Annexure- V, Wildlife Conservation Plan for Schedule I fauna

Wildlife Conservation Plan for Schedule I fauna of the Study Area

Introduction:-

The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 is an Act of the Parliament of India enacted for protection of plants and animal species. Before 1972, India only had five designated national parks. Among other reforms, the Act established schedules of protected plant and animal species; hunting or harvesting these species was largely outlawed. The Act provides for the protection of wild animals, birds and plants; and for matters connected therewith or ancillary or incidental thereto. It extends to the whole of India, except the State of Jammu and Kashmir which has its own wildlife act. It has six schedules which give varying degrees of protection. Schedule I and part II of Schedule II provide absolute protection - offences under these are prescribed the highest penalties. Species listed in Schedule III and Schedule IV are also protected, but the penalties are much lower. Schedule V includes the animals which may be hunted. The plants in Schedule VI are prohibited from cultivation and planting. As per Standards Terms of reference issued by MoEF&CC, New Delhi for EIA Report for projects/Activities requiring environmental clearance should provided Wildlife Conservation Plan for conservation of Schedule I fauna, If Exist in the study area. List of Schedule I fauna species found in the Study Area As observed and studied in the baseline ecological status of study area of the project, two Schedule-I species were reported in the study area , No endangered faunal species were observed in the study area.

Species reported in Schedule I category are listed below:

1. Pavo cristatus- Common Peafowl (Least Concern /Sch-I) 2. Lissemys punctata - Indian Flapshell Turtle (Least Concern /Sch-I) Detailed Description of the Species:

1. Pavo cristatus- Common Peafowl

TAXONOMY: Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Animalia Chordata Aves Galliformes Phasianidae

IUCN STATUS: Least Concern; Red List Category & Criteria: Least Concern ver 3.1 Year Published: 2016; Date Assessed: 2016-10-01 WILDLIFE PROTECTION ACT SCHEDULE: Schedule I

About Common Peafowl:

 Common peafowls are often called peacocks although technically only the male of the species can be called a peacock. Females are peahens.  The common peafowl's diet consists mainly of seeds, grains, grasses, berries, roots and small insects.  The peafowl will lay four to six eggs at a time, which are then incubated for 28 days. Development in peafowl chicks is slow and they will often not obtain their full plumage until they are three to five years old.

SUN PARTICLE BOARD PVT. LTD., MORBI

Annexure- V, Wildlife Conservation Plan for Schedule I fauna

Distribution & Habitat  The Indian peafowl is a resident breeder across the Indian subcontinent and is found in the drier lowland areas of Sri Lanka. In South Asia, it is found mainly below an altitude of 1,800 metres (1.1 mi) and in rare cases seen at about 2,000 metres (1.2 mi).  It is found in moist and dry-deciduous forests, but can adapt to live in cultivated regions and around human habitations and is usually found where water is available.  In many parts of northern India, they are protected by religious practices and will forage around villages and towns for scraps.

Food:  Peafowl are omnivorous and eat seeds, insects, fruits, small mammals and reptiles. They feed on small snakes but keep their distance from larger ones.  In the Gir forest of Gujarat, a large percentage of their food is made up of the fallen berries of Zizyphus. Around cultivated areas, peafowl feed on a wide range of crops such as groundnut, tomato, paddy, chili and even bananas. Around human habitations, they feed on a variety of food scraps and even human excreta. In the countryside, it is particularly partial to crops and garden plants.

COMMON THREAT(S):  Pavo cristatus (Common Peafowl, Peacock, Mor) faces threats due to reducing farmlands, increasing area of uncultivated land & Poaching for Food & Feathers.

2. Lissemys punctata - Indian Flapshell Turtle

TAXONOMY: Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Animalia Chordata Reptilia Testudines Trionychidae

IUCN STATUS: Least Concern; Red List Category & Criteria: Lower Risk/least concern ver 2.3 Year Published: 2000; Date Assessed: 2000-06-30 WILDLIFE PROTECTION ACT SCHEDULE: Schedule I

About Indian Flapshell Turtle:

 The Indian flapshell turtle (Lissemys punctata) is a freshwater species of turtle found in South Asia. The “flap- shelled” name stems from the presence of femoral flaps located on the plastron. These flaps of skin cover the limbs when they retract into the shell. It is unclear what protection the flaps offer against predators.  Indian flapshell turtles are widespread and common in the South Asian provinces. It has a soft leathery type of shell and they are called as flap shell because they have flaps on the plastron above their legs which cover their legs when they retract in the shell. They have a snout which can be seen clearly in the picture above. Its size ranges from about 240 to 370 mm in length.

Distribution & HABITAT  The Indian flapshell turtle is found in Pakistan, India (common in lakes and rivers), Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh (Indus and Ganges drainages), and Burma (Irrawaddy and Salween Rivers). It has been introduced to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.  It is also found in the desert ponds of Rajasthan, where hundreds are killed every year during the dry summers.  The race L. p. andersoni is found native in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan, Myanmar & Sri Lanka. Recorded from Pakistan, India (Sikkim), Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh (Indus and Ganges River drainages) and Myanmar (Irrawaddy and Salween rivers).  L. punctata lives in the shallow, quiet, often stagnant waters of rivers, streams, marshes, ponds, lakes and irrigation canals, and tanks. Waters with sand or mud bottoms are preferred because of the turtle’s tendency to burrow.  L. punctata turtle plays an important role to reduce pollution in aquatic ecosystems by feeding on snails, insects, and fragments of dead animals.

SUN PARTICLE BOARD PVT. LTD., MORBI

Annexure- V, Wildlife Conservation Plan for Schedule I fauna

Diet  It is omnivorous means it eats everything ranging from snails, frogs, fishes, shrimps, aquatic plants, flowers, fruits, plant leaves etc.

MAJOR THREAT(s):  In many South Asia provinces, freshwater turtles and their eggs are commonly used as a source of food. As a result, these turtles are often exploited as a source of profit.  In Bangladesh and India, this is especially evident as the Indian flapshell turtle is larger and has more meat than other turtles in the area. The value of this meat along with the efforts in the conservation of this species has driven the price of meat higher and has led to an increase in the illegal international exploitation and killing of these animals. Changes to the turtle's natural habitat by the construction of dams and barrages, cultivation along river banks, and pollution are also major threats to the survival of this turtle.

WILDLIFE PROTECTION & CONSERVATION ACTIONS: The following actions for wildlife protection & conservation shall be taken by M/s. Sun Particle Board Pvt. Ltd. (SPBPL)(Morbi)

 Proper & efficient implementation of mitigation measures & EMP suggested for Air, Water &Noise environment.  Regular monitoring of stack Emission & Ambient air quality to be carried out as per monitoring plan.  Greenbelt development & compensatory afforestation. SPBPL has already developed a matured greenbelt around its premises. It shall be continued further to strengthen greenbelt.  SPBPL shall ensure that whenever protected common species is observed in premises, they will carefully shift them out of impact prone areas.  SPBPL shall ensure that whenever any wild life species is found in vicinity of premises, they will call concern authority/party and forest department to get them back in their forest habitat.  In consultation with the forest department, SPBPL will explore possibilities to extend support to the existing forest and wildlife conservation plans through its on-going CSR activities and various other programs from time to time.  SPBPL will also participate and involve in conducting awareness campaigns by forest department at the village level to make the locals aware about the protected species in the area; their behaviour, habitat, ecology, breeding/nesting seasons, threats to habitats and species, laws regarding protection of species. Awareness generation campaigns will include preparation of brochures in local language, film show and display of posters, etc.

SUN PARTICLE BOARD PVT. LTD., MORBI