collaring of tigers in Panna started in 1998. The wildcats were first tranquillized to tag collars. There were about 27 tigers till 2007 but later it was revealed that the reserve had no tigers left. The BNHS had slammed the report.
BNHS director Asad Rahmani told TOI that radio-collaring of big cats and other animals is an efficient method which is being used since 40 years. "Scientists have used radio-collaring and telemetry to study the ecology and behaviour of big cats. The results have been good," he said.
Radio-collaring never leads to poaching. There are several tiger sanctuaries in India where big cats have gone extinct even without the use of radio-collaring.
The report said that radio collars restricted the movement of the animal for hunting its prey and free movement in the wild.
The radio-collar resulted in infections on the neck which later become fatal for the animal.
However, this may be because the standard operating procedures for radio-collaring were not followed. There are reasons to suggest that poachers may have also brought radio frequency catching devices to first locate the tiger and subsequently poach it.
Radio-collaring of tigers in Panna started in 1998. The wildcats were first tranquillized to tag collars. There were about 27 tigers till 2007 but later it was revealed that the reserve had no tigers left. The BNHS had slammed the report.
BNHS director Asad Rahmani told TOI that radio-collaring of big cats and other animals is an efficient method which is being used since 40 years. "Scientists have used radio-collaring and telemetry to study the ecology and behaviour of big cats. The results have been good," he said.
Radio-collaring never leads to poaching. There are several tiger sanctuaries in India where big cats have gone extinct even without the use of radio-collaring.
Rise in tiger population causes man-big tiger conflict
Devika Devi became the 25th victim to a deadly tiger attack in India in Sunderkhal village near Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve in the last 13 months, which also left eight tigers dead. At the same time, wildlife experts suggest that increase in tiger population, caused by India’s success in tiger managem
ent and checking poaching, may have a link to this increasing tiger-human conflict.
Between 2006 and 2010, the tiger population is estimated to increase by atleast 100 from 1,411. The new tiger estimation will be announced on March 26.
“Increase in tiger population in areas such as Corbett is one of the reasons for the rising conflict,” said Vivek Menon, Chief Executive Officer of Wildlife Trust of India (WTI). Other experts such as Belinda Wright of Wildlife Protection Society of India term poaching of prey population and increase in human interference as primary causes for increase in conflict.
Tiger deaths in conflict with humans
2008 : Two, one each in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
2009: Six, two in Madhya Pradesh, two in Assam and one each in UttarPradesh and Maharashtra.
2010: Eight, three in Rajasthan, two in Assam, one each in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.
While tiger population has increased, the habitat during these four years has either remained stagnant or shrunk.
“At least 10 new hotels and resorts have come up in the buffer zone of Corbett in the last few years with the permission of district collector,” said a local forest official.
Over 700 kms south-west of Corbett in Ranthambore tiger reserve, the increase in tiger population has not only left three persons dead and another dozen injured in the past year, it has caused migration of at least four tigers to far-off places. Tigers using traditional forest corridors, which were dense forests till 1970s, reached Kuno and Morina in Madhya Pradesh and Kota and Bharatpur in Rahasthan.
“Constant habitat destruction and illegal mining is causing the wildlife stress,” Dharmendra Kandhal, a Ranthambore based wildlife biologist said. Another indication of this is that two tigress and five cubs have been spotted outside the core area of Ranthambore, having about 25 tigers.
Nothing illegal in these activities, but a cause of concern for wildlife experts that it was hindering free movement of tigers. For instance, Uttarakhand forest department have pictures of 36 tigers in two ranges divided by river Kosi and connected by a corridor where resorts and Sunderkhal village has come up, leading to increase in conflict.
“Very few tigers used to seen in this area a few years ago,” said Anil Baluni, vice-chairperson of Uttarankhand Forest Advisory Council.
Dhonia Devi, who lost her niece in the tiger attack in January 2011, confirmed higher tiger presence and said: "Since last few months I hear tiger roar almost every last night…We shut ourselves before dark to escape their fury".
Humans killed in conflict with tigers
2008: Nine deaths.
2009: 12 deaths.
2010-2011 till end of January: 25 deaths. Ten in Uttar Pradesh, one in Rajasthan, eight in Maharashtra, one in Assam and five in Uttaranchal.
