Field Forester Nov 2015 - January 2016

FIELD FORESTER FIELD FORESTER | November 2015

V o i c e s volume 1 ● issue 1

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f i e l d

NOVEMBER 2015

FIELD FORESTER Voices from the field

FIELD FORESTER | November 2015

MESSAGE Since independence, India as a nation has progressed very significantly in all realms of governance such as education, healthcare, industry or public infrastructure. Despite the increasing population and the consequent pressure on our limited land resources, it should not be forgotten that forestry sector too has made giant strides,. The forestry sector has paid commendable attention towards the challenging task of conserving our natural resources and also improved our environment by tackling environmental degradation in a holistic manner in order to ensure both economic and environmental sustainability.

No doubt, foresters will always need their professional forestry expertise; however, their changing relationships with the public and the emerging need to communicate with the common man have created challenging expectations from the foresters. The forester community therefore needs to perfect the skills of holistic communication including giving out knowledge in simple digestive manner.

The present initiative of Directorate of Forest Education, Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Dehradun in the form of a popular electronic journal “Field Forester” is a sincere attempt towards addressing this existing gap in forestry communication. Field Forester would be a medium for “Voices from the Field” ensuring that the shared knowledge reaches a wider community of people with interest in environment and forests.

The “Field Forester” would offer the right medium to pass on knowledge to the new generation of foresters. It will also provide an opportunity and a medium to further communication skills such as reading, writing and sharing among the new generation of field foresters. It will offer opportunities for sharing stories on good practices, innovative works, and successes on natural resource conservation and management and would generate a knowledge network amongst the fraternity of foresters and other experts in forestry and forest management.

I congratulate the Directorate of Forest Education for coming up with this periodical publication, and I am sure would benefit the forester community as well as the country at large.

Shri Prakash Javadekar Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change

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Additional General FIELD FORESTERDirector | November 2015

Dr. Anil Kumar

of Forests (FC),

Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change

MESSAGE The contribution of foresters towards nation building has been phenomenal though most early development strategies generally ignored the forestry sector.

Today, the vast matrix of backward and forward linkages of forestry sector with the development paradigm in the country demonstrates how the forests and the foresters had played a vital role in promoting economic growth. The fine balance attained by foresters towards ensuring development as well as conservation through reasoned diversion of forested lands as well as scientific management of remaining forest lands is definitely to be appreciated. Thus as a result of it, the sustainable development has been ensured.

Foresters have played an inspirational role in this context. The decades of forest management have created huge knowledge bank in the hands of foresters.

Nevertheless, it is not available in the public domain, nor are they available to young foresters. The capturing, storing and sharing knowledge is critical to growth of any professional community.

Knowledge management involves various types of knowledge. Explicit knowledge is objective and can be measured and documented. There are several books, journals and online forestry resources which deal with explicit knowledge.

However, the same knowledge though available in public domain has not reached the wide network of foresters due to several reasons such as regional variations, content and language. It is very important to make easy prevalent complexity into simple unit of easily replicable knowledge.

The explicit knowledge does not tell why certain field situations in forestry take place and how certain situations in the field can be handled. This is where tacit knowledge comes in. Tacit knowledge is not so easy to measure and is more difficult to formalize. The experience of senior foresters in this form of knowledge amongst the forester community is irreplaceable as well as priceless. This represents the tacit knowledge of the forester community which needs to be formalized.

The present initiative of Directorate of Forest Education, Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Dehradun in the form of a popular electronic technical journal “Field Forester� shall have to address these issues of assessment and distributing the wealth of practical field knowledge. The journal would deal with simplified explicit knowledge in field forestry and would strive hard to document the tacit knowledge available with the senior community of foresters.

The shared knowledge should reach a wider community of people especially the common masses to create an appreciation as well as an enlightened social capital for forestry sector.

I congratulate the Directorate of Forest Education and wish them all the best in attaining the full potential available in this new initiative for furthering intellectual capital in the forestry sector.

Dr. Anil Kumar

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Patron: Dr. S.S. Negi Director General of Forests Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change Government of India

Editorial Advisory Board Chief Advisor: Dr. Anil Kumar Additional Director General of Forests (FC) Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change Government of India Advisor: Dr. Suneesh Buxy Deputy Inspector General of Forests (RT) Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change Government of India Member Secretary: Shri M.P. Singh Director Forest Education Directorate of Forest Education Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change 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: 1. Shri M.P. Singh, IFS Director Forest Education Directorate of Forest Education Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change Government of India Editors: 2. Ms. Meera Iyer, IFS Lecturer Central Academy for State Forest Service Dehradun 3. Dr. Surabhi Rai, IFS Lecturer Central Academy for State Forest Service Dehradun 4. Dr. K.S. Jayachandran, IFS Lecturer Central Academy for State Forest Service, Dehradun 5. Dr. Raja Ram Singh, IFS ADG (Media & Extension) ICFRE, Dehradun Honorary Editor: 6. Ms. Jaskiran Chopra Sub Editor: 7. Ms Megha Sharma

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Contents NOVEMBER 2015 From the Chief Editor’s Desk......................................................................17 PERIYAR / KERALA

Innovative Eco-development Initiatives to Conserve Forest Biodiversity and Alleviate Rural Poverty........................................................................19 Abhijeet Arun Mane

COMMUNITY INTEGRATION

Peoples’ Participation in Forest Conservation and Livelihood Generation........... 24 Aman Thapa

JODHPUR / Rajasthan

Raising a Plantation on Stone-bed...............................................................27 Md Raheman

USE OF TECHNOLOGY

Preventing Forest Fires..............................................................................29 Manoj Ashok Dhanvijay

Maharashtra / Kerala / Gujarat

Comparative study of coastal ecology...........................................................33 G.P. Gangode

