UNDERMINING PROTECTED AREAS AND PEOPLE
NEWS FROM INDIAN PROTECTED AREAS
ANDHRA PRADESH
Contact: Manju Barua, Wild Grass,107, M.C. Road, Uzanbazaar, Guwahati 781 001, Assam. Tel: (Guwahati) 91-361-546 827; (Wild Grass) 91-377-662 437. Fax: 91-361-541 186 or 520 348.
Aaranyak Nature Club, Samanwoy Path (Survey), P.O. Beltola, Guwahati 781 028, Assam. Tel: 91-361-566 087. Email: bibhab@gw1.vsnl.net.in.
New Sanctuary Proposed in Dibrugarh Forest Division
Nature's Beckon, an environmental activist NGO, has proposed to the Government of Assam to declare Jaipur, Dirak and West block of Upper Dihing Reserve Forest areas as a Wildlife Sanctuary. Jaipur Reserved Forest is located along a part of the Dibrugarh Forest Division with the river Buridihing flowing along its north-east boundary. This Reserved Forest harbours many species of endangered animals including the Hoolock gibbon, Capped langur, Assamese macaque, elephants, tigers, leopard and various types of squirrels.
Nature's Beckon is well-known for its persistent efforts in getting the Chakrashila forests, the southern-most range of the threatened Golden langur, declared a sanctuary, for which they mobilised the local villagers to great effect.
Source: 'Nature's Beckon: Keen on the Conservation of Wildlife of Jaipur Reserved Forest.' Nature's Beckon, Assam.
Contact: Mridu Paban Phukan, Nature's Beckon, 'Datta Bari' Ward No.1, Dhubri 783 301, Assam. Tel: 91-3662-21 067; Fax: 91-3662-20 076.
Contact: Environment Support Group (ESG), Reservoir Road, Basavanagudi, Bangalore 560 004. Telefax: 91-80-665 7995; Email: admin@leo.ilban.ernet.in; esg@bgl.vsnl.net.in; Website: http://www.cfar.umd.edu/~venu.
Bhadra Sanctuary: Union Minister to Inspect Iron Ore Mines
Union Minister for Environment and Forests Suresh Prabhu has agreed to carry out a personal inspection of the Kemmanagundi iron ore mines of the Visvesvaraya Iron and Steel Limited (VISL), Bhadravati, following a plea from Shimoga MP, Ayanur Manjunath, to resume mining activity. The mines have been closed because they are within the Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary.
Mr Manjunath said the Karnataka Government had recommended for renewal of the VISL mining lease. He claimed that there was no forest as such at the place where mining activity was carried out. The area, for which permission for mining lease was requested, lay on the outer periphery of the sanctuary, and would not affect flora and fauna in any manner.
As the mines were located partly within the forest land, the State Government had sent a proposal to the MoEF for clearance as required under the Forest (Conservation) Act, so that the renewal of the mining lease could be granted to the VISL. The proposal was still pending in the MoEF.
The NGO Kalpavriksh has sent a letter to Prabhu (in September 1998), expressing concern regarding this move, and asking him to reject any proposal for restarting mining here.
Sources: 'Union Minister to Inspect Kemmanagundi Iron Ore Mines'. Deccan Herald, 29/8/98; Letter of 2/9/98 from Pankaj Sekhsaria, Kalpavriksh, to Suresh Prabhu, MoEF.
Contact: ESG (see above, for Kudremukh).
Anshi National Park: Agitation Against Involuntary Displacement
Local communities inside the Anshi National Park in Karnataka are opposing what they fear is a move to displace them from the Park. In response to a March 1998 proclamation of the Asst. Commissioner, Karwar for the settlement of rights (in pursuance of the Supreme Court's directions in the WWF case, see NATIONAL NEWS FROM INDIA), the Anshi Udyanavan Punaravasti Virodhi Samiti ('Anshi National Park Resettlement Opposition Committee') has in a letter dated 9th May 1998, expressed their opposition to any plans to move them out, and have stressed that they are the ones who have protected and helped regenerate the forests in the area.
Significantly, in an independent letter to the Conservator of Forests, Wildlife North Circle, Shimoga, the Deputy Conservator, Wildlife Division, Dandeli, too has suggested that the resettlement of people from the Park is not a good idea. According to him many of the management activities in the protected area involving labour are carried out by the local people, and their co-operation is needed to provide social fencing which will protect the National Park. Any attempt at resettlement will only further antagonise the already agitating people and will be a very futile and counter-productive step. He has suggested that instead, their settlements should become 'enclaves', physically located inside the boundaries of the Park but legally excluded from it.
