‘Reach out to local communities to prevent forest fires’

Advocacy group submits memorandum to the Forest Department

The Forest Department has been urged to hire people from the local communities as fire watchers in view of a prolonged dry season and the threat of forest fire in national parks.

It has also been suggested that funding could be sought from State Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority.

A memorandum in this regard was submitted to Dipak Sarmah, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden, by Wildlife First, an advocacy group promoting conservation.

Praveen Bhargav of Wildlife First told The Hindu that they had submitted a list of suggestions, coupled with analysis of earlier incidents of forest fires, to officials at a meeting in Bangalore a couple of days ago. Preventive steps were described as imperative in view of the devastating fire at Nagarahole last year which reduced a vast swathe of the national park to cinders.

Wildlife First called for a moratorium oncivil works, including “urgent” year-end works that “distracted the attention of officials and eat into their precious time”. It called for closure of designated zones to tourism and pointed out that tourist vehicles could be deployed for fire protection work to transport guards and watchers in a swift manner.

Wildlife First urged the Forest Department to finalise two appropriate fire watch towers as identified in a study conducted by the National Remote Sensing Agency and the Forest Department and ensure their construction within four to six weeks.

Mr. Bhargav called for strengthening intelligence gathering mechanism to identify disgruntled elements who might be waiting to indulge in arson. This could be based on a thorough review of cases booked during the year and other inputs from the rangers and other frontline staff of the Forest Department.

However, the key suggestion to prevent forest fires was to rope in the services of the local community and make them participants in forest management by appointing them as fire watchers.

Mr. Bhargav said the department was receptive to the suggestions and Wildlife First would supplement their efforts in fire prevention and control by booking slots in radio and TV channels . It has been created with the collaboration of Kumble Foundation and the appeal in Kannada, to prevent forest fires, was by former cricketer Anil Kumble, Mr. Bhargav said.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/reach-out-to-local-communities-to-prevent-forest-fires/article4327600.ece

On the pelican trail

SUBHA J RAO

Together:Cormorants sighted at Kannampalayam Lake
in Coimbatore on Sunday. —Photo: K. Ananthan

Fifty birders walked around waterbodies in Singanallur and Kannampalayam in quest of the pelican. Harshit and Mehan, students of class I, were there. So was Harikishan, 75. They walked about, binoculars in hand, along waterbodies in Singanallur and Kannampalayam in quest of a bird with a long beak and a large throat pouch.

It did not matter that it was a Sunday, or that the Sun was yet to peep out. Fifty people, 35 of them members of the Coimbatore Nature Society (CNS), set out for Singanallur Lake to take part in the Pelican Trail, organised as part of Coimbatore Vizha. They spotted some coots and a purple moorhen before deciding to travel further down Trichy Road to the waterbody in Kannampalayam.

That provided quite a sight for eyes that craved to see wetland birds. There were more than a hundred Asia Open Bill Storks, some Painted Storks, a couple of Western Reef Egrets, Black-winged Stilts, Yellow-wattled Lapwing, Yellow Wagtail, Little Stint…

“We sighted more than 50 species today,” said G. Parameshwaran, executive member of CNS. He and P.R. Selvaraj, CNS president, led the walk. There was great excitement when a flock of Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse flew past. Binoculars were whipped out and everyone ran to catch a piece of the action. Parameshwaran ensured the kids got to see the birds through a spotting scope. “We really want children to experience this. That way, they turn into nature lovers, and later, become responsible members of the community,” he said.

Among those part of the trail were R. Sivashankar and Vriddhi, who said birdwatching gave them a chance to develop a new hobby as also develop more environmental awareness.

It was about 8.30 and the Sun was out. But, the search was still on for the pelican. It proved elusive till the very end. But, there’s always another Sunday!

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/on-the-pelican-trail/article4327491.ece

Satellite images contradict Forest Department’s claims

Satellite imageries by the National Remote Sensing Centre have contradicted the Forest Department’s claims that the damage owing to forest fire in Nagarahole last year was limited to a few hundred hectares.

Wildlife First, an advocacy group, said an analysis of satellite imageries was carried out from February 1 to March 3 last year, considering the gravity of the issue and the persistent efforts in the past to downplay the damage and under-report the extent of fire-affected areas.

The results said that an area of 24.5 sq km or 2,450 hectares of forests was affected by the fire, which is higher than the official statistics.