Most tiger reserves, where tiger-animal conflict has been reported in the past year, have reported increase in big cat population.
The Wildlife Institute of India, which is conducting the estimation, has captured pictures of 12 tigresses with cubs in Dudwa tiger reserve in Uttar Pradesh, where a tiger killed two persons. In Tadoba-Andhari tiger reserve in Maharashtra, where six people had died in conflict, two tigresses with cubs have been spotted in the buffer area. Kaziranga, Assam, where increase in tiger population has earned the forest distinction of having highest tiger density per 10 sq kms in the country, is not different.
The conflict is unique to tigers as they are territorial animals unlike other carnivores. “A 10 sq km area is normally territory marked by a tiger, where only the stronger male can live,” said P K Sen, former director of Project Tiger. As the population grows, the weaker tigers move out and spread into buffer areas, encroached by human settlements or tourist industry, resulting in the conflict.
Nationally, the core tiger area has shrunk to 31,207 sq kilometers in 37 tiger reserves as compared to over one lakh sq kms in 1970s, when Project Tiger was launched. “To have 20 breeding tigresses a minimum area of 800-1,200 sq kms needs to be kept inviolate as a core area for tigers with an exclusive tiger agenda,” said Rajesh Gopal, member secretary of National Tiger Conservation Authority, in its journal stripes.
It means that many tiger reserves such as Ranthambore, Corbett, Kaziranga and Bandhavgarh in Madhya Pradesh may have reached its threshold limit with estimated increase in population with some check on poaching.
One possible solution to the increasing tiger problem – relocation of tigers straying out – has been successfully implemented in Assam, where a man-eating tiger from Kaziranga has been successfully rehabilitated in Manas Wildlife Sanctuary.
“If done scientifically such relocation is possible elsewhere,” Menon said.
The NCTA and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has identified 15 new forest areas across India to provide homes to tigers living in stress. “Tigers need inviolate space which is available in India,” said Ravi Chellam of Wildlife Conservation Society, which recently did found that 15 tiger reserves can hold 1,500 tigers if the habitat is improved. These emerging tiger issues will be discussed with international experts in Delhi on March 7.
Frightened by frequent tiger attacks, over 1,000 people are willing to leave their abode in Sunderkhal since 1974 provided the compensation is good, they get agriculture land and jobs.
ent and checking poaching, may have a link to this increasing tiger-human conflict.
Between 2006 and 2010, the tiger population is estimated to increase by atleast 100 from 1,411. The new tiger estimation will be announced on March 26.
“Increase in tiger population in areas such as Corbett is one of the reasons for the rising conflict,” said Vivek Menon, Chief Executive Officer of Wildlife Trust of India (WTI). Other experts such as Belinda Wright of Wildlife Protection Society of India term poaching of prey population and increase in human interference as primary causes for increase in conflict.
Tiger deaths in conflict with humans
2008 : Two, one each in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
2009: Six, two in Madhya Pradesh, two in Assam and one each in UttarPradesh and Maharashtra.
2010: Eight, three in Rajasthan, two in Assam, one each in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.
While tiger population has increased, the habitat during these four years has either remained stagnant or shrunk.
“At least 10 new hotels and resorts have come up in the buffer zone of Corbett in the last few years with the permission of district collector,” said a local forest official.
Over 700 kms south-west of Corbett in Ranthambore tiger reserve, the increase in tiger population has not only left three persons dead and another dozen injured in the past year, it has caused migration of at least four tigers to far-off places. Tigers using traditional forest corridors, which were dense forests till 1970s, reached Kuno and Morina in Madhya Pradesh and Kota and Bharatpur in Rahasthan.
“Constant habitat destruction and illegal mining is causing the wildlife stress,” Dharmendra Kandhal, a Ranthambore based wildlife biologist said. Another indication of this is that two tigress and five cubs have been spotted outside the core area of Ranthambore, having about 25 tigers.
Nothing illegal in these activities, but a cause of concern for wildlife experts that it was hindering free movement of tigers. For instance, Uttarakhand forest department have pictures of 36 tigers in two ranges divided by river Kosi and connected by a corridor where resorts and Sunderkhal village has come up, leading to increase in conflict.