(Ed. note: The DCF's suggestion for enclaves or enclosures has precedence in Karnataka, where several PAs have such an arrangement. Ref: Lal, R., Kothari, A., Pande, P., and Singh. S. 1994. Directory of National Parks and Sanctuaries in Karnataka. Indian Institute of Public Administration, New Delhi.)
KERALA
Tribal colony in Peechi Sanctuary under Naxalite control?
Trouble may be brewing in the Peechi Wildlife Sanctuary. The Thamaravallachal tribal colony, situated just 3 km from the Peechi reservoir, is spread over a patch of more than 100 acres of reserved forest, with a population of about 500 men, women and children.
Government officials allege that this village is now virtually under the control of CPI-ML (Red Flag), a faction of Naxalites who physically prevents the entry of any non-member irrespective of his official status, to the colony.
According to the Superintendent of Police, A. Hemachandran, the police do not take much action partly because there is no immediate law and order issue and the area is under the jurisdiction of the Forest Department. According to the SP, the tribals fall prey to the 'extremist' groups mainly because of poverty. If adequate measures for their welfare were taken, tribals would be prevented from turning to the extremists.
The tribal community is demanding its rights to the land and forests, arguing that they acquired the relevant skills and expertise to protect forests through generations. However, owing to the inaccessibility of the colony for over a decade, the Forest Department has been in the dark about the developments there.
As per the existing laws, the state government cannot allocate the land encroached upon since January 01, 1977 to the encroachers. It cannot even demarcate the boundaries of land under the possession of encroachers since January 01, 1977, as it would amount to granting permission to encroachers to occupy the forest land under their unauthorised possession. The Forest Department, therefore, could not take any action to contain the expansion of the colony and keep a watch on the activities of its members.
Contact: Kishor Rithe, Honorary Wildlife Warden, 'Prathishtha', Bharat Nagar, Akoli Rd., Near Sainagar, Amravati 444 605, Maharashtra. Tel: 91-721-672 359; Email: ncsa@bom3.vsnl.net.in.
Bittu Sahgal, Sanctuary Magazine, 602 Maker Chambers V, Nariman Point, Mumbai 400 021. Fax: 91-22-287 4380; Email: bittu@giasbm01.vsnl.net.in.
Contact: Rucha Ghate / Mukund Kulkarni, Postgradugate Training Dept., Economics Dept., Nagpur University Campus, Amravati Road, Nagpur, Maharashtra.
Contact: Belinda Wright, Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI), Thapar House, 124 Janpath, New Delhi 110 001. Tel.: 91-11-621 3864; Fax: 91-11-336 8729; Email: blue@nda.vsnl.net.in.
Contact: P.K. Ghosh, Friends of Doon Society, c/o EBD Business Centre, 49 Rajpur Road, Dehra Dun 248001. Tel: 91-135-654 487.
Poachers benefit as Corbett Park staff denied entry into Park
The Irrigation Department has reportedly banned the entry of forest officials in or near the dam at Kalagarh, where it controls the functioning of a 178 sq.km. reservoir running through the heart of the Corbett Tiger Reserve. The Forest Guards are even being denied access to speed boats without which they are unable to reach Sonanadi Sanctuary, which forms the western part of the Tiger Reserve, for normal day-to-day patrolling.
Apparently this step was taken after Park staff caught six Irrigation Department officials catching fish from the reservoir, an offence under the Wild Life (Protection) Act. The Irrigation Dept., however, claims that all vehicular movement (for all departments) has been stopped to ensure the safety of the dam during the monsoons, and this has nothing to do with the fishing incident.
The Chief Wildlife Warden of UP, R.L.Singh, feels that if the situation persists for long, it would create havoc for the Reserve as poachers may have a free hand.
Source: Suri, A. 1998. 'Advantage Poachers as Departments Wage a Battle'. Indian Express, 28/8/98.
Contact: Field Director, Corbett Tiger Reserve, Forest Department, Ramnagar 244 715, District Nainital, Uttar Pradesh.
