PROTECTED AREA UPDATE (Formerly JPAM UPDATE: News on Action towards Joint Protected Area Management) No. 27 & 28 December 2000 EDITORIAL Kerala Management plan for Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary NEWS FROM INDIAN STATES No land for Sabrimala temple from Periyar Assam Former poachers protect Periyar US NGO to fund program to save elephant habitat Madhya Pradesh in state 56 villages to be moved from Indravati TR Funds crunch affects Kaziranga Protests at Kanha / Kuno Palpur Elephants on rampage around Kaziranga Maharashtra Rhino poaching in Orang Two new sanctuaries at Rajmachi and Tamini- More ULFA trouble in Manas Sudhgarh Manas Bandhu groups formed in Manas Human Rights tribunal, Justice Krishna Iyer flay Bihar HC stand on encroachments in Sanjay Gandhi Conflict between forest staff and police in Betla NP Goa NGO suggests that boundary of Koyna WLS be Goa appoints 10 honorary wildlife wardens fixed after rehabilitation of all displaced Gujarat FD opposes capacity enhancement of Koyna hydro Tourism promotion in PAs in Gujarat project Legal view sought on clearance to Essar for project Rs. 37 crores plan to check poaching in Marine NP Manipur Indo-Oman pipeline through Marine NP scrapped Steps for the protection of lakes in state Port at Positra inside Marine NP opposed Orissa Coral species disappearing in Marine NP Illegal prawn gheries proliferate in Bhitarkanika Eight new spider species in Vansada NP Dolphins threatened at Gahirmatha Trees axed near Gir forest to pave way for shrine Paramilitary forces for protection of Simlipal Buffaloes succumb to mysterious disease in Gir Eupatorium affects Simlipal, Chandka Gir comes to aid of villagers, cattle during drought Mangrove regeneration project failing in Orissa Plans for Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary Tourism complex planned on Chilika coast Balaram Ambaji WLS to be denotified Special Task Force set up for Chilika Banni grasslands, part of Great Rann of Kutch to be Bird protection committee reduces poaching in handed to revenue department Chilika Himachal Pradesh Rajasthan Angling reserve in Sirmour for golden mahseer Cell set up to deal with wildlife offences Jammu & Kashmir Joint management to begin in Sariska (GF 153/104) Village regenerates forest on banks of Wular lake Ranthambhor TR to be renamed Govt. spending huge amounts for golf course in Poachers kill member of Bishnoi community Salim Ali NP Tamil Nadu Karnataka Campaign to save Pulicat Lake Road through Kudremukh to be widened Three new sanctuaries proposed in state Tribals resettled from Nagarhole given land Uttar Pradesh Ranganthithu affected by floods in August Animal deaths by electrocution in Hastinapur Attempts to save Bannerghatta elephants from Ranipur WLS benefits due to activities of a dacoit electrocution Gang smuggling sandalwood from Hastinapur WLS busted Protected Area Update 27& 28 1 December 2000 Land being bought in Govind Pashu Vihar Conservation West Bengal International training workshop on PA management Govt. to take steps for wildlife conservation and conservation UNDP to assist FD for management of Jaldapara 5th National Consultation on Wildlife Conservation and People’s Livelihood Rights NATIONAL NEWS FROM INDIA SC bans removal of resources from PAs WHAT'S AVAILABLE ? SC bans denotifications of PAs • People, Parks & Wildlife, Towards Coexistence Expert panel suggests marine sanctuary status for • Human Development Report 2000 mass nesting sites of sea turtles • State of India’s Environment: The Citizens EIA urges India to take US help for wildlife Fifth Report protection unit • Van Sahyog Elephant poaching on the rise • A Global Review of Protected Area Budgets Task Force recommends bifurcation of MoEF and Staff Parliamentary group of Environment and Wildlife • Flamingo Newsletter Call to declare part of Western Ghats as eco- • Sariska Vaibhav sensitive • Dialouge on Sariska Meagre amount sanctioned for settlement of rights • Regenerating of Forest Scheme for ecodevelopment in and around PAs Joint Forest Management (JFM) and PAs PA UPDATE MATTERS Guidelines for diversion of forest land from PAs for non-forestry purposes Life Subscriptions Information needed: Mining threats to wildlife Index of Protected Areas in the PA Update SOUTH ASIA CORRESPONDENCE Afghanistan Lake Abi Estada severely threatened Bangladesh $ 77 million Sunderbans project launched EDITORIAL Shell to explore for oil in the Sunderbans Global warming to affect Sunderbans Marine Park in St. Martin’s Island New Initiative in Sariska 2 eco-parks to be set up in Sherpur district Nepal In the overall picture of doom and destruction, there Call to develop Kaligandaki Gorge as nature continue to be many positive initiatives and signs of recreation park hope. Many forest officers, individuals, researchers, Pakistan NGOs and local communities continue their work Drought affects Khirthar against all odds and sometimes with very successful Water level in Haleji lake drops results. The initiative in Sariska (see Rajasthan; WWF identifies 87 wetlands