“Very few tigers used to seen in this area a few years ago,” said Anil Baluni, vice-chairperson of Uttarankhand Forest Advisory Council.
Dhonia Devi, who lost her niece in the tiger attack in January 2011, confirmed higher tiger presence and said: "Since last few months I hear tiger roar almost every last night…We shut ourselves before dark to escape their fury".
Humans killed in conflict with tigers
2008: Nine deaths.
2009: 12 deaths.
2010-2011 till end of January: 25 deaths. Ten in Uttar Pradesh, one in Rajasthan, eight in Maharashtra, one in Assam and five in Uttaranchal.
Most tiger reserves, where tiger-animal conflict has been reported in the past year, have reported increase in big cat population.
The Wildlife Institute of India, which is conducting the estimation, has captured pictures of 12 tigresses with cubs in Dudwa tiger reserve in Uttar Pradesh, where a tiger killed two persons. In Tadoba-Andhari tiger reserve in Maharashtra, where six people had died in conflict, two tigresses with cubs have been spotted in the buffer area. Kaziranga, Assam, where increase in tiger population has earned the forest distinction of having highest tiger density per 10 sq kms in the country, is not different.
The conflict is unique to tigers as they are territorial animals unlike other carnivores. “A 10 sq km area is normally territory marked by a tiger, where only the stronger male can live,” said P K Sen, former director of Project Tiger. As the population grows, the weaker tigers move out and spread into buffer areas, encroached by human settlements or tourist industry, resulting in the conflict.
Nationally, the core tiger area has shrunk to 31,207 sq kilometers in 37 tiger reserves as compared to over one lakh sq kms in 1970s, when Project Tiger was launched. “To have 20 breeding tigresses a minimum area of 800-1,200 sq kms needs to be kept inviolate as a core area for tigers with an exclusive tiger agenda,” said Rajesh Gopal, member secretary of National Tiger Conservation Authority, in its journal stripes.
It means that many tiger reserves such as Ranthambore, Corbett, Kaziranga and Bandhavgarh in Madhya Pradesh may have reached its threshold limit with estimated increase in population with some check on poaching.
One possible solution to the increasing tiger problem – relocation of tigers straying out – has been successfully implemented in Assam, where a man-eating tiger from Kaziranga has been successfully rehabilitated in Manas Wildlife Sanctuary.
“If done scientifically such relocation is possible elsewhere,” Menon said.
The NCTA and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has identified 15 new forest areas across India to provide homes to tigers living in stress. “Tigers need inviolate space which is available in India,” said Ravi Chellam of Wildlife Conservation Society, which recently did found that 15 tiger reserves can hold 1,500 tigers if the habitat is improved. These emerging tiger issues will be discussed with international experts in Delhi on March 7.
Frightened by frequent tiger attacks, over 1,000 people are willing to leave their abode in Sunderkhal since 1974 provided the compensation is good, they get agriculture land and jobs.
Clarification by Minister of State for Environment and Forests on Tiger Reserves, Critical Wildlife Habitats and Forest Right Act, 2006
The Minister of State for Environment and Forests clarified the issues regarding Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act in tiger reserves and in the critical wildlife habitats. The Minister states that:
1. “Section 38V of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (as amended in 2006) explains the core or critical tiger habitat as well as the buffer or peripheral area of a tiger reserve.
2. A tiger reserve includes two parts:
A. Core or critical tiger habitat (National Park or Sanctuary status).
B. Buffer or peripheral area.
3. The phrase ‘core or critical tiger habitat’ is mentioned only in the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, as a sequel to amendment made to the said Act in 2006. It is NOT defined in the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.
4. The phrase ‘critical wildlife habitat’ is defined only in the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, and NOT in the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
5. ‘Core or critical tiger habitat’ is different from the ‘critical wildlife habitat’. Since tigers are territorial big cats, hence considering their social land tenure dynamics, the ‘core / critical tiger habitat’ has been viewed separately from the ‘critical wildlife habitat’, which is applicable to other wild animal species.
6. Based on deliberations with experts and simulation results from scientific data, it has been found that a minimum inviolate area of 800-1200 sq.km. is required to sustain a viable population of tigers (20 breeding females).