“Long-term data on the location of the fire in Nagarahole between 1991 and 1999 clearly establish that a large area within Metikuppe and Veeranahosahalli range have suffered severe damage with recurring and frequent fires,” according to Wildlife First.

While national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in the State face imminent threat of forest fires due to drought this year, no action has been initiated to nab the perpetuators of last year’s fire, they added.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/satellite-images-contradict-forest-departments-claims/article4327601.ece

Tiger found dead

A male tiger was found dead on the banks of Moyar river in Bhavanisagar reserve forests in Sathyamangalam in Erode district on Saturday.

Forest personnel, who were patrolling in the area, found the carcass of the animal near the Gejalatti area and alerted the senior officials. It was a full grown male tiger aged around 10 years. The wild cat could have died two days ago. It appeared that the animal died following a territorial dispute.

“We have discovered signs of fight among two tigers at the spot. Tigers are aggressively territorial solitary animals and territory disputes occur sometimes,” District Forest Officer K. Rajkumar said.

A post-mortem examination was held in the presence of Conservator of Forests, Erode circle, A. Venkatesh, and Mr. Rajkumar.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/tiger-found-dead/article4327595.ece

Forest department to decide activities around Okhla bird sanctuary

Ayaskant Das, TNN
NOIDA: The Union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) has set February 15 as the last date for state governments to submit site-specific proposals for declaration of eco-sensitive zones around national parks and sanctuaries. As a result, the Gautam Budh Nagar district forest department has begun work on formulating the list of prohibited, restricted, regulated and permitted activities within different zonal radii of the Okhla Bird Sanctuary.

The bird sanctuary was notified by the UP government in 1990 under the Wildlife Protection Act. In February 2011, the MoEF had issued guidelines for declaration of eco-sensitive zones around national parks and sanctuaries across the country. February 15 has now been set as the deadline for state governments to submit site-specific proposals.

The district monitoring committee for the bird sanctuary has formulated a set of proposals and the draft will soon be sent to the chief wildlife warden of Uttar Pradesh for approval.

Forest department officials said that the list is being worked out by studying gazette notifications of various eco-sensitive zones declared by the MoEF in different parts of the country.

According to department officials, mining activities, as per Supreme Court directives, is completely prohibited within a one-km radius of the protected sanctuary.

"The list will enumerate different activities that would either be permitted or regulated within different radii from the protected sanctuary based upon feasibility and practical considerations," said a Gautam Budh Nagar forest department official.

Officials informed that a special monitoring committee will be set up after notification of the eco-sensitive zone which will have powers to grant approval for different activities within their respective designated radii. "A map is being worked out to outline the regions demarcated for different categories of activities. The boundary descriptions for various categories of activities will also form part of this map," added the official.

As per officials, the proposals will have to go through several stages before a formal notification is issued by the MoEF. The conservator of forests of Meerut region will send the proposals to the chief wildlife warden, who after proper study will send it to the state government.

"The state government will send the proposal to the union forests ministry after adding its own recommendations. The ministry will also invite objections and suggestions from the general public before issuing the final notification," said the official.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Forest-department-to-decide-activities-around-Okhla-bird-sanctuary/articleshow/18081267.cms

New migratory bird varieties a treat to bird lovers

By P Sudhakaran, TNN

Bird watchers and enthusiasts have sighted new
varieties of migratory birds here in the recent times
with the change in climatic conditions. (PTI Photo)

KANNUR: Bird watchers and enthusiasts have sighted new varieties of migratory birds here in the recent times with the change in climatic conditions.

It seems the heat condition has not affected the number of birds arriving here.

"Some of the birds visit places like Munderikkadavu and Kadalundi because here the wetlands have not dried up completely despite low rainfall in South India especially in the Deccan plateau," said C Sasikumar, a researcher on migratory birds.

"However, there is a huge reduction in the number of birds coming here when compared to the 80s," he said.

Nearly 50 varieties of migratory birds including Siberian cranes and gulls come to Kerala. What is surprising ornithologist here is the presence of birds found only in the arid climates. Recently, they found some varieties of finches in Kerala, which is quite unusual.

"Migratory birds play a crucial role in agriculture. They increase the soil fertility with their droppings and also feed on harmful pests. We must ensure a better environment for them," he said.

"No serious effort has been made by the experts to study the climate change. Studying the pattern of the birds that come over here could reveal many interesting aspects of our climate," he added.