Dudhwa National Park on Way to Recovery
Effective habitat management and positive interaction of the Park authorities with local communities, are helping in the revival of Dudhwa National Park. According to the findings of a six-year study conducted by Dr. Salim Javed, Aligarh Muslim University, the status of the terai grasslands, which had earlier suffered considerably due to habitat destruction, is now showing positive improvement, thanks to sustained conservation efforts in recent years.
The presence of large numbers of rare species of birds including Swamp francolin and Black stork, bear testimony to the "improved ecological status of the park".
Further details of what kind of local community and other inputs are being provided, have been sought from Dr. Javed.
Source: Hasan, Tariq. 'Project Helps Improve Dudhwa Park Ecology'. Times of India, 23/6/98
Contact: Dr. Salim Javed, Centre of Wildlife and Ornithology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202 002, Uttar Pradesh.
NEWS FROM INDIAN STATES
BIHAR
Contact: Krishnan Kutty, E-mail: 6wwc@sparrl.com.
KARNATAKA
Bulu Imam, INTACH, The Grove, Hazaribagh 825 301, Bihar.
The Karnataka Tiger Conservation Project
The Karnataka Tiger Conservation Project (KTCP) was launched in January 1998 to strengthen the conservation status of four important tiger habitats in Karnataka - Nagarahole, Bandipur, Kudremukh and Bhadra - through field-oriented protection and community involvement activities. It is supported by the Wildlife Conservation Society (USA) in collaboration with the Karnataka Forest Department, Wildlife First!, and other NGOs.
Since its inception, the KTCP has implemented several activities such as providing jeeps in important ranges of the four protected areas for patrolling; protection and fire control duties; staff training and welfare activities; training camps to improve field craft, anti-poaching and protection skills of field staff; an innovative scheme for providing insurance cover to field staff; educational campaign about the negative impact of forest fires; and community contact programmes including talks and slide shows.
After considerable lobbying and follow up, the voluntary resettlement and relocation programme of tribal families is likely to be taken up soon with all governmental clearances and funding in place. Due to pressure from Wildlife First!, this year no permits were issued for bamboo removal from Bhadra Sanctuary by the Mysore Paper Mills or for supply to artisans.
Source: 'KTCP-update'. Tigerlink News, Vol. 4 No.2, September 1998.
Contact: Wildlife First!, 248, 4th Main Road, Chamrajpat, Bangalore 560 018, Karnataka.
MAHARASHTRA
Workshop on Protected Areas in Maharashtra
The Maharashtra Forest Department called a meeting, 'Biodiversity Conservation in Maharashtra: Vision Beyond 200' on 3-4 September 1998 at Nagpur, to discuss various issues relating to the management of protected areas and other conservation matters in the state. The meeting was spurred by the preparation of a Directory of National Parks and Sanctuaries in Maharashtra, part of a series of directories being produced at the Indian Institute of Public Administration (and now being produced by an independent team of researchers, funded by WWF-India). This Directory is in a draft stage, and its authors felt that a discussion on the various issues raised during its compilation would help both in its finalisation and be an occasion to take decisions regarding the future of wildlife conservation in Maharashtra.
Over 100 persons from the Forest Department, conservation and social action NGOs, and independent wildlifers attended the meeting. Discussions were held on management, research and monitoring, awareness/education, conservation and development interface, and other issues. Though the topic of the workshop was conservation in general, much of the discussion was focused on PAs.
The recommendations of the workshop are being finalised by the Forest Department; a first draft of these recommendations has critical points: the need to strengthen the legal and other capacities of the PA staff, joint custodianship of PAs with local communities, guaranteeing the right to life (including to bona fide biomass resources) of local communities, strong steps against destructive developmental and commercial activities in and around PAs, the need for conservation measures across the entire landscape and not just restricted to PAs, etc.
Contact: M.G. Gogate, Chief Wildlife Warden (Maharashtra), Jaika Building, Civil Lines, Nagpur 440 001, Maharashtra. Fax: 91-712-552 518; 536 669.
Meeting of People Affected by PAs in Western Maharashtra
A meeting was held at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, on 7 September 1998, of villagers affected by protected areas in western Maharashtra including Bhimashankar, Koyna, Radhanagari, Malvan, Harishchandragad and Kalsubai Sanctuaries. Among the issues discussed were the situation arising from the WWF - India case regarding settlement of rights of people in PAs (see NATIONAL NEWS), and the proposed changes in the Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972. A resolution was adopted at the meeting.
