PUNE: The process of relocating local people from notified core or critical tiger habitats of tiger reserves is currently underway in the state, said forest minister Patangrao Kadam .
Kadam said rehabilitating locals from Melghat Tiger Reserve is in the process and an amount of Rs 10 lakh per family is given for voluntary rehabilitation.
Speaking at Vanmahotsav, organised by the Pune forest department, at the Bharatiya Vidyapeeth Gramin Hospital, Lavale village, Mulshi taluka, on Sunday,
Kadam said the tiger population in the state has increased to 66, and the overall increase in the country is 218 .
The regional office of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) will soon be operational in Nagpur and it will ensure that the NTCA guidelines are implemented effectively and there is better cooperation between the tiger states, he said.
Kadam said his department aims to plant 13 crore saplings across the state this year. This will be carried out by all departments concerned . The steps are in tune with the National Environment Policy's target of achieving 33 per cent forest cover. At present, the state has a 22 per cent land under forests. On tree felling, the minister said the ban on felling trees has helped maintain existing tree density and increase the forest cover.
M K Rao, conservator of forest (wildlife), said the demarcation of core and buffer zones of Sahyadri Tiger Reserve is going on. It will follow a proposal for notification of core and buffer areas. It will take another six months to finalise the core areas. The rehabilitation of local people is in process in Satara, he said.
A S K Sinha, conservator of forest (territorial), Pune, said rampant tree felling is reported from private lands in Konkan region and Marathwada districts. Committees have been formed to look into this matter.
Last year, 3.53 crore saplings were planted in the state, which was beyond the target of 2.90 crore. This year, the forest department's target is to plant 3.70 crore saplings and the social forestry has set a target of 80 ,000, said Sinha. He said Vanmohatsav is celebrated to create awareness on conservation of forests. A total of 25,000 trees will be planted in Lavale village by the department , he said.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/environment/flora-fauna/relocation-of-people-from-tiger-reserves-in-process/articleshow/8920539.cms
Monday, June 20, 2011
'Protect wildlife interest in NH6 widening' Vijay Pinjarkar, TNN
NAGPUR: Ahead of Monday's meeting to discuss mitigation measures for wildlife on National Highway 6 between Deori and Sakoli, Kishor Rithe, member, National Board for Wild Life (NBWL), has called for more scientific and technically advanced approach to deal with the road widening issue in view of tiger crisis.
In a letter to S K Khetarpal, PCCF (wildlife), Rithe said the issue was serious and needed to be resolved for ensuring tiger landscape connectivity in Central India. Looking at the corridor value of the patches between Sakoli and Deori which would be cut by widening work, on October 8, 2010, an expert committee had made certain recommendations.
However, NHAI seems to be underestimating the seriousness of the threat to wildlife, specially the tiger. Wildlife and NHAI officials will discuss the issue on Monday. Khetarpal has to send his comments to the NTCA on the NHAI report.
Rithe said large and wide-ranging carnivores faced huge threat and more constant declines than most other mammals. One of the reasons is linear intrusion like canals, roads and highways constructed without consideration of biological aspects.
Tiger scientist like Dr Alan Rabinowitz suggests GIS based models for identifying corridors and later designing site-specific plans to deal with the linear intrusion issues. "When National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) are working on such policies, states also need to take such issues more seriously. Hence, I really appreciate the efforts put by your office to ensure this," said Rithe.
In the US, the government departments have adopted an integrated approach to reduce the negative impact of projects on wildlife. "I expect that NHAI consultant should focus on target species in the area and using GIS and biological inputs, should produce more practical and site specific mitigation report," urged Rithe. "If it is not so, your office should not allow such project to come up," he demanded.
The Wildilife Trust of India (WTI) was first to raise the issue and has taken up the matter with the Supreme Court's centrally empowered committee (CEC). An affidavit filed by the Chhattisgarh government recently demanded construction of flyovers in the affected patch on their side.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Protect-wildlife-interest-in-NH6-widening/articleshow/8918216.cms
In a letter to S K Khetarpal, PCCF (wildlife), Rithe said the issue was serious and needed to be resolved for ensuring tiger landscape connectivity in Central India. Looking at the corridor value of the patches between Sakoli and Deori which would be cut by widening work, on October 8, 2010, an expert committee had made certain recommendations.