7. Establishing the core / critical tiger habitat as ‘inviolate’ involves two steps as per the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972:
A. Identifying the core / critical tiger habitat by establishing on the basis of scientific and objective area that such areas are required to be kept as inviolate for the purpose of tiger conservation, without affecting the rights of the Scheduled Tribes or such other forest dwellers, and notified as such by the State Government in consultation with an expert committee constituted for the purpose (out of 17 tiger States, 16 have notified the core / critical tiger habitat following this process, and action is pending only from Bihar).
B. Establishing the identified core / critical tiger habitat as inviolate through voluntary relocation on mutually agreed terms and conditions, provided that such terms and conditions satisfy the requirements laid down in the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. No Scheduled Tribes or other forest dwellers shall be resettled or have their rights adversely affected for creating inviolate areas for tiger unless:
(i) The process of recognition / determination of rights and acquisition of land or forest rights of the ST and such other forest dwelling persons is complete.
(ii) The concerned agencies of the State Government need to establish with the consent of the ST and such other forest dwellers in the area, besides also consulting an ecological and social scientist familiar with the area, that the activities of the ST and other forest dwellers or the impact of their presence upon wild animals is sufficient to cause irreversible damage and shall threaten the existence of tigers and their habitat.
(iii) The State Government has to obtain the consent of the ST and other forest dwellers and come to a conclusion (besides consulting an independent ecological / social scientist) that no coexistence options are available.
(iv) Resettlement package needs to be prepared providing for livelihood of affected individuals, while fulfilling the requirements of the National Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy.
(v) The informed consent of Gram Sabhas and affected persons has to be obtained for resettlement.
(vi) The facilities and land allocation at resettlement area are to be provided, otherwise the existing rights of people shall not be interfered with.
8. The above provisions laid down in the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (section 38V), subsequent to the 2006 amendment are specific to tiger conservation, and are not only compatible but more stringent than the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.
9. Under the revised Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Project Tiger (2008), two options have been given to people:
Option-I: Payment of Rs. 10 lakhs per family in case the family opts so, without any rehabilitation / relocation process by the Forest Department.
Option-II: Carrying out relocation / rehabilitation by the Forest Department with the following per family norms out of Rs. 10 lakhs:
(a)
Agricultural land procurement (2 ha.) and development
35% of the total package
(b)
Settlement of rights
30% of the total package
(c)
Homestead land and house construction
20% of the total package
(d)
Incentive
5% of the total package
(e)
Community facilities (access road, irrigation, drinking water,
sanitation, electricity, telecommunication, community centre,
places of worship, cremation ground)
10% of the total package
The cash option has been provided for catering to people who are not interested in a resettlement and are prepared to establish themselves elsewhere under ‘mutually agreed terms and conditions’, as indicated in the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
1. This has checks and balances as the money is provided through the District Collector after the villager produces evidence of his procuring land etc.
2. The relocation is voluntary, and is done only if people are willing to move.
3. Monitoring committees at the District as well as State levels are required to be constituted and detailed guidelines have been issued for handholding the people after relocation, besides ensuring the centrality of PI institutions, while involving independent agencies.
4. Advisories have been issued to States for complying with the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 read with the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.
Critical Wildlife Habitats
FRA had come into force in January 2007 and the MoE&F had issued guidelines to the State/UT Governments for notification of the Critical Wildlife Habitats (CWLHs) in October 2007. During the last three years, not much headway could be made in notification of CWLHs. The State/UT Governments have been expressing difficulties in notifying CWLHs on the basis of the 2007 guidelines. Accordingly, MoE&F convened meetings with the Chief Wildlife Wardens and officers of the Wildlife Institute of India, discussed the guidelines and has now issued the revised guidelines, which are in consonance with the FRA.
CWLHs are such areas of the National Parks and Sanctuaries that are required to be kept as ‘inviolate’ for the purpose of wildlife conservation as determined and notified by the MoE&F, after an open process of consultation by an Expert Committee. Such areas are to be clearly identified on case-to-case basis following scientific and objective criteria and only after settling the rights of tribals and other traditional forest dwellers.