Contact: Kusum Karnik, Shaswat, At and PO Manchar, District Pune 410 503, Maharashtra.
ORISSA
GOI Announces Project Turtle; Orissa Govt. Moves to Build Port
As reported in JPAM Update 15, thousands of sea turtles are being killed every year off the coast of Orissa, mainly due to the indiscriminate fishing practices of trawlers. Bivash Pandav, a researcher of the Wildlife Institute of India, who has personally walked the length of the nesting beaches of the Olive Ridley turtle in Orissa, estimates the total mortality this year at over 13,500.
This is an epidemic of major proportions, entirely human-made (and not caused, as one imaginative official of the Orissa government said, due to fatigue during the turtles' migration!).
In August, responding to national and international calls for action, the Government of India announced a major programme called Project Turtle, conceived by scientists of the WII. The Ministry of Environment and Forests committed about Rs. 1 crore for stepped-up patrols of the waters to prevent turtles from being snared in shrimp baskets and other nets. It also hopes to get US$ 5 million over five years from the Global Environment Facility for more sustained conservation efforts, like tracking turtle migration routes by satellite.
In a move that could undermine the above efforts, however, the Orissa Chief Minister laid the foundation stone for a major port to be built on the left bank of the Dhamra River. The Bhitarkanika National Park is on the right bank of the same river! Banka Behari Das of the Orissa Krushak Mahasangh alleges that this port will be in violation of the Forest Conservation Act as also the CRZ regulations. The area is part of the proposed extension of the Bhitarkanika National Park.
The Orissa Government is using a small loophole in the Coastal Regulation Zone rules, which allows the Surface Transport Ministry, Government of India, to give clearance if an existing port is being expanded --- the government claims that in the 19th and early part of the 20th century, a port existed at Dhamra!
Sources: Email from Bivash Pandav, 25/8/98; Science, Volume 281, Number 5384, 18 September 1998; mail from Banka Behari Das, 26/7/98.
Contact: Bivash Pandav / B.C. Choudhury, Wildlife Institute of India, Post Box 18, Chandrabani, Dehradun 248 001. Tel: 91-135-640 112-15; Fax: 91-135-640 117; Email: (for Choudhury) wii@wii.gov.in (for Pandav) pandavb@yahoo.com.
Banka Behari Das, Orissa Krushak Mahasangh, Parivesh Bhavan, 14 Ashok Nagar, Bhubaneshwar 751 009, Orissa. Tel: 91-674-400 305; Fax: 91-674-404 222.
NATIONAL NEWS FROM INDIA
Voluntary Relocation Scheme for Protected Areas; and Note on 'Voluntary Relocation'
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MSJE) (formerly the Ministry of Welfare), Government of India, under the leadership of Maneka Gandhi, has proposed a scheme to reduce human-wildlife conflicts and address the critical livelihood needs of people living inside PAs. The scheme envisages financial support to NGOs in implementing voluntary resettlement and rehabilitation programmes for such people, especially those who are being denied developmental opportunities on account of the Wild Life (Protection) Act. It is reported that the Planning Commission has cleared about Rs. 25 crores for the scheme.
However, the first draft of the scheme contains a series of fundamental faults. The programme has the grandiose title of Scheme for Voluntary Conservation of Nature by Tribals and Others, but has nothing to do with such conservation within PAs. NGOs have criticised it on the following counts:
for assuming that tribals can only participate in conservation by voluntarily agreeing to move out
For not critically defining 'voluntary'
for not explicitly rejecting forced displacement, and
for not laying out essential aspects of what would constitute a fair resettlement process (such as a public hearing, independent monitoring, etc).
At a recent meeting, these points were put across to the MSJE, which has promised to consider them in a revised draft. At the time of going to press, it was not clear whether a revised version has come out.
Meanwhile, in a follow-up to the Second Consultation on Wildlife Conservation and People's Livelihood Rights, held in April 1998 (see JPAM Update 17), Sunil of Kisan Adivasi Sanghatan, Kesla (MP) has prepared a discussion note on what constitutes 'voluntary' relocation and what does not. He has clearly distinguished between 'induced' and 'voluntary' relocation, the first being a situation in which artificial conditions (such as restrictions related to wildlife laws) force people to ask for relocation.
