india-wildlife and people
TRANSCRIPT
Conserving India’s Wildlife Through Integrative and Holistic
Approaches
Mayukh ChatterjeeWildlife Trust of India
India – Wildlife And People• Over 350 species of Mammals, 1224 species of
Birds and nearly 3151 species of Reptiles, Amphibians and Fishes
India – Wildlife And People• Over 650 Protected Areas (Tiger and Elephant
Reserves, National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries and Reserve Forests) ~ 4.9 % of geographical area
• Over 1.2 billion people!
• Consumers and protectors
India - Why People Are Important• 17% of world population
• Nearly one thirds directly depend on natural resources and critical ecosystems for survival
• Nature can be only preserved by the commons
India - Why People Are Important• Traditional preservationists
• Need vs. Greed ~ changing fast!
• Wildlife and Nature ~ back seat
Holistic Conservation – What and Why?
• Holism ~ look at the larger picture
• Complex Issues ~ multifaceted inclusive problems
• Sustainability ~ complete conservation
Integrated Conservation – What and Why?
• Integrated Conservation?
• Communities are major stakeholders
• Unethical ~ one’s fancy are another’s predicament
• Exclusion is a failure
• No sustainability without integrated conservation
Wildlife Trust of India• Only NGO with 8 distinct skill sets ~ founded in 1998
Rescue and rehabilitationHabitat securementSpecies recoveryH-W conflict mitigationLegal and PolicyMass awarenessCommunity workCapacity enhancement
• All skill sets work together in projects to provide a holistic, integrative approach
Two Case Studies
Greater Manas, Assam – Case Study 1
• (26º35’-26º50’N, 90º45’-90º15’E) Abode for wildlife ~ Over 1000 km2 of pristine forests and grasslands
Greater Manas– A Vision• Home of the Bodo people, the Tiger, the Indian
one horned rhinoceros, the Asian elephant and a myriad of other beings.
• A National Park, a Tiger and Elephant Reserve and a World Heritage Site.
Greater Manas – The Crisis• 1980s Bodo uprising ~ decimation
Greater Manas – The Crisis• 1980s Bodo uprising ~ decimation
• At least two large mammals ~ locally extinct
• Other wildlife and habitats lost• 1992 ~ WHS in danger
• 2003 ~ Bodoland Accord
Habitat Securement• 2003 ~ Priority areas mapped for restoration and reclamation
• 2011 ~ 340 Ha of vital habitats reclaimed and added
• 2012 ~ Patch restoration ongoing
Rescue and Rehabilitation• 2003-2010 ~ 7 Rhinos, 10 Elephants, 7 Black bears, 4 Clouded Leopards and 1 Tiger rehabilitated
Human-Wildlife Conflict Mitigation
• 2006 ~ Establishment of Kokrajhar Wildlife Transit Home
• 2006 ~ Establishment of a Rescue MVS and team
• 2008 ~ Elephant Proof Fencing (18 Km) and 4 Ex-Gratias
Legal and Policy• 2010 ~ BTC declares Greater Manas as Protected Area
• 2011 ~ UNESCO removes Greater Manas from Danger List
Mass Awareness• 2010 ~ Campaigns ~ 2 small campaigns; full fledged ‘Manas Pride’ campaign
• 2010 ~ Animal Action Education ~ over 20 schools/1200 students
•2008 ~ Over 40 villages targeted for mass awareness
Community Work• 2010 ~ Adoption of green livelihoods
Firewood dependence reduction (182 cookstoves)
Weaving training and support for 35 women (70 handlooms/1 center)
Support for horticulture (1 horticulture shed and cash crop plantations; mustard, ginger, chilly and turmeric)
Small businesses (4 families; tailoring and grocery shops)
8 CBOs constituted and supported
Capacity Enhancement• 2006, Supporting Frontline Forest Staff ~ over 50 staff
•2007-2013, Training CBOs ~ over 450 staff in 8 CBOs
Species Recovery• Bringing back the Eastern Swamp Deer (Rucervus d. ranjitsinhii)
• 2011-2014: Studies in Kaziranga initiated on the subspecies
• Preparation underway to translocate individuals to Manas
Nagzira-Nawegaon, Maharashtra – Case Study 2
Nagzira-Nawegaon – The Landscape• Two small and disjunct areas ~ connects 3 main tiger
habitats
• Home to tigers, leopards, Gaur and several other fauna ~ but neglected
• Not under stringent protection ~ Wildlife Sanctuaries
Nagzira-Nawegaon – The Crisis• Large parts are of connective patches under FDCM• Surrounded by over 200 villages ~ over 4000 households
• Severe degradation and increasing human-wildlife conflict
• Habitat degradation and fragmentation – 2 major highways
Habitat Securement• 2010 – 2012 ~ Attention is focused on connective corridor, surveys and mapping begin
Species occupancy and usage
Threats
Legal background
Legal and Policy
• 2011 ~ Declaration as Tiger Reserve ~ success in 2013
• 2012 ~ Proposal for protection of corridor ~ ESZ, 2012
• Expansion of NH7 halted
Mass Awareness• 2011 ~ Local schools targeted for Animal Action Education (over 1000 school children)
• Consultative meetings with nine villages – 3 BMCs formed
• A large scale campaign is being planned
Community Work• 2010 ~ Two villages prioritized (Jambulpani and Sodalagondi)
• 2011 ~ Intensive community work planned and initiated
Community Work•Intensive Community work initiated
Over 300 fuel efficient cookstoves distributed
5 Biogas plants installed
8 Community orchards developed
Backyard grazing promoted
Capacity Enhancement• Over 230 Frontline Forest Staff have been trained, including reserve forest staff
• Over 120 staff have been equipped with patrolling equipment
• Anti-Poaching and Conflict Mitigation Training ~ June 2014
Conflict Mitigation• 2012 ~ 2 km long electric fence bordering Jambulpani, setup
• A Protection camp was built and handed over to FD
• Water holes on forest fringes are replenished every summer
Rescue and Rehabilitation• A proposal has been submitted to MoEFCC for Establishment of a Rescue Centre, that will cater to not just Nagzira and Nawegaon, but also to Kanha NP, Pench TR and Tadoba-Andhari TR
Other Projects…
• Western Himalayas Mountain Ungulates
• Valmiki Tiger and Gharial Recovery
• U.P. Big Cat Conflict Mitigation
• Southern Western Ghats Elephant Corridors
• West Coast Marine Project
• Garo Green Spine
Other Projects…
• A total of 42 projects spread across 13 states across India
• Employ integrative and holistic approaches over long periods of time.
The Road Ahead…
• Intensify integrated and holistic approaches
• Linking initiatives to sustainability ~ pull out in gradual phases
• Include ‘family planning’ as a key exercise
• Increase focus on children ~ our future torchbearers
THANK YOU!www.wti.org.in