Dear Friends,
If you are interested in getting more details or want the entire issue of the newsletter over the email please write to me at psekhsaria@gmail.com
thanks
Pankaj
If you are interested in getting more details or want the entire issue of the newsletter over the email please write to me at psekhsaria@gmail.com
thanks
Pankaj
PROTECTED AREA UPDATE
News and Information from protected areas in India and South Asia
Vol. XIV No. 2
April 2008 (No. 72)
LIST OF CONTENTS
EDITORIAL
The fluctuating fortunes of Asian Rhinos
NEWS FROM INDIAN STATES
ASSAM
Fourth rhino introduced into Manas NP
61 poaches surrender in Manas NP
Veterinary Camp at Burachapori WLSProtest against rhino poaching in Kaziranga
BIHAR
RJD MP, Shahabuddin chargesheeted for poaching in Valmiki TR in 2003
GUJARAT
Increasing threat from Nilgais to crops
Fire affects 85 hectares of forest in Gir
81 lions died in the last two years
781 open wells barricaded in East Gir
Nal Sarovar WLS to be declared a ESZ
HIMACHAL PRADESH
Nearly One lakh migratory birds at Pong Dam
Rationalisation of sanctuaries; three to be denotified
JAMMU & KASHMIR
Hangul census in Dachigam NP
KARNATAKA
Chamalapura power plant opposed for its impact on people, wildlife
Trial peafowl census in Bankapura CR
KERALA
Train kills five elephants in Walayar Forests of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve
Proposals submitted by Kerala Government to the Centre for conservation activities
Rs. 85 crore proposal for relocation of people from Wynad WLS
MADHYA PRADESH
Union Tourism Ministry award for Pench TR
111 gharial deaths in National Chambal Sanctuary
MAHARASHTRA
GIS based surveillance for Sanjay Gandhi NP
Spotted deer from Powai park to be moved to Tungareshwar WLS
Proposal for the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve
MIZORAM
MoU for conservation work in the Mara Autonomous District Council
ORISSA
Forest rangers and staff demand better facilities
President of Mahabir Pakshi Surakshya Samiti, Mangaljodi arrested for poaching
Road and school construction stopped inside Karlapat WLS
TAMIL NADU
Protests against grazing ban in Indira Gandhi WLS
UTTAR PRADESH
Villages to be shifted out of Dudhwa
WEST BENGAL
Tribal youth shot dead in Buxa Tiger Reserve
NATIONAL NEWS FROM INDIA
Govt. moves forward on CAMPA
Golden Ark award for Dr. Charudutt Mishra
Rs. 600 crore for Project Tiger in 11th Five Year Plan; Rs. 50 crore for NTCA in Budget
4th Green Guard Awards
Wildlife Crime Control Bureau Headquarters inaugurated
SOUTH ASIA
BANGLADESH
Tiger collaring project in Sunderbans suspended
NEPAL
Only two rhinos poached in Nepal in 2007
Three-day operation against illegal activities in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve
SRI LANKA
IEDs being used for wildlife poaching
OPPORTUNITIES
Paid volunteers for King Cobra Telemetry Project
Training course in environmental journalism
Researcher for wolf project in Maharashtra
Faculty positions in Social Sciences at ATREE
Fieldwork in Keladevi WLS
Equations needs people to work on tourism issues
UPCOMING
Fifth Biennial Conference of The Indian Society for Ecological Economics
DETAILED REPORTS
DEATH AND INJURIES caused by tigers in Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve – A Chronology
FORESTRY PROJECTS in India currently funded by International Finance Institutions
IN THE SUPREME COURT
READERS WRITE
EDITORIAL
THE FLUCTUATING FORTUNTES OF ASIAN RHINOS
News from the two strongholds of the Asian Rhino, the Kaziranga National Park in Assam and the protected areas of Nepal presents a strikingly different and interesting scenario. The year 2007 was one of the worst in recent times as far as rhino poaching in Kaziranga was concerned. Nearly 20 of these endangered animals were poached (mainly shot) in and around the grasslands of the park (PA Update Vol XIII, No. 6). The situation in Nepal, in contrast, turned up looking very good for 2007 as will be seen in the news reports below. Only two rhinos, one each in the Chitwan and Bardia National Parks were reported poached.