The identification and declaration of CWLHs are two distinct processes. While the identification of an area required for betterment of wildlife conservation is purely a scientific exercise to be carried out by the Forest Departments on a case-to-case basis in consultation with the scientific institutions (the criteria for identification of CWLHs have to be site-specific), its notification is to be done only after extensive consultations (means consent) with the Gram Sabha and the affected persons/stakeholders .
The guidelines ensure that CWLHs are declared only with the voluntary consent of the affected people. It also gives ample scope to the State/UT Governments to explore the possibility of ‘co-existence’. If such a possibility is not practicable, the Expert Committee, which also includes the District Tribal Welfare Officer and an NGO working in the field of Tribal Welfare, will have consultations with the Gram Sabha /affected persons for their relocation, during which the available options (Option –I for payment of rupees ten lakhs per family and Option-II for comprehensive rehabilitation by providing land, house with facilities, community rights, by the Forest Department) for voluntary relocation would also be explained. The relocation involves providing secure livelihoods to the persons to be relocated. In fact they may choose the option most suited to them.
The guidelines for notification of CWLHs apply only to the National Parks and Sanctuaries and not to other forest areas.
The Ministry of Environment and Forests will take all steps to ensure that the letter and spirit of FRA, 2006 is respected and followed in all wildlife conservation programmes. If there is any violation anywhere and that violation is reported with full documentation and evidence, it will be prepared to intervene to ensure that the situation is rectified forthwith”.
KP
1. “Section 38V of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (as amended in 2006) explains the core or critical tiger habitat as well as the buffer or peripheral area of a tiger reserve.
2. A tiger reserve includes two parts:
A. Core or critical tiger habitat (National Park or Sanctuary status).
B. Buffer or peripheral area.
3. The phrase ‘core or critical tiger habitat’ is mentioned only in the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, as a sequel to amendment made to the said Act in 2006. It is NOT defined in the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.
4. The phrase ‘critical wildlife habitat’ is defined only in the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, and NOT in the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
5. ‘Core or critical tiger habitat’ is different from the ‘critical wildlife habitat’. Since tigers are territorial big cats, hence considering their social land tenure dynamics, the ‘core / critical tiger habitat’ has been viewed separately from the ‘critical wildlife habitat’, which is applicable to other wild animal species.
6. Based on deliberations with experts and simulation results from scientific data, it has been found that a minimum inviolate area of 800-1200 sq.km. is required to sustain a viable population of tigers (20 breeding females).
7. Establishing the core / critical tiger habitat as ‘inviolate’ involves two steps as per the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972:
A. Identifying the core / critical tiger habitat by establishing on the basis of scientific and objective area that such areas are required to be kept as inviolate for the purpose of tiger conservation, without affecting the rights of the Scheduled Tribes or such other forest dwellers, and notified as such by the State Government in consultation with an expert committee constituted for the purpose (out of 17 tiger States, 16 have notified the core / critical tiger habitat following this process, and action is pending only from Bihar).
B. Establishing the identified core / critical tiger habitat as inviolate through voluntary relocation on mutually agreed terms and conditions, provided that such terms and conditions satisfy the requirements laid down in the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. No Scheduled Tribes or other forest dwellers shall be resettled or have their rights adversely affected for creating inviolate areas for tiger unless:
(i) The process of recognition / determination of rights and acquisition of land or forest rights of the ST and such other forest dwelling persons is complete.
(ii) The concerned agencies of the State Government need to establish with the consent of the ST and such other forest dwellers in the area, besides also consulting an ecological and social scientist familiar with the area, that the activities of the ST and other forest dwellers or the impact of their presence upon wild animals is sufficient to cause irreversible damage and shall threaten the existence of tigers and their habitat.
(iii) The State Government has to obtain the consent of the ST and other forest dwellers and come to a conclusion (besides consulting an independent ecological / social scientist) that no coexistence options are available.
(iv) Resettlement package needs to be prepared providing for livelihood of affected individuals, while fulfilling the requirements of the National Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy.
(v) The informed consent of Gram Sabhas and affected persons has to be obtained for resettlement.
(vi) The facilities and land allocation at resettlement area are to be provided, otherwise the existing rights of people shall not be interfered with.
8. The above provisions laid down in the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (section 38V), subsequent to the 2006 amendment are specific to tiger conservation, and are not only compatible but more stringent than the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.
