FIELD FORESTER V o i c e s f r o m t h e f i e l d
volume 1 ● issue 4 February 2016 FIELD FORESTER | February 2016
Patron: Dr S S Negi Director General of Forests Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change Government of India
Editorial Advisory Board
Chief Advisor: Member Secretary: Dr Anil Kumar Shri M P Singh Additional Director General Director Forest Education of Forests (FC) Directorate of Forest Education Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change Forests & Climate Change Government of India Government of India
Advisor: Advisor: Dr Suneesh Buxy Shri Deepak Mishra Deputy Inspector General of Additional Professor Forests (RT) Indira Gandhi National Forest Ministry of Environment, Academy Forests and Climate Change Dehradun Government of India
Members: ● Principal, Central Academy for State Forest Service, Dehradun ● Principal, Central Academy for State Forest Service, Coimbatore ● Principal, Central Academy for State Forest Service, Burnihat ● Principal, Eastern Forest Rangers College, Kurseong ● Director, Telangana State Forest Academy, Dulapally, Hyderabad, Telangana ● Director, Uttarakhand Forestry Training Academy, Haldwani, Uttarakhand ● Director, Forest Training Institute & Rangers College, Sunder Nagar, Himachal Pradesh ● Director, Tamil Nadu State Forest Academy, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu ● Director, Forest Training Institute, Gungargatti, Dharwad, Karnataka ● Director, Kundal Academy of Development, Administration & Management, Kundal, Maharashtra
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Editorial Board
Chief Editor: Shri M P Singh, IFS Director Forest Education Directorate of Forest Education Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change Government of India
Editors:
Ms Meera Iyer Dr Raja Ram Singh IFS Lecturer IFS ADG Central Academy for State (Media & Extension) Forest Service Dehradun ICFRE, Dehradun
Dr Surabhi Rai Dr B Balaji IFS Lecturer Associate Professor Central Academy for State Indira Gandhi National Forest Service Dehradun Forest Academy Dehradun
Dr K S Jayachandran IFS Lecturer Central Academy for State Forest Service Dehradun
Honorary Editor: Sub Editor: Ms Jaskiran Chopra Ms Megha Sharma
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Contents
From the Chief Editor’s Desk...... vi
BHARATPUR / RAJASTHAN Eco-tourism management at Keoladeo National Park...... 1 Waikhom Romabai
Challenges in managing water for the National Park...... 37 Ritu Paban Borah
UDAIPUR / RAJASTHAN Livelihood enhancement through Aloe vera...... 3 D John Sha
Livelihood generation through Agarbatti production...... 8 Chinpilhing Kipgen
A critical analysis of the Sajjangarh Biological Park...... 25 Sayambrita Dutta
Bamboo production and the Kathori tribe...... 28 Priyasa Saikia
Human-Leopard conflict on the rise...... 45 Bikram Singh Rongpi
Jaipur / Rajasthan Urban Forestry in Jaipur...... 14 Abbas Ali Dewan
Prospects and challenges at Nahargarh Zoological Park...... 22 Rebika Soibam Chanu
Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve / Rajasthan Man-animal conflict in Ranthambhore...... 16 Laishram Gitla
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Management of Trinetra Ganesh Chathurti Mela inside the Protected Area...... 39 Hibu Tana
Tiger monitoring with camera traps...... 52 Leishangthem Jeeceelee
Jaisamand / Rajasthan Promoting eco-tourism in Jaisamand Sanctuary...... 19 Preeti Buragohain
Jodhpur / Rajasthan Machia Biological Park: From a rocky desert to a home for wildlife...... 48 Elangbam Nirmala Chanu
Rajasthan Phase 2 of the Forestry and Biodiversity Project...... 31 Mahamuda Begum
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From the Chief Editor’s Desk
The present issue of Field Forester consists of case studies from Rajasthan, which have been shaped into final form through sincere efforts of Late Shri A K Upadhyay, the then Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Training, Research, Extension and Education). The SFS officer trainees, who visited Rajasthan during September-October 2015, had been personally mentored by him through careful selection of case studies for documentation as good practices in the Rajasthan Forest Department. Late Shri A K Upadhyay, or AKU as he was known to Late Shri A K Upadhyay everyone around him, was an extraordinary officer of the 1982 batch of the Indian Forest Service. An MSc in Physics from the prestigious IIT Kanpur, his association with Forestry Training sector had been a long and a very valued one. His tenure as a trainer and mentor at the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy in Dehradun had created many highly motivated forest officers, when he was posted as Joint Director for seven years. His unorthodox style of training was something that elicited whole-hearted appreciation. He was vociferous, bold, tough, but also accessible and compassionate. Under his guidance, many young forest officers found strength to be bold and upright officers; probably his most important contribution to the country. After the Academy he moved on to his State cadre of Rajasthan and was associated with many externally aided projects with the World Bank, WFP, JICA etc. The greening of the Indira Gandhi Canal in Jaisalmer and Bikaner was a stupendous achievement for which he was awarded the Indira Priyadarshini Vriksha Mitra Award, an honour he truly deserved. In his hardships – easily imaginable in the harsh backdrop of the scorching deserts – he generously and gracefully acknowledged the contribution of his guards, foresters, his team of deputies in greening the canal. This issue is thus a tribute to the indomitable spirit of Late Shri A K Upadhyay and his cherished service to forestry sector, consisting befittingly of case studies documented from Rajasthan and the contributions of such good practices towards the conservation field in Rajasthan. Protected Areas, such as Keoladeo National Park, Ranthambore National Park and Jaisamund Sanctuary, have exceptional stories to share in the area of eco-tourism and man-animal conflict. Livelihood issues, wildlife management and urban forestry also find a delightful place in this issue through some replicable success stories in the field.
M P Singh
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BHARATPUR / RAJASTHAN Eco-tourism management at Keoladeo National Park
The eco-tourism activities are managed sustainably, keeping in mind the carrying capacity of the area
Waikhom Romabai species of birds nest and breed. The duck shoots in the park over the years eoladeo National Park in inscribed on a wall are an indicator of Bharatpur is situated in the the acclaim it had as a duck shooting Kfloodplains of two tributaries reserve. As an eco-tourism destination of the River Yamuna – Gambhir and it supports a rich floral and faunal Banganga. Referred to locally as Ghana wealth comprising of 347 bird species, for its dense vegetation, it is a large 379 floral species, 50 species of fish, 13 shallow saucer like depression which species of snakes, 5 species of lizards, 7 extends over an area of about 29 sq amphibian species and 7 turtle species. km. In 1899, the area was developed To promote eco-tourism the Forest into a duck shooting reserve by Department has taken up two initiatives Prince Harbhanji of Morvi State in which include the Eco-Development Gujarat. Considering its importance Committee and Staff Welfare Society. for migratory waterfowl it was handed The Eco-Development Committee was over to the Government of Rajasthan formed in 1999 and fifteen villages were on the advice of National Committee selected to be a part of the committee. for Bird Preservation. Later, it was An Eco-Development surcharge is declared as a Sanctuary in 1956 and levied on every ticket into the Park. upgraded to a National Park in 1982. It Proceeds from the surcharge are used was declared as a Ramsar Site in 1981 for the development of villages and and a World Heritage Site in 1985. It is better Park management. Shanti Kutir the first wetland in India to be declared – the Forest Rest House, books and as a Ramsar Site. souvenir shops are run by the Eco- The Park has been a ‘must visit’ Development Committee members. site for tourists and bird lovers for a Since motor vehicles are not allowed long time as it is located on the tourist inside the premises of the National Golden Triangle between Delhi, Agra Park, the Forest Department promotes and Jaipur. The main attraction of the pollution free and cheap means of Park includes the heronry where 15 transport like golf cars, bicycles on rent
SFS Batch 2015-17
CONTENTS 1 FIELD FORESTER | February 2016 and rickshaws for the convenience of tation centre funded by Swaroski and the tourists. Only licensed richshaw Co, an Austrian multi-national crystal pullers and nature guides are allowed to company, was created to promote eco- operate and the tariff for these services tourism and awareness. The interpreta- is fixed by the Forest Department. The tion centre is dedicated to Dr Salim Ali, licenses are renewed every two years the ‘Birdman of India’, acknowledging and during renewal the rickshaw his pioneer effort for conserving this pullers and guides have to attend a wetland as a National Park. three day training conducted by the The tourist assistance centre has been Department. It is compulsory to engage set up near the entrance of the National a guide if the group is more than ten. Park and is headed by a Range Officer. Two cafeterias inside the park are run The Range Officer, tourism is also by the Staff Welfare Society, the society responsible for the smooth functioning is also responsible for maintaining of the Eco-Development Committee bicycles which are given on rent. created for managing eco-tourism Others facilities include Dr Salim activities inside the Park. Watch-towers Ali Interpretation Centre, tourist assis- have been constructed to provide a tance centre, ticketing window, watch birds’ eye view of the park Tourism towers, nature trails, etc. The interpre- activities are allowed in selected areas for which separate nature trails The Ramsar Convention, known have been made so that people get an earlier as the Convention on Wetlands opportunity to see the landscape and of International Importance, is an diverse bird species. Five nature trails international treaty for the conservation also help lower visitor impact. The and sustainable utilisation of wetlands. best season to visit the park is during It recognises fundamental ecological October to March. The eco-tourism functions of wetlands and their activities are managed sustainably, economic, cultural, scientific, and keeping in mind the carrying capacity recreational value. It is named after of the area. The Keoladeo National the city of Ramsar in Iran, where the Park is a good example of sustainable Convention was signed in 1971. The tourism with the socio-economic convention was hosted by the Iranian involvement of the local people. Department of Environment and came into force on December 21,1975. Acknowledgement The Ramsar List of Wetlands of I owe my sincere thanks to Mr Bijo International Importance now includes Joy, IFS, DCF(WL), KNP, and his staff 2,228 sites. The country with the for their guidance, cooperation during highest number of sites is the United our case study tour and also for their Kingdom at 170 and the country with keen interest, valuable suggestions and the greatest area of listed wetlands is help. I would also like to acknowledge Bolivia, with over 140,000 km2. Rajasthan Forest Department for making our case study a successful one.
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UDAIPUR / RAJASTHAN Livelihood enhancement through Aloe vera
Aloe Vera plantation in Atatya village has transformed the lives of the people living in this remote and poor region of the state
D John Sha (TAD), Japan International Co- operation Agency (JICA) and Mahatma case study of livelihood Gandhi National Rural Employment enhancement through Aloe Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). Avera was documented at Atatya Plantation of Aloe vera was done by village in Ogna range of Udaipur the Forest Department for conservation district, Rajasthan. Atatya has 270 purposes and soil binding in degraded households with a population of about areas under various schemes in Makadia 2,000. The communities residing in this block medicinal plantation, which is 1.5 village consist of Rajputs, Garasias, km from the Ogna Range. Since the Bhils, Kathodi and Damors. It is plantation of Aloe vera was successful approximately 75 km from Udaipur and could benefits the tribal population city. Aloe vera has been planted in in the area, it came under Tribal Areas Makadia block medicinal plantation, Development (TAD) in 1996-97 with an under Raidari Forest Blocks, in an area area of 50 ha. At this point, though the of 125 ha. The plantation project is plantation was successful, it was not funded by the Tribal Area Development commercially viable.
Aloe vera grown in natural forest
SFS 2015-17 batch
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The Forest Department and the provided by the Forest Department, villagers met and agreed for value- Government of Rajasthan. addition of Aloe vera for further development of the village economy. Processing of Aloe vera leaves They later came to an understanding consist of the following steps: that a small-scale industry will be established for the livelihood needs of Step 1: Cutting of leaves – Harvesting Atatya village. Therefore, in 2007-08, of the matured leaves from the plants Makadia plantation was developed by cutting. as a key project for employment and commercialisation through MGNREGA. Under this project, 50 ha along with 75 ha of forested area were selected for Aloe vera plantation. The Aloe vera saplings were brought from Ballav Nagar and Chittorgarh and were planted at a distance of 1m x 1m (plant-to-plant) in the natural forest. The commonly found tree species in this forest are Cassia tora, Emblica officinalis, Pongamia pinnata, Leucaena leucocephala, Helicteres isora, etc. After plantation, Aloe vera is harvested after 1-2 years. Plucking and collection of leaves is usually done just after monsoon – August-March, as it is a rainfed area. Normally, a single leaf weighs 400-600 gms and each plant can yield about 1.5-2 kg of fresh leaves. About Step 2: Cleaning – Removing of 30 per cent of juice can be extracted unwanted substances from the leaves. from a single leaf. It is reported that presently there are about 15 lakh plants in the plantation area. The unit can be effectively operated from September to February – i.e, 6 months in a year – while the cost of unit can be recovered within three months of operations. In the processing unit there are 6 employees and for collection of raw materials, 50 employees. The building for housing the equipment and products was
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Step 3: Side cutting – Removing and Step 6: Testing – Testing of the finished slicing off the sides of the leaves using products for quality, using various knife. methods.