Academician Khaleel Chovva said that there are some major changes in the pattern of the migratory birds coming to Kerala. "This year we sighted some rare birds like ruddy shelduck (chakravakam) at Munderikkadavu, which nests in the Himalayas. Though such birds leave the Himalayas only during winters it would be interesting to study why they came here this time," said Khaleel.

A few months ago he had sighted the nesting of black-winged stilt and painted storks at Kannur. Forest birds like turtle dove were also spotted in Ezhom. Change in the habitation of the birds could be a clear indicator of the climatic change and that should be studied, he added.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/New-migratory-bird-varieties-a-treat-to-bird-lovers/articleshow/18081362.cms

Madhya Pradesh proposes 15 more eco-sensitive zones around sanctuaries

According to the environment ministry's norms,
land falling within 10km of a park or sanctuary
has to be declared as eco-sensitive zone.

PTI
BHOPAL: The Madhya Pradesh government has proposed 15 eco-sensitive zones around its wildlife sanctuaries and parks, where illegal commercial activities including mining will be prohibited.

A site specific proposal recommending eco-sensitive zones around Ken Gharial Sanctuary (Chhattarpur), Pachmari Sanctuary and Satpura National Park (Hoshangabad), Nauradehi Sanctuary (Sagar) and Karera Sanctuary (Shivpuri) among others has been approved by the state government, according to a document accessed by wildlife activist Ajay Dubey through RTI Act.

The move came after the state government was given a "last chance" to send a site specific proposal to identify eco-sensitive zone by the Ministry of Environment and Forests before February 15.

The state government has already decided to declare such zones around 17 wildlife sanctuaries and parks including Kanha National Park (Mandla), Pench National Park (Seoni), Bandhavgarh National Park (Umaria), Panna National Park (Panna) and Kuno Palpur Sanctuary (Seopur) among others.

The proposal would soon be sent to the environment ministry which would declare the eco-sensitive zones.

According to the ministry's norms, land falling within 10 km of a park or sanctuary has to be declared as eco-sensitive zone.

The norms prohibit setting up of industries and commercial projects like hotels and resorts besides checking on mining activities among others.

The MoEF has said in the letter that it will declare eco- sensitive zones around 10 km of national parks and sanctuaries if it fails to get the response from the state government before February 15 thus barring commercial and other activities harmful to environment.

Madhya Pradesh, a tiger state, has 35 national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Madhya-Pradesh-proposes-15-more-eco-sensitive-zones-around-sanctuaries/articleshow/18099739.cms

Himachal Pradesh's green activists oppose move to divert forest land

IANS
SHIMLA: Green activists in Himachal Pradesh have strongly opposed the union environment ministry's decision to wave off approval from the locals for diverting forests to projects under the Forest Conservation Act.

In a missive to minister of environment and forests (MoEF) Jayanthi Natarajan Saturday, the activists have objected to the ministry's "unilateral" decision, saying the rights of forest-dwellers should be settled after securing consent from the affected 'gram sabha' (village councils).

"The arbitrary decision is against the provision of the scheduled tribes and other traditional forest dwellers (recognition of Forest Rights) Act of 2006," Rahul Saxena of Himdhara, an environment action group based in Palampur town, told IANS Sunday.

He said it was also violation of the ministry's own circular of August 2009 that made mandatory for project proponents to get non-objection certificates (NoCs) of the affected 'gram sabhas' and compliance with the forest rights act before diversion of forest land for non-forest purposes.

Saxena said the environment ministry, acting on the representations of the state last September, dispensed with the condition for consent from the project-hit as their rights have already been 'settled' under the forest settlement process in 1970s.

"Now the MoEF has decided to accept a certificate by the deputy commissioner stating that there exist no pending claims under the forest rights act as sufficient evidence to meet the procedural requirements. Thus the requirement of the gram sabha's NoC has been done away with," he added.

Himdhara, one of the signatories to the letter to the environment ministry, said the ministry had agreed to such a demand for allowing forest diversion without NoCs without having consulted the ministry of tribal affairs, which is the nodal ministry for the implementation of forest rights act.

Nek Ram Sharma of Satluj Bachao Jan Sangharsh Samiti said: "More than 10,000 hectares of forest land since 1980 have been diverted for hydropower projects, mines, transmission lines and roads."

"The state forest department should have compensated all the forest dwellers whose rights have been compromised by this diversion, if it claims to have already recognised these rights," Sharma said.