WILDLIFE / NAGALAND

Foes turn friends for migratory Amur Falcons...............................................37 Florence T. Sangtam

COMMUNITY INTEGRATION / TAMIL NADU

Venom for anti-venom: A source of livelihood to Irulas...................................40 Anu Thakur

COMMUNITY INTEGRATION / MAHARASHTRA

The Jungle Man .......................................................................................44 Ashish Narayanrao Hivre

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WILDLIFE / MAHARASHTRA

A Success Story.........................................................................................48 Kalpana Homkar Chinchkhede WILDLIFE / MAHARASHTRA

Adapting to kill.........................................................................................53 Sonal Dattatraya Valvi

Ladakh / Jammu & Kashmir

A glimpse into the cold desert......................................................................57 Raza Ali Abidi

Tilora (Pushkar) / Setrawa (Jodhpur), Rajasthan

Sand Dunes Stabilization and Plantation......................................................61 Vrushali B. Tambe

Mussoorie / Uttarakhand

Mine Reclamation: A Success Story.............................................................68 Sarika Khot

SundarbanS / west bengal

The Roar of Sundarban Tiger.....................................................................71 Shweta. T. Rathod

Satara Tukum Village / Maharashtra

Joint Forest Management with Difference.....................................................77 Sudhir Vinayak Sonawale

DECEMBER 2015 From the Chief Editor’s Desk............................................................................... 83 FORESTRY

An innovative approach to grow taller and less branchy teak............................... 85 C. Buvaneswaran, P. Masilamani and S.Senthilkumar

Implementation of scientific gum extraction........................................................ 91 Rajendra R. Sadgir

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Biodiversity in sacred groves................................................................................105 Pradip Eknath Patil

Forest Food Festival: A successful example of biodiversity conservation..............115 Vinod Kumar WILDLIFE

Leopard: Menace of over-population.................................................................... 93 Vishal K Borhade

An encounter with leopard rescue operation........................................................ 96 Makrand Gujar & U.G. Vavare

The restoration of pristine ecosystem..................................................................102 D Rameshwaran

Hidden trade in Madurai.....................................................................................129 M.G. Ganesan

JOINT FOREST MANAGEMENT

Managing the Forest as the Homestead – the Saga of Baripada........................... 99 Hemant Yashwant Shewale

The success story of Satara Bhosle......................................................................107 Nitesh S Deogade

Success story of Hazra Falls................................................................................110 Nitin C Gondane

Case study on Vachathi incident..........................................................................112 Priyadarshini V

Wildlife protection outside protected areas: A success story.................................121 Rajan Talmale

Thoseghar reaching the heights..........................................................................125 Dr. Rajendra Pundalik Nale WATERSHED DEVELOPMENT

Hiware Bazar, a success story..............................................................................132 Geeta Pawar

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JANUARY 2016 From the Chief Editor’s Desk..............................................................................141 CONSERVATION

Protecting the habitat of the Indian Giant Squirrel.............................................143 VK Borhade

Community-based livestock insurance programme to the aid of snow leopard....146 Pradip E. Patil

Red Panda conservation: A captive breeding initiative by Darjeeling zoo.............150 Trupti Nikhate

Ban on night traffic, a boon for wildlife conservation..........................................177 V Priyadarshini

Mangrove cell succeeds in rehabilitation in Mumbai............................................183 Amol Pandurang Thorat

Kaas flower plateau: Steps taken to battle tourists’ rush......................................187 Girija Desai FORESTRY

Successful wildlife management practices...........................................................153 Vidhya P. Vasav

Huli, a boon for wildlife, habitat and conflict management.................................174 Ganesh R Randive WILDLIFE

Saving the whole genus from extinction..............................................................159 Shinde Kondiba Baburao

Re-introduction of Swamp Deer.........................................................................162 Bharat Solanki

Managing human-tiger conflict in Sundarbans Tiger Reserve.............................167 Shrikant Subhash Pawar

Longleng: New capital for Amur Falcons............................................................171 D. Rameshwaran

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Successful tiger reintroduction project in Panna..................................................180 Manisha Purwar

Reducing human–elephant conflict.....................................................................194 P Arun Kumar COMMUNITY

Concerted action in Coimbatore...........................................................................190 R. Rajmohan

FIELD FORESTER | November 2015

From the Chief Editor’s Desk The long felt need for a quality popular electronic journal in the area of field forestry is addressed through this humble initiative of the Directorate of Forest Education, Ministry of Environment Forests and Climate Change. The idea of such a publication arose during this year when the Directorate of Forest Education acutely sensed the absence of a set of good field forestry practices or well profiled role models in forestry sector or successful field stories which could be used for training purposes. The Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change had been highly supportive of the initiative.

The contributions towards the publication are aimed from two primary sources; from practicing foresters and officer trainees in various training institutions. The response to the first issue had been overwhelming especially from the officer trainees of the constituent institutions of the Directorate of Forest Education. State Forest Service (SFS) Officer Trainees and Forest Ranger Officer Trainees have both contributed liberally to this publication, through case studies conducted during the course of their induction training.

Articles on themes such as Eco-development, Wildlife conservation, Joint Forest Management, habitat ecology and a few inspiring success stories in wildlife and landscape restoration have been selected and brought to focus during the course of this publication.

There is a need to have stories from the field to satisfy the mandate of this initiative. The field experiences have to be shared with the younger community of foresters to enable cross learning and ensure replication of good practices across the country. Forest officers working in the field are encouraged to contribute their success stories and good practices and spotlight our multifaceted activities, highlight the good works and feature personalities and topics of general interests. We have to be more visible to the public eye. The Field Forester will enable the forest department and the public to be more aware and to have a better understanding of our comprehensive programmes and services.

I congratulate the Editorial Team for their hard work and enterprise in producing the inaugural issue of our electronic journal.

