India improves forest cover decline

Eco-Development Activities

The Indian Ministry of Environment and Forests is implementing a National Afforestation Programme (NAP) for afforestation and eco-restoration of degraded forests and adjoining areas in a participatory mode.

Since the inception of NAP during the 10th five year plan, an area of about 1.8 million ha has been targeted till date by incurring an investment of about rupees 2762 crore.

Minister of State for Environment and Forests, Jayanthi Natarajan, has stated that in order to improve eco-system services and to gear up afforestation and regeneration of degraded forest tracts, an area of about 10 million ha is envisaged to be tackled under Green India Mission (GIM) during 12th and 13th Five Year Plan period.

The 12th five year plan outlay of NAP has proposed funds to the tune of rupees 10,000 crore against the outlay of rupees 2000 crore during the 11thfive year plan. In addition, the various state governments are also implementing schemes for improvement of degraded forests by utilizing state funds and externally aided projects.

The Forest Report, 2011

As per the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2011, the Forest and Tree Cover of the country is 23.81% of the geographical area of the country. The forest cover of the country has registered a marginal decline of 0.05% as compared to the previous assessment published in ISFR 2009.

India's Minister of State for Environment and Forests, Jayanthi Natarajan, stated in Rajya Sabha on 27th March that in the ISFR, the forests are classified into three categories such as Very Dense Forest (VDF), Moderately Dense Forest (MDF) and Open Forests not as degraded forests.

The area covered by Very Dense Forests (VDF) is 83,471 km²(2.54%), that with Moderately Dense Forests (MDF) is 320,736 km²(9.76%) and Open Forests is 287,820 km² (8.75%).

She said forests are defined legally in accordance to the provisions of Indian Forest Act, 1927, such as Reserve Forests, Protected Forests and Village Forests.

The Minister, however, clarified that the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India has extended the scope of forest and “forest” must be understood according to its dictionary meaning. This description cover all statutorily recognized forests, whether designated as reserved, protected or otherwise, including any area recorded as forest in the Government records irrespective of the ownership, for the purpose of Section 2 (i) of the Forest Conservation Act.

In India State of Forest Report, the different categories of forests are defined for assessment of forest cover on the basis of tree canopy density which are as follows:

· Very Dense Forests: All lands with tree canopy density of 70% and above

· Moderately Dense Forests: All lands with tree canopy density between 40% and 70%

· Open Forests: All land with tree canopy density between 10% - 40%

   

Chirp for the sparrow! Tweet for the sparrow!

This year’s World Sparrow Day on 20^th March should not end with the day. Instead, like the year’s theme ‘Chirp for the sparrow! Tweet for the sparrow!’ the event deserves to be carried through the year bustling into activity for conservation of not only sparrows but also any species that deserves attention. 

Sparrows are smaller birds but make a great sight. They are found in 2/3 of world’s landmass and are no less impressive in their segregation into 24 different species. Thanks to the European settlers who transported the house sparrow (Passer domesticus) to different parts of the world.
 

                     A female sparrow (Passer domesticus) carrying food in her beak for her chicks

To anyone of my age the house sparrows shall make a pleasant sight full with nostalgic memories, as it takes us 40-50 years back in time. Then sparrows will descend in large flocks in courtyard, and were found making nests in all places. It was a common sight to find their chicks falling on ground, and we will make desperate efforts to place them back into their nests. 

Their clear sexual differentiation, with papa sporting black beard like feathers reminded us of our disciplinarian father. When in small groups, their chirp was musical and gave feelings of life and company around, and when in large groups that was no less than the bustling human activity in a downtown market.

I am reminded of my great childhood memories when we will wait for hours to catch some sparrows in summer holidays. But will seldom succeed to catch one or two. The only occasion one could easily catch them was probably during their ferocious fight for space for nesting.

I wish all bird watchers, enthusiasts and conservationists on this occasion, as I believe the day is more symbolic of  overall need and practice of conservation. I came to know about the very good work of Mohammad Dilawar who has taken up the conservation awareness about the house sparrow. 