Step 7: Packing – The products are packed in different containers according to the use for marketing and dispatching.
Step 4: Separation of pulp – The pulps are separated from the covering layers for further processing.
Step 5: Seiving – Homonizing and The products obtained from Aloe vera filtering of the pulp. are shampoo, face cream and juice. Aloe vera is known for its medicinal value; it is used for liver and stomach problem, arthritis, knee joint problem, reducing blood sugar, curing cancer, controlling high blood pressure, healing of wounds, anaemia, hairfall, weight loss and cosmetics. The production is certified by Biocent India as an organic product by certificate no. ORG/SC/ 1307/ 00093, which is approved by the USDA. This is the only processing unit approved in this area. The process of extraction of Aloe vera juice and other techniques was
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Village development Profit 25% Paid to the Cost of 40% government Processing 50% 60% Staff salary 25%
Percentage break up of Processing Cost & Profit Break up percentage of the profit earned
With Mr Manohar Singh (President, AVFMC) and forest officials at Atatya village taught to the workers in the Maharana by themselves. Therefore, to market Pratap Agriculture and Technology the products, a distribution stall was University, Udaipur, which is under the inaugurated on February 14, 2009, under post-harvest department. The trainees the aegis of the District Magistrate and were given hands-on training after the CCF, Udaipur. The theme of the stall, completion of their course and before which is still functional, is “Plantation starting work in the processing unit. of Health & Prosperity of Village”. Purchasing of machines and handling When the production was started, it techniques were also supported by yielded about 4,000 litres of Aloe vera the Maharana Pratap Agriculture and juice per year. Now, it is producing Technology University. about 22,200 litres per year. The Aloe Since the processing unit is far vera juice is sold at Rs 120 per litre. away from the cities, it is difficult This is the first of its kind processing for the villagers to do the marketing unit in the underdeveloped tribal areas
CONTENTS 6 FIELD FORESTER | February 2016 of Rajasthan, aimed at strengthening turn, helps the Forest Department in livelihood, economic empowerment fulfilling the task and management of and conservation of forest. The success the forest sustainably. of Aloe vera processing unit has encouraged entrepreneurship among Acknowledgements the tribal farmers of this area. 1. Mr O P Sharma, IFS, DFO (Udaipur), Though Aloe vera plantation was Udaipur, Rajasthan. done by the forest department for 2. Dr Mohan Raj, IFS, DCF (Wildlife), conservation purposes, it became useful Udaipur, Rajasthan. after value addition. This is a classical 3. Mr S Singh, RFS, ACF (Wildlife), example of the Forest Department Udaipur, Rajasthan. helping the poor tribal community 4. Mr Sushil Saini, RFS, ACF, Udaipur, in self-sustenance and livelihood as Rajasthan. well as for conservation of the natural 5. Mr Manohar Singh, President, forest. Because of the benefits from the Atatya VFMC, Udaipur, Rajasthan. forest for their sustenance, the people 6. The forest staff of Udaipur Forest took active participation in conserving Division, Rajasthan. and protecting the forest which, in
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Udaipur/Rajasthan Livelihood generation through Agarbatti production
Sustainable livelihood generation by production of Agarbatti from bamboo staffs has proved to be a successful endeavour in Thamla Beri village
Chinpilhing Kipgen Taking into consideration the importance of livelihood generation n rural areas, young people aspire in rural areas through NTFP, a case to migrate and to work in quarries study was documented to understand Iand factories. Many people in the the scope for livelihood generation prime earning group (21 to 45 years of for tribal communities through age) migrate regularly on a seasonal ba- production of Agarbatti at Thamla Beri sis. The farms are run by women and Village of Udaipur district, Rajasthan. the elderly, with some help from chil- The Scheduled Caste and Scheduled dren. Livelihood objectives for those Tribe population in Udaipur district who stay back have predominantly is 6.1 per cent and 49.7 per cent, survival aims. Higher level objectives respectively, whereas the State per are largely pursued through migration cent of SC and ST population is 17.8 and non-farm employment. NTFPs are and 13.5 per cent, respectively. The considered to be important for sustain- economy of Udaipur district is mainly ing rural livelihoods, reducing rural dependent on agriculture as 61.7 per poverty, biodiversity conservation, and cent workers in the district are either facilitating rural economic growth. cultivators or agricultural labourers.
SFS-2015-17 Batch, CASFOS, Dehradun-248006
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Figure 1. Dendrocalamus strictus in the village
Thamla Beri is a medium size village, Case facts located in Kotra of Udaipur district In this district, Dendrocalamus stric- comprising 102 families. The village tus is available in abundance and when has a population of 598, of which 321 it is harvested, unused bamboo is left are males while 277 are females, as per behind. These remaining bamboo staffs the Population Census 2011. There are are used for making Agarbatti. No so- 135 children, which makes up 22.58 phisticated machine or technology is per cent of the total population of the used for this and hence, the method is village. The Average Sex Ratio is 863, very feasible for the community. Due which is lower than the Rajasthan state to its simplicity and hand-operated average of 928. The Child Sex Ratio is machine, the process doesn’t require a 776, lower than the Rajasthan average highly skilled labour and can be pro- of 888. The village has a lower literacy duced in every household. Since the ac- rate compared to State figure. In 2011, tivity is socially and economically fea- literacy rate of the Beri village was 47.52 sible, this endeavour is successful in the per cent, compared to 66.11 per cent of community. Further, the community is Rajasthan. Male literacy stands at 53.88 interested in conserving the bamboo as per cent while female literacy rate is it is the raw material for the preparation 40.37 Per cent. As per the Constitution of Agarbattis. of India and Panchyati Raaj Act, Thamla The women of the village organise Beri village is administrated by the themselves into a self help group (SHG) Sarpanch (Head of Village), who is an and constitute the workforce in making elected representative of the village. of Agarbattis. Mr Padam Singh (Forester)
CONTENTS 9 FIELD FORESTER | February 2016 and Mr Jaswant Kumar (Asst. Forester) Steps of production of the Forest Department provide the Bamboo Cutting: The bamboo is technical support. The Village Forest cut into pieces of 8 inches, taken from Protection and Management Committee between the node. (VFPMC) monitors the activity of the Chip Making: The bamboo cuttings SHG. The SHG consist of 12 members, are passed through chips making ma- each earning Rs 200 per day. The main chine, producing 1mm thick strips. season for production are January, Stick Making: The bamboo chips February and March. The activity is are passed through a hand-operated stopped during the rainy season. stick making machine, producing a 12 bamboo stick of size 1.5 x 1.5mm. The process 1. Rolling of masala onto sticks: The Materials required: bamboo sticks are rolled with 1. Bamboo cutting machine inscense mixture by passing them 2. Chip making machine through a rolling machine previously 3. Stick making machine filled with masala mixture and taken 4. Masala or mixture out manually. The rolled sticks with 5. Fragrance/Essence incense mixture are dried in shade 6. Packaging material for 4-6 hours.
Figure 2. Bamboo cuttings made into chips using hand-operated machine
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The content of masala mixture 2. Packaging: The incense sticks Wood husk, cow dung, charcoal, are packed in different colours, jiggit and jaggery. according to the fragrance used. Addition of fragrance: The incense The packed products are marketed stick is dipped into a fragrance solution under the brand name ‘Van Raj’. and allow by placing it on a newspaper.
Figure 3. Bamboo chips made into sticks
Figure 4. Masala mixture rolled onto the sticks
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Figure 5. Agarbatti sticks are dried
Figure 6. The finished products ready for marketing
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Flow chart for Agarbatti • Women’s role and contribution to production forest-based livelihoods • Participation of women in the BAMBOO CUTTING forest-derived economy as primary collectors of forest produce, as wage CHIPS MAKING employee in forest-based enterprises and in forest management. STICKS MAKING Acknowledgement ROLLING OF MASALA • Mr M P Singh, Director, DFE ONTO STICKS Dehradun • Ms Meera Iyer, Principal, CASFOS, ADDITION OF FRAGRANCE TO IN- Dehradun CENSE STICKS • Mr Mohan Raj, DFO, Rajasthan Forest PACKAGING AND MARKETING • Rajasthan Forest Department
Conclusion References • Non-timber forest products play a • State Census 2011 vital role in livelihood of people in • Prema Gera, Women’s Role and and around the forests. Contribution to Forest-Based • Sustainable livelihood generation by Livelihoods, Human Resource production of Agarbatti from bam- Development Centre, 2002 boo staffs remain after harvesting. • Mr Mohan Raj, DFO, Udaipur • Creating awareness among the Forest Division communities in conserving natural resources.
Cost of production of Agarbatti
Bamboo Rolling Price Addition Cost Total Market Net Sticks of fragrance of (6+7+8+9) price gain packing Weight Cost Weight Cost Labour Total Cost Labour 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 Cost (2+4+5) of fragrance Cost 5 6 7 8 300 Rs.10.5 700 Rs.17 Rs.20 Rs.47.50 Rs.62.50 Rs.10 Rs.18 Rs.138 Rs.250 Rs.122 (gm) (gm)
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Jaipur / Rajasthan Urban Forestry in Jaipur
Smriti Van in the heart of Jaipur city is an example of developing a forest amidst a densely populated urban area
Abbas Ali Dewan Reserved Forest. Due to incessant rains in 1981, Jaipur witnessed its worst flood. rban forestry is the management The fury of the flood washed away the of trees for their contribution to vegetation of tracts of land. All that Uthe physiological, sociological was left were deep nallahs and shifting and economic well-being of urban sand dunes along their banks. The society. It deals with woodlands, group Forest Department, in its endeavour of trees and individual trees where to stabilise the sand dunes, planted people live. It needs to be planned and Acacia tortalis, which came up well on integrated and systematic approach the sandy tracts. At the onset of the 21st to urban tree management should be century, the Forest Department and stressed upon. Parks and green spaces some citizen groups put forward the are the backbone of sustainable and idea of planting a sapling in the memory high quality urban environment. (smriti) of their beloved ones. Kapoor Urban forestry is concerned primarily Chand Kulish Smriti Van derives its with environmental enhancement, name from the renowned Vedic scholar control of air and noise pollution and and journalist, Kapoor Chand Kulish. microclimatic modification. People After arduous work of two years, Smriti appreciate that urban forests serve Van was fully developed. It consists of important social, psychological health, 10 sections – Vasundhara Van, Eco- aesthetic, ecological and economic Environmental Museum, Maru Van, functions. Aravali Van, Sarovars, Rashtriya Van, The total area of forest land in Jaipur, Herbal Garden and Yoga Garden. It was Rajasthan, is 946.25 sq km, 8.51 per dedicated to the State in the year 2008. cent of the total geographical area. A Smriti Van has two walking trails, biodiversity forest, Smriti Van is located measuring 3 km and 700 metres, on JLN Marg, Jaipur – 45 hectares of land respectively. These trails go through surrounded from all sides by densely small hillocks and loosely deposited populated colonies and institutes. The small sands dunes. These tracts are forest land of Smriti Van is a part of the maintained on a daily basis. Walkers forest block, Kho Nagoriyan-Jhalana are greeted by a large number bird Doongri 93, which was declared as a and flora species. There is a Yoga
SFS : 2015-17 Batch, CASFOS, Dehradun
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Garden that enables health-conscious Smriti Van quenches its water need persons to sweat it out and six lawns, by using treated wastewater; about 80 where visitors can relax. Dhanvantari per cent of the total water requirement Van, a section of Smriti Van, boasts is met from wastewater treated by of about 230 medicinal plants. Local sedimentation process. staff and experts impart knowledge about medicinal plants and their uses Biodiversity in various ailments. Some medicinal Smriti Van is a hub of diverse flora species extensively used to treat a and avi-fauna. The flora ranges from wide variety of diseases are Tinospora Xerophytes on one extreme to aquatic cordifolia (Giloy), Ashavgandha, Aloe vera flora on the other. Vegetation found in barbadensis (Guarpatha), Pathar chatta desert, such as khejari (Prosopis cineraria) and Kalihari. A ‘Sanjeevani Upchar’ can be seen here along with rohira, camp is organised by the office at Smriti kadam as well as bahera (Terminalia Van each Sunday between 7 am and belerica), usually found in moist regions. 12pm. The Ayurveda treatment using Till now, 137 species of birds have been local medicine herbs is being given by spotted in Smriti Van. an Ayurvedic vaid. Total number of The urban forest land being patients who have benefitted in the last developed in Jaipur is a joint venture four years from these camps are 5,507. between the Forest Department and The museum in Smriti Van is so the Jaipur Development Authority designed that it does not require fans, (JDA). The land belongs to the Forest cooler and ACs for cooling. There is Department and JDA provides funds an exhibition room that depicts the for the development activities of urban landscape before and after the creation of forest. The maintenance of the forest Smriti Van. There is a small auditorium area is also being done jointly, JDA that caters to the need of visiting is providing funds and the Forest students. One hall of the Museum is Department is looking after all affairs. dedicated to flowering plants. There are some valleys crisscrossing Acknowledgments the sandy terrain of Smriti Van. The I would like to extend heartful slopes of these valleys were first treated gratitude and thanks to PCCF, Rajasthan and stabilised by vegetative method. Forest Dept. Mr A K Upadhaya, IFS, Then some water ponds (sarovars) were for his guidance , co-operation and created to provide habitat to aquatic inspiration and also sincere thanks to plants and animals. The nallahs and Mr A K Agarwal, DCF, and Om Prakash ravines have been treated according Sharma, ACF, Jaipur Forest Division to soil conditions to check erosion – by (North), and all forest employees of creating earthen check dams, dry stone the Jaipur Forest Division (N) for their check dams, and degradable mesh valuable inputs, efforts and care to layering for sand dunes’ stabilisation. make the case study successful.