MP Singh

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PERIYAR / KERALA

Innovative Eco-development Initiatives to Conserve Forest Biodiversity and Alleviate Rural Poverty Management interventions can be effectively and equitably prioritized towards those most dependent on forest resources in order to maximize biodiversity conservation

Abhijeet Arun Mane

T

he term eco-development is used to describe an integrated, sustainable approach to environment and development. It has been defined as: “. . . development at regional and local levels, consistent with the potentials of the area involved, with attention given to the adequate and rational use of natural resources, technological styles and organizational forms that respect the natural ecosystems and local social and cultural patterns.�

In an Indian context, ecodevelopment as a strategy recognizes traditional dependencies of people on forests for domestic use as well as supplementing livelihoods. It seeks to rationalize the demands of communities by promoting efficient use of resources and alternative livelihoods.

In essence, eco-development aims to strengthen nature conservation through participatory processes that empower local people to take responsibility for their socio-economic well-being in

ways that do not reduce the biodiversity capital maintained within Protected Areas (PAs).

Legal and Policy Framework

The National Forest Policy, 1988, provides the basis for involving local people in forest conservation and development. The Odisha Government, through its Joint Forest Management (JFM) Resolution (2008), has adopted eco-development as a strategy for securing support from local communities in PA management. Eco-development activities provide a strong linkage between conservation and development; they may include ecotourism and off-farm activities, as well as providing specific alternatives to local biomass dependence. This policy provides for the institution of Eco-Development Committees (EDCs) in villages located within and adjacent to PAs along the lines of Van Samrakshyana Samitis (VSSs or Forest Protection Committees) for forest areas. However, there is a fundamental difference between VSSs and EDCs. VSS members

Trainee RFO, Kundal Academy of Development, Administration and Management (Forest), Kundal, Tal: Palus, Dist: Sangli.

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may benefit from usufructs (the right to use and derive profit or benefit from property that belongs to another party – in this case the state – as long as the property is not damaged), including fuel wood, fodder, bamboo and a share in the timber produced from forests ‘assigned’ to the community in return for forest protection and management duties. Such opportunities do not exist for EDC members since usufructs, except regulated grazing, are prohibited under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Eco-development initiatives must be consistent with this policy.

Eco-Development Initiatives

Bamboo handicrafts Bamboo handicrafts is an ecodevelopment initiative to empower the tribal and local communities.

The members can be trained to make innovative and marketable products from bamboo that can be sold through ecoshops. This will help in improving the status of living of the tribes and local communities.

Bee wax balm Bee wax balm can be made from bees wax collected from the fallen honey combs from the buffer and fringe areas.

Bee Wax Balm is used for curing head ache, body pains and for massaging.

Plastic free mineral water bottle This is an innovative measure to make the forest free of plastic mineral water bottles. As the tourists tend to throw away the mineral water bottles inside protected area after drinking.

Micro planning Steps 1. Develop a common vision among PA staff 2. Identify a conceptual model and strategy for eco-development 3. Build a facilitation team 4. Facilitate village micro-planning 5. Prioritize activities in micro-plan and allocate resources 6. Coordinate and monitor microplan implementation at village cluster level

This will help in keeping the forest a plastic free zone and provide pure drinking water to eco-tourists and employment opportunities to the resident people.

Eco-Tourism Community based eco-tourism programmes can provide a major share of employment to the tribals living in the Reserve. Some of the most sort after ecotourism programmes are tents, tree-top hut, bamboo rafting, full moon census, machan world, island nest, etc. These eco-tourism programmes provide an excellent opportunity to the visitors to enjoy the beauty of the forest and at the same time contribute to the livelihood of the local tribals. The guides are from the local villages itself and are trained by the department, thus adding to their income opportunities.

The hospitality given to the tourists should be good as it affects prospects of eco-tourism. The behaviour of the staff should be such that tourists should be satisfied with the service.

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Eco-shops Honey, bee wax balm and medicinal spices prepared in a scientific manner can be sold through Eco-shops. Other items like t-shirts, jackets, hats, caps, pens, key-chains, etc., can also be sold.

The revenue generated from the Ecoshops will help in the empowerment of local tribes.

Honey collection A majority of the tribal population of the reserve traditionally depends on honey collection. The honey collected by the tribes is sold to local traders through barter system. This leaves the poor tribal people always in a debt trap. So an ecodevelopment initiative can be taken up to collect honey scientifically and to do value addition in terms of filtering, bottling, labeling and sealing. Now the tribal will get almost 30-40% more income directly from the Eco-shop.

This will improve the economic status of the poor tribals in the sanctuary.

Honey collection activities will be confined to the buffer and fringe areas of the reserve.

Paper bag unit This is an initiative to empower tribal women in the sanctuary. The products can be made by the trained tribal women. The paper bags can be sold at the entrance. This will also help in making the area a plastic free zone.

Souveniers from Recycled Plastic As a step to make the reserve plastic free, a plastic reduction unit can be been launched. Plastic waste from the waste bins placed at different locations of the Sanctuary acts as primary collection points. Then the plastics are segregated into bottle plastics, bag plastics, etc.

These are washed, cleaned and dried.

Then it is shredded to small pieces in shredder machine and are transported to a factory where they are made into pugmark keychain souvenirs, which can be sold through the Eco-shop.

Mechanisms to Sustain Eco-Development

In return for support received from the Project, EDC members must reciprocate by way of various commitments to

Case Study 1 Free of plastic mineral water bottles are already being prepared at Parambikulam Tiger Reserve. As the tourists arriving in Parambikulam tend to throw away the mineral water bottles inside the sanctuary after drinking water, the department has introduced an innovative eco-development initiative - “Parambikulam Dhara�. The department started a eco-development unit which is now run by Kuriarkutty EDC volunteers and gives them some income. The bottles are placed at the entrance of the sanctuary. The bottles have to be returned while exiting and a fine of Rs 100 is charged if the visitor does not return the bottle back. Thus, Parambikulam Dhara helps in keeping the sanctuary a plastic free zone and provides pure drinking water to tourists and employment opportunities to the resident people.