Dilawar has made the following suggestions to overcome the decline in the population of the house sparrows:

•   Restoring gardens and green spaces in the urban landscape 
•  Alterations in modern architecture to provide nesting cavities 
•  Making available appropriate food 
•  Protection against microwave pollution 
•  Reduction in pesticide use 
•  Need for diversifying, instead of mono-cropping

In an open space, in front of my home, I have seen some of these suggestions of Dilawar being translated in the nature, into huge breeding populations of house sparrows. Undisturbed in the thick bushes (with yellow flowers), sparrows are breeding in large numbers, and, chirping all day long, reminding me of their presence and company in close neighbourhood !.

Gujarat’s Gir Lions to Move to New Rehabilitation Site

The Indian Minister of State for Environment & Forests, Jayanthi Natarajan, stated in Lok sabha on 19^th March that the Wildlife Institute of India had carried out a survey for identifying potential sites for relocation of Asiatic lions to alternative areas outside Gir, Gujarat. 

Out of the four sites identified for introduction of lions, namely Darrah Wildlife Sanctuary, Jawahar Sagar Sanctuary, and Sitamata Wildlife Sanctuary in Rajasthan and Kuno-Palpur Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh, the Kuno-Palpur sanctuary is found to be the most suitable site for relocation of Asiatic Lions from Gir forests. 

                                          Asiatic lion ( Panthera leo persica) Photo: Z. Imam


Kuno-Palpur Sanctuary is most suitable site on account of its area, shape and vegetation. In its report submitted in 1995, the Wildlife Institute of India had recommended the following actions to be taken up before relocating lions to the area: 

• Complete acceptance of the proposal for lion relocation by the concerned State Governments, as well as the Central Government; 
• Initiating an awareness and eco-development scheme in the Kuno-Palpur area to elicit support and participation of location community to the relocation of lions; 
• Establishment of the Kuno National Park over an area of approximately 700 sq. km. involving translocation of all human settlements from the National Park area and stoppage of livestock grazing therein; 
• Establishing a special team of adequately trained forest department personnel to implement the scheme and to ensure adequate protection to the area; 
• Undertaking habitat improvement measures, including weed removal and enhancing the availability and distribution of water; 
• Augmentation of the resident wild ungulate population by additional release of chital and nilgai to build up an adequate prey base for the reintroduced lions. 

Natarajan has said that the Ministry of Environment and Forests has released funds to the State Government of Madhya Pradesh for rehabilitation of 1545 families from the Kuno-Palpur Sanctuary.

In addition, funds have also been provided during the last three years to the Madhya Pradesh Government to take up various measures for improvement of habitat and management of the Sanctuary. 

 The Minister however clarified that no specific time limit has been fixed for the relocation of lions.

The Tiger to stay as India’s National Animal

The last Country level assessment of wild population of tigers in India, undertaken during 2010, estimated 1,707 tigers (1,520 being the lower limit and 1,909 being the upper limit of the estimated range).

The population of Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica) in Gir National Park, Sanctuary and other areas of Greater Gir (Brihad Gir) estimated by the Government of Gujarat in 2010 was estimated to be 411 lions.

These estimates were mentioned on 13^th March in Rajya Sabha by Jayanthi Natarajan, India’s Minister of State for Environment & Forest.

Gir forest has the only wild population of Asiatic lion  in the world, she stated.

The Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) is a subspecies of tiger native to Indian subcontinent and its geographical range includes most of the States in India. The Bengal tiger also occurs in Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan.

The Tiger was adopted as India’s National Animal in place of the Lion in a meeting of the Indian Board for Wildlife held in 1972 in view of the three main reasons: global importance of Tiger and its existence over the entire Country, necessity for its strict protection all over the Country, presence of tiger in as many as 16 States whereas Lion being found only in one State.

She declared that at present there was no proposal under consideration with the Government to replace it with the Asiatic lion. The Minister added that presently, Bengal tiger continues to be India’s National Animal.

Natarajan further stated that the India’s Planning Commission has approved, in principle, a project for “Conservation of Asiatic lion in Greater Gir Region” to be implemented by the Government of Gujarat over a period of five years at the cost of Rs.262.36 crores including central assistance of Rs.236.63 crores.

The approved Asiatic lion project, inter alia, includes creation of infrastructure for promotion of eco-tourism in the Gir forest.

