Pasted below is the list of contents and editorial for the new issue of the Protected Area Update (Vol XV, No. 5, October 2009 (No. 81). If you would like to receive details of any of the stories below or the full issue as an email attachment, please write to me. Email: psekhsaria@gmail.com
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PROTECTED AREA UPDATE
News and Information from protected areas in India and South Asia
Vol. XV No. 5
October 2009 (No.81)
LIST OF CONTENTS
EDITORIAL
Do we want the cheetah back?
NEWS FROM INDIAN STATES
ASSAM
Habitat protection vital to save River Dolphin in the Brahmaputra
Study on implications of the Forest Rights Act around Nameri NP and
Sonai Rupai WLS
Opposition to proposal of gifting rhino horns
More stringent punishment for poaching in Assam
Opposition to eviction for expansion of the Kaziranga NP
GUJARAT
MoEF rejects proposed port at Poshitara adjoining the Gulf of Kutch
Marine NP
JHARKHAND
Mobile phones and flying squads to tackle man-elephant conflict
KARNATAKA
NEAA rejects thermal power station close to Anshi-Dandeli TR
Night traffic banned through Bandipur NP
MADHYA PRADESH
Displaced fisherfolk ask for full fishing rights in Tawa reservoir in
Satpura TR
MAHARASHTRA
Rise in Giant squirrel population in Bhimashankar WLS
Forest Dept employees warn of strike
Large scale transfers; PAs left unprotected
MEGHALAYA
Land adjoining Balpakram NP reclaimed from illegal miners
ORISSA
223 tribal families to be shifted from Similipal TR
PUNJAB
Ranjit Sagar Dam reservoir to be declared a wildlife sanctuary
RAJASTHAN
Great Indian Bustard sighted in Tal Chappar Wildlife Sanctuary
TAMIL NADU
Animal census in Point Calimere WLS
UTTARAKHAND
SC abandons elevated corridor for elephants in Rajaji NP
UTTAR PRADESH
Steering committee for tiger conservation
NATIONAL NEWS FROM INDIA
Proposal to re-introduce the cheetah to India
Report on Ecologically Sensitive Areas in India
Four PAs proposed for inclusion on UNESCO heritage list
SCB'S Distinguished Service Award to Dr Kamal Bawa
National Green Tribunal approved
CEE plans Hoolock gibbon conservation programme in NE
1st installment of CAMPA money for eight states; dissatisfaction with
amount of money being released
Centre sends teams to assess situation in eight tiger reserves
SOUTH ASIA
BANGLADESH
US, Germany pledge US $19 million for reforestation of Chunati WLS
NEPAL
121 breeding tigers counted in PAs in Nepal
UPCOMING
Great Himalayan Bird Count, Winter - 2009
International Conference on Wildlife & Biodiversity Conservation
World Tiger Summit in Ranthambore TR in 2010
Global Tiger Workshop in Kathmandu
Call for Papers: People and Protected Areas - India case studies
OPPORTUNITIES
Research position for project on Snow leopard phylogeography and
conservation
Research position for Population genetics of a montane bird in the
Western Ghats
Research positions on bio-resource ecology and climate change in the
Sikkim Himalayas
Diploma in International Wildlife Conservation Practice
Part time environment education work in Mumbai
IN THE SUPREME COURT
PRESS RELEASES
National Conference of Ministers of Environment and Forests, 18/08/09
Future of Conservation Network, 19/08/09
READERS WRITE
News and Information from protected areas in India and South Asia
Vol. XV No. 5
October 2009 (No.81)
LIST OF CONTENTS
EDITORIAL
Do we want the cheetah back?
NEWS FROM INDIAN STATES
ASSAM
Habitat protection vital to save River Dolphin in the Brahmaputra
Study on implications of the Forest Rights Act around Nameri NP and
Sonai Rupai WLS
Opposition to proposal of gifting rhino horns
More stringent punishment for poaching in Assam
Opposition to eviction for expansion of the Kaziranga NP
GUJARAT
MoEF rejects proposed port at Poshitara adjoining the Gulf of Kutch
Marine NP
JHARKHAND
Mobile phones and flying squads to tackle man-elephant conflictKARNATAKA
NEAA rejects thermal power station close to Anshi-Dandeli TR
Night traffic banned through Bandipur NP
MADHYA PRADESH
Displaced fisherfolk ask for full fishing rights in Tawa reservoir in
Satpura TR
MAHARASHTRA
Rise in Giant squirrel population in Bhimashankar WLSForest Dept employees warn of strike
Large scale transfers; PAs left unprotected
MEGHALAYA
Land adjoining Balpakram NP reclaimed from illegal miners
ORISSA
223 tribal families to be shifted from Similipal TRPUNJAB
Ranjit Sagar Dam reservoir to be declared a wildlife sanctuary
RAJASTHAN
Great Indian Bustard sighted in Tal Chappar Wildlife Sanctuary
TAMIL NADU
Animal census in Point Calimere WLS
UTTARAKHAND
SC abandons elevated corridor for elephants in Rajaji NPUTTAR PRADESH
Steering committee for tiger conservation
NATIONAL NEWS FROM INDIA
Proposal to re-introduce the cheetah to India
Report on Ecologically Sensitive Areas in India
Four PAs proposed for inclusion on UNESCO heritage list
SCB'S Distinguished Service Award to Dr Kamal Bawa
National Green Tribunal approved
CEE plans Hoolock gibbon conservation programme in NE
1st installment of CAMPA money for eight states; dissatisfaction with
amount of money being released
Centre sends teams to assess situation in eight tiger reserves
SOUTH ASIA
BANGLADESH
US, Germany pledge US $19 million for reforestation of Chunati WLS
NEPAL
121 breeding tigers counted in PAs in Nepal
UPCOMING
Great Himalayan Bird Count, Winter - 2009International Conference on Wildlife & Biodiversity Conservation
World Tiger Summit in Ranthambore TR in 2010
Global Tiger Workshop in KathmanduCall for Papers: People and Protected Areas - India case studies
OPPORTUNITIES
Research position for project on Snow leopard phylogeography and
conservation
Research position for Population genetics of a montane bird in the
Western Ghats
Research positions on bio-resource ecology and climate change in the
Sikkim Himalayas
Diploma in International Wildlife Conservation Practice
Part time environment education work in Mumbai
IN THE SUPREME COURT
PRESS RELEASES
National Conference of Ministers of Environment and Forests, 18/08/09
Future of Conservation Network, 19/08/09
READERS WRITE
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EDITORIAL
Do we want the Cheetah back?