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Case Study 2 The exclusivity of Protected Areas (PA), as envisaged in the developed countries is not possible in the Indian context, due to the human dominated landscape. The population that draws on the resources of the PA for subsistence is largely rural.

A participatory management strategy of protected areas and eco-development aims at conserving biodiversity by addressing both the impact of local people on the protected areas and the impact of the protected areas on local people.

In accordance with the tripartite agreement signed between the external donor agencies (World Bank and IDA), Government of India (GoI) and Government of Kerala (GoK), Eco-development Committees (EDCs) were constituted. In response to the changed paradigm of partnership, EDCs have emerged around many PAs. Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR) in Kerala is one among the seven PAs in India selected for the implementation of Innovative Eco-Development Programme (IEP). This also ensures a reciprocity in forest conservation which will ideally act as a social fence around the PA. In Periyar, there are currently 72 EDCs. The target population is about 58,000. Different categories of EDCs include village EDCs like tribal settlements, hamlets, etc. Some are user groups like grazers, fuelwood and thatching grass collectors and pilgrimage based EDCs. There is a third category of professional group EDCs like ex-cinnamon bark collectors, tribal trackers cum guides, watchers welfare. etc. In the neighbourhood EDCs, the stress is on socio-economic upliftment; in user group, the stress is on reduction of negative impact on PA resources; and, in professional group EDC, the aim is promotion of long-term positive interaction of the group with the PA.

ensure that biodiversity is protected and conserved. These commitments extend to buffer zones and core areas of PAs that may be assigned to the EDC for protection duties to complement the enforcement work of Forest Department staff. They should include the following, for which the Executive Committee has responsibility: • No fire, poaching, illegal felling of timber or encroachment in village forests or any other forests assigned to the EDC for use (e.g. grazing) or protection.

• No grazing by goats in plantations within village forests or any other

assigned forests.

• Provision of intelligence, information and other assistance in the prevention and investigation of offences and offenders.

• 100 per cent immunisation of village livestock (implemented in year 1) with project funds.

Eligible benefits

In return for successfully protecting forests, EDC members may be granted the following benefits on a quid pro quo basis: • Rotational grazing by cattle in ‘assigned’ forest areas within

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Case Study 3 Piloting Eco-development in Satkosia Tiger Reserve Previous micro-planning exercises carried out in Odisha’s PAs had no community participation. Micro-plans were prepared and implemented by PA managers but the community at large was neither aware of nor consulted on the various activities initiated in and around their villages. Gradually, during the last decade, managers have become increasingly aware of the need to engage local communities in PA planning and management. However, micro-plans continued to reflect the PA managers’ mindsets and failed to capture the community’s perspectives. Hence, there was a need to develop a truly participatory eco-development process and standardise the use of relevant Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) tools, thereby capturing the needs of communities and targeting forest dependency at household levels in order to conserve biodiversity.

sanctuaries (grazing in a sanctuary may be permitted by the Chief Wildlife Warden in accordance with provisions under Sections 29 and 33 (d) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972). The rotation cycle may be defined by the EDC, in agreement with the authorities.

• Effective monitoring procedures should ensure that grazing is sustainable and not jeopardising forest regeneration.

• Rotational collection of fuelwood from village forests.

• Regulated collection of NWFPs from village forests, for personal consumption purposes only.

• Regulated collection of bamboo raised in plantations in village forests.

Eco-development towards a more sustainable future for people and their environment requires engagement of all key stakeholders in the development

of a shared vision at the outset of the process. This provides the foundation for developing a plan of action to conserve biodiversity through the alleviation of poverty by specifically targeting those most dependent on forest resources.

• Strengthening the capacity of community members to participate actively in planning and implementation of eco-development.

• Trusting in the process and the ability of communities to find their own solutions, such as the simple method of classifying forest dependency and wellness developed by villagers.

• Training, supervision and longterm mentoring of those facilitating participatory processes.

• Well-facilitated, participatory microplanning generates understanding and trust that cements good relations between PA authorities and local communities.

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COMMUNITY INTEGRATION

Peoples’ Participation in Forest Conservation and Livelihood Generation One of the most significant impacts of the JFM programme has been the change in the attitude of local communities and forest officials towards the forest

Aman Thapa

I

ndia is a developing nation and majority of its population lives in rural areas. Forests play a vital role in the rural economy and provide different kinds of benefits, like jobs, incomes and environmental benefits. The forestry sector is the second largest land use after agriculture and about 70 per cent of India’s rural population depends upon forests to meet its domestic energy need, livelihood and cash income from fuelwood and non-timber forest products (NTFP). More than half of India’s 70 million tribal people, the most disadvantaged section of society, subsist from forests.

India has 2.5 per cent of the world’s geographical area with a total of 328.7 million hectares. According to the State of Forest Report (FSI 2013), India has 69.78 million ha. forest cover, which accounts for 21.23 per cent of the country’s total geographic area. India supports 16 per cent of the planet’s human population and 18 per cent of cattle population, due to which the forest cover has been reducing both in quality and extent in most of the states. There

are serious problems of encroachment, grazing, forest fire, shifting cultivation and illegal felling and most of the species of flora and fauna are endangered.