"Allowing the deputy commissioner to certify that claims have been settled would directly affect the rights of the affected communities who have individual and community rights on the forest resources," said the letter, signed by various environmental bodies.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/developmental-issues/Himachal-Pradeshs-green-activists-oppose-move-to-divert-forest-land/articleshow/18103680.cms

Tiger injures photographer, captured

Standoff:The tiger (left) and an elephant come
face to face at Antarasante in Mysore on Thursday.

A tiger estimated to be between eight and 10 years was captured by Forest Department personnel in the Antarasante range of the Nagarahole National Park on Thursday.

The tiger had pounced on a freelance photographer, who was attempting to take photographs of it, injuring him.

The photographer was identified as Ravishankar.

Man attacked

He suffered injuries on his hand and was shifted to a hospital here. Antarasante Range Forest Officer A.T. Poovaiah told The Hindu that the tiger had mauled a cow on Wednesday night and later attacked Basavaiah, a local, at Antarasante. Basavaiah was taken to H.D. Kote hospital and later shifted to K.R. Hospitalhere. Mr. Poovaiah said the photographer got past the forest officials and staff and went to the field where the tiger was hiding, to take photographs. The animal was tranquilised, captured and put in a cage. Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Field Director, Project Tiger, B.J. Hosmath, told this correspondent that the tiger was released into the forest between Nagarahole and Bandipur on Thursday evening.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/tiger-injures-photographer-captured/article4318643.ece

Wild elephant found dead near Huma

• It had fallen into the well on Friday night
• Tusker was around 35 to 40 years

People gather as the forest department personnel prepare
to burry the dead elephant (after removing the tusks)
that had fallen into a well near Humma in
Ganjam district, on Saturday. —Photo: Lingaraj Panda

The carcass of a wild tusker was located in a large well near Huma of Khallikote forest range in Berhampur forest division on Saturday morning.

It was suspected to be one of the two elephants that had survived the accident of Coromandel Express with a herd of elephants near Rambha on December 29 . In that accident five elephants were killed.

Recent ill-fated elephant had fallen into the well during Friday night.

It had not been able to escape out of the deep well and had got drowned.

On receiving information about it from villagers, forest officials including Berhampur Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), S. S. Mishra rushed to the spot. Carcass of the wild pachyderm was taken out of the well with help of an excavator.

Its tusks were cut down.

According to Berhampur DFO,the dead tusker was around 35 to 40 years . After the train accident in which most of members of this herd were killed the two elephants that had survived were roaming in Jhinkaria and Dumunagiri hills.

On Friday night they had come near Huma due to the lure of harvested paddy dumps in fields.

The well in which the elephant had fallen had a diameter of 22 feet.

It did not have a proper wall around it. Water in it was 22 feet deep.

There was a large banyan tree. Khallikote ranger of Forest Department, Bijay Hota suspected that the elephant may also have been lured by the green leaves of the banyan tree as they are also delicacy for elephants. It had fallen into the well by accident.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-otherstates/wild-elephant-found-dead-near-huma/article4325235.ece

Fear of the forest

PAVAN DAHAT

Villages close to the Navegaon National Park demand ‘ chulha mukti’ as fear of man-eating tigers continues to haunt the Gondia villages in Maharashtra

Fear stalks:Villagers in Chikhali refuse to go into the forest.
Photo: Pavan Dahat

Sayabai Meshram of Chikhali village in Gondia district of Maharashtra is extremely worried these days. She cannot go to the nearby forest to collect sarpan (firewood), on which every family in her village depends for cooking.

“We were four of us including Vandana. We were hardly a kilometer away from our village when the tiger attacked us”, recounts 40-year-old Sayabai who had gone to collect firewood on January 1. “Three of us managed to run, but Vandana couldn’t run due a leg injury and the tiger killed her”.

Since the killing of Vandana no villager is ready to go inside forest to collect firewood. “We are managing on whatever we could get from the area near the village,” says Vandana’s brother in law Vasudev Meshram.

Chikhali village is situated near the Navegaon National Park, a protected zone for tiger, but does not come under the protected zone.

From December 15 last year to January 4 this year, a “man-eater” tiger ran havoc in the villages near the national park, killing five women who went to collect firewood. “The man-eater tigress” was shot dead near Malada village on January 12, but the villagers are not ready to believe that it was the same tiger which killed all the five women.

“Yes, it was a tigress and unfortunately we had to shoot it down because the very safety of our officers present at the spot was threatened,” said Mr.Rama Rao the Deputy Conservator of Forests, Gondia range.

