Govt. of

Major Achievements of Task Force

(Report Submitted as part of Second Annual Progress Report)

Submitted to: Sri B. S. Yeddyurappa Hon. Chief Minister of Karnataka Govt. of Karnataka Vidhanasoudha

Submitted by: Sri Anant Hegde Ashisar Chairman Western Ghats Task Force and members Dept. of Forest & Environment # 307 / Vidhansoudha, Bangalore-01

28 September 2010 Western Ghats Task Force, Dept. of Forest & Environment, Govt. of Karnataka

The Achievements

The Western Ghats Task Force has been involved in developing and implementing all its programmes through dept. of Forest & Environment. Efforts are made to increase overall awareness and concern among both the govt. departments and all the sections of the society over the significance of Western Ghats . Some of the major achievements made during 2009 -10 are briefly summarized here .

1. The scope of Western Ghats in terms of exact geographical area has now been finalized along with the revenue Hobli-wise maps. Soon it will be published through govt. order, which can be used for any purpose which demands the description of geographical area of the Western Ghats in Karnataka.

2. As per one of the initial recommendations of the Western Ghats Task Force, the government has not sanctioned or permitted any new mining projects in Western Ghats region of Karnataka form June 2008.

3. A wide afforestation scheme (‘ Vriksharopana Abhiyana’ ) was launched by dept. of Forest, under the guidance of Task Force in June – August period of 2009, to plant more than two crore saplings across the state involving local farmers, Panchayat Raj institutions, organizations, educational institutions and students, religious leaders and so on. The chairman of the Task Force himself had participated in places like , Londa , Khanapura , Chikkaballpura, Vazralli, Beegar, Kalache, Manchikeri, Kadtoaka, Masur, Gokarna, Hansagaru, Thirthahalli, Vanaalli, Swarnavalli, Kiravatti, Taralu betta – Siddapura, Hankona- Karwara, Devabagah, , Gerusoppa, , Sighndur, Tumari, Varadalli, Heroor, Bisgod , Mattur, Manden Koppa, Shringneri, Haveri, , Hulekal, Heggarni, Ponnampete, Areangadi, Cahndkuli, Balehonnur, Kollibacchalu, Ashwinivana- Sakrebailu, Sonda among others.

4. The Coastal Green Wall Project has been launched after wide consultation with experts and stakeholders in order to prevent sea erosion and mitigate the coastal ecosystem degradation. This ecosystem restoration based scheme is first of its kind in the country. It involves the components developing a vegetation barrier all along the coast beyond the High Tide Line (HTL), protection of mangrove & estuaries, restoring runoff water channels, establishment of coastal biodiversity parks etc. Special studies are also initiated at the coastal area of Karwara, Honnavara, Kundapura and Mangalore forest divisions.

5. Sanctuary: Bhimagad Reserve Forest in Belgaum dist. has been declared as the Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS) recently, through State Wildlife Board as per the provisions of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, to protect its pristine evergreen forest system with rare Bat species.

6. Similar efforts are being done for declaring ( dist.) & Kappata Gudda (Gadag dist.) as ‘ Wildlife Sanctuary’.

7. Conservation Reserve: Four major ‘ Conservation Reserves’ are declared recently by State Wildlife Board under Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, without disturbing the bona-fide rights of local communities. They are : • Aghanahshini Valley in Utara district. (For its pristine evergreen forest valley system with many RET & Endemic animal & plant species) • Bedthi Valley in Utara Kannada district. (For its pristine evergreen & deciduous forest valley system with many RET & Endemic animal & plant species) • Dandeli forest region in district. (For its pristine deciduous forest system with many RET & Endemic animal & plant species) • Basur Amrutha Mahal Kaval (Chikamagalur dist.) for their wide range of wildlife including traditional cattle breeds.

8. Natural Heritage Sites: The Karnataka Biodiversity Board has declared the following areas as ‘Natural Heritage Sites’ as per the provisions of Biological Diversity (Conservation) Act, 2002.

I. Netrani Island, U. K.District II. Vegetation area GKVK Campus, Bangalore III. Hogrekhan, Chicmagalore District IV. Ambargudda, Shimoga District

9. Heritage Trees: The Karnataka Biodiversity Board has declared the following trees as ‘Heritage Trees’ as per the provisions of Biological Diversity (Conservation), Act 2002. The trees are: No Name of the Tree Location 1 Adansonia digitata (Malvaceae) taluk, Bijapur District. 2 Adansonia digitata (Malvaceae) Bijapur taluk, Bijapur District. 3 Tamarindus Indica (Legumnsoae) Devara Hippargi village, Sindagi Tq., Bijapura. 4 Azadirachta indica (Meliacease) T.Venkatapura village, Sidlagatta Taluk, Chickballapur dist. 5 Ficus begalensis (Moraceae) Chickkahally village, Mysore taluk Mysore. 6 Ficus relegiosa (Moraceae) Manasagangothri Campus, Mysore. 7 Bombax ceiba (Bombaxaceae) Palace Gate, Mysore 8 Ficus bengalensis (Moraceae) Bangalore (U), Kethohalli 9 Araucaria cookie (Gymnosperm) Bangalore, Lalbagh 10 Ficus species (Moraceae) Jade, Shimoga District, Soraba taluk

10. The other ecologically sensitive areas are also being identified in Chikkamagalur, Shimogga, Uttara Kannada & Dakshina Kannada districts. They may be protected with the help of local communities either as ‘ Natural Heritage Sites’ or ‘ Conservation Reserve’. Some of the area being identified are Sahasralinga, Kailasagudda, Yana, Karikanammana Gudda, Kattale Kanu, Konkikote, Hosagunda, (Uttara Kannda ), Ammanaghaata, Kodachahdri (Shimogga dsit.), Hireakal Gudda (Arasikere), Charmadi, Subramanya (Dakshina Kannada) etc.

11. Major support is given either to establish the new botanical gardens or rejuvenating the existing ones in Ashvinivana, Tumari, Varadalli, Sighandur (Shimoga dist.), Sasyaloka , Heroor , (Uttara Kanada dist.) Siddharabetta (Tumakur dist.), Balehonnur, Hogrekanugiri. (Chikamagalur dist.), Alamatti (Bagalakot) and Belgaum, Hoskere (Bangalore), Chincholi, (Gulbarga), JSS College Campus Dharwad.

12. Efforts are made to initiate the mitigation efforts for the area with water and soil pollution in the places like Dandeli ( pollution by paper & pulp industry), Bhadravati (Bhadra river pollution by industrial complex), Londa (Bone & sponge iron factory), Gokarna (municipal sewage problem) etc. area by engaging with Karnataka Pollution Control Board (KSPCB).

13. Schemes are being evolved to promote agro-forestry practice through participatory principle by organizing workshops in Bagalkot, Chikmagalur, Tumkur, Bijapura and . Efforts are also being made to document the agro-biodiversity in different regions through Biodiversity Board. Special action is initiated in Uttara Kanada to develop Betta (Minor forest with certain privileges to the farmers) with agro-forestry principle.

14. A special delegation was taken to Sri Jairam Ramesh, Hon. Minster of Forest & Environment, GoI to appraise about various issues related to conservation and sustainable development aspects of Western Ghats region in Karnataka.

15. Environment education is being considered as one of the major long term strategy to bring in conservation principles in main stream development debate. In this connection, the Hon. Chairman of Task Force has visited Universities of Mangalore, Dharwad, Kuvempu, Tumakur to meet faculty & students and to have a detailed interaction and apprise them on the need of taking up direct field action.

16. Efforts are made to protect the coastal zone protection with CRZ principles by involving local people & organizations in Ullala, Mangalore, Udupi, Kundapura, Bhatkala, Bengre, Honnavara, Mavinakurve, Kumata, Tadai, Gokarna, , Baithakola & Karwara.

17. Efforts are made to extend the network of people of working in the field of climate change issues by taking major role in a conference on ‘Climate Change’ organized by MoEF , Govt. of , (called ‘Delhi Summit on Climate Change’) and similar effort with FRLHT , Bangalore on conservation & sustainable utilization of medicinal plants.

18. WGTF has initiated the process of developing a model mine reclamation site in Bisgod reserve forest in Uttara Kannada , which was once devastated by manganese mining, through implementing schemes with active participation of local people.

19. Modules are being evolved to make use of NREGAs for effective natural resource augmentation programmes like afforestation throughout the Sahydri area. Such model progammes are taken up with the leadership of district administration in Shimoga dist.

20. Effective wildlife protection strategies are being promoted through forming & strengthening the Eco-development committees in Protected Area of the state like, Nagarahole, Bandipura, Bhadra, Kuduremukh, Mookambika Dandeli, Anshi, Shettihalli & . The conferences of Eco-development Committees are organized for this purpose.

21. More than thirty five major seminars, workshops and conferences were organized inviting experts and scientists from different fields for suggesting policy inputs in the area like wildlife protection, environment laws, sustainable development strategies, medicinal plant conservation & promotion, eco-tourism, eco-sensitive area, Sacred Grove conservation, coastal zone management, tribal welfare through forest conservation and so on. Recommendations are being made out of such exercise. Such major conference/ workshops are: N Theme Palce 1 State level Scientists conference on ‘ Conservat ion & sustainable Bangalore development of Western Ghats n Karnataka’ 2 Orientation workshop for dept. staff and VFCs on ‘Conservational, Chikamagalur enhancement & sustainable utilization of medicinal plants’ 3 Orientation workshop for dept. staff and VFCs on ‘Conservational, Belgaum enhancement & sustainable utilization of medicinal plants’ 4 Orientation workshop for dept. staff and VFCs on ‘Conservational, Chmarajanagara enhancement & sustainable utilization of medicinal plants’ 6 Orientation workshop for dept. staff and VFCs on ‘Conservational, Hasana enhancement & sustainable utilization of medicinal plants’ 7 Sustainable fisheries: Challenges & opportunities Mangalore 8 Promotion of Agro-forestry in plains of Karnataka. Bijapura 9 Village Forest Committees (VFCs) Conference Shringeri 10 Village Forest Committees (VFCs) Conference Mandya 11 Village Forest Committees (VFCs) Conference Gulburga 12 Conference on forest conservation n& tribal welfare Yellapaura 13 Conference on forest conservation & VFCs Sonda, Sirsi 14 Eco-development Committees conference Hebri, Udupi 15 Initgarriation of govt. policies & programmes in the context of Climate Bangalore Change 16 Sustainable harvest & value addition of NTFP Yedhalli, Sirsi 17 Ficus species: The religious significance & their conservation Sagara 18 Conference on Conservation& promotion of Bamaboo Sirsi 19 Conference on Conservation Jackfruit variety diversity & value addition Sirsi for its products 20 Workshop on strengthening Watershed Development schemes in Sirsi Western Ghats region 21 Biodiversity Festival Swaranavalli, Sirsi 22 Conference on Garcinia sp. diversity & conservation Sirsi 23 District level refresher course for Eco-clubs I Chikkamagalaur Balehonnur, Chikamagalur 24 Forest dwellers conference Biligiri Rangana Betta, Chamaraja Nagara 24 Workshop on CRZ rule provisions, challenges & opportunities Mangalore 25 Wildlife lovers meet KUVEMPU University Shimogga 26 Consultation workshop in Sacred Grove protection Siddhapura (U.K.) 27 Consultation workshop in Sacred Grove protection Ponnampete 28 Two day orientation camp on forest & environment protection for Mangalore Mangalore University NSS students University, Mangalore

22. Efforts are made to promote the use of alternate energy source by organizing workshops in Sirsi, Shimoga & Bangalore. Support has been extended to establish small domestic hydel- power project unit at Vanalli village in Uttara Kannada.

23. Efforts are made to reorient the forest staff training facilities by visiting training centers in Dharwad, Tattihalla, Bangalore and Mysore.

24. Utmost emphasis is being given to form and strengthen the Village Forest Committees (VFC) through out the state so that they become the prime vehicles of delivering conservation programmes through real participatory approach. In order to achieve this, major VFC conferences were organized by the Task Force in Yellapaura, Chamarajanagara, Hebri, Shringeri, Mandya , Sirsi & Gulbarga.

25. The teams of senior officials and experts were taken to investigate the impact of the mining in the Ambaragudda region (Shimoga dist.), landslides region in Karawar ( Uttara Kannada ) and Neriya ( Dakshina Kannada ) and recommendations are made to the govt. on taking up integrated eco-restoration works there. As a result of that, further mining is not allowed in Amabragudda and now it is declared as ‘Natural Heritage Site’ by Karnataka Biodiversity Board.

26. Efforts are made to rejuvenate nurseries in Gerusoppa, Dharwad, Mundgod, Tumkaur, and Bangalore for effective large scale rising of medicinal, Bio-diesel & NTFP plant species.

27. Efforts are made to reach out to the large communities through organizing interaction workshops in Shimogga, (MAMCOS, DVS college etc.), (PG centre), SDM College Ujire, BVB College, Hubi, Engineering College, Yelahanka, Kumata (Baliga college), Honnavara (Snehakunja), Sagara (Sevasagara Trust), Sirsi (Forestry College) etc.

28. Consultations are done with expert, local people and Peoples’ Representatives to design the programmes for conservation of natural resources in the buffer zones just outside Western Ghats ranges, in Belgaum. Dharwad, Haveri, Davanagere, Tumakur , Chikamagalur, Hasana & Mysore districts.

29. Integrated Jog development programmes are initiated in association with Jog Development Authority by incorporating components like development of green corridor, eco-friendly tourism initiatives, botanical gardens, VFC formation for management of tourist spots, establishment of a new Medicinal Plant Conservation Area (MPCA) in the nearby valley etc.

30. WGTF took a firm decision on Bt Brinjol (genetically modified) issue by having wide consultation with farmers, cooperative leaders, industries & experts and recommended the govt. not to give permission for commercialization for the crop right now. It also suggested the govt. for take up further in-depth and wide field studies to asses it’s ecological & socio-economic feasibility. accepted these recommendations of the WGTF and urged the govt. of India to take up policy decision on the same line.

31. The important schemes like protection of ‘ Sacred Grove protection’, ‘Hasiru Samruddhi Grama Yojana’ etc. have been implemented by the state government by making provisions in the state budget itself. The WGTF has come out with scheme and action plans for all these programmes. To support this process, the WGTF has initiated a project on survey & documenting Sacred Groves in Uttara Kanada, Shimoga, Dakshina Kannada, Chikamagalaur & Kodagu districts.

32. Recognizing the vacancy of staff at lower level of Dept. of Forest as the major hurdle in achieving the efficiency in forest conservation and development works, efforts are being made to fill-up those positions. The recruitment process is just now finished for 800 field staff. Process is initiated for recruitment of further batch. Efforts are also being made to reserve at least 50% ground staff vacancies for local tribal & forest dwellers by incorporating necessary amendments in C& R rules.

33. The Chairman had conducted more than 120 consultations and review meetings at district, taluk and filed levels in last year. This interactions and subsequent follow-up works actions helped to identity the region specific problems along with policy lacunas for further deliberations. Remedial actions are taken in many cases by involving all stakeholders. For example, NREGAs is being effectively used for afforestation works and govt. has recently nominated the Deputy Conservator of Forest (DCF) of Social Forestry Wing of Zilla Panchayat as nodal officer to coordinate all the works related Karnataka Biodiversity Board.

34. A major multidisciplinary ecological carrying capacity study of the most forested district of Karnataka – Uttara Kannada , has been initiated through a Karnataka Biodiversity Board, which being done by Centre for Ecological Science(CES), Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.

35. The govt. has increased the compensation meant for the rural people in the case of causality, injury or crop damage because of wildlife attack two times. The efforts are now going on to make this process fast, transparent & efficient.

36. A major effort is done to streamline the research wing activities of the dept. of Forest by having series of consultations. As per the suggestions of several experts, a proposal on a separate KFD promoted ‘Research Institute’ has been drafted. It would be put forth for further consultation so that govt. can come out with clear decision soon.

37. Efforts are initiated to rejuvenate the existing 13 Medicinal Plant Conservation Areas (MPCA) in Western Ghats and Plain region though seeking further budgetary support and offering rejuvenation plan. Efforts are under progress to identify new such area too.

38. The efforts to develop Gajanoor as a major eco-tourism centre by taking integrated protection and development work involving dam, backwater, elephant camp, Ashvinivana botanical garden, Shettihalli sanctuary, the bird sanctuary etc. are further strengthened this year by allocating special grant and developing the programme.

39. Programmes are initiated to establish Mango, Jackfruit, Dalbergia, Bamaboo, Ficus and Kokum clonal orchards in the research nurseries of the Dept. of Forest in Sirsi and Bangalore.

40. Schemes are being planned to provide minimum fire wood and fodder through systemic methods to the rural poor, especially in the buffer zones like Haveri, Hangal, Mundgod, Shikaripura, Kadur, Sakleshapura area.

41. Chairman visited more than 60 Village Forest committees (VFCs), 15 Eco-development Committees, more than hundred Self Help Groups (SHG) across the state to get the feel of their functioning. Now, the efforts are being made to design the programme to increase and strengthen them, which can act as rural base for the activities of the dept. of Forest.

42. Efforts are being done to promote the e-governance procedure get implemented widely with further accuracy ad efficiency up to Range Forest Officer level.

43. An action plan is being prepared for protect a forest patch of more than 700 hectors in Hoskere Hobli off Kengeri in south of Bangalore, which is vulnerable to encroachment.

44. The work on documenting the native paddy varieties in Varada river basin in Uttara Kannda and Shimogga district is going on by involving progressive farmers, NGOs, Karnataka Biodiversity Board and the Dept of Agriculture. Now the efforts are being made to declare the Varada river basin near Banavasi as ‘ Agro-biodiversity Hotspot’ , through Karnataka Biodiversity Board.

45. A major in-situ conservation project is initiated by Department of Forest in the hill adjacent Karwar town. 46. Awareness building programmes are widely taken up on the impact of plastic pollution and reduce the use of polythene bags having colour and thickness lesser than 20 microns.

47. WGTF and the Department are trying to asses the continuing reserve forest encroachment in the Sahydri range and the foothills of Western Ghats region due to the recent migration.

48. Efforts are done to initiate to document the success stores of protection both by Dept. of Forest and people’s initiative like ‘ Community Forest’ at Heggade village in Kumata and Chinholi forest in Gulburga.

49. The efforts are being done to reduce the elephant – man conflict, especially in Hasana, Kodagu & Chamarajanagara districts, by strengthening CPT, watch & ward by extra ground staff force, encouragement for local people on adopting alternate crop pattern etc. The facilities of elephant camps managed by the dept. of forest at Sakrebail and Dubare are also being enhanced to accommodate to more captured elephants.

50. Elephant protection and management strategies are being evolved by wide consultation with all stakeholders in order to reduce their conflict with the rural people.

51. More than 50 individuals and organizations who are actively involved in biodiversity conservation were facilitated by govt. at various occasions like World environment Day , inauguration of ‘ Vriksharopana Abhiyana’ etc.

52. Efforts of networking with educational and research institutions for the cause of involving them in the conservation efforts are continued this year too. Some of the major research & educational institutions that already consulted are: MOEF Panel on Western Ghats Ecology, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Institute for Social & Economic Change (ISEC), Bangalore, Ashoka Trust for Ecology &Environment (ATREE), Bangalore, National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Wildlife Conservation society (WCS) Bangalore, Universities of Dharwad, Kuempu and Mangalore, Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara educational institutions, Ujire, Forestry colleges at Ponnampete and Sirsi, Agriculture Universities in Bangalore and Dharwad, Rasthrothhana Parishat schools in Dharwad, National Engineering College, Shimogga, Vishweshwraiah Institute of Technology (VIT), Bangalore.

53. Because of the efforts & initiatives of WGTF, the Karnaytaka Biodiversity Board (KBB) could able to take up several major initiatives which would go long way in conservation of the biodiversity of the Western Ghats regoion in particular and the state in general. KBB has been awarded with the best board award (First prize ) this year by National Biodiversity Authority and this is a major recognition for the efforts Govt. of Karnataka in this direction.

SubmittSubmitteded by: Sri Anant Hegde Ashisar Chairman Western Ghats Task Force Dept. of Forest & Environment # 307 / Vidhansoudha, Bangalore-01

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