After all, forestry is about people. It is about trees, that can serve the needs of the people. Forestry and Forest Policy should concern itself in every conceivable way in which, forests, woodlots and trees can contribute to the livelihood of people in particular and human welfare in general. In fact, the future of human society is intrinsically linked to the future of the forest. Traditionally, forest management practices aimed at developing and understanding the protective and productive aspects of natural forests. People’s livelihood issues and people’s role in safeguarding the resources and their active participation were relegated to secondary place. Only recently the social role of forests and forestry together with their protection and production roles have received attention. The depletion of forest resources has aroused the passion of the forest department and general public for conservation and protection of forestland and has become a top priority on the country’s development agenda.

FRO Trainee (2014-15) Batch, CASFOS, Coimbatore

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The National Forest Policy 1988 of India envisaged people’s involvement in conservation, protection and management of forests. It emphasized that forest produce must go first to the people living in and around forests.

Further, in June 1990 a Government resolution supported the creation of village level institutions and involvement of non-governmental organizations in forest management. With the active support of local organizations, people’s participation in forest management, was initiated and is generally known as Joint Forest Management (JFM). Now, it is recognized that participatory management of forests is key to sustainable development.

The village committee known as the JFM Committee and the Forest Department enter into a JFM agreement for safeguarding the forest resources from fire, grazing and illegal harvesting, in exchange for which they receive nontimber forest products and a share of the revenue from the sale of timber, through community funds.

Joint Forest Management originated in West Bengal accidentally at theArabari Forest Range in West Midnapore, in 1971. Ajit Kumar Banerjee, working for the Forest Department as the Divisional Forest Officer, was conducting trials which were constantly being disturbed by grazing and illegal harvesting by the local population. At the time there were no initiatives for sharing of forest resources between the government and the locals. The forest official, against the suggestions of his co-workers, sought out representatives of 11 local villages and negotiated the terms of

a contract with an ad hoc Forest Protection Committee. The initial programme involved 612 families managing 12.7 sq. km of forests classified as "degraded". Twenty-five per cent of profits from the forests were shared with the villagers. The experiment was successful and was expanded to other parts of the state in 1987.

There are evidences that JFM has rehabilitated the country’s degraded forests and the overall forest cover of the country has increased. Incidents of illicit felling and illegal encroachment have sharply declined with recovery of fodder resources, prolific growth of understorey vegetation and it has also led to increased biodiversity and wild herbivore population. One of the most significant impacts of the JFM programme has been the change in the attitude of local communities and forest officials towards forests.

Sustainable forest management is key to the sustainable rural livelihood.

There has to be a harmonious balance between conservation of forests and development of communities through livelihood security. Over-exploitation can lead to destruction of the resources, like medicinal plants, grazing pastures, game animals, fish stocks, forests, and water aquifers. This can result in extinction at the population level and even extinction of whole species.

Trends of forestry are changing, whether it is conservation or administration. During our study tours, we went through so many exposures like: Baralikadu JFM model, Periyar foundation, Gondwana herbs (Gadchiroli), Sukhomajri, Mussorie (mine reclama-

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tion area), Mudhumalai tiger reserve, Allapally and so many other forest, fringe and rural areas. People living in forests are facilitated with various livelihood opportunities like manufacturing plant operators, eco-shop managers, NTFP collectors, coracle drivers, food suppliers to tourists with their traditional foodstuffs, drivers, guides, workers, forest watchers, etc. They are getting exposure to the outer world by tourism activities. Many young people are preparing for the civil services exam and other higher studies after interacting with visiting officers, ministers and urban people. People are also willingly participating in management and

conservation of forests.

A sustainable alliance has to be forged among government, non-government and local level organizations.

Village dynamics, sociological insight, perception and knowledge of people have to be understood properly, for formulation, designing and implementation of any effective approach to JFM which, in turn, can lead to integrated development of the rural poor. Selfreliance and Gandhiji’s ‘Gram Swaraj’ may indeed become a reality. Even in the age of liberalization and globalization, it has to be understood that there can be no financial assets if there are no ecological assets.

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JODHPUR / Rajasthan

Raising a Plantation on Stone-bed The vision of the Machia Biological Park is to create one of the best examples of ex-situ conservation and at the same time a beautiful tourist spot

Md Raheman

T

he vision of the Machia Biological Park is to create an opportunity for the citizens of Jodhpur to have a biodiversity park very close to the city. The effort is to create one of the best examples of ex-situ conservation and, at the same time, the best tourist spot in the area. Jodhpur already has a tradition of very good in-situ conservation. The Machia Biological Park, sited in Machia forest block of 604 ha. near Kaylana Lake, will also create awareness on the importance of conservation of flora and fauna for the benefit of the future generations in addition to conservation of the gene pool of endangered wild species of the region.

Machia Biological Park was conceptualized in the year 1982-83.

It is located 8 km away from Jodhpur railway station on the western side of Jodhpur. This park is basically the satellite zoo of the city’s old heritage zoo. Machia Biological Park has an area of 41 ha. out of 604 ha. area of Machia forest block. The legal status of Machia forest block is protected forest, notified vide notification no. II9(6) forest/90 dated 01-07-1990 under the Rajasthan Forest Act 1953.

The area is mainly rocky composed of rhyolite having undulating ground, numerous manmade water bodies like Kaylana Lake, Takhatsagar Lake, Akheraj Lake, and so on. This area has low soil quantity and if soil is present, has low soil depth.

The natural vegetation here is dry scrub forest consisting of scanty tree cover of species like Acacia senegal, Prosopis Cineraria, Prosopis Juliflora, Capparis decidua, Zizyphus Nimmularia, Commiphora Wightii, etc. The scarce vegetation is a result of of the low rainfall received by this zone.

Previously, the plantation was started by making loose stone containers of 20 cm width. The depth/height of this structure was around 100 cm and diameter was 60 cm. These were filled with a mixture of sand and manure in the ratio of 4:1, respectively. Species selected were Gular, Neem, Peepal, and Bargad of approximately 3-4 feet height for planting. Now, five years later, the height of these plants is approximately 10-12 feet.