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Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve / Rajasthan Man-animal conflict in Ranthambhore
A look at the perspectives of both the sides affected by tiger attacks on human beings in Ranthambhore – the villagers and the foresters
Laishram Gitla tiger by losing his right eye and with a broken jaw? He lost his eye when a an someone ask the people who terrified and confused tiger, which was are protesting for the relocation being harassed by a mob of over 3,000 Cof T24, how they would feel if villagers, attacked him when he was the tiger killed someone from their trying to tranquilize it at Bhoori Pahari family. If the tiger comes back then area of Ranthambhore on August 10, we, the villagers, will protest, burn 2010. With an artificial eye, which he the forest down and will even kill the sterilizes daily, and half a paralysed tiger, even if we have to go to jail,” said face, Daulat Singh narrated about that a relative of Rampal Saini, the Forest fateful day when he was manhandled Guard who was killed by Tiger named by the agitated villagers because the T24 near the entrance of Ranthambore tiger entered their agricultural field National Park on May 8, 2015. His and how he was mauled by that tiger. resentment and anger was justified. When asked what he feels about the Would one want to nurture an animal whole incident, his first comment was, who had snatched away their beloved “It was not the fault of ‘T-Seven’. The husband/father/brother from them tiger would have quietly returned to forever? Nonetheless, what is the fault the forest had the villagers not forced of the speechless creature? The only him back. After I was discharged from fault was that he pounced upon the ill- the hospital, I learnt that T-Seven had fated Forest Guard. A helpless Forest wandered out of Ranthambhore to Guard expressed his frustration, “T24 Karoli. And he moved to Dholpur and attacks forest staff, and if he attacks Mathura, and then all the way to the a local villager, the villagers hit us Keoladeo National Park in Bharatpur. too.” This is the situation which the He stayed there for four months. When Forest Guards and people residing in the Wildlife Institute of India team the nearby villages of Ranthambhore went to tranquillize T-Seven so that National Park in Sawai Madhopur he could be released in Sariska, district are facing today. I insisted to accompany the team Take the case of Daulat Singh because I wanted to be assured that the Shaktawat. He escaped an attack by the tiger I saved from the mob was released
ACF Trainee, SFS Batch 2015-17, CASFOS - Dehradun
CONTENTS 16 FIELD FORESTER | February 2016 safely there.” Indeed this incredibly cattle are preyed upon by the big cats. brave heart man is the prototypical “Better wildlife monitoring, tiger defender. innovative measures, well-equipped “Crowd management is not the rescue teams, adequate compensation, specialty of the Forest Department. crowd/incident management with Handling a tiger is not so difficult the help of other departments such as a task, but trying to tranquilize a administrative department and police, provoked tiger surrounded by curious and thoughtful management decision crowd is indeed very challenging for the problem animal could be some of and dangerous too. Had the crowd the solutions that could be rendered for been controlled by the administrative man-animal conflict,” said Dr Khandal. department and the police, and had Mr Sudharsan Sharma, DCF, Sawai Daulat Singh been allowed to carry Madhopur, stated, “Relocation of T24 out his duty to tranquilize the tiger, he from Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve to would not have been mauled by the Sajjangarh in Udaipur has been met big cat. It was his destiny that kept him with resistance from wildlife activists. alive to tranquilize that tiger again after However, had T24 not been relocated, he recovered,” opined Dr Dharmendra Ranthambore would have lost the Khandal, Conservation Biologist, support of the local community and Tiger Watch, an NGO dedicated to Forest Guards.” conservation and protection of wildlife It reminds me of what Mr S K in Ranthambore. Chakrabarti, IFS, Former Principal Tigers stray out of the core zones Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief and enter in a conflict with humans. Wildlife Warden, Karnataka, wrote, Species habitat loss, degradation “These are the brave men who make and fragmentation due to land use sacrifices in the face of the most difficult transformation because of the ever situations in man-animal conflict in increasing human population growth, our country. These are the unsung leads to overlapping of the requirement heroes for whom not a drop of tear of wildlife and human populations. is shed in the face of the most critical Shortage of space and shrinking wild situations that they as forest officers prey population are the key reasons for face. Unfortunately, such braveries go the conflict. Often tourism activities are almost unnoticed and forest officers are also held responsible for human-animal blamed for the conflict situations arising conflict. It is quite natural for animals out of man's encroachment into forests, to compete with humans for access to the abode of wildlife.” And there is no habitat, food and water. It is their birth second opinion about that! right. Ranthambhore has witnessed nine human killings by tigers since Acknowledgements the area was declared National Park in I would like to thank the Rajasthan 1980. Many human beings have been Forest Department, specially Mr Sahoo, injured in tiger attacks and numerous CF and Mr Sudarshan Sharma, DCF,
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Sawai Madhopur, for providing all Ranthambhore Tiger Foundation, and necessary support regarding our case Dr Dharmendra Khandal, Conservation study tour. Special thanks to Mr Daulat Biologist, Tiger Watch, for their Singh, ACF, Sawai Madhopur, Mr help and for sharing their vast Subhadeep, Biologist, Ranthambhore experience of wildlife problems and Tiger Foundation, Ms Zaara, Sociologist, management.
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Jaisamand / Rajasthan Promoting eco-tourism in Jaisamand Sanctuary
The Jaisamand Wildlife Sanctuary near Udaipur has tremendous potential to make a mark in tourism as it boasts of immense biodiversity along with heritage buildings
Preeti Buragohain situated between 730 37’ – 730 40’ east longitude and 240 35’ – 240 39’ north ituated in the most fragile ecosys- latitude. It spreads over an area of 52.34 tem of Aravallis, Jaisamand Wild- sq km. Legal boundary of this Sanctu- Slife Sanctuary is 50 kms to the ary includes Maniyol and Dhuniwala south of Lake City, Udaipur. A glimpse Reserved Forest Blocks. It was declared of history of Mewar reveals that the as Jaisamand Wildlife Sanctuary by the forests included in the Sanctuary used Government of Rajasthan notification to be Shikargah of the erstwhile Ma- No. F.39(2) Forest. 1955, dated Novem- haranas of Mewar. The world-famous ber 7, 1955, under the provisions of Sec- Jaisamand Lake constitutes an inte- tion 5 of Rajasthan Animals and Birds gral part of the Sanctuary. Jaisamand, Protection Act, 1951. or Jaisamudra, lake is one of the larg- The Sanctuary is rich in faunal and est artificial bodies of freshwater in the floral diversity. The species found world. It was bBuilt three centuries here are Leopard, Jungle cat, Indian ago by Maharana Jai Singh of Udai- fox, Chinkara, Spotted deer, Wild pur, who on its inauguration on June Boar, Nilgai, Sambhar, Hyena, Jackal, 2, 1691, walked around it distributing Common Civet, Small Indian Civet, gold equal to his own weight in char- Langur, Common Mongoose, Indian ity. He built six cenotaphs with finely Hare, Indian Porcupine, Python, embroidered elephants in front of the Cobra, Rat Snake, Monitor Lizard, Grey temple of Lord Shiva in the centre of Francolin, Babblers, Night Jars, Doves, the embankment. The lake measures Yellow-legged Green Pigeon, Owls, 14 km in length and 9 km in width. aquatic birds, Shikra, Buzzards, etc. The lake has a circumference of nearly Major floral species found here are 88 km. The Sanctuary forms the water Dhokda (Anogeissis pendula) , Godal catchment zone of the lake. From this (Lannea grandis), Salar (Boswellia serrata), famous lake the Sanctuary has derived Ber (Ziziphus mauritiana), Ghatbor (Z. its name, Jaisamand Wildlife Sanctuary. xylopyrus), Kadaya (Sterculia urens), Jaisamand Wildlife Sanctuary is Khirni (Wrightia tinctoria), Khirna
SFS 2015-17 Batch
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(Wrightia tomentosa), Hingot (Balanites A thatched meeting space is available aegyptica), Churel (Holoptelia integrifolia), here which can house 50 persons. Kher (Acacia catechu), Kumtha (Acacia Various adventurous game facilities are senegal), Vish Tendu (Diospyros montana), also available at Jhumar Baori camping Safed Dhok (Anogeisses latifolia), site. An ancient stepwell, full of clean Mahuwa (Madhuca indica), Peepal (Ficus water, amidst a tamarind (Tamarindus religiosa), Khajur (Phoenix sylvestris) etc. indicus) grove is worth seeing. A This Sanctuary has a great potential picturesque wild date palm grove is for development of eco-tourism. present in continuation. Rakheshwar Besides biological heritage – world’s Mahadeo, a holy place, famous for second largest freshwater lake is here – ancient Lord Shiva temple, is 500 metres it has many historical buildings, which from the baori. could attract a large number of Indians Another important feature of this and foreigners. Also, there is a good sanctuary is the presence of historical network of trekking routes and hiking buildings, like the Saladia Kot Odhi trails, rich in faunal and floral diversity and Hathan Wali Odhi, which were and with scenic landscape. This will the shooting spots of the Maharanas help uplift the socio-economic status of Mewars. Today they are used as of local people. There are a number of viewpoints. The Forest Rest House in ongoing eco-tourism activities in the the Sanctuary is also a heritage building. Sanctuary. A Nature Interpretation Inspite of the eco-tourism potential Centre was started in the year 2000 in as well as the ongoing eco-tourism the Hawa Mahal Palace. The centre activities here, the number visitors has a few translides depicting the and revenue generation is quite less. geographical and historical features The reason may be lack of manpower, of the area. There are also posters and proper nature guides, tourism pamphlets showing the flora and fauna reception centre, signages, hoardings of the Sanctuary. Hiking, trekking, in the nearby areas, basic facilities walking and driving in forests is a like drinking water and washroom major tourist activity which, if carried for tourists, poor infrastructure, poor out carefully and responsibly, is management, partially developed non-destructive to environment and Nature Interpretation Centre, poor provides educational and recreational maintenance of trekking routes, limited value to the tourist. There are four eco- number of brochures due to financial trails in the Sanctuary –Dheemada Bagh reasons and less publicity. to Palodara, Forest Rest House to Hawa For gearing up eco-tourism Mahal, Chatpur Gate to Roothi Rani ki activities, different initiatives have been Mahal and Mahudi to Jhumar Baori. taken up by the Forest Department Jhumar Baori, a day camping site, like collaboration with the Centre has been developed in the vicinity of for Environmental Education (CEE), the Sanctuary. Visitors can enjoy with Ahmedabad, for zeroing in on a particular their families in the thatched jhompras. area of interest and suggesting some
CONTENTS 20 FIELD FORESTER | February 2016 eco-tourism activities for sustainable Kothari Ashish, Management of development. The Department is also National Parks and Sanctuaries in planning to introduce Public Private India, Ministry of Environment and Partnership (PPP) Mode and Homestay Forests, Indian Institute of Public concept, which will uplift the socio- Administration. Environmental Studies economic status of the people living in Division, Indian Institute of Public villages nearby. Administration, 1989. Considering the constraints in Ministry of Forests and Environment the promotion of eco-tourism, some Protected Areas website. more initiatives can be taken, like Nayar & Sastry. 1987-88: Red Data encouraging the participation of book of Indian plants, Vol-I, Botanical local people focussing more on their Survey of India, Calcutta, Pp 1-367. empowerment, creating stakeholders, Puri G S, Jain S K, Mukherjee S K, monitoring and evaluating the activities, Sarup S, & Kotwal N N, 1964: Flora of regular training of the guides and forest Rajasthan west of Aravallis. Rec. Bot. personnels, infrastructure development Surv. India, 19(1): 1-159. and organisation of education and United Nations List of National awareness programmes. These steps Parks and Protected Areas: India (2003). could lead to the progress in the field of eco-tourism in the years to come. Acknowledgement I convey my gratitude to Dr T References Mohan Raj, IFS, DCF (WL), Udaipur Annual Plan of Operations for Forest Division, Dr Satish Sharma, Jaisamand Wildlife Sanctuary for ACF (WL), and Mr S Singh, ACF, for the year 2006-2007, Udaipur district, helping us in our case study tour at Rajasthan Forest Department. Udaipur, Rajasthan. I also thank all the http://www.Rajasthantrip.com/ forest personnels of Udaipur district wildlife-tours-in-Rajasthan.html who provided their help in every way http://www.Rajasthanwildlife.in/ possible.