9. Under the revised Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Project Tiger (2008), two options have been given to people:
Option-I: Payment of Rs. 10 lakhs per family in case the family opts so, without any rehabilitation / relocation process by the Forest Department.
Option-II: Carrying out relocation / rehabilitation by the Forest Department with the following per family norms out of Rs. 10 lakhs:
(a)
Agricultural land procurement (2 ha.) and development
35% of the total package
(b)
Settlement of rights
30% of the total package
(c)
Homestead land and house construction
20% of the total package
(d)
Incentive
5% of the total package
(e)
Community facilities (access road, irrigation, drinking water,
sanitation, electricity, telecommunication, community centre,
places of worship, cremation ground)
10% of the total package
The cash option has been provided for catering to people who are not interested in a resettlement and are prepared to establish themselves elsewhere under ‘mutually agreed terms and conditions’, as indicated in the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
1. This has checks and balances as the money is provided through the District Collector after the villager produces evidence of his procuring land etc.
2. The relocation is voluntary, and is done only if people are willing to move.
3. Monitoring committees at the District as well as State levels are required to be constituted and detailed guidelines have been issued for handholding the people after relocation, besides ensuring the centrality of PI institutions, while involving independent agencies.
4. Advisories have been issued to States for complying with the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 read with the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.
Critical Wildlife Habitats
FRA had come into force in January 2007 and the MoE&F had issued guidelines to the State/UT Governments for notification of the Critical Wildlife Habitats (CWLHs) in October 2007. During the last three years, not much headway could be made in notification of CWLHs. The State/UT Governments have been expressing difficulties in notifying CWLHs on the basis of the 2007 guidelines. Accordingly, MoE&F convened meetings with the Chief Wildlife Wardens and officers of the Wildlife Institute of India, discussed the guidelines and has now issued the revised guidelines, which are in consonance with the FRA.
CWLHs are such areas of the National Parks and Sanctuaries that are required to be kept as ‘inviolate’ for the purpose of wildlife conservation as determined and notified by the MoE&F, after an open process of consultation by an Expert Committee. Such areas are to be clearly identified on case-to-case basis following scientific and objective criteria and only after settling the rights of tribals and other traditional forest dwellers.
The identification and declaration of CWLHs are two distinct processes. While the identification of an area required for betterment of wildlife conservation is purely a scientific exercise to be carried out by the Forest Departments on a case-to-case basis in consultation with the scientific institutions (the criteria for identification of CWLHs have to be site-specific), its notification is to be done only after extensive consultations (means consent) with the Gram Sabha and the affected persons/stakeholders .
The guidelines ensure that CWLHs are declared only with the voluntary consent of the affected people. It also gives ample scope to the State/UT Governments to explore the possibility of ‘co-existence’. If such a possibility is not practicable, the Expert Committee, which also includes the District Tribal Welfare Officer and an NGO working in the field of Tribal Welfare, will have consultations with the Gram Sabha /affected persons for their relocation, during which the available options (Option –I for payment of rupees ten lakhs per family and Option-II for comprehensive rehabilitation by providing land, house with facilities, community rights, by the Forest Department) for voluntary relocation would also be explained. The relocation involves providing secure livelihoods to the persons to be relocated. In fact they may choose the option most suited to them.
The guidelines for notification of CWLHs apply only to the National Parks and Sanctuaries and not to other forest areas.
The Ministry of Environment and Forests will take all steps to ensure that the letter and spirit of FRA, 2006 is respected and followed in all wildlife conservation programmes. If there is any violation anywhere and that violation is reported with full documentation and evidence, it will be prepared to intervene to ensure that the situation is rectified forthwith”.
KP
'Conservation of smaller species as important as saving tigers' TNN
PUNE: Focus of conservationists and environmentalists should not be protecting tigers alone, there was a need to protect smaller species of animals as well, nature and environment experts said on Monday.
They were speaking at the inauguration of the fifth Kirloskar Vasundhara International Film Festival by Madhav Gadgil, environmentalist and chairman of the Western Ghat experts panel.