Since the topography is undulating and the terrain is rocky, there was low success of survival as well as slow growth so a new technique was adopted. Blasting was done by applying the

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blasting material, which is detonators and rock blasting accessories, through a registered blasting authority. In this method, single and double blasting was adopted according to the suitability of the area. Single blasting left behind pits around 2-3 feet deep. Double blasting left pits of around 3-4 feet. Material generated by double blasting was left such as to provide enough space for the soil and roots of plants to penetrate into the rock crevices. The open pit was then filled with soil mixture in proportions of 1:1:4 (FYM:Clay:Sand). The seedling of the desired plant was planted in the

pit to grow like it would in regular soil.

Irrigation facility was provided inside the park for trees, and included methods like spot irrigation by conveyance pipe and taps and drip irrigation.

The double blasting technique was found to give good results in Rudrakshakunj and Kamalkunj. Trees like Ficus religeousa, Ficus bengalensis, Ficus zyziphus, Cardia mixa, Aegele marmelos, Syzigium cumini were planted along the roads. Clearly, the efficacy of the double blasting technique provides an opportunity to raise plantations on such rocky terrain elsewhere as well.

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FIELD FORESTER | November 2015

USE OF TECHNOLOGY

Preventing Forest Fires Infra-red detection and surveillance system has been found to be highly effective

Manoj Ashok Dhanvijay

C

onserving unique natural areas should be a priority for advanced societies in our time. One of the biggest threats faced by these natural areas is wildfire by devastation. The unfortunate reality is that most of these areas are unprotected, or at most only monitored during certain months of the year and then, only during certain times of day, leaving them more vulnerable during the nights without proper monitoring. The entire system suffers from teams of workers woefully illequipped in terms of manpower and technology. With changing times, various solutions have been derived from the specialized satellite infrastructure coupling with infrared technology and Information & Communication Technology (ICT).

Infra-red fire detection system is a reliable system for surveillance and recognition of spontaneous fires inside the forests, free air dumps of waste or combustible materials like paper, waste or charcoal among many others. Since forest fires usually break out during the summer as materials are mostly inflammable, the probability of spontaneous combustion is high with disastrous

effects for man and environment.

Thus the usage of early warning systems based on infra-red cameras is recommended. High performance infra-red cameras like PYROVIEW 380L and 640L combined with powerful software like PYROSOFT FDS, for analyzing thermo-graphic images allow for early warning and prevention of fires.

The infra-red cameras mounted on a pan-tilt head automatically monitors the user defined area to be observed and continuously quantifies the surface temperature distribution. The FDS software checks the temperatures inside the regions of interest (ROI). An alarm will be raised in case the pre-defined temperature limits are exceeded and the current infra-red image is saved.

Alarms and the system status are displayed on the monitor and the control panel. External equipment for alerting and firefighting can be controlled via the flexible I/O system.

Fire Detection System (Fds) Components

The forest fire detection system consists of the components listed in the table below, along with proper specifications.

The proposed scheme based on infra-red image processing performs

RFO (Tr.), Kundal Academy of Development, Administration and Management, Kundal, Ta.Palus, Distt. Sangli (MS)

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FIELD FORESTER | November 2015

early detection of any fire threat. With the aim of determining the presence or absence of fire, the proposed algorithms performs the fusion of different detectors which exploit different expected characteristics of a real fire, like persistence and increase. Theoretical results and practical simulations are presented to corroborate the control of the system related with probability of false alarm (PFA). Probability of Detection (PD) and dependence on Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) is also evaluated.

The infra-red image is displayed in a pseudo colour image mode gray-scale; the brighter the colour, the higher the temperature. In case of fire areas exceeding the temperature limits the • Infra-red camera detects infrared radiation with infra-red image sensor and transfer RS image information as digital data via Ethernet.

image become red coloured. The operator recognizes the source of fire immediately and can start fire-fighting actions. The infrared image on the left side shows an initial fire in a paper stock. Because of the early recognition and warning, fire fighting is started instantly with a high efficiency, thereby preventing ecological and material damages.

Applications of Infra-red surveillance system

The infra-red surveillance system is very effective in monitoring various aspects related to forests: 1. Automatic surveillance and monitoring of forest fire.

– temperature range from –20 °C to 300 °C (optional: 500°C) – spectral range 8 µm to 14 µm – 384 × 288 pixels or 640 × 480 pixels depending upon camera – maximum frame rate 50 Hz – integrated air purge to prevent/delay disposal of soiling

• Weather-proof housing

– with heating and hard-coated GE window

• Pan-tilt head

– move towards to programmable positioning – free manual positioning – 359° horizontal, 180° vertical, 0.2° resolution

• Reference radiator 2

– control of camera function, lens soiling – little deviations are corrected, malfunction information when heavily soiled

• Power supply/USV • I/O system programmable bus controller

2 isolated feeds (1x buffered, 1x unbuffered) – switch for feeds – optional: separated USV for 4 h operation – control of pan-tilt heads, control panel, video system, reference radiator – control system status – transmission to PC –altering via relay, 24 V

• Touch-PC

– operation and surveillance station – with 21"/19" touch display

• FDS Software

– server-/client software

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FIELD FORESTER | November 2015

Block diagram of infra-red fire surveillance system

Infra-red camera

IR-surveillance in forest area

2. Keeping effective watch over plantations.

3. Detecting forest crime by keeping watch over poachers.

4. Illicit felling can be detected.

5. The movement of wild animals can be studied.

6. Various works undertaken in forestry.

7. Measure growth of the forest cover if connected with satellite.

8. Wildlife census if GPS-enabled and geo-augmented.

Applicability in Forests of Maharashtra

The state of Maharashtra with a geographical area of 3,07,713 sq. km has 61,939 sq. km as forest area.