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Jaipur / Rajasthan Prospects and challenges at Nahargarh Zoological Park
The move to shift the Jaipur Zoo to the Nahargarh Zoological Park, 22 km from the city, brings with it a set of issues that need to be resolved and a number of advantages
Rebika Soibam Chanu and eight aviaries for terrestrial birds. Conservative breeding of Gharials, oos are the main centres of Khalij Pheasant and Wolf, alongwith conservative wildlife education proper animal health care, are taken Zand interpretation in ex-situ up here. A large number of visitors condition so as to create a wider public visited the zoo in 2013-14 – 12.71 lakh, appreciation, awareness and empathy. according to official record. The zoo also aims at wildlife research The existing enclosures in Jaipur Zoo to promote effective management. The no longer comply with the Central Zoo Nahargarh Zoological Park, affiliated Authority norms of the Recognition with the Central Zoo Authority of India, of Zoo Rules, 2009, and thus the is being developed for the proposed proposal was made for shifting it to shifting of the Jaipur Zoo. It is situated Nahargarh Zoological Park, where the in reserved Aravalli ranges of Rajasthan, display of animals are to be taken up about 22 km from the Jaipur city on the on the concept of nature immersing Jaipur-Delhi National Highway. The enclosures. The Master Layout plan park, with a total area of 720 ha, is a and the drawings of the enclosures unique blend of nature and heritage for animals have been approved by as a result of interaction of more than the Central Zoo Authority. The total one ecosystems, namely wetland, outlay from RFBP Project is Rs 19.20 riparian and Aravalli hills. The Jaipur crore. The executing agency for civil Zoo was established in 1876 during works is RSRDC, Forest Department the reign of Sawai Ram Singh II and of Rajasthan, PWD and JDA. However, has 64 animal enclosures at present. it is a challenging process. The paper The fauna includes 320 mammals deals with the prospects and challenges belonging to 21 species, 309 birds associated with the Nahargarh belonging to 23 species and 120 reptiles Zoological Park. Field visits, official belonging to 7 species. It consists of records and repeated interaction with both herbivores and carnivores. There forest officials as resource persons were are also six aviaries for water birds employed for the present study.
2015-17 SFS Batch at CASFOS Dehradun
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Challenges Children section: The department Planning approval by CZAI: It also envisages introduction of a happens sometimes that some animal learning-by-play method of animals in enclosures approved in haste turn out the zoo or their habitat by mud models, to be inconvenient and suffocating for etc. the animals. As such, new approvals Drinking water and sanitation: have to be acquired. Provisions for safe drinking water and Departmental conflict with proper toilet facilities are provided implementing agency: In Nahargarh inside the Park. Park, the landscaping work is being taken Resting places and lawns: Eco- up by JDA, while road development is friendly structures and beautifully being done by PWD. Sometimes they carved out lawns with varieties of fail to produce the exact structure laid flowers are developed to enhance down in the approved work plan. aesthetic values. Time-bound completion: Enclosures close to nature and Miscommunication with the natural habitat of the animals: implementing agency and the necessity Climbers and bamboos over and inside to reconstruct some structures delays the cages are planted to give natural the work, resulting in failure to habitat to both the animals as well as complete the project in scheduled time. the visitors. Visitors: The present Jaipur Zoo be- Full view of the enclosures: The ing at the centre of the city, gathers a lot enclosures are designed on nature of visitors annually. Thus, it generates immersion mode so as to give full view a huge income to the State. The Naha- of the wildlife in the enclosures. rgarh Zoological Park, on the other Interpretation centre: An hand, is situated away from the city. interpretation centre to educate and make the visitors aware about the Prospects conservative management of animals. Bus service: The department has Well-established roads: The roads a proposal for the introduction of a are being laid with thick, smooth tourist bus service that would connect concrete for convenient walking. the old zoo and the Nahargarh Park. Elephant safari: The stately custom The fare would be incorporated in the of roaming in the jungle on an elephant ticket entry fee itself. back is re-introduced in the park. Road maps and signages: To guide Sura ki Baori: It is an ancient well the visitors to various enclosures, that has steps. toilets, etc. Diversities around the Nahargarh Visitors’ safety: The enclosures are Zoological Park: It has vast biodiver- kept at a safe distance from the visitors. sity. In winter, the Ram Sagar Dam is This ensures less disturbance to the populated by migratory water birds animals as well as protection from like Large Cormorants, Greylag Geese, attack by animals. Coots, Pintails and Teals, and the
CONTENTS 23 FIELD FORESTER | February 2016 surrounding forests are visited by ter- forests and the valley from the hill top. ritorial bird species like Golden Orioles, Golden-back woodpeckers, Indian Pit- Conclusion ta and other beautiful birds. The rare Zoo management is a very challeng- White-Naped Tit is the local resident of ing process. We need to look into every the Park. The mammal species are dom- detail of animal behaviour and their inated by the Panther. Other species are habitat for successful management of Blue Bull, Hyena, Porcupine, Jackal, the zoo. It requires huge amount of Fox, Jungle Cat, Desert Cat, Civets and funds and manpower for maintenance Mongoose. Crocodiles are also found in of animal enclosures, feed for animals, the Ram Sagar Dam. animal healthcare, maintenance of zoo, Rescue centre: It is located next to drainage, water supply, electricity, the zoo. The rescue centre was started etc. The Nahargarh Zoological Park in 2002 following the Supreme Court complies strictly with the guidelines ban on display of animals in circus. of the CZAI for maximum comfort It is for tigers and lions only and can and well-being of the animals as well accommodate a total of 50 animals: as safety of the visitors. The challenges 30 lions and 20 tigers. Presently, only can be overcome. Also, income can 7 animals (2 lioness and 5 tigeress) be generated by means of entry fee, are here. The cage height is 3 metres, elephant rides, toilet lease, bicycle breadth 20 feet and length 100 feet, charges, leased parking areas and food while the mess wires are inclined at an and refreshment outlets such as hotels, angle of 45o. It has a proper crematorium snack bars or a soft drink counter, etc. site for dead animals. Eco-tourism advantages: This will Acknowledgements enhance livelihood opportunities I extend my heartiest gratitude to of the local people through gainful Mr (Late) A K Upadhyay, IFS, PCCF, employment, alongwith promotion of Rajasthan Forest Department, for his indigenous handicraft and traditional untiring guidance, support and help foods and similar mini and micro throughout our case study. My sincere consumer-based eco-friendly products. thanks are also due to Ms Kavita, IFS, Bird watching: Since a variety of for providing valuable inputs on zoo resident as well as migratory birds are management under Jaipur Forest found here, the Park has good prospects Division. I would also like to give my for birdwatchers. regards to Mr M K Agarwal, DCF, Nature trails: For adventure lovers Rajasthan Forest Department, for and jungle walkers, it provides various imparting sound knowledge on urban nature trials meandering through forestry. My thanks are also to all the jungles and provides superb view of the staff of Jaipur forest department.