It is not anymore a question only of academic interest. The ball, in some senses, is already rolling. A meeting was held in Rajasthan in September (see national news) where a host of international and national experts including representatives from state and national governments met to discuss and debate a proposal for the re-introduction of the cheetah to India. A decision may not be taken for a while as the issues related to availability of habitat and prey, of management and possible conflict with humans are studied, analysed and decided upon.
There are many areas where the feasibility of the re-introduction will have to be carefully studied and this is what the meeting has proposed should be done. But the question really is a more fundamental one. Why do we want the cheetah back? There seem to be two different answers to this. One it would seem, and the Minister for Environment and Forests, Mr. Jairam Ramesh too referred to that - is to regain a part of the lost glory and history of this country. The other, as has been pointed by some wildlife experts, is that the cheetah, like the tiger, is the apex species of the
grassland habitat and it?s presence would, both, indicate and ensure the health of this badly abused ecosystem.
Prima facie, the arguments seem valid, but if looked at carefully, both have serious problems. It is certainly important to realize that grassland habitats are extremely productive but undervalued and abused. There is no doubt they should be conserved but introducing the cheetah from Africa hardly seems to be the way to do that. There are far simpler and effective ways to do it if we have the common sense and political will for it. It is also an extremely unfortunate part of our history that this glorious animal was shot into extinction nearly six decades ago. What is a scarier reality is that many species of plants, birds and animals stand today on the verge of joining the cheetah into that void called extinction. Flagship programs - Project Tiger and Project Elephant, for instance, face serious challenges and some might even say that they are floundering. How prudent would it then be to get into something new without ensuring the success of what we already have on hand?
Rather than spending huge amounts of time, human resources, energy and money towards an 'esoteric' bringing back of the 'dead' the effort has to be concentrated on preventing it happening again - with other species. That would be a far more worthwhile and valuable endeavour. We can't undo the extinctions we have caused already. Let the fate of cheetah be a grim pointer to that reality.
There are many areas where the feasibility of the re-introduction will have to be carefully studied and this is what the meeting has proposed should be done. But the question really is a more fundamental one. Why do we want the cheetah back? There seem to be two different answers to this. One it would seem, and the Minister for Environment and Forests, Mr. Jairam Ramesh too referred to that - is to regain a part of the lost glory and history of this country. The other, as has been pointed by some wildlife experts, is that the cheetah, like the tiger, is the apex species of the
grassland habitat and it?s presence would, both, indicate and ensure the health of this badly abused ecosystem.
Prima facie, the arguments seem valid, but if looked at carefully, both have serious problems. It is certainly important to realize that grassland habitats are extremely productive but undervalued and abused. There is no doubt they should be conserved but introducing the cheetah from Africa hardly seems to be the way to do that. There are far simpler and effective ways to do it if we have the common sense and political will for it. It is also an extremely unfortunate part of our history that this glorious animal was shot into extinction nearly six decades ago. What is a scarier reality is that many species of plants, birds and animals stand today on the verge of joining the cheetah into that void called extinction. Flagship programs - Project Tiger and Project Elephant, for instance, face serious challenges and some might even say that they are floundering. How prudent would it then be to get into something new without ensuring the success of what we already have on hand?
Rather than spending huge amounts of time, human resources, energy and money towards an 'esoteric' bringing back of the 'dead' the effort has to be concentrated on preventing it happening again - with other species. That would be a far more worthwhile and valuable endeavour. We can't undo the extinctions we have caused already. Let the fate of cheetah be a grim pointer to that reality.
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PROTECTED AREA UPDATE
Vol. XV, No. 5, October 2009 (No. 81)
Editor: Pankaj Sekhsaria
Editorial Assistance: Reshma
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
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Publication of the PA Update Vol. XV, No. 5 has been supported by the
DULEEP MATHAI NATURE CONSERVATION TRUST, the FOUNDATION FOR ECOLOGICAL
SECURITY, GREENPEACE INDIA, the ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF
BIRDS and the INDIAN BIRD CONSERVATION NETWORK