The state’s forest cover is estimated to be approximately 20 per cent. The state has 6 national parks, 47 wildlife sanctuaries and 4 conservation reserves. There are a total of 57 PAs with an area 10,057.013 sq.km error amounting to 3.26 per cent of the state’s geographical area. These areas include the difficult terrains of Western Ghats, Melghat, and others. Thus it

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E-eye to keep a tab on tigers in Corbett With poachers posing a massive threat to tigers in India, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has launched a pilot project in Uttarakhand’s Corbett National Park for round-the-clock surveillance of the park using high definition cameras. The project E-eye (electronic eye) is a software-based system where 10 high resolution thermal and infra-red cameras mounted on a tower are spread across the 350 sq. km area of the park that falls in a highly sensitive zone bordering Uttar Pradesh. The cameras capture image of objects weighing more than 20 kg and generate alerts if they are crossing the boundary.

The alerts are sent to the control room in the park and the NTCA office in Delhi.

The cost of the project is around `3.5 crore. The cameras monitor the area 24X7 and send images even during the night. It has helped in checking infiltration, poaching and illegal mining in the area. The NTCA was helped in this project by a Pune-based company, Binomial Solutions Private Limited, set up by a group of young engineers and management graduates. The cameras can capture thermal and normal images of the body mass irrespective of forest density and inclement weather conditions. The company is also working with the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) to develop a parallel system for counting of tigers. Besides this, the tender for installing a similar kind of detection system and work of installation is already in the pipeline at Assam's Kaziranga National Park.

is an obvious fact that in order to protect these forests from dangers of fire, infrared fire detection and surveillance systems can be a good tool. The following are strategic and potential sites/places where such installation can be useful: 1. Sahyadri Tiger Reserve in Sangli, Ratnagiri, and Kolhapur districts.

2. Melghat Tiger Reserve and Gugamaal National Park in Amaravati district.

3. Pench National Park in Nagpur district.

4. Tadoba-Andheri Tiger Reserve in Chandrapur district.

5. Natural forests in Gadchiroli district.

In these areas and in many others

infra-red systems can prove to be very effective in dealing with forest fires as well as surveillance needs given their limited accessibility and other threats.

The installation of infra-red fire detection and surveillance system is thus an effective module for forest conservation and surveillance. Its unique combination with ICT can give comprehensive results in terms of forest project monitoring and keeping watch over plantation works. Beyond this, it can turn into an innovative methodology when paired with GPS, remote sensing satellites, etc., for realtime updates about the forest on a single click!

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FIELD FORESTER | November 2015

Maharashtra / Kerala / Gujarat

Comparative study of coastal ecology There is urgent need for better conservation and restoration works along the north coast of Mahashtra

G.P. Gangode

I

ndia’s coastal zone is endowed with abundant coastal and marine biodiversity that include a wide range of mangroves, coral reefs, sea grasses, salt marshes, mud flats, estuaries, lagoons, and unique marine and coastal flora and fauna. India also has major stocks of corals, fish, marine mammals, reptiles and turtles, sea grass meadows, and abundant sea weeds.

Mangrove cover in India has been estimated at approximately 3,15,000 ha. spread over the west (Maharashtra, Kerala, Gujarat) and along the east (Orissa and West Bengal) coasts and Andaman and Nicobar islands. The Sunderbans in West Bengal has one of the largest mangrove forests in the world. The mangrove flora of India comprises 50 exclusive species belonging to 20 genera.

According to the latest evaluation, 67 per cent of the mangroves and associated plant species are endangered, while 97 per cent of the plant species are threatened. Indiscriminate cutting, reclamation for agriculture and urbanization, fuel and overgrazing by domestic cattle have severely degraded mangroves in India. The threat to

mangroves in recent years comes mainly from aquaculture and urban settlements.

Coral reefs are found in the Palk Bay, Gulf of Mannar, Gulf of Kutch, central west-coast of India, Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar islands. A few species of corals have recently been reported from the Maharashtra coast. A total of 50 genera and 13 sub-genera of reef-building corals are known to occur in Indian reefs representing more than half of those recorded from all over the world. Over 630 species of marine algae have been reported. A sea grass called Enhalus acroides is now a threatened species. Dugong dugong, a mammal dependent on the sea grass for its food is also threatened.

A comparative study of coastal ecology of three states – Maharashtra, Kerala and Gujarat – was conducted during 2014-15. Parameters such as geomorphology, biodiversity, mangrove plantation and its status, conservation and restoration works (CRW), and environmental impact on costal ecology were studied. Various data collected by observation and inputs from government agencies and web based sources were used for comparative analysis.

FRO Trainee, Batch 2014-15

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FIELD FORESTER | November 2015 Comparative coastal ecology of Maharashtra, Kerala and Gujarat S.No. Particular 1 Coastal length(km)

Maharashtra 720

Kerala 560

Gujarat 1600

2

Coastal Geomorphology

Undulated

Wetland

plane

3

Coastal climate

4 5

Salinity of Coastal sea water (ppt) Sediment quality (mg/lit.)

Floral Biodiversity Mangrove Species (no.)

Mangrove area (sq.km) Faunal Biodiversity ( No. spp.)

Marine Fish species Coral species Conservation & Restoration work Mangrove plantation growth from 1987 to 2007 (sq.km.)