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Udaipur / Rajasthan A critical analysis of the Sajjangarh Biological Park
The Sajjangarh Biological Park has a tremendous scope for initiating conservation breeding programmes with global collaborations while playing an effective role in reducing man-animal conflicts
Sayambrita Dutta fauna, flora and humans in a non- barriered area of a balanced ecosystem. e rely on wildlife and The need for creation of a biological plants more than most park is primarily for wildlife education, Wpeople appreciate the fact. conservation and creation of empathy Tremendous monetary losses as well for wild animals in society, preservation as damages to ecosystem may result of endangered and threatened species, from reduction in wildlife population. understanding the unique faunal wealth These inter-relationships between plant of the area, scientific study and research life and animal life cannot be neglected on animal behaviour, reproduction, or ignored, as they are connected both disease, provide recreational facility in farmland and natural habitat. In with nature, livelihood security by eco- urban societies, people hardly get an friendly means and to avoid stress to opportunity to know and learn about wild animals from tourists. this interaction. This is primarily The concept of ex-situ wildlife because their experience is separated conservation in Udaipur dates back –fauna in zoos and flora in botanical to 1878 when the then Maharana parks or gardens. Displaying both Sajjan Singh established a zoo for elements together could help the public the preservation and display of wild to understand the importance of both animals at the heart of the city in and their role in our lives. In recognition Gulab Bagh. It is spread across an area of inseparable relationships between of 5 ha, including a botanical park. animals, plants and humans, the It is situated in the ‘No Construction concept of a biological park has been Zone’ of the city. Since the Central Zoo developed. A biological park is a living Authority of India is the sole authority interaction of the seen and unseen for the regulation of zoos in India, the worlds that constitute our reality, a Udaipur Zoo, being a heritage building, dynamic interactive place where life has not been able to meet with the evolves. It is a concept of integrating latest barrier specifications as laid out
SFS 2015-17 Batch, CASFOS, Dehradun
CONTENTS 25 FIELD FORESTER | February 2016 in the guidelines by the Central Zoo Deer, Sambar, Blackbuck, Cinkara, Authority of India as far as the holding Jungle Cat, Crocodile, Gharial, etc. In or display of animals are concerned. future, animals like the Hippopotamus, Due to this reason, the status of the zoo Zebra, Giraffe, etc., are also proposed was downgraded and it is proposed to be added to the Park. The Park to be converted into a Bird Park. The is also a rescue center for big cats. Government of Rajasthan has taken The controversial T-24 tiger from up steps to shift these wild animals to Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, which a larger territory wherein they will be was accused for attacking four persons provided a natural environment in the at the reserve forest, has been relocated form of a satellite zoo at the Sajjangarh to Sajjangarh Biological Park for the rest Biological Park, at the foothills of the of his life. Sajjangarh Wildlife sanctuary in an As far as animal care is concerned, area of 36 ha of an un-classified forest. the Biological Park is equipped with It is only 5 km from the Udaipur city a state-of-the-art veterinary hospital and the area acts as a translocation and a round-the-clock doctor and zone for wild animals. The project was attendants. Both prophylactic and taken up in 2004-05 and the Park was curative measures are adopted for inaugurated on April 13, 2015, and was the treatment of wild animals by the opened for tourist. veterinary doctor at the hospital there. The estimated budget for the It is mandatory for the zookeepers to Biological Park at Sajjangarh is Rs 20.36 provide a daily health report of each crore. The Park is an outcome of three and every animal. The food supplied collaborating agencies. The Rajasthan to the animals is procured as per State Road Development Corporation guidelines determined by the CZAI (RSRDC) is the main working agency to ensure that wholesome and quality with fund assistance from JICA, along feed is supplied. with the Public Works Department The Park has been able to ensure (PWD), which is responsible for the livelihood to local people by taking up construction of roads and the transfer community-based participation. An of funds, and guidance is carried out by Eco-Development Committee, named the State Forest Department. the Upalibadi EDC, is associated with The master plan layout of the the functioning of the Biological Park. Sajjangarh Biological Park was Twenty-five EDC workers from nearby approved by the CZAI on August 28, villages are employed in the Park for 2009. There are 28 ‘Open to sky’ and carrying out works like plantation and ‘Borrow the landscape’ enclosures, gardening, watching and as wards of which hold around 115 numbers of enclosures, cleaning of holding areas, birds, reptiles and wild animals like constructing enrichments, animal the Royal Bengal Tiger, Leopard, Fox, teasing prohibition and in golf cart Wolf, Hyena, Jackal, Asiatic Lion, Sloth driving. Besides, they run a souvenir Bear, Himalayan Black Bear, Spotted shop, cycle stands and maintain the
CONTENTS 26 FIELD FORESTER | February 2016 parking area. The income generated may also be taken up by the Park in the from these ventures is used for giving future. The Sajjangarh Biological Park salary to them. has a tremendous scope for initiating The park can be visited round the conservation breeding programmes year. The monsoon season is from with global collaborations. Since July to September during which the the animal plan of this Park is area becomes lush and green. Since its commensurate with that of the zoos inauguration in April 2015 till the first of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, UP fortnight of September, the Sajjangarh and five State zoos of Rajasthan, the Biological Park saw a footfall of 152,997 entire population can be taken up as a tourists, both Indian and foreigners, single population and breeding and has been collected a revenue of programmes can be taken up. This will Rs 4,642,270. help reduce the inbreeding depression The Udaipur Forest Division has among the animals. taken up several eco-friendly measures The Sajjangarh Biological Park may for keeping the Biological Park free at some point of time continue to work of plastics as well make it safe and towards species preservation while pollution-free. Measures adopted for playing an effective role in reducing a safe and clean environment are like man-animal conflicts, particularly in refundable plastic water bottle deposit the urban landscape, at the same time. at Rs 10 per bottle, issue of brown paperbags for eatable covers, cycling Acknowledgement facilities, signages with messages and I wish to convey my heartfelt battery-operated golf carts. The feeding gratitude to Dr T Mohan Raj, IFS, DCF areas, tickets counters and all structures (WL), Udaipur Wildlife Division, and are constructed by indigenous materials Dr Satish Sharma, ACF (WL), Udaipur, like slate, rocks and bamboo. Rajasthan, for planning and executing Certain problems – shortage of our case study at Udaipur and in departmental staff, animal exchange providing official records in compiling programme due to availability of the case study. fewer animals, shifting of animals, selfie menace and in the coordination References between the three working agencies 1. Official records, O/o the DCF – are encountered in the smooth (WL), Udaipur Wildlife Division, functioning of the Biological Park. Udaipur, Rajasthan. In the long run, this Biological Park 2. Leaflets on Sajjangarh Biological will continue to generate awareness Park published by the O/o the DCF and compassion in the society towards (WL), Udaipur WL division. wildlife and garner their support for 3. Management Plan of Sajjangarh WL nation-wide conservation efforts. Sanctuary for the year 2013-14 to Conservation breeding programmes 2022-23.
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Udaipur / Rajasthan Bamboo production and the Kathori tribe
The Forest Department has involved the Kathori tribe – given the tribe’s traditional knowhow – in giving an impetus to bamboo production in the district
Priyasa Saikia followed by quite lesser amounts of Bambusa bambusa and Bambusa he topography of Rajasthan is arundinaria. Bamboo is both naturally dominated by Aravalli ranges propagated as well as cultured in the Trunning across the State. The places like Bansi, Kotra, Dhariavad, south-eastern part of the State is Banswara, Dungarpur, Jhadol, Devla, dominated by uplands east of the etc. The bamboo cultivation and culture Aravalli range. The southern parts are has a strong relationship with the tribal heavily forested and the Aravallis form culture and livelihood, especially in the Rajasthan’s most important watershed. tribal belt of Udaipur district. The Udaipur district has a total geographical area of 1,388,255 hectares, Bamboo propagation in out of which land under forest is 397,007 the district hectares. The reason behind such lush There has been a massive degradation greenery is that the district is towards of the Aravalli ranges due to various the windward side of the Aravalli natural and anthropogenic causes. hills and, as such, the locality factors Mitigation and control measures have of rainfall and soil quality are greatly thus been of prime importance. The blessed. It has been reported by the Aravalli Afforestation Project, which National Bamboo Mission that 67 per started in 1992-93, had objectives to cent of bamboo forest occur in the north- restore the forest cover in the region and eastern states of India and out of 33 per Udaipur district had been an integral cent of other States, Rajasthan accounts part of the programme. Even Bamboo for 7 per cent of bamboo cover. Most part Mission had been taken seriously since of the bamboo cover is contributed by the revenue generated had fluctuated the Udaipur district. Bamboo has been over time with certain lapses. The predominantly present in the region main loopholes of bamboo production since time immemorial and the species in the tribal belt were illegal activities, here mostly is Dendrocalamus strictus, biotic interferences as well as some
SFS Officer Trainee, Batch 2015-17
CONTENTS 28 FIELD FORESTER | February 2016 unscientific harvesting techniques, malformed culms within the clumps leading to periodic decline. All these are periodically removed. shortcomings have been addressed by the Forest Department of Udaipur Bamboo harvesting in district and controlled till present times. Udaipur district As per the National Bamboo Mission Forest compartments are the unit (NBM) report, 2010-11 to 2013-14, an of bamboo harvesting and only fourth area of 135.85 ha has been covered so year bamboo-culms are harvested far under the NBM scheme. (as per rotation period). Bamboo harvesting from the region is conducted Bamboo plantations and usually by the month of October every cultural operations year and never between April and Bamboo propagation is done with September in order to avoid the rainy the help of rhizome culture, nodal season. The harvesting or decongestion culture and even viable seeds. The follows a horseshoe pattern. Four to propagule is brought from the tribal belt eight culms of two years or more of of Udaipur, or even from other States. age are left behind along the periphery. The nodal propagules are cultured on Only sharp tools are used for cutting nursery beds initially. Such vegetative so as to avoid splits in bamboo culms. propagules are allowed to remain in A special kind of custom-made axe the nursery bed till rhizomes develop, is used by the Kathodi tribe for the which usually requires about one year. purpose of harvesting in the Udaipur After the initial process, the propagules district. Culms lesser than three year are transferred to polybags and finally old are never felled and clumps having transferred to the field in subsequent less than 6 culms are not exploited. years. Cultural operations usually involve Role of Kathodi tribe in managing the clump size and quality. bamboo cultivation Smaller clumps are easy to manage As has been documented in literature, than larger clumps. But, smaller clumps the Kathodi tribe indeed was found to may result in congestion. However, the play a very important role in bamboo same problem may arise even in larger cultivation and harvesting operations. clumps if they remain unmanaged for The Kathodis were initially brought from a longer time. Other techniques used Maharashtra to Rajasthan for extraction for management were construction of kathha from Acacia catechu plants. In of retaining walls around the clump Maharashtra, the Kathodi or Katkari tribe and the subsequent filling up of soil. has been notified as a Scheduled Tribe. As bamboo cultivation requires well- In Rajasthan, they are resident of Kotra drained soil with good moisture and Jhadol tehsils, which are also forest retaining capacity, such operations blocks. They were also employed in coal have been found to be beneficial in the production, teak plantations, furniture- district. Dead, drying, diseased and making, etc. Subsequently, they became
CONTENTS 29 FIELD FORESTER | February 2016 specialised in occupations pertaining to a great extent. However, it has been bamboo cultivation, utilising their own observed that the tribal folks are not customary cultivation and harvesting at all ambitious about livelihood- techniques, for which they are sought generation endeavours and remain for even today. A great degree of happy in their niche. It is the role of symbiosis has been noticed between the Government of Rajasthan and the the Forest Department and Kathodi tribe Forest Department to implement some within the Udaipur district. Harvesting schemes for enhancement of the VFMC of bamboo begins from hilltop to valley and Non-Timber Forest Produce and the tribesmen play important (NTFP) programmes and practices, role in transporting them from field conceptualising some customary to temporary depot, as well as sizing resource use practices into livelihood and stacking of bamboo culms using generation modes. Such initiatives customary techniques. can foster more sustainability to the existence of the Kathori tribe. Conclusion – a critical The most appreciated aspects of the viewpoint case study was the occurrence of a The district of Udaipur is a region separate Departmental Operation which is adequately blessed by Mother Division, headed by DCF. Besides, the Nature, bearing a good stock of both understanding and awareness of the naturally regenerated and cultured Forest Department towards the need bamboo forests. Records of 2001-02 to of tribal cultures and practices is highly 2013-14 reveal that bamboo plantations appreciable. of a single species of Dendrocalamus strictus fetched a net revenue of Rs Acknowledgement 46.66 lakh. The Kathodi tribe, with I convey my gratitude to Dr T their simple lifestyle and occupational Mohan Raj, IFS, DCF (WL), Udaipur demands, are cooperative with Forest Division, Mr V S Rana, DFO, the Forest Department of Udaipur Departmental Operation Division, Dr district. The EDCs and Village Forest Satish Sharma, ACF (WL), and Mr S Management Committees (VFMCs) of Singh, ACF, for their sincere efforts bamboo products, Agarbatti and herbal- in facilitating our casestudy tour at rangoli products are running smoothly. Udaipur. I also thank all the forest Traditional customary practices are also personnels of Udaipur district who respected by the Forest Department to helped us in every way possible.