On December 15, “the tigress” killed 32-year-old Chhaya Deshpande of Manegaon village. On December 24, a 54-year-old Muktbai Ganvir of Saleburdi village was killed. On December 29, the big cat killed Meerabai Bahekar of Gutri village. After Vandana, 20-year-old Bhagyashree Nevare of Bhivkhidki village became the fifth victim on January 4.

All the five villages lie in the territorial area of the Navegaon National Park.

After Vandana’s killing, the forest department swung into action and the permission was given to kill the tiger, “if it could not be tranquilized”. Apart from the forest department, 60 commandos of the special tiger protection force, Gondia district police and some commandos of the anti-Naxal C-60 force were deployed in search of the tiger.

“All the killings cannot be by the same tiger “argues Vasudev Bahekar , brother-in-law of Meerabai Bahekar. And the fear of the "man-eater tiger” continues to looms large on the minds of villagers.

The Sarpanch of Chikhali village Mr.Bhuvan Bhoir blames the forest department and the Sub Divisional Forest Officer (SDFO) Pramod Panchabhai for the incidents.

“In October last year, we submitted a proposal to make our village Chulha Mukt (an initiative of the forest department under which LPG gas cylinders or bio gas plants are distributed to villagers near the tiger corridor to make villages near protected area independent of forest for  firewood).  Even our Gram Sabha passed a resolution to this effect.  But there was no headway on it,” says Bhuvan Bhoir, adding that had the forest department distributed LPG connections the killings would not have taken place.

Of the five villages where “the tigress” killed women, only the people of Chikhali and its sarpanch are aware of the Chulha Mukt Gaon inititive.

The Chief Conservator of Forests (Territorial) Nagpur division Dr S. H. Patil agreed that there is such a government resolution to make villages less dependent on forest by distributing LPG. He also feels that the administration has to make such an effort to reduce the man-animal conflict.

Hardly 40 kilometers away from all these villages is village Chorkhamala, which serves as an example of a Chulha Mukt village.

It has 105 families, and every household has been given an LPG connection. “We don’t have to go into the forest for firewood anymore” says the Sarpanch of Chorkhamala, Mr. Madhukar Dahekar.

While Chorkhamala villagers now feel safe, villagers of Chikhali, Saleburdi, Gutri, Manegaon and Bhivkhidki continue to fear the tiger.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-miscellaneous/tp-others/fear-of-the-forest/article4324701.ece

Survival of rhino at risk due to horn trade: Report

PTI

Today, rhino poaching and illegal horn trade are at their highest
levels in over 20 years, threatening to reverse years of
conservation effort, particularly in Africa.

Escalating levels of poaching and illegal trade in rhino horns are seriously undermining rhino conservation efforts, putting the survival of the species at risk, according to a report by two global conservation organisations.

The report, prepared by IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) and TRAFFIC, a wildlife trade monitoring network, says that illegal trade in rhino horns involves highly organised, mobile and well-financed criminal groups, mainly composed of Asian nationals based in Africa.

“The findings of the report are alarming,” says Tom Milliken, a rhino expert from TRAFFIC. “Today, rhino poaching and illegal horn trade are at their highest levels in over 20 years, threatening to reverse years of conservation effort, particularly in Africa. There is no doubt that rhino species are facing a serious crisis.”

In Asia, although conservation action in Nepal and India has resulted in increased numbers of the Great One-horned Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis), the situation in Indonesia and Malaysia remains serious for the world’s two rarest rhino species- the Sumatran Rhinoceros and the Javan Rhinoceros, it says.

The report came at a time when India is making major efforts to deal with the incidents of poaching involving the rhinoceros in Assam.

“Rhinos are killed for their horns, which are seen as highly desirable status symbols in parts of Asia, notably Vietnam, but also increasingly in China,” says Bibhab Kumar Talukdar, head of IUCN Species Survival Commission’s (SSC) Asian Rhino Specialist Group.

“Horns are also increasingly used for non-traditional purposes such as hangover cure and body detoxifier, especially in Vietnam,” he says.

According to the report, the crime networks have recruited “pseudo-hunters including Vietnamese citizens, Thai prostitutes and proxy hunters from the Czech Republic and Poland” to obtain rhino horns in South Africa on the pretence of trophy hunts for illegal commercial trade.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/survival-of-rhino-at-risk-due-to-horn-trade-report/article4316187.ece