Environmental impact

Tropical monsoon 2 to 8 27 to 70

Tropical monsoon 2 to 8 15 to 34

Tropical monsoon 2 to 8 19 to 45

20 186 350 160 9 __

4 17 --52 00 __

16 1046 539 487 37 Very good work

46 Severe adverse effect on north coast

5 Less adverse effect

619 Moderate adverse effect

4 5 6 7 8

9

Coastal length(km) 1800 1600 1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0

Costal length(km)

Maharashtra

Kerala

Gujarat

Observations and data collection during the study tour at Herne beach of Dapoli (Maharashtra), Kovalam beach of Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala), Marine National Park, Jamnagar, Gulf of Kutch (Gujarat) and personal visits to the Maharashtra coast are the basis for comparison of the coastal ecology of Maharashtra, Kerala and Gujarat.

The Maharashtra coast that stretches between Bordi in the north and Terek-

hol in the South is about 720 km long and 30-50 km wide. The shoreline is indented by numerous west flowing river mouths, creeks, bays, headlands, promontories and cliffs. There are about 18 prominent creeks/estuaries along the coast, many of which harbour mangrove habitats. Like elsewhere in the world, the coastal region of the state is thus a place of hectic human activity, intense urbanization in pockets and

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FIELD FORESTER | November 2015

Visit to Marine National Park, Gujarat

enhanced industrialization, resulting in degradation, directly or indirectly, of marine environment through indiscriminate release of domestic and industrial effluents, reclamation, offshore constructions, movement of ships and a variety of cargo at ports, etc.

Kerala has a 590-km long coastline endowed with beautiful beaches, estuaries and lagoons. The coastal belt, a narrow strip of lowland, is the most beautiful region of Kerala, flanked by the presence of paddy fields and coconut trees dominating the landscape. In Kerala, mangroves are distributed in Keeryad Island, northern part of Kochi Port and Research Farm at Puthuvypin, Mahe to Dharmadam coastal belt, Mallikkad, Ashram, Pathiramanal, Mangalavanam and in several other small bits areas. It is reported that 17 true mangrove species and 23 semi-mangrove species occur in the state. There are also some dominant mangrove species recorded in the state. The mangrove area

in Kerala is estimated to be about 17 sq. km, of these 36 per cent are degraded or in degrading condition.

Gujarat is the north-western state of India and the total length of the coast line, facing the Arabian Sea is about 1,600 km, based on the geographical situation geomorphological position and variable natural land, the Gujarat coastal zones may be divided into five regions: the Rann of Kachchh, Gulf of Kachchh, Gulf of Khambhat, Saurashtra coast and the South Gujarat coast. Out of these five regions, the Gulfs constitute the major mangrove zones of the Gujarat coast. We visited the Marine National Park and mangrove plantation area at Jamnagar, and found 100 per cent survival and good management.

Coastal and marine environments are threatened by the lack of integrated development planning, especially given the large concentration of towns, petrochemical complexes and industries along the coasts. Only 9 per

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FIELD FORESTER | November 2015

Visit to Mangrove plantation, Jamnagar

cent of wastewater from coastal towns is treated before entering the waters, adding to their already heavy chemical burden from the huge volumes of agricultural run-off that routinely flow into them. In addition, large numbers of coastal people remain dependent on natural resources for their livelihoods, in the absence of alternative livelihood opportunities. However, the returns from traditional fishing are diminishing due to environmental degradation and over-exploitation. Risks from climate change will only accentuate these challenges.

In the comparison of coastal ecology among three states, Gujarat was found to have maximum coastal biodiversity, better CRW and mangrove plantation.

Maharashtra has a huge potential for coastal ecological development but the northern coast of Maharashtra faces an

overburdening of human population, industries, seashore activities and there is urgent need of better CRW. However, in spite of the coastal ecological richness and contribution to the national economy, coastal and marine areas have not received adequate protection and are under stress. About 34 per cent of India’s mangroves were destroyed during 1950-2000 (although substantial restoration and conservation has taken place over the past 10 years); almost all coral areas are threatened; marine fish stocks are declining; and several species of ornamental fish and sea cucumbers are fast disappearing. Such rapid depletion and degradation, unless arrested, will impact the livelihood, health and well being of the coastal population, affecting in turn prospects for India’s sustained economic growth.

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FIELD FORESTER | November 2015

WILDLIFE / NAGALAND

Foes turn friends for migratory Amur Falcons The Nagaland Forest Department has played a key role in the conservation of Amur Falcons and creating awareness among the local community

Florence T. Sangtam

I

n their incredible journey, the Amur falcons (Falco amurensis) travel up to 22,000 km a year – known to be one of the longest distance migration of birds – from Mongolia, roost in Nagaland for some months before carrying onwards to the African sub-continent.

A protected species under the Convention of Migratory Species (CMS), tens of thousands of these raptors congregate near the Doyang reservoir in Nagaland every year and this is believed to be the single largest congregation of Amur falcons recorded anywhere in India Till 2012, the local communities in Wokha used to hunt the falcons for their meat and capture them for commercial sale when they stopped by to roost in Nagaland. Doyang reservoir, the falcon’s pit-stop, before their lengthy onward journey across the Arabian Sea to Africa had turned into a death trap for the birds. The birds were trapped by the hunters in the mist nets lined up near the reservoir and collected early in the morning. Besides killing them for meat, the raptors were also kept alive and later sold in the local district

markets prompting a Rapid Action Project (RAP) to protect the birds by Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) and the Nagaland Forest Department. Down the years, the situation at Doyang has seen a remarkable change of events for the better. The reservoir is now one of

RFO Trainee, 2014-15 Batch, ASFOS Burnihat, Assam

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FIELD FORESTER | November 2015

the safest places in the North-East for the visiting raptors. And the hunters of migratory Amur Falcons have now turned into protectors. Nagaland has become the ‘Falcon Capital’ of the world. The birds which used to be earmarked for the cooking pot are now the pride of Nagaland.

Alternative livelihood support in the form of poultry farms was provided to the villages, who were part of the hunter groups and landowners where the Amur Falcons roost. An MoU was signed and a