Joint Management to begin in Sariska) is one such Sri Lanka positive initiative. Recently there was a meeting of ADB to fund ecodevelopment project local community representatives, the local NGO, Large scale illegal activities in national parks Tarun Bharat Sangh (TBS), forest department Garbage dumping threatening Bellanwila-Attidiya officials, and other NGOs in Sariska. There is now a marsh proposal the formation of an informal management Sri Lanka's elephant population rising committee that will now look at some of the most Fear of epidemic among wild elephants crucial issues that affect the PA and the communities that depend on the resources here for INTERNATIONAL survival. These are the kind of creative and New Protected Areas Web Sites innovative responses that are needed if we are to fight the serious threats faced by our PAs. ANNOUNCEMENTS Conflicts too continue and there has been Information needed on diseases and wildlife wide spread concern over the developments around Toxics and Wildlife some protected areas in Madhya Pradesh, Vacancies at the Wildlife Trust of India particularly Kanha and Kuno Palpur (see Madhya Pradesh; Protests at Kanha / Kuno Palpur). UPCOMING Following a very successful Bhoo Adhikar Short course on conservation biology for students Satyagraha by the Ekta Parishad, the tribals and Course on Ecodevelopment for Biodiversity Protected Area Update 27& 28 2 December 2000 local people displaced by these protected areas Conservation Fund (AECF) and the United States decided to raise the demand for access to resources Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) have shown that they have been so far denied. The forest interest in funding programs for elephant habitats in department and a large section of our conservation the state. The funding would come in under their lobby is worried and has even suggested that the ‘Project Elephant’ scheme. The Assam Forest people here should follow the lead taken by the Department has suggested the names of the Gibbon people of Sariska. Wildlife Sanctuary and the Gejera Sapori of Majuli The Ekta Parishad has clarified that they as sites where elephant depredation is rampant and do not support the denotifications of PAs, as this hence fit for funding under this programme. will not solve the problem either of the livelihoods The Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary with a core of people or the conservation of natural resources. area of only 19 sq. kms is home to a herd of over 30 What is very important is also how the Forest elephants. As a result there is a lot of conflict here. Department (FD) and the conservation lobby Similarly, the Gejera Sapori is a relatively new sand respond to a situation like this one. Unless they are bar formed by siltation of the Brahmaputra. Formed also not willing to come half the way (like in over the last 10 years the sand bar is approximately Sariska), there can be no meaningful dialogue or 5 Kms wide and 50 Kms long. Recently, in July resolution. The fact is, and not many of us are 2000, a 20 member herd of elephants had taken willing to accept it, that millions of people are refuge here causing serious panic among the human dependant on our protected areas to meet their settlements in the area. survival needs. Turning a blind eye to their legitimate needs will not only adversely affect these Source: ‘US-based NGOs keen to save elephant communities but also make our severely threatened habitat in state’, The Assam Tribune, PA network even more fragile. In the final battle to 07/07/2000. save our wilderness from the assault of the new commercial and industrial forces, conservationists, Funds crunch affects Kaziranga researchers, NGOs, people’s organisations and local communities have to work together, not in According to officials of the Kaziranga National opposition to one another. Park, a severe funds crunch is impeding the anti- This is where creative and innovative poaching operations and adversely affecting the responses will help. park’s upkeep. It is estimated that more than 200 A significant development in the country rhinos have been poached and 60 poachers have has been the creation of three new states, Jharkhand, been killed here in the last decade. With better Chattisgarh and Uttaranchal. Each one is rich in facilities and funds, the officials say, the protection natural resources, particularly forests. It would be of the park can be improved further. interesting to see how wildlife will be treated under However, for the last few years, the Assam the new regimes. Hopefully they will not continue state government has been releasing less than half of to see forests and minerals as their main source of the annual budget allocated for the park. revenue, but attempt to forge a new model of Consequently, few of the patrol vehicles are in development that is based on conservation and running condition, boats have not been repaired for sustainable use of the rich natural resources. We long and the elephants with the FD often go half fed have to wait and watch.