The Hindu, July 12, 2014
The contours of Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, Thattekad, will be redrawn by excluding the human habitation from its limits.
The
Kerala Forest Department is actively considering a proposal to add
10.17 sq. km from the Neriyamangalam Forest areas to the sanctuary in
lieu of the 9 sq km area that would be excluded. Over 12,000 people
reside in the habitation that comes under the administrative
jurisdiction of Kuttampuzha panchayat.
The 25.16 sq.
km. of the sanctuary includes patta and revenue land. The human
habitation was included during the notification of the sanctuary.
However, it resulted in serious conflicts with local residents, pointed
out a document that was placed before the Kerala Wildlife Advisory
Committee.
The inclusion of the human habitation in
the sanctuary had curtailed the construction of buildings, change of
land use and cutting of trees for the residents. These acts were also
treated as illegal acts.
These restrictions had also
increased the conflicts in the area and any attempt to enforce law in
the stretch invited public wrath, the document said.
According
to the Forest officials, the area that is to be appended to the
sanctuary too is rich in biodiversity. It’s contiguous to the evergreen
forests of Urulanthanny section. The inclusion of the area to the
sanctuary would ensure better conservation of the flora and fauna of the
region, according to the document.
As the area of
human habitation was not significant for conservation of wildlife and
not notified as reserve forest, the management plan of the sanctuary too
had recommended its exclusion from the sanctuary, it said.
The
department had roped in the local residents for various forest
protection measures by engaging some as forest guards and watchers. The
locals were also involved in the works related to the sanctuary.
However, the Wildlife Protection Act comes into conflict with the
residents at times, pointed out R. Sugathan, noted ornithologist
associated with the sanctuary.
The consent of the
National Board for Wildlife is required for changing the contours of the
sanctuary. It also needs to be approved by the State board, he said.
The
next meeting of the State Wildlife Advisory Board would discuss the
proposal as it could not be taken up during the last meeting, said G.
Harikumar, Chief Wildlife Warden.
The presence of around 280 species of birds was reported from the bird sanctuary, which was came into existence in 1983.
0 comments:
Post a Comment