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Rajasthan Phase 2 of the Forestry and Biodiversity Project
The JICA-assisted project has a budget outlay of Rs 1.152 crore and covers 15 districts and seven Wildlife Sanctuaries across the State
Mahamuda Begum is being implemented by peoples’ body – Village Forest Protection and ajasthan Forestry and Bio- Management Committee (VFPMC) or diversity Project (RBFP), Eco-Development Committee (EDC), Ris the fifth JICA (Japanese as the case may be through the existing International Cooperation Agency) territorial forest division which is assisted project in Rajasthan and was called as the Divisional Management started in the year 2011-2012. The eight Unit (DMU) of the Project and the year project covers 15 districts and seven concerned Range Office, which is called Wildlife Sanctuaries and has an outlay as the Field Management Unit (FMU) of of Rs 1,152 crores. The project involves the Project. A VFPMC/EDC is formed activities in the field of Afforestation, Soil in accordance with the resolutions / and Water Conservation, Biodiversity regulations issued by the Government Conservation, Poverty Alleviation of Rajasthan (GoR). Livelihood and Livelihood Improvement in the Promotion activities are envisaged to selected villages of the project through be undertaken through formation of active peoples’ participation under Self Help Groups (SHGs) from within the Joint Forest Management (JFM) the members of VFPMCs/ EDCs. approach. Unlike earlier foreign aided projects The Project is being implemented by there are certain unique features of this Rajasthan Vaniki Evam Jaiv Vividhata project namely : Sanrakshan Society. The Society forms • It is the first Project to be the state level Project Management implemented in Society mode in Unit (PMU) of the project. The Project which Project Management Unit has Director, RFBP-2 is the ex- officio Chief been registered as a society Executive Officer of the Society and is • The entire Project is process oriented responsible for the implementation of and lays emphasis on developing and the Project. He is also the head of the establishing systems and procedures Project Management Unit. • ‘Village’ is the basic unit and village At the lower levels, the Project microplan is the base document for
SFS 2015-17
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undertaking various activities under Total Project Village 650 Village the project Desert village 340 village • International and National Non-Desert village 250 village Consultants have been engaged for Protected Area 60 village technical inputs and assistance on different subject matter. Desert districts • NGOs have been deployed by each 1. Barmer Divisional Management Unit (DMU) 2. Bikaner to help in the formation of village 3. Churu forest protection management com- 4. Jalore mittee/ eco development commit- 5. Jhunjhunu tees, formulation of microplanning, 6. Jodhpur mobilization etc. 7. Nagaur • For monitoring and evaluation, 8. Pali modern technologies like GIS, GPS, 9. Sikar Remote sensing are used 10. Jaisalmer
Project Objectives Non Desert Districts “To enhance forest area and 1. Banswara livelihood opportunities of the 2. Bhilwara forest dependent people and to 3. Dungarpur conserve biodiversity by undertaking 4. Jaipur afforestation and biodiversity 5. Sirohi conservation measures through JFM approach thereby contributing to Wildlife Sanctuaries environmental conservation and socio- 1. Bassi WL Sanctuary economic development of Rajasthan”. 2. Fulwari K Nal WL Sanctuary 3. Jaisalmand WL Sanctuary The Project Area 4. Keladevi WL Sanctuary The entire project area has been 5. Kumbhalgarh WL Sanctuary divided into 25 Divisional Management 6. Raoli Todgarh WL Sanctuary Units (DMUs) and 80 Field Management 7. Sitamata WL Sanctuary Units (FMUs). The project is being implemented across 10 Desert districts Before the commencement of and 5 non-desert districts and in 7 project activities in a village, its wildlife sanctuaries covering a total of microplan is prepared which is like a 650 villages. Of the selected villages, village development document that 340 are in ten desert districts, 250 are lists out almost all the activities that in non-desert districts and 60 villages are necessary for integrated socio- are in fringe area around the wildlife economic development of the village sanctuaries. and its inhabitants taking into account the natural, ecological, social, human,
CONTENTS 32 FIELD FORESTER | February 2016 animal and skill based resources Activities of the village. The preparation of 1. Afforestation: microplan is preceded by a Rapir Rural Target Area: 590 villages in 10 desert Appraisal (RRA) and Participatory and 5 non-desert districts Rural Appraisal (RRA) of the village Activities: Total area 83,650 ha along with detailed interaction with Afforestation models have been the villagers, VFPMC/EDC members selected in micro planning process in and local NGOs. The whole exercise each village. The demand and supply of is undertaken by partner NGO under fodder and fuelwood, land availability supervision of forest officials. PRA and the vegetation status of revenue and methodology helps to identify and forest lands, the magnitude of damages prioritize the various needs of the caused by sand dunes etc., are analysed village community. Once approved, with participatory rural appraisal. the prescriptions made in microplan forms the basis for undertaking project II. Agroforestry activities in the village. Entry Point Target area: 590 villages in 10 desert Activities (EPA) are also undertaken area and 5 non-desert areas in the project villages to inculcate Activities: In both desert and non- credibility and acceptance of project desert areas staff among the villagers during initial • Raising seedlings by Self Help stage of the project. Groups (130 SHGs) Capacity Building is also a very • Training to Self Help Groups (130 important component of the project of SHGs) which institutional capacity building • Selling seedlings to villagers is an integral part. A dedicated wing has been formed for Capacity Building III. Water Conservation which is responsible for capacity Structures building andresearch and training. Target area: 590 villages in 10 desert Trainings are organized starting from area and 5 non-desert areas the grass root level like VFPMC to Activities: the level of DeputyConservator of In Non-Desert area Forests.The major emphasis has been • Anicut type 1 (600 nos.) on VFPMC members and NGOs. • Anicut type 2 (400 nos.) These efforts have resulted in timely • Check dams (200,000m3) submission of microplans, proper • Contour bunding (500,000 row GPS and GIS data from field, better metres) co-ordination, communication and • Silt detention structure (300 nos.) execution of project activities. • Gabion structure (500 nos.) The Project activities have been divided into three phases namely In Desert area Preparatory, Implementation and • Percolation Tank (700 nos.) Closing. • Renovation / restoration of
CONTENTS 33 FIELD FORESTER | February 2016
Afforestation model Applicable land characteristics Products Desert Area 56,650 ha Canal side plantation(1650 ha) Forests land along the canal Fodder /fuelwood/Timber Sand dune cum pasture Sand dune in forestry /community fodder development (25,000 ha) private lands Silvi-pastoral plantation Degraded community/ forest Fodder/ fuelwood (25000 ha) lands Block Plantation Forest land allocated for fuelwood Fodder /fuelwood/Timber (5000 ha) production in irrigation villages and suitable community lands Non Desert Area 27,000ha Fuelwood plantation Degraded community land Fodder /fuelwood/Timber (10,000ha) Rehabilitation of degraded Forest land , forest cover 0-20%, Fodder /fuelwood forest- I water conservation required (2500ha) Rehabilitation of degraded Forest land , forest cover (20-40%), Fodder /fuelwood forest- II (2500ha) water conservation required
Assisted natural regeneration Forest land, forest cover (2500 ha) (0-20%),water stock available, less need for water conservation Productivity enhancement Available bamboo/availability Bamboo/fodder/fuelwood operations of sufficient growing stock of (2500 ha) important species
traditional water harvesting • Creation of Machia Biological Park, structure (200 nos.) Jodhpur • Development of Biological Parks- IV. Biodiversity Conservation Sajjangarh Biological Park Udaipur Target area: 60 villages in the 2 km and Nahargarh Biological Park, fringe areas of 7 sanctuaries. Jaipur Activities: • Drainage line treatment works V. Community Mobilisation (12,000 ha) Target Area: All 650 villages • Development of Water points (100 Activities: nos.) • VFPMCs / EDC Formation and • In- Situ Conservation of germplasm- strengthening Great Indian Bustard in Desert • Microplanning National Park, Jaisalmer and Four • Construction of Meeting Centre for Horned Antelopein Kumbhalgarh VFMPCs/ EDCs and Sitamata Wildlife Sanctuaries • Entry Point Activities
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• Communication Extension and As per agreement signed with JICA, Training (CET) Activities after closure of every financial year the accounts are audited and audit VI. Poverty Alleviation and certificate issued by Chartered Livelihood Improvement Accountant is sent to JICA. Target Area: All 650 villages Activities: Monitoring and Evaluation • Formation and selecting SHGs (1,950 Impact of afforestation activities SHGs) are to be evaluated by survival rates of • Capacity building planted trees and improvement in tree • Encouraging livelihood activities of cover. Survival rates are evaluated by SHGs through loans three methods; regular evaluation at • Technical training and skill DMU/CCF/PCCF levels, post- project upgradation of SHG members evaluation at PCCF level, and external • Development of eco- tourism sites evaluation by an external organization • Support for marketing and value during mid-term and post – project addition evaluations. Change in forest cover is analysed by the GIS cell of Rajasthan VII. Institutional Capacity Forest Department by comparing the Development satellite imageries of 0th year, 4th year Target Area: All 650 villages and 7th year after tree planting. Other Activities: activities of the Project like water • Training of forest department staff conservation structures biodiversity • Training of VFPMC members conservation and other processes • Exposure visits of forest officials and associated with project are also VFPMC members to other states evaluated. • Overseas study tours of officers • Overseas training of officers Current status of the project • Afforestation : Planting has been Fund Flow completed in 32,382 Ha Every year the budget is prepared • Cumulative expenditure : INR 353 by the PMU and gets sanctioned by Crores finance department, Govt. of Rajasthan • SHG formation and IGA : 800 SHGs through the office of the PCCF. Funds are transferred to the bank account of • Biological Parks Rajasthan Vaniki Evam Jaiv Vividhta a. Sajjangarh (Udaipur) - Sanrakshan Society (RVJVSS) from Operational. time to time. The funds are then b. Machia (Jodhpur) - To be transferred to the bank of DMUs as operational soon. per allocation decided by PMUs for c. Nahargarh (Jaipur) - To be carrying out various project activities. operational by March 2016.
CONTENTS 35 FIELD FORESTER | February 2016
Advantages of Externally rather than on sustained gains aided Funds • Foreign money is seen as easy • It creates additionality of resources money and the Governments do • International agencies insist upon not undertake a close scrutiny of the proper documentation of project projects prepared by the consultants, proposals followed by mid-term with the result that the projects evaluation and a final evaluation. end up deepening the dependency • Identifies and pinpoints the shortfalls syndrome. that occurred as well as the problems faced in the implementation of Acknowledgements various earlier projects. I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to Mr (Late) A K Uadhyay Drawbacks (IFS), former PCCF, Rajasthan Forest • A larger number of externally aided Department, for his constant guidance, projects leave very little money for support and motivation during other activities in the field. our case study tour. I am also very • There is a feeling that the total grateful to Ms Kavita (IFS), CF, Mr M K money itself has not increased in Agarwal (IFS), DCF Jaipur North Forest the development budget but a great Division, for extending their constant deal gets spent on consultancies help and support. I would also like to especially involving foreign experts acknowledge the staff of Jaipur Forest • There is more emphasis under EAPs Division for their valuable inputs, on achieving immediate success efforts, and care.
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Keoladeo National Park / Rajasthan Challenges in managing water for the National Park
The Forest Department has taken many steps to mitigate the water scarcity problem and have been successful to a large extent
Ritu Paban Borah the Central Empowered Committee, instructed that water be released for t is often said that ‘water is life’. the Park from the Dholpur-Bharatpur For Keoladeo National Park in Drinking Water project. The project of IRajasthan it is everything. It is the the State Public Health Department was water that makes the wetland wet, given Forest Clearance and the much supports grasses, a vast number of fish needed water was supplied to the Park. and indeed the rich avifauna which is Govardhan Drain Project was dependent on them. designed to drain out flood water at Managing water for the Park is not Rajasthan-Haryana Border to River an easy task for the park authorities Yamuna. A diversion was created and locating a reliable source of water for the intake the flood water. It is is the biggest constraint. It needs to worth mentioning that the Planning be mentioned here that the Park is an Commission had released 56 crore artificial water body built by Maharaja rupees to build a pumping station at of Bharatpur, where they used to shoot Goverdhan Drain and also a dedicated ducks for recreational activities. The 17 km underground pipeline was laid main sources of water for the Park to draw water from the drain to the are Ajan Bund, Dholpur-Bharatpur park during rainy season. Drinking Water project, and Govardhan Solar power driven pumps have Drain Project. been installed inside the park to meet Ajan Bund is the oldest source of the water demand when required. water, however, due to increase in Water from solar pumps supplement height of Pachna Dam in the upstream the water availability during the of the Gambhirriver, the supply summer when the park is almost dry, of water from Ajan Bund has gone this helps the fishes and turtles to down drastically. Seeking a solution survive in water pools. The water in after appeal from various concerned managed in the blocks of the park by authorities of the Park, the Hon’ble operating the sluice gates. However Supreme Court with the suggestion of in spite of arranging for water inside
ACF Trainee, CASFOS, Dehradun
CONTENTS 37 FIELD FORESTER | February 2016 the park, there are a number of issues Rickshaw pullers and staffs were also that the park authorities have to deal involved in this process. The catch was with. Some of the issues that the park sent outside the Park. However, since faces and has mitigated to an extent are legally nothing could be sent out of the invasion by Prosopisjuliflora, removal Park, a different and amicable solution of water hyacinth, management of was found and resorted to subsequently. grassland and removal of African The catch was discarded inside the catfish (Clariasgariepinus). forest and served as food for the two Prosopisjuliflora that invade the species of vultures that are resident in wetland are uprooted by the Eco- the Park – King and Egyptian Vulture. Development Committee. This has dual The operation is generally carried out benefits – control of the invasive species in the month of June and during this and supply of timber to the villagers. time jackals have young ones. So the Water hyacinth is manually removed discarding of fish didn’t cause any with the help of boats and piled up in problem and also supplemented the a place for decomposition. Excessive jackal population. growth of grass is not good of the health The Keoladeo National Park is a of the wetland. It may act as a catalyst Birds Paradise due to its rich avifauna, in the succession of a wetland into it is also due to the dedicated efforts of woodland. This is managed by manual the foresters of the National Park. cutting, controlled burning and surface scrapping during the dry seasons. Acknowledgement In the case of the African catfish it I would like to express my sincere was notices that these fishes feed on gratitude to Mr Biju Joy, IFS DCF(WL), other fishes and even sometimes on Biologist Mr Bholu Abrar Khan the aquatic birds. This was brought to and all staff of Keoladeo National light through dissection of the African Park (KNP) for providing valuable catfish. In order to control its population, information and support. fishermen were hired to catch them.