Conservationist and tiger expert Ulhas Karanth, who has received the 'Vasundhara Mitra' award, said that humans should understand that the world where we are living is not just ours, but the space should be shared with other living creatures. "Human beings are poorer without them," he said during an interaction with the media.
Karanth, who is also director of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) - India Programme, said that biodiversity was the key component of environment. "But it is becoming extremely difficult to conserve the vulnerable species. They need space and so they come in conflict with humans; there is also much demand for their body parts," he said.
"But I have a positive outlook. At present, we have 1,400 tigers left. But there is room for 10,000 tigers in India. We need practical models and blending of science and social pragmatism to protect and conserve them,'' Karanth said.
Film maker Naresh Bedi and director of Centre for Environment Education, Ahmedabad, Kartikeya Sarabhai were also honoured with the `Vasundhara Mitra awards.'
Bedi, who received the award in recognition of his contribution to filmmaking on India's wildlife and natural history, said that at present tourism has become more tiger-centric. The visitors to sanctuaries and parks just like to see tigers and fail to appreciate other smaller species.
He added that the media like to sensationalise news -- a tiger's death gets reported in all papers and channels, but one has to understand that tigers are just like other animals.
On the government's role, Bedi said that funding was a major problem in filmmaking on environmental issues. The government should make arrangements so that documentaries on wildlife are shown during prime time. This will help create public awareness.
Bedi, who has made documentaries on Ganges Gharial, Man-eating Tiger, Saving the Tiger, Elephant -- Lord of the Jungles, Whistling Humter, and Ladakh -- Desert in the Skies, said that his current documentary on tigers will depict the changes in the population, habitat and challenges faced since 1960s. There will also be interviews of locals who are being relocated from the parks and sanctuaries.
Environmentalist and industrialist Sarabhai spoke on how a child looked at nature and observed it. "There is a need to reach out to more students and give them education-related projects. We encourage students to take up projects like water conservation, planting trees, waste management, energy and transport,'' he said. There are laws to protect the environment but the most important thing was that one should love nature and do things out of liking and not because of laws, he added.
They were speaking at the inauguration of the fifth Kirloskar Vasundhara International Film Festival by Madhav Gadgil, environmentalist and chairman of the Western Ghat experts panel.
Conservationist and tiger expert Ulhas Karanth, who has received the 'Vasundhara Mitra' award, said that humans should understand that the world where we are living is not just ours, but the space should be shared with other living creatures. "Human beings are poorer without them," he said during an interaction with the media.
Karanth, who is also director of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) - India Programme, said that biodiversity was the key component of environment. "But it is becoming extremely difficult to conserve the vulnerable species. They need space and so they come in conflict with humans; there is also much demand for their body parts," he said.
"But I have a positive outlook. At present, we have 1,400 tigers left. But there is room for 10,000 tigers in India. We need practical models and blending of science and social pragmatism to protect and conserve them,'' Karanth said.
Film maker Naresh Bedi and director of Centre for Environment Education, Ahmedabad, Kartikeya Sarabhai were also honoured with the `Vasundhara Mitra awards.'
Bedi, who received the award in recognition of his contribution to filmmaking on India's wildlife and natural history, said that at present tourism has become more tiger-centric. The visitors to sanctuaries and parks just like to see tigers and fail to appreciate other smaller species.
He added that the media like to sensationalise news -- a tiger's death gets reported in all papers and channels, but one has to understand that tigers are just like other animals.
On the government's role, Bedi said that funding was a major problem in filmmaking on environmental issues. The government should make arrangements so that documentaries on wildlife are shown during prime time. This will help create public awareness.
Bedi, who has made documentaries on Ganges Gharial, Man-eating Tiger, Saving the Tiger, Elephant -- Lord of the Jungles, Whistling Humter, and Ladakh -- Desert in the Skies, said that his current documentary on tigers will depict the changes in the population, habitat and challenges faced since 1960s. There will also be interviews of locals who are being relocated from the parks and sanctuaries.
Environmentalist and industrialist Sarabhai spoke on how a child looked at nature and observed it. "There is a need to reach out to more students and give them education-related projects. We encourage students to take up projects like water conservation, planting trees, waste management, energy and transport,'' he said. There are laws to protect the environment but the most important thing was that one should love nature and do things out of liking and not because of laws, he added.
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