A comment note on Sunil's draft has been prepared by Ashish Kothari of Kalpavriksh. These two documents, along with the MSEJ's draft and Kalpavriksh's critique, are currently under circulation for further discussion, with the aim of coming out with a commonly acceptable definition of what could constitute 'voluntary' relocation from PAs. Readers wishing to have a copy of these documents may pl. contact the Editors at the JPAM Update address (see end of newsletter).
Sources: 'Scheme for Voluntary Conservation of Nature by Tribals and Others', circulated by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment vide letter dated 29th June, 1998; comments on this Scheme by Ashish Kothari, vide letter to the Ministry dated 2nd July 1998; Rashtriya Udhyano va Abhyaranyon se Swaichhik aur Jabardasti Visthapan: Ek Tippani (in Hindi), by Sunil, Kisan Adivasi Sanghatan; and comments on Sunil's note by Ashish Kothari.
Contact (for official scheme): Maneka Gandhi, Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi 110 001.
For other notes, contact Editors at JPAM Update address.
WWF implements Tiger Conservation Programme
WWF-India's Tiger Conservation Programme (TCP) is paying special attention to reducing conflicts between wildlife and people living in and around tiger reserves. A plan for providing immediate compensation for cattle killed by tigers is being implemented in three states where the maximum number of poisoning cases have been reported: Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Bihar. The compensation programme seeks to counter the added threat to the Indian tiger, i.e. poisoning of tigers that are killing livestock. Such poisoning has been reported from several reserves, including Corbett and Dudhwa National Parks, U.P., and Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Sanctuary, A.P. (see JPAM Update 15).
In association with local NGOs and/or the Forest Department, the programme has started with activities in Corbett and Dudhwa National Parks and Katerniaghat Sanctuary, U.P.; Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam and Eturnagaram-Pakhal Sanctuaries, A.P., and Palamau Tiger Reserve, Bihar.
Source: 'Reducing Human-Animal Conflicts', Tigerlink News, Vol.4, No.2, September 1998
Workshop on Collaborative Management of PAs in the Asian Region
As reported in JPAM Update 17, a workshop on the Collaborative Management of PAs in the Asian Region was held at the Royal Chitwan National Park, Nepal, on 25-28 May 1998. The workshop was aimed at discussing a proposal for a regional programme to promote co-management (with a primary focus on involving local communities in conservation) of PAs in several countries of South and South-east Asia. The meeting was organised by IUCN-Nepal and the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation, with assistance from the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, HM Government of Nepal and IUCN"s World Commission on Protected Areas.
A core working group formed during the workshop, which has subsequently met and revised the proposal in the light of the participants' suggestions, has subsequently finalised it at a meeting in Bangkok in August. The proposal, after being discussed by a steering committee formed at the workshop, will be sent for consideration by the interested donors.
Contact: Scott Perkin, S. & SE. Asia Regional Biodiversity Programme, IUCN- The World Conservation Union, No. 48, Vajira Road, Colombo 5, Sri Lanka. Tel.: 94-74-510-517; Fax: 94-1-580-202; E-mail: scott@slt.lk.
Krishna Oli, IUCN-Nepal, P.O.Box 3923, Kathmandu, Nepal. Tel.: 97-71-535-921; Fax: 97-71-536-786; E-mail: iucn@mos.com.np.
Initiatives by the World Commission on Protected Areas
The World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA), a global network of people working on PAs, has come out with a series of interesting and innovative ideas regarding the future of PAs. At a series of meetings (including a 5-year review of its global mandate, held in Albany, Australia, see JPAM Update 15, and a Steering Committee meeting in June 1998) and related processes, it has proposed or finalised the following:
1. A draft policy on PAs and indigenous peoples, jointly prepared by WWF and IUCN (the World Conservation Union) staff, which stresses the need to respect the rights of such peoples and involve them in the planning and management of PAs;
2. A draft policy on mining and PAs, which stresses that no mining should be allowed in most categories of PAs, and even in others, only localised extraction under strict environmental supervision should be allowed;
3. A Task Force on Local Communities and Protected Areas. This task force would be an inter-commission one, between the WCPA and IUCN's Commission on Environmental Education and Social Planning (CEESP).
4. A Task Force on Management Effectiveness of PAs.
Contact: David Sheppard, Head, Programme on Protected Areas, IUCN The World Conservation Union, Rue Mauverney 28, Ch-1196, Gland, Switzerland. Tel: 41-22-999 0001; Fax: 41-22-999 0002; Email: das@hq.iucn.org.