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Ranthambore National Park / Rajasthan Management of Trinetra Ganesh Chathurti Mela inside the Protected Area
Nearly 3 lakh pilgrims visited the Jogimahal Fort inside the Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve in 2015 for the annual Ganesh Festival, making the crowd management a humungous task
Hibu Tana villages and some were from Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. The control rinetra Ganesh Chathurti Mela and management of so many people has been celebrated in Joghimahal in the CTH in such a short duration TFort inside the Ranthambhore poses a huge challenge to the Forest National Park since time immemorial. Department. It takes cooperation and Speciality of the temple is that all five coordination of different agencies and deities – Lord Ganesha, his two wives departments to make such an event Bhudhi and Shiddhi, alongwith their successful. sons Subh and Lahb – were found in Different agencies and government a monolith that naturally came out in departments involved during the Mela the fort. were: Joghimahal Fort is located inside • Local MLA Critical Tiger Habitat (CTH). The total • District administration, Sub- area of Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve Divisional Magistrate (Mela). (RTR) is 1,400 sq km and demarcated • Rajasthan Police area for CTH is 1,100 sq km. The • Home Guard (Rasthriya Grah festival was celebrated for three days in Rakshak Dal). 2015, from September 15 to September • Rajasthan State Electricity Board 17. There are several other temples • Medical department inside the Tiger Reserve, like Soleswar • PHED Mahadev, Amareshwar Mahadev, etc. • PWD The total distance from Sherpur main • Forest entry gate in the Protected Forest till • Archeological Survey of India the temple is 4 km. Last year, in 2014, • Ganesh Mandir Trust the total number of pilgrims was • Department of Pilgrims (Devstan around 10 lakh. In 2015, it was around Bhibhag) 3 lakh – the number dipped due to • Nature guides hot weather and delayed monsoon. • NCC Most of the pilgrims were from nearby • NGOs like ATREE, ARC, Kids of
Officer Trainee, Batch 2015-17
CONTENTS 39 FIELD FORESTER | February 2016
Figure: Map of Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve Courtesy: Dr Dharmendra Khandal, Manager, Tiger Watch
Figure: Road kill: dead scorpion
Tiger, Tiger Watch waste inside the RTR, littering and • College and school students garbage, especially at free-food points (bhandaras) and drinking water points, Environmental concern and problem of bathing and defecation, disturbances noise levels, and effects of all these on The progressive growth of the the flora and fauna, as well as man- mela over last two decades results in animal conflict. The plastic waste overcrowding on the forest habitat and collected in 2014 was 125 gunny bags its water bodies. Major concerns were and in 2015, 46 large gunny bags inside the menace of polythene and plastic the Protected Area.
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Management by Forest and were made at regular intervals at the other departments/ agencies main road from Sherpur Gate to Jogi The total strength of staff on duty Mahal Gate. All vehicles entering into was 92, out of which 33 were from the the Protected Area needed a permit Forest Department. The staff on duty from the Mela Magistrate. Banners were was directed to be in a uniform, with put up warning pilgrims of dangers wireless handsets, raincoats, torches, from Tigers, Leopards and Snakes batons, helmets, etc. Nature guides inside the forest and from Crocodiles were instructed to be stationed near in the water bodies. The banners also water bodies like Rajbagh, Padam, etc., gave information about provision of on rotational basis. Further, the staff was clean and treated drinking water from divided into groups of 3-4 members as tube well, stream and ponds, one at animal rescue team with tranquilisers; Sherpur Gate and other at Jogi Mahal snake handlers 2 groups; mobile squads Gate as approved by the Chief Medical 3 groups; and, foot-patrolling groups, Health Officer. Toilets were opened for standing guard near water bodies and 4 public with fee of Rs 5, which was to entry points –Sherpur Main Entry Gate be given to sweepers. The mobile sound (Ganesh Gate), Jogi Mahal located at the system and DJ were located outside the foot of Ranthambhore Fort, Soleshwar Protected Forest Area. Mahadev, and Badal Gate, the southern Facilities that were availed by entrance point – as well as at the small various departments and organisations grass lane. All were instructed to have were electricity, free drinking water first-aid kit with them and at least facilities and medical facility in case one swimmer, either from the Forest of emergency. The Forest Department Department or the Home Guard. staff kept a watch on some young Tiger Project Area, like Balaji and pilgrims who tended to move inside Amershwar, were barricaded. A thorny the restricted area. This was to prevent bush fencing was made on the wall to man-animal conflict. The main function check the movement of animals into of the Police, Home Guards and NCC the pilgrimage route. Announcements members were to keep the crowd
Figure: Illustrative Awareness Tools: Banner, Hoardings, Poster
CONTENTS 41 FIELD FORESTER | February 2016 moving continuously so that the traffic • Jogi Mahal at the foot of was smooth. Ranthambhore Fort/ Trinetra Ganesh A signature campaign was also Temple and where the parikrama also started and its major outcome was that starts top district officials, influential citizens • Soleshwar Mahadev, a Shiva temple and civil society members became inside RTR where devotees go to aware of the campaign. after visiting the temple • Badal Gate, the southern entrance Cleanliness and hygiene point to RTR near Soleshwar Volunteers from NGOs and student Mahadev area. bodies like Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parisad were distributing cloth bags Frisking and confiscation of tobacco made from old sarees while collecting product like gutka, beedi and cigarettes polythene bags, and were sweeping was simultaneously conducted by and cleaning waste in the Protected NGO volunteers, alongwith ATREE- Area. The volunteers manned following ARC team and a girl’s team. Temporary locations: urinals were constructed on way to the • Main (western ) entrance to RTR – temple by the Archaeological Survey Sherpur Gate (Ganesh Gate) of India (ASI).,. The children of Mogya
Figure: Large bags of polythene recovered Figure: Dustbin by Forest Department
Figure: Urinal built by ASI Figure: Temporary dustbin for the occasion
CONTENTS 42 FIELD FORESTER | February 2016 tribe – a sub-tribe of Pardhis with to following reasons: hunting skills and involved in poaching • Lights at night till morning. earlier – who are being rehabilitated by • Noise by generators and devotees, the Tiger Watch education programme, like shouting slogans and devotional enthusiastically participated in the songs. religious festival and conservation • Continuous movement of devotees. protection volunteer programmes. Camping in the forest indicated that large numbers of small animals were Observations killed by night traffic. Trees in the A significant numbers of larger camping area inside the forest and animals avoided the temple and in the strips along the road suffered adjoining core area during festival due from lack of regeneration as new
Figure: Trash collected near Sherpur Entry Gate
Figure: Plastic waste during the mela Figure: Burnt patches at the roadside after the mela
CONTENTS 43 FIELD FORESTER | February 2016
saplings were trampled upon. the “Clean Ganesha and Green • There are around 50 Tigers in the Ganesha” concept. On subsequent RTR and each Tiger’s dwelling days when I visited the Protected Forest area is about 30 to 50 sq km. So, if Area, it was clean and free from plastic. we divide the total area of RTR by But, on the highway, we could see some average dwelling area of tiger, the burnt patches and it was obvious that bearing capacity comes to 35 tigers. the polythene was burnt in open. Thus, the RTR was overpopulated, which could also be a reason for the Reference man-animal conflict. ‘Sustainable green religious tourism, • Only one medical camp was there for Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve: An emerging around 3 lakh pilgrims. model with multi-stakeholder engagement’ • The urinal was only at the area near by the Ashok Trust for Research in the temple. Ecology and Environment and Alliance • As there was insufficient number of on Religions and Conservation toilets, the pilgrims often resorted to open defecation in jungle, which not Acknowledgement only polluted the streams and rivers I would like to thank Mr Sudarshan but also increased the chances of Sharma, DFO/Dy. Dir (1). (RTR), Mr man-animal conflict. Sanjeev Sharma, ACF, RTR (1), Dr However, forest officials were very Dharmendra Khandal, Manager Tiger efficient and cooperative with other Watch (NGO), and staff for giving their departments and agencies in promoting valuable inputs.
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UDAIPUR / RAJASTHAN Human-Leopard conflict on the rise
There is an urgent need for broad policy guidelines and management options to effectively deal with the increasing problem of man-leopard conflicts
Bikram Singh Rongpi years (2014-2015) and the number of such conflicts is likely to increase in n September 18, 2015, hundreds future because leopards have highly of villagers mercilessly beat diversified diets and are extremely Oa leopard to death at Rela Ka adaptable to various ecological Baidya village in Bhilawara district. conditions. This versatility allows them This was in retaliation against the to thrive in a broad range of habitats, leopard, who had reportedly attacked often bordering on human settlements. 10 people on two consecutive days. “Its However, the Indian law prohibits stomach had burst and intestines had the killing of Schedule 1 species, come out. If it would have been rescued, which includes Leopards. Therefore, we could have known whether the responses have been confined to panther was rabid, since it was reported removing the animal to captivity, or to be chewing whatever came before it,” translocating it to a new area. said B P Pareek, Deputy Conservator of The incidents of leopards straying Forest. into settlements causing human There were 11 such incidents of casualties and retaliatory killings of human-leopard conflict in Udaipur leopards by the public have been on district of Rajasthan over the past two the rise in Udaipur district due to
Leopard killed by villagers at Rela Ka Badiya A woman killed by the same leopard in Rela Ka village Badiya village
Officer Trainee (2015-17 Batch), CASFOS, Dehradun
CONTENTS 45 FIELD FORESTER | February 2016
Photo of leopard and peacock drowned in a well anger and fear. The leopards’ presence community much more than other has been increasing in a wide range of government departments. rural and built-up environments. These The efficacy of capture and translo- are far away from their natural habitat cation of leopards from conflict areas and Protected Areas due to habitat as a mitigation measure is increasingly disturbance and increased human being questioned as there is no avail- encroachment on leopard habitats, able habitat. Scientific research shows which leads to the decline of natural that when a leopard is displaced, it has prey species. As a result, leopards prey the tendency to seek out its original ter- on humans, dogs, cows, goats and other ritory which may be hundreds of kilo- domesticated animals. In areas where metres away. In this process, the leop- there is scarcity of water, the leopards ard often runs into numerous villages come out of their natural habitat in search and agriculture fields and causes more of water, thereby making the human- problems for which it had previously leopard conflict inevitable in Udaipur been caught. This has necessitated the district. Under such circumstances, the need for having broad policy guidelines Forest Department is the first to face the and management options to effectively heat of public reaction and requires the deal with this gradually intensifying goodwill and confidence of the rural problem across the country.