India provides relief to victims of wildlife: Data needed

The minister Jayanti Natarajan’s statement in Rajya Sabha on 13 March that incidents of damage to crops and human lives by wild animals like elephant, leopard, wild boar, blue bull, monkey, etc. are reported from States/Union Territories of the country including Himachal Pradesh, but that no details of such State/Union Territory-wise incidences are available in the Ministry of Environment & Forest Government of India, needs to be noted.

For conservation of nature, the wild life and overall biodiversity, and to make conservation human and animal friendly, it is essential that species’confrontations with man and his basic needs, is given a serious attention. Collection of basic data on this aspect is very essential, and with the given e-networking and available and growing infrastructure it should not be a problem to collate and report at some levels.

She also stated that payment of compensation to victims of confrontations with wild animals is the responsibility of the concerned State/Union Territory Governments. The State-wise details of payment of such compensation are also not collated in the Ministry.

However the minister mentioned that subject to availability of budget, the Central Government supplements/provides financial assistance to the State/Union Territory Governments under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes of “Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats”, “Project Elephant” and “Project Tiger” to make ex-gratia relief to the victims of such incidents of damage to crops and human lives by the wild animals.

The conservation organizations and NGOs may take cue from this shortcoming on a very important need, and may consider study projects on the need to collect and collate baseline data to help formulate future conservation strategies including suitable education in potential areas on man-animal conflicts.

UAE’s Wadi Wurayah Protects its Biodiversity

The  next  step  in converting  the  protected area of  Wadi Wurayah into a working National Park has been announced recently by Fujairah Municipality; the municipality is working in cooperation with Emirates Wildlife Society - WWF.

An Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the two entities to mark the collaboration on the implementation of a management plan for establishing a sustainable Protected Area integrating local tradition and lifestyle with the conservation of region’s biodiversity and habitat.

EWS-WWF and Fujairah Municipality agree to continue the successful collaboration to ensure existing and future pressures on Wadi Wurayah’s natural resources, and ensure the region is managed within an ecologically sustainable framework, maintaining the characteristic and unique natural biodiversity, involving the local community, and transform the area into an important eco-tourism area for Fujairah.

Fujairah Municipality will establish a committee dedicated to oversee the management of the National Park to enforce best practices and high standards; Wadi Wurayah will be given a protected boarder with rangers employed to care for the area and its unique biodiversity and habitats.

In a press release, the Engineer Mohamed Saif Al Afkham, Director General at Fujairah Municipality has stated, “Wadi Wurayah continues to be a stronghold for wildlife in the United Arab Emirate with the continuous discovery of new species. We believe that this area is of great national importance to the UAE and are dedicated to its on-going protection, whilst allowing the community to gain access to and learn from its natural beauty.”

The wadi is a 129 kilometre-square catchment that occupies the northern reaches of Fujairah between the towns of Masafi, Khor Fakkan and Bidiyah. In October 2010, Wadi Wurayah officially joined the list of 1,932 wetlands around the world which are of international importance for biodiversity conservation under the Ramsar Convention.

Due to its habitat diversity and the presence of permanent water, Wadi Wurayah is considered an important stronghold for the wildlife in UAE.

Ida Tillisch, Acting Director General at EWS-WWF has explained, “The signing of the MOU is a great step forward in the on-going protection and preservation of  Wadi Wurayah. We are excited to be working in partnership with Fujairah Municipality in putting these plans into action and believe they will help the community better appreciate the area’s natural beauty whilst reaffirming its value. In the coming years we will be working closely with Fujairah Municipalities and other partners to assess logistical and management issues and put in place best practices to protect the species and habitat and at the same time allow the community to explore and enjoy real nature in the UAE ”.

Since being declared the UAE’s first protected mountain area by His Highness Shaikh Hamad Bin Mohammad Al Sharqi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Fujairah in 2009, continuous research has been carried out with the installation of camera traps. As recently as in September 2011, 55 new species have been found, including insects, arachnids and crustaceans, 25 of these are considered new to science.

As a National Park, the area will not only benefit the local natural heritage but it is an important part of the management plan to engage the local community in the establishment of eco-tourism of the area. This includes schools, colleges, public and private sector and well as individuals who could be selling local handicrafts through the visitor centre.

Available resource links point out interesting forms of life present in the region.