Dwivedi, Ranjit. 1997. Parks, People and Protest: The Mediating Role of Environmental Action Groups. Sociological Bulletin, 46(2).
This paper focuses on analysing the effect and dynamics of the Jungle Jeevan Bachao Yatra (reported in JPAM Update 2,3,4), which traversed through several national parks and sanctuaries in central and western India. Organised by a conglomerate of NGOs, conservation groups, grassroot organisations and environmentalists, the aim of the march was a critical assessment of official conservation policies and practices. Dwivedi feels that though the Yatra raised critical issues and awareness, it portrayed a somewhat romantic picture of rural India, and thereby lessened the chances of true empowerment of local communities.
Sivaganesan, N., Sivasubramanian, G., and Limatoshi, A.O. 1998. People Participatory Approach for Conservation of Elephant Corridor - A Case Study in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. Paper presented in the National Seminar on Wildlife Conservation, Research and Management, Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 10-13 August, 1998.
A case study report on the pilot project launched by SACON and Sathyamangalam Forest Division, focusing on providing alternatives to fuelwood collectors in the forest corridors in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. Details of how these people were also involved in protection work, including the creation of multi-stakeholder committees, are provided.
Contact: N. Sivaganesan, Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Moongilpallam, Anaikatty (PO), Coimbatore 681 108, Tamil Nadu. Tel: 91-422-807973; Fax: 91-422-807952.
Pabla, H.S. and Mathur, V.B. 1998. Policy Options for Wildlife Conservation in India. Paper presented in the National Seminar on Wildlife Conservation, Research and Management, Wildlife Institute of India, Dehra Dun, 10-13 August, 1998.
This paper takes stock of the wildlife conservation policies in India, admitting that past policies have created suffering and hostility among local communities. It suggests some new initiatives for distributing costs borne by such communities, treating over-abundant wildlife as local resources, and proper rehabilitation of some villages from PAs.
Contact: V.B. Mathur, Wildlife Institute of India, P.O. Chandrabani, Dehra Dun 248 001. Tel: 91-135-640112-15. Fax: 91-135-640117. Email: wii@wii.gov.in.
Nath, Cheryl D. and Sukumar, R. 1998. Elephant-Human Conflict in Kodagu, Southern India: Distribution Patterns, People's Perceptions and Mitigation Methods. Asian Elephant Conservation Centre, Bangalore. Unpriced.
Report on a research project to study 'selected aspects of elephant-human conflict', conducted in Kodagu district of Karnataka.
Contact: R. Sukumar, Asian Elephant Conservation Centre, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560 012, India. Tel: 91-80-3092786; Fax: 91-80-3311280; Email: aecc@ces.iisc.ernet.in.
Gautam, R.C. and Bhartari, Rajiv. 1998. Jeev Vividhata Sanrakshan Me Sahbhagita: Kyon aur Kaise? Corbett Tiger Reserve, Forest Department, Uttar Pradesh. Unpriced.
A booklet in Hindi (roughly translating as 'People's Participation in Biodiversity Conservation: How and Why?'), published by Corbett Tiger Reserve as a part of its eco-awareness programme. It aims to sensitise and inform forest department employees and officers about the importance of strategies used with/by local communities to conserve biodiversity.
Contact: R. Bhartari, Dy. Field Director, Corbett Tiger Reserve, Ramnagar, Dist. Nainital, Uttar Pradesh. Tel: 91-5945-85489; Fax: 91-5945-85376; Email: rajiv.bhartari@lead.sprintrpg.ems.vsnl.net.in.
Kothari, A., Pathak, N., Anuradha, R.V., and Taneja, B. (eds.). 1998. Communities and Conservation: Natural Resource Management in South and Central Asia. UNESCO and Sage Publications, New Delhi. 506 pp., Rs. 325 (paperback); Rs. 495 (hardcover).
A compilation of 25 papers on community involvement in conservation of wildlife and biodiversity. Analytical pieces are complemented by country overviews from India, the Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, and case studies from India and Sri Lanka. Both protected areas and areas outside of PAs are covered.
Sharma, Arpan. 1998. Implementation of the Relocation Plan in Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary: An Assessment. Unpublished report.