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Acknowledgements References Heartiest thanks to Mr S Singh 1. Udaipur Kiran (ACF), Dr Satish Sharma (ACF), Dr T 2. Laurie Marker and Swarnatara Mohan Raj (DFO), Mr A N Rana (DFO), Shivamani. News from the World Mr O P Sharma (DFO), for giving me 3. Forest Department, Government of their precious time and information for Rajasthan the case study. 4. Government of India, Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (Wildlife Division)
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Jodhpur / Rajasthan Machia Biological Park: From a rocky desert to a home for wildlife
The vision of the Machia Biological Park is to create an opportunity for the citizens of Jodhpur to have a biological park very close to the city
Elangbam Nirmala Chanu the Jodhpur Zoo (situated within) was entrusted to the Superintendent, Garden he Jodhpur Zoo was established Department of the Govt. of Rajasthan. by Maharaja Umaid Singh in Subsequently the management of T1935. The Zoo is situated within Jodhpur Zoo was transferred from the premises of the “Public Park” the Garden Department to the Forest popularly known as Umaid Udhyan, Department in 1956. Since then Jodhpur Jodhpur. Within the Umaid Udhyan Zoo is being managed by the forest area are also located the ‘Public Library’ department of Rajasthan Government. named “Sumer Sarvajanik Vachnalaya” Jodhpur Zoo was later given the and the museum named “Sardar status of Heritage zoo by the Central Sangrahalaya”. Post-Independence, the Zoo Authority (CZA). However since management of Umaid Udhyan and the zoo could not fulfil the requirements
Rhyolite stone
SFS OT 2015-17 Batch
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Double blasting technique of planting in hard Rhyolite stone of a modern zoo, the CZA refused to biological research on wild animals and grant permission. To resolve the issue, will facilitate studies on behaviour and CZA decided to give recognition only breeding of different animals. It also on the condition that a new satellite zoo offers space for captive conservation would be constructed at Machia as per and breeding of endangered species of their guidelines. Thus, the decision for wild animals. the creation of Machia Biological Park, Machia Biological Park was a modern zoo, was made for the wild conceptualized in the year 1982-83. It animals in the Jodhpur Zoo. is located 8 kms away from Jodhpur The vision of the Machia Biological railway station on the western side of Park is to create an opportunity for the Jodhpur. It is the satellite zoo of the citizens of Jodhpur to have a biological old heritage zoo of Jodhpur. Machia park very close to the city. This would Biological Park is spread over 41 ha offer not just an opportunity for the out of the 604 ha area in Machia Forest residents of Jodhpur to view wild Block. The legal status of Machia forest animals, but would help in educating block is of a protected forest notified and sensitizing them and build vide notification No. II9(6) forest/90 empathy towards wild animals among dated 01-07-1990 under the Rajasthan the people. The biological park will Forest Act 1953. also serve as a gene pool for future The area is in the biological park
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Changes from rocky desert to lush green micro-environment is mainly rocky composed of rhyolite Capparis decidua, Zizyphusnimmularia, – an igneous rock. The terrain in the Commiphorawightii etc. This zone park is undulating and it has numerous receives low rainfall as a result of that man made water bodies. This area vegetation is scarce. has poor soil quality and if soil is present has low soil depth. The natural Plantation techniques vegetation in Machia Biological Park Prior to 2009, plantation activity is dry scrub forest consisting of scanty was started by making a loose stone tree cover of species like Acacia senegal, structure of 20 cm width. The depth / Prosopis cineraria, Prosopisjuliflora, height of this structure was around
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100 cm and diameter was 60 cm. This now been converted into a lush green was filled with a mixture of sand and forest. The forest department has an manure in the ratio of 4:1. Species aim of planting 7500 trees inside the selected for plantation were gular, neem, park in order to completely change the peepal and bargad of approximately 3-4 microclimate of the area which will be feet height for planting. The plants now friendly to the wild animals as well as have attained a height of 10-12 feet for visitors. during the last 5 years. There are 20 enclosures out of Due to the low success of survival which 12 enclosures have already as well as growth in the plantation been constructed. All the enclosures method, a new technique for plantations are constructed in such a manner that was adopted. Known as blasting, this it provides a natural ecosystem to the technique uses blasting material to wild animal and is also approved by the create pits. The reason for adoption of CZA. Since the temperature in the area this technique is the fact that rhyolite is crosses 45˚C during summer season, 5 to 7 times harder than sandstone. Both special consideration has been given to single and double blasting methods are the construction of shelters for animals. used depending on the suitability of the Unbaked bricks and mud is used for area. First a 1m x 1m site is selected and the construction and provides more blasted (single blasting) and the rubble ventilation and a cooler shelter. Since and broken rock material are removed. there is problem of rodents in the area, The pit is filled with a mixture of sand all the enclosures are provided with a and FYM in the ratio of 4:1 and 2-3 rodent proof fence. years old planting stock are planted. In The landscaping of the park is the double basting technique the pit is picturesque with a view of Kaylana reblated making a depth of about 2 m. Lake. It has a lotus garden,well Material generated by double blasting maintained lawns, places for resting is left as such to provide the enough set amidst lush green surrounding. The space for the soil and roots of plants to park has also provided employment to penetrate into the rock crevices. women as zoo keepers and landscaping The plant species planted work like lawn maintenance. are Ficusbengalensis, F.glomerata, Pongamiapinnata, Bauhinia spp., Acknowledgement Anogeissusrotundifolia etc. This I express my sincere thanks to Mr M technique has been very successful S Rathore, IFS, DFO, Machia Biological providing suitable condition for plants Park. I owe a lot to Mr B S Rathore, ACF, to grow in such harsh condition. Machia Biological Park, for providing The efforts of workers and proper the necessary information about the utilization of water resources in place. I am extremely thankful to irrigation also plays a major role for the Mr Davendra Singh, ACF, Jodhpur successful growth. The rocky desert has Division, for his help and cooperation.
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Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve / Rajasthan Tiger monitoring with camera traps
The camera trap method of monitoring tigers provides a more reliable count than the earlier pugmark method and is being used the Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve
Leishangthem Jeeceelee decrease in number in late 1960s led the Indian Government to formulate an anthambhore Tiger Reserve action plan to save tiger from imminent (25° 41° N to 26° 22’ N and 76° extinction, and subsequently led to the R16’ E to 77° 14’ E) is situated in emergence of Project Tiger, a blueprint for the western bank of river Chambal, in India’s tiger conservation programme. the south-eastern part of Rajasthan in RTR was one of the first nine wildlife Sawai Madhopur and Karauli districts. areas selected as Project Tiger Reserves. The total area of Ranthambhore Tiger Monitoring of tiger, therefore, has Reserve is 1700.22 sq km, out of which become necessary to study the relevant 1113.36 sq km has been notified as holistic, ecological and socio-economic critical tiger habitat and 297.92 sq km aspects addressing important issues like as buffer area. The RTR constitutes population dynamics, demography, Ranthambhore National Park, Sawai territory size, dispersal, food habits Madhopur Wildlife Sanctuary, Sawai and response of introduced tigers to Mansingh Wildlife Sanctuary in Sawai anthropogenic disturbances. Since Madhopur district and Keladevi 1970s, the pugmark census monitoring Wildlife Sanctuary in Karauli district. It techniques had been used to conduct represents the western most distribution all-India tiger census every four years. limit of the tiger species (Panthera During the census, the information tigris tigris) in India and has semi- obtained was pugmark tracings, arid climatic conditions, receiving an plaster casts and gait measurements, average rainfall of 800 mm per annum. additional information on location, Forest type is typical representative of date, and substrate. Subsequently, dry-deciduous dhok (Anogeissus pendula) individual tigers were identified based forest. The floral vegetation of the tiger on the above information. Individual reserve is tropical dry deciduous forest tigers were continuously monitored and tropical thorn forest. over time and total count in an area Tiger, being the charismatic large was arrived at. However, in recent carnivore top predator, serves as the decades, the reliability of pugmark flagship species for conservation of census monitoring techniques had biodiversity. However, its startling been questioned.
ACF Trainee, CASFOS, Dehradun
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The Tiger Task Force, constituted extensively used trails of tigers, such by the National Board for Wildlife as those near a source of water. The (2005), has formulated the revised location of recording of indirect signs methodology/approach propounded are marked using a hand-held Global by the National Tiger Conservation Positioning System (GPS). These Authority (NTCA) and the Wildlife locations are overlaid on the map of the Institute of India (WII) for country- grid to determine the spatial spread of level estimation/monitoring of tiger/ trap sites and spatial coverage of the prey status and its habitat. Following area, especially to detect large gaps directions of the NTCA, the Phase IV without trap sites. management-oriented monitoring in In Ranthambhore National Park Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve has been (RNP) and adjoining area, 185 camera carried out since 2011 annually. The trapping grids were installed and process involves double sampling in both side camera traps were deployed a statistical framework, which allows in each grid. The camera traps were extrapolation and rigorous statistical installed usually along a trail, small analyses. It is far more accurate than creek or near a water hole where the the pugmark method. It is conducted in chances of sighting animals are high. three phases: ground survey, analysis The sites are required to be clear of of satellite data and camera trapping. bushes and grass so as to provide no • Phase-I: Ground survey data obstacles while taking pictures as the collection at beat level on signs of camera works on the motion sensor. tigers, co-predators, prey and habitat Cameras are usually installed at knee- status following a standardised height. The camera trapping stations protocol – indirect survey by field outside RNP are identified on the basis personnel. of movement of tiger and are marked on • Phase-II: Statistical and satellite data the field with station number written on analysis. it. The list of camera trapping stations • Phase-III: Camera trapping along with GPS was handed over to conducted by research biologists, concerned Range Officers and Foresters individual tigers identified by their for reference. These camera trapping unique stripe pattern. stations would be used year after year Camera Trap method: The whole for tiger estimation in Ranthambhore reserve is divided into 1.41x1.41 km Tiger Reserve. grids and a reconnaissance carnivore A Monitoring Cell is maintaining sign survey is carried out in each grid. regular tiger movement records and The camera trappings grids are selected photo database of tigers. Tigers are based on presence of indirect signs of being identified by comparing their the tiger such as scats, scrapes and stripes. No two tigers have similar pugmarks, etc. The staff of respective stripes. The cell coordinates with range beats within the sampling grids is forest officers. The database of the consulted to get a clue of the most information on tiger photo data, habitat
CONTENTS 53 FIELD FORESTER | February 2016 status, other co-predators and ungulates Acknowledgement are maintained using a software, ‘Tiger I would like to thank Mr M P co-predators, prey and habitat status Singh, IFS, Director, Directorate of Data Entry System’. Forest Education, Mr N Sonzalian, The camera trap method of moni- IFS, Principal CASFOS, Dehradun and toring tigers provides a more reliable Ms Meera Iyer, IFS, tour-in-charge count. Camera traps are useful tools for and faculty CASFOS for giving the studying the ecology and behaviour of opportunity for this case study. I am elusive animals and also helps in the also grateful to Mr Surdarshan Sharma, detection of dispersal routes of animals DCF (WL), RTR, Sawai Madhopur, and in the semi-arid landscape. The data is his staff for guidance and cooperation important for making conservation and during the study tour. management decisions.
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Note: Articles may be sent at the following email ID: [email protected]
Evaluation and Review System There will be two layers of review of the contributions; Faculty and the Directorate review. Evaluation and review at the faculty level in the training institutes/academies willbe undertaken under the guidance of Director/Principal/Head of the institutions. Even very specialized and technical topics shall be presented in simplified format so that frontline staff and forest community are able to appreciate and understand the topics. Articles shall be written in a popular style, easily understandable and in simple English. However depending on the response to this programme, arrangements can be made for translation of the magazine into the vernacular. A short note about the contributor and the reviewer shall accompany the article. The note shall contain name, age, postal and e-mail address, course, academic accomplishments, and important assignments held. The evaluation would be done on following criteria: a. Style: The article should be interesting and informative. The introduction should draw the reader in and convince them that the remainder is worth reading. The remaining should be written in a lively and concise style, and should leave the reader convinced of the importance of the topic. b. Structure: The article should be within 1000 words, and formatted in 1.5 line spacing in Times New Roman 12 point font. c. Organization: • Instead of an abstract the article will give information on the location, the period when the field work was carried out • Integration - the article organized in a coherent form and all ideas are clearly leading to a single main argument. The review at the Directorate level will be done through an editorial board constituted by the DFE, which will be responsible for the content, design and review of the journal articles. The editorial board shall consist of expert/experts constituted by DFE and reconstituted every year, which would screen contributions and recommend their publication. Articles previously published elsewhere, or simultaneously sent for publication elsewhere, may be accepted with modifications. Article submitted shall carry a declaration that the article is original. The Editor would reserve the right to reject articles without assigning any reason and articles not found suitable will be sent back.
Directorate of Forest Education Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change P.O. New Forest, Dehradun Tel: +91 135-2750127, Fax: +91 135-2750125 Website: www.dfe.gov.in
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