However, NHAI seems to be underestimating the seriousness of the threat to wildlife, specially the tiger. Wildlife and NHAI officials will discuss the issue on Monday. Khetarpal has to send his comments to the NTCA on the NHAI report.
Rithe said large and wide-ranging carnivores faced huge threat and more constant declines than most other mammals. One of the reasons is linear intrusion like canals, roads and highways constructed without consideration of biological aspects.
Tiger scientist like Dr Alan Rabinowitz suggests GIS based models for identifying corridors and later designing site-specific plans to deal with the linear intrusion issues. "When National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) are working on such policies, states also need to take such issues more seriously. Hence, I really appreciate the efforts put by your office to ensure this," said Rithe.
In the US, the government departments have adopted an integrated approach to reduce the negative impact of projects on wildlife. "I expect that NHAI consultant should focus on target species in the area and using GIS and biological inputs, should produce more practical and site specific mitigation report," urged Rithe. "If it is not so, your office should not allow such project to come up," he demanded.
The Wildilife Trust of India (WTI) was first to raise the issue and has taken up the matter with the Supreme Court's centrally empowered committee (CEC). An affidavit filed by the Chhattisgarh government recently demanded construction of flyovers in the affected patch on their side.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Protect-wildlife-interest-in-NH6-widening/articleshow/8918216.cms
Should TATR be shut during rains? Vijay Pinjarkar /, TNN
The 625 sq km Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR), the only tiger reserve in India to remain open even during the rainy season, may be closed for tourists during monsoon. In the past 35 years, this will be for the first time that the park will be closed for tourists.
Although a decision in this regard is expected to be taken by the chief wildlife warden SK Khetarpal in a day or two, the forest officials' perspective of closing the park is scientific and based on tiger conservation.
They feel that the park closure will help them divert attention from tourism activity to better management and protection. Khetarpal has already said that he favoured the closure of the park for a shorter period when there are heavy rains.
On the contrary, tour operators and stakeholders feel the park's closure will hamper protection and will mean vacation for the field staff which doesn't move even during the routine course. It shouldn't end up with nothing happening - tourism nor conservation and protection.
As there are many pros and cons, the debate rages. TOI's Vijay Pinjarkar presents the views of the stakeholders, officials and experts.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Should-TATR-be-shut-during-rains/articleshow/8918243.cms
Although a decision in this regard is expected to be taken by the chief wildlife warden SK Khetarpal in a day or two, the forest officials' perspective of closing the park is scientific and based on tiger conservation.
They feel that the park closure will help them divert attention from tourism activity to better management and protection. Khetarpal has already said that he favoured the closure of the park for a shorter period when there are heavy rains.
On the contrary, tour operators and stakeholders feel the park's closure will hamper protection and will mean vacation for the field staff which doesn't move even during the routine course. It shouldn't end up with nothing happening - tourism nor conservation and protection.
As there are many pros and cons, the debate rages. TOI's Vijay Pinjarkar presents the views of the stakeholders, officials and experts.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Should-TATR-be-shut-during-rains/articleshow/8918243.cms
Centre gives nod to Kudremukh tiger reserve Ajith Athrady, DHNS
There has been no reply from Karnataka government: Jairam
Amid stiff opposition from the State government against including ten sites of Western Ghats for natural heritage property tag from Unesco, the Centre has given in-principle approval to declare Kudremukh National Park (KNP) as the fifth tiger reserve in Karnataka.
The KNP, is one among the 10 sties in Western Ghats in Karnataka, which was recommended to the world body seeking heritage status. Kudremukh, spread across Chikmagalur (110 sq km), Hassan (130 sq km), Dakshina Kannada (70 sq km) and Udupi (50 sq km) districts, will be the 41st tiger reserve in the country.
Disclosing the government decision, Union Environment and Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh told Deccan Herald that “though since last one and half months I have been asking the Karnataka government to submit a detailed report to enable the ministry to release required financial assistance, I have not received any reply from other end. I hope the state government will not oppose the tiger reserve status and submit a detailed project report to take advantage of the scheme to protect wildlife treasure,” he said.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), an organisation working under the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF), had decided to give in-principle approval for tiger reserve to a total of six national parks, including KNP and the same has been communicated to the states. After getting a detailed report about the areas and required infrastructure, the ministry will issue a formal notification to this effect.
According to the minister, the declaration of Kudremukh as a tiger reserve would help the state get Central aid under the Project Tiger to facilitate relocation of families. Nearly 450 families in the vicinity have requested the state government to relocate them and 12 families were shifted last year, the minister said.
Earlier while seeking the tiger reserve tag, the Karnataka Forest Department had informed the MoEF that an area of around 600.32 sq km can be brought under the ambit of the project. The MoEF has already declared Bandipur, Bhadra, Dandeli-Anasi, Nagarhole and Biligiri Ranganathaswamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary as tiger reserves in the State.
Kudremukh reserve has unique tropical evergreen forests and high altitude grasslands with highly endangered and wildlife species, including tigers, leopards and wild dogs. This apart, the park is home for more than 169 species of birds of which eight are endemic to the Western Ghats. It also houses around 50 species of reptiles and 34 species of amphibians.
According to the last all-India tiger census, the Kudremukh-Bhadra landscape has one of the three distinct tiger populations existing in Karnataka which extends up to the Bhimsankar area of Maharashtra, the minister said.
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/170087/centre-gives-nod-kudremukh-tiger.html
Amid stiff opposition from the State government against including ten sites of Western Ghats for natural heritage property tag from Unesco, the Centre has given in-principle approval to declare Kudremukh National Park (KNP) as the fifth tiger reserve in Karnataka.
The KNP, is one among the 10 sties in Western Ghats in Karnataka, which was recommended to the world body seeking heritage status. Kudremukh, spread across Chikmagalur (110 sq km), Hassan (130 sq km), Dakshina Kannada (70 sq km) and Udupi (50 sq km) districts, will be the 41st tiger reserve in the country.
Disclosing the government decision, Union Environment and Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh told Deccan Herald that “though since last one and half months I have been asking the Karnataka government to submit a detailed report to enable the ministry to release required financial assistance, I have not received any reply from other end. I hope the state government will not oppose the tiger reserve status and submit a detailed project report to take advantage of the scheme to protect wildlife treasure,” he said.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), an organisation working under the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF), had decided to give in-principle approval for tiger reserve to a total of six national parks, including KNP and the same has been communicated to the states. After getting a detailed report about the areas and required infrastructure, the ministry will issue a formal notification to this effect.
According to the minister, the declaration of Kudremukh as a tiger reserve would help the state get Central aid under the Project Tiger to facilitate relocation of families. Nearly 450 families in the vicinity have requested the state government to relocate them and 12 families were shifted last year, the minister said.
Earlier while seeking the tiger reserve tag, the Karnataka Forest Department had informed the MoEF that an area of around 600.32 sq km can be brought under the ambit of the project. The MoEF has already declared Bandipur, Bhadra, Dandeli-Anasi, Nagarhole and Biligiri Ranganathaswamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary as tiger reserves in the State.
Kudremukh reserve has unique tropical evergreen forests and high altitude grasslands with highly endangered and wildlife species, including tigers, leopards and wild dogs. This apart, the park is home for more than 169 species of birds of which eight are endemic to the Western Ghats. It also houses around 50 species of reptiles and 34 species of amphibians.
According to the last all-India tiger census, the Kudremukh-Bhadra landscape has one of the three distinct tiger populations existing in Karnataka which extends up to the Bhimsankar area of Maharashtra, the minister said.
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/170087/centre-gives-nod-kudremukh-tiger.html
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