One of the few independent assessments made of a relocation programme from a protected area. Palpur Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh is slated to be the second home of the endangered Asiatic lion (to be relocated here from Gir National Park in Gujarat), for which several villages are being moved out of the sanctuary. Is the relocation voluntary? What are the provisions? How is its implementation? These questions are addressed by the author in this preliminary study.
Contact: Arpan Sharma, c/o College of Social Work, Nirmala Niketan, 38 New Marine Lines, Mumbai 400 020.
Report of the Expert Committee on Conferring Ownership Rights of MFPs on Panchayats/Gram Sabhas. January 1998. Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India. 93 pp.
With the enactment of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act of 1996, ownership of minor forest products has been transferred to the tribals living in Scheduled Areas. This Committee, set up by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, has gone into the implications of such ownership. Arguing that the Act does not transfer absolute ownership (since this could threaten forests and wildlife), the Committee has defined MFP (basically excluding trees and bamboo/cane), recommended full usufructory rights over such MFP to Gram Sabhas everywhere (not just Scheduled Areas), except in protected areas, and suggested ways by which local people can get maximum benefits from MFP without threatening the resource base.
The report does not suggest what should be done in the case of protected areas (which it defines as not just national parks and sanctuaries but also biosphere reserves), which is a major oversight considering the dependence of communities on MFP within such areas.
Contact: Ministry of Environment and Forests, Paryavaran Bhawan, CGO Complex, Lodi Estate, New Delhi 110 003.
UPCOMING...
Training Workshop On Wetland Research Methodology, January 5-10, 1999
As a part of its ongoing wetlands ecology, conservation and management Programme, the Wildlife Institute of India is in the process of consolidating wetland research methodology, and intends to develop a cadre of biologists who could contribute significantly in wetland conservation. Keeping this in view the Institute is planning to organise a one week Training Workshop on Wetland Research Methodology. The course is intended for research personnel from universities, research institutions, and protected areas. An MSc in any branch of biological science, preferably with 1-2 years of research experience in the field of wetland ecology, conservation and management, is required.
The workshop is field based and will be conducted at Chilika, Orissa with additional field trip to Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary. There is no course fee for the workshop. However, the participant will have to pay Rs.1000.00 as registration fee that will cover lodging and boarding and cost of the course materials. No travelling allowance will be given to report at the workshop venue.
Interested candidates can send their biodata stating qualification, name of the institution/ project/ protected area with whom they are associated, experience if any, with a letter of recommendation from two referees addressed to:
Last date for application is November 15.
Contact: The Director, Wildlife Institute of India, Post Box # 18, Dehradun.248 001, India. Tel: 91-135-640 112/5; Fax: +91-135-640117; Email: wii@wii.gov.in.
Appeal for funds for a film on Melghat
'The Political Economy of Khichri' is a video film being made by Nancy Adjania, a Film and Television Institute of India graduate, on the issues related to the Melghat region of Maharashtra, including the Melghat Tiger Reserve. What began as an investigation into the child mortality in the area, has evolved into an exploration of the region's various social, economic, environmental and developmental problems. The film project revolves around the fact that starvation arises from the alienation of people from their resource base, traditional medicines and nutritious indigenous foods. The film is in its final stages and the film maker has made an appeal for funds for its completion. A funding proposal can be made available on request.
Contact: Nancy Adjania, C-13, Usha Sadan, Near Colaba Post Office, Colaba, Mumbai 400 005. Tel.: 91-22-215 1070; E-mail: ranjithoskote@hotmail.com.
JPAM Update is produced roughly every two months as a follow-up to the workshop on Exploring the Possibilities of Joint Protected Area Management (JPAM), organised at the Indian Institute of Public Administration, New Delhi, in September 1994.
JPAM Update 18 was prepared by Anuprita Patel, Ashish Kothari, Farhad Vania and Pankaj Sekhsaria with secretarial assistance from Vishal Thakre, on behalf of Kalpavriksh - Environmental Action Group.
This issue has been sponsored by World Wide Fund for Nature - India.
Ideas, comments, news, and information may pl. be sent to the following address:
Ashish Kothari
Kalpavriksh
Apartment 5, Shree Dutta Krupa
908 Deccan Gymkhana
Pune 411 004
Maharashtra
India
Telefax: 91-20-5654239
Email: ashish@giasdl01.vsnl.net.in
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Last modified on: Tue Apr 5 15:39:29 2005