Move just a year into the past and the situation that we had was completely the opposite. What 2007 has been for Kaziranga, 2006 seems to have been for rhinos of Nepal. At least 20 rhinos were poached in Nepal in 2006, 14 in Chitwan alone. The Bardia National Park, which has been one of the sites of rhino re-introduction in Nepal lost a staggering 67 rhinos in the three-year period from 2003-2006.
Is there anything that can explain this fluctuating of fortunes and the sudden and complete reversal of situations on the ground? Many say that the troubled years of insurgency in Nepal meant that the administrative mechanism and protection forces were simply unable to operate. In many instances these had to be pulled out completely and this led to a spurt in poaching activity (PA Update XII, No. 4 & No. 55) Nepal is believed to have one of the most successful community protection of forests, but this does not seem to have helped the rhino. There have been reports in recent times, in fact, suggesting increased involvement in rhino poaching of the fringe villagers of the Chitwan NP. Nearly half the rhinos poached here in 2006 were in forests managed by communities (PA Updates Vol XIII, Nos. 4 & 1). The situation in 2007 seems to have improved because of the stabilization of the political situation and the possibility of deputing more attention and resources for the protection of forests and wildlife.
If, however, the hardline gun and guard regime is the only one that will succeed, the question that follows is an obvious one. Why did Kaziranga, one of the India’s most prominent wildlife parks and held up all along as a model of how ‘protection’ is the only thing that works, suffer such unprecedented losses in 2007? There have been in recent time, many reports of drastic increases in human – wildlife conflict around Kaziranga and people have suffered many losses because of wildlife. Communities that are not taken into confidence, nor benefit from conservation can only be indifferent to poaching threats at best and actual partners in poaching at worst. Add to this the condition of the frontline field staff and the situation almost explains itself.
The case of the rhino is only illustrative of the complex realities of conservation in a landscape where the nature, magnitude and diversity of threats faced by wildlife and those striving for its protection are becoming increasingly powerful and insidious.
It must, however, be stated at the same time that there are no readymade answers. Also, that in a fast changing reality no one prescription, be it community participation or stricter protection, will necessarily work by itself. The challenge clearly is in finding some kind of an ideal mean, a situation and case specific approach that does not rely predominantly on just one paradigm of conservation.
The effort will have to be a joint and persistent one and the vigil, needless to say, relentless.
***
Protected Area Update
Vol. XIV, No. 2, April 2008 (No. 72)
Editor: PANKAJ Sekhsaria
Illustrations: MADHUVANTI Anantharajan
Produced by: Kalpavriksh
Ideas, comments, news and information may please be sent to the editorial address:
KALPAVRIKSH, Apartment 5, Shri Dutta Krupa, 908 Deccan Gymkhana, Pune 411004, Maharashtra, India. Tel/Fax: 020 – 25654239.
Email: psekhsaria@gmail.com
Website: www.kalpavriksh.org
Production of PA Update 72 has been supported by FOUNDATION FOR ECOLOGICAL SECURITY (FES), Anand.
----------------
KARNATAKA
Chamalapura power plant opposed for its impact on people, wildlife
Trial peafowl census in Bankapura CR
KERALA
Train kills five elephants in Walayar Forests of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve
Proposals submitted by Kerala Government to the Centre for conservation activities
Rs. 85 crore proposal for relocation of people from Wynad WLS
MADHYA PRADESH
Union Tourism Ministry award for Pench TR
111 gharial deaths in National Chambal SanctuaryMAHARASHTRA
GIS based surveillance for Sanjay Gandhi NP
Spotted deer from Powai park to be moved to Tungareshwar WLSProposal for the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve
MIZORAM
MoU for conservation work in the Mara Autonomous District Council
ORISSA
Forest rangers and staff demand better facilities
President of Mahabir Pakshi Surakshya Samiti, Mangaljodi arrested for poaching
Road and school construction stopped inside Karlapat WLS
TAMIL NADU
Protests against grazing ban in Indira Gandhi WLSUTTAR PRADESH
Villages to be shifted out of Dudhwa
WEST BENGAL
Tribal youth shot dead in Buxa Tiger Reserve
NATIONAL NEWS FROM INDIA
Govt. moves forward on CAMPA
Golden Ark award for Dr. Charudutt MishraRs. 600 crore for Project Tiger in 11th Five Year Plan; Rs. 50 crore for NTCA in Budget
4th Green Guard Awards
Wildlife Crime Control Bureau Headquarters inauguratedSOUTH ASIA
BANGLADESH
Tiger collaring project in Sunderbans suspended
NEPAL
Only two rhinos poached in Nepal in 2007
Three-day operation against illegal activities in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve
SRI LANKA
IEDs being used for wildlife poaching
OPPORTUNITIES
Paid volunteers for King Cobra Telemetry Project
Training course in environmental journalism
Researcher for wolf project in Maharashtra
Faculty positions in Social Sciences at ATREE
Fieldwork in Keladevi WLS
Equations needs people to work on tourism issues
UPCOMING
Fifth Biennial Conference of The Indian Society for Ecological Economics
DETAILED REPORTS
DEATH AND INJURIES caused by tigers in Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve – A Chronology
FORESTRY PROJECTS in India currently funded by International Finance Institutions
IN THE SUPREME COURT
READERS WRITE
EDITORIAL
THE FLUCTUATING FORTUNTES OF ASIAN RHINOS
News from the two strongholds of the Asian Rhino, the Kaziranga National Park in Assam and the protected areas of Nepal presents a strikingly different and interesting scenario. The year 2007 was one of the worst in recent times as far as rhino poaching in Kaziranga was concerned. Nearly 20 of these endangered animals were poached (mainly shot) in and around the grasslands of the park (PA Update Vol XIII, No. 6). The situation in Nepal, in contrast, turned up looking very good for 2007 as will be seen in the news reports below. Only two rhinos, one each in the Chitwan and Bardia National Parks were reported poached.Move just a year into the past and the situation that we had was completely the opposite. What 2007 has been for Kaziranga, 2006 seems to have been for rhinos of Nepal. At least 20 rhinos were poached in Nepal in 2006, 14 in Chitwan alone. The Bardia National Park, which has been one of the sites of rhino re-introduction in Nepal lost a staggering 67 rhinos in the three-year period from 2003-2006.
Is there anything that can explain this fluctuating of fortunes and the sudden and complete reversal of situations on the ground? Many say that the troubled years of insurgency in Nepal meant that the administrative mechanism and protection forces were simply unable to operate. In many instances these had to be pulled out completely and this led to a spurt in poaching activity (PA Update XII, No. 4 & No. 55) Nepal is believed to have one of the most successful community protection of forests, but this does not seem to have helped the rhino. There have been reports in recent times, in fact, suggesting increased involvement in rhino poaching of the fringe villagers of the Chitwan NP. Nearly half the rhinos poached here in 2006 were in forests managed by communities (PA Updates Vol XIII, Nos. 4 & 1). The situation in 2007 seems to have improved because of the stabilization of the political situation and the possibility of deputing more attention and resources for the protection of forests and wildlife.
If, however, the hardline gun and guard regime is the only one that will succeed, the question that follows is an obvious one. Why did Kaziranga, one of the India’s most prominent wildlife parks and held up all along as a model of how ‘protection’ is the only thing that works, suffer such unprecedented losses in 2007? There have been in recent time, many reports of drastic increases in human – wildlife conflict around Kaziranga and people have suffered many losses because of wildlife. Communities that are not taken into confidence, nor benefit from conservation can only be indifferent to poaching threats at best and actual partners in poaching at worst. Add to this the condition of the frontline field staff and the situation almost explains itself.
The case of the rhino is only illustrative of the complex realities of conservation in a landscape where the nature, magnitude and diversity of threats faced by wildlife and those striving for its protection are becoming increasingly powerful and insidious.
It must, however, be stated at the same time that there are no readymade answers. Also, that in a fast changing reality no one prescription, be it community participation or stricter protection, will necessarily work by itself. The challenge clearly is in finding some kind of an ideal mean, a situation and case specific approach that does not rely predominantly on just one paradigm of conservation.
The effort will have to be a joint and persistent one and the vigil, needless to say, relentless.
***
Protected Area Update
Vol. XIV, No. 2, April 2008 (No. 72)
Editor: PANKAJ Sekhsaria
Illustrations: MADHUVANTI Anantharajan
Produced by: Kalpavriksh
Ideas, comments, news and information may please be sent to the editorial address:
KALPAVRIKSH, Apartment 5, Shri Dutta Krupa, 908 Deccan Gymkhana, Pune 411004, Maharashtra, India. Tel/Fax: 020 – 25654239.
Email: psekhsaria@gmail.com
Website: www.kalpavriksh.org
Production of PA Update 72 has been supported by FOUNDATION FOR ECOLOGICAL SECURITY (FES), Anand.
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informative blog.shows hardwork
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