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India-Wildlife and People
The document discusses efforts by the Wildlife Trust of India to conserve wildlife through holistic and integrated approaches, focusing on the importance of involving local communities in conservation efforts. It highlights case studies from Greater Manas and Nagzira-Nawegaon, detailing challenges faced and strategies implemented to protect habitats and manage human-wildlife conflicts. The document emphasizes the need for sustainability and long-term commitment to conservation initiatives across various regions in India.
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- 1. Conserving India’s WildlifeThrough Integrative and Holistic Approaches Mayukh Chatterjee Wildlife Trust of India
- 2. India – WildlifeAnd People • Over 350 species of Mammals, 1224 species of Birds and nearly 3151 species of Reptiles, Amphibians and Fishes
- 3. India – WildlifeAnd People • Over 650 Protected Areas (Tiger and Elephant Reserves, National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries and Reserve Forests) ~ 4.9 % of geographical area • Over 1.2 billion people! • Consumers and protectors
- 4. India - WhyPeople Are Important • 17% of world population • Nearly one thirds directly depend on natural resources and critical ecosystems for survival • Nature can be only preserved by the commons
- 5. India - WhyPeople Are Important • Traditional preservationists • Need vs. Greed ~ changing fast! • Wildlife and Nature ~ back seat
- 6. Holistic Conservation –What and Why? • Holism ~ look at the larger picture • Complex Issues ~ multifaceted inclusive problems • Sustainability ~ complete conservation
- 7. Integrated Conservation –What and Why? • Integrated Conservation? • Communities are major stakeholders • Unethical ~ one’s fancy are another’s predicament • Exclusion is a failure • No sustainability without integrated conservation
- 8. Wildlife Trust ofIndia • Only NGO with 8 distinct skill sets ~ founded in 1998 Rescue and rehabilitation Habitat securement Species recovery H-W conflict mitigation Legal and Policy Mass awareness Community work Capacity enhancement • All skill sets work together in projects to provide a holistic, integrative approach
- 9.
- 10. Greater Manas, Assam– Case Study 1 • (26º35’-26º50’N, 90º45’-90º15’E) Abode for wildlife ~ Over 1000 km2 of pristine forests and grasslands
- 11. Greater Manas– AVision • Home of the Bodo people, the Tiger, the Indian one horned rhinoceros, the Asian elephant and a myriad of other beings. • A National Park, a Tiger and Elephant Reserve and a World Heritage Site.
- 12. Greater Manas –The Crisis • 1980s Bodo uprising ~ decimation
- 13. Greater Manas –The Crisis • 1980s Bodo uprising ~ decimation • At least two large mammals ~ locally extinct • Other wildlife and habitats lost • 1992 ~ WHS in danger • 2003 ~ Bodoland Accord
- 14. Habitat Securement • 2003~ Priority areas mapped for restoration and reclamation • 2011 ~ 340 Ha of vital habitats reclaimed and added • 2012 ~ Patch restoration ongoing
- 15. Rescue and Rehabilitation •2003-2010 ~ 7 Rhinos, 10 Elephants, 7 Black bears, 4 Clouded Leopards and 1 Tiger rehabilitated
- 16. Human-Wildlife Conflict Mitigation •2006 ~ Establishment of Kokrajhar Wildlife Transit Home • 2006 ~ Establishment of a Rescue MVS and team • 2008 ~ Elephant Proof Fencing (18 Km) and 4 Ex-Gratias
- 17. Legal and Policy •2010 ~ BTC declares Greater Manas as Protected Area • 2011 ~ UNESCO removes Greater Manas from Danger List
- 18. Mass Awareness • 2010~ Campaigns ~ 2 small campaigns; full fledged ‘Manas Pride’ campaign • 2010 ~ Animal Action Education ~ over 20 schools/1200 students •2008 ~ Over 40 villages targeted for mass awareness
- 19. Community Work • 2010~ Adoption of green livelihoods Firewood dependence reduction (182 cookstoves) Weaving training and support for 35 women (70 handlooms/1 center) Support for horticulture (1 horticulture shed and cash crop plantations; mustard, ginger, chilly and turmeric) Small businesses (4 families; tailoring and grocery shops) 8 CBOs constituted and supported
- 20. Capacity Enhancement • 2006,Supporting Frontline Forest Staff ~ over 50 staff •2007-2013, Training CBOs ~ over 450 staff in 8 CBOs
- 21. Species Recovery • Bringingback the Eastern Swamp Deer (Rucervus d. ranjitsinhii) • 2011-2014: Studies in Kaziranga initiated on the subspecies • Preparation underway to translocate individuals to Manas
- 22. Nagzira-Nawegaon, Maharashtra –Case Study 2
- 23. Nagzira-Nawegaon – TheLandscape • Two small and disjunct areas ~ connects 3 main tiger habitats • Home to tigers, leopards, Gaur and several other fauna ~ but neglected • Not under stringent protection ~ Wildlife Sanctuaries
- 24. Nagzira-Nawegaon – TheCrisis • Large parts are of connective patches under FDCM • Surrounded by over 200 villages ~ over 4000 households • Severe degradation and increasing human-wildlife conflict • Habitat degradation and fragmentation – 2 major highways
- 25. Habitat Securement • 2010– 2012 ~ Attention is focused on connective corridor, surveys and mapping begin Species occupancy and usage Threats Legal background
- 26. Legal and Policy •2011 ~ Declaration as Tiger Reserve ~ success in 2013 • 2012 ~ Proposal for protection of corridor ~ ESZ, 2012 • Expansion of NH7 halted
- 27. Mass Awareness • 2011~ Local schools targeted for Animal Action Education (over 1000 school children) • Consultative meetings with nine villages – 3 BMCs formed • A large scale campaign is being planned
- 28. Community Work • 2010~ Two villages prioritized (Jambulpani and Sodalagondi) • 2011 ~ Intensive community work planned and initiated
- 29. Community Work •Intensive Communitywork initiated Over 300 fuel efficient cookstoves distributed 5 Biogas plants installed 8 Community orchards developed Backyard grazing promoted
- 30. Capacity Enhancement • Over230 Frontline Forest Staff have been trained, including reserve forest staff • Over 120 staff have been equipped with patrolling equipment • Anti-Poaching and Conflict Mitigation Training ~ June 2014
- 31. Conflict Mitigation • 2012~ 2 km long electric fence bordering Jambulpani, setup • A Protection camp was built and handed over to FD • Water holes on forest fringes are replenished every summer
- 32. Rescue and Rehabilitation •A proposal has been submitted to MoEFCC for Establishment of a Rescue Centre, that will cater to not just Nagzira and Nawegaon, but also to Kanha NP, Pench TR and Tadoba- Andhari TR
- 33. Other Projects… • WesternHimalayas Mountain Ungulates • Valmiki Tiger and Gharial Recovery • U.P. Big Cat Conflict Mitigation • Southern Western Ghats Elephant Corridors • West Coast Marine Project • Garo Green Spine
- 34. Other Projects… • Atotal of 42 projects spread across 13 states across India • Employ integrative and holistic approaches over long periods of time.
- 35. The Road Ahead… •Intensify integrated and holistic approaches • Linking initiatives to sustainability ~ pull out in gradual phases • Include ‘family planning’ as a key exercise • Increase focus on children ~ our future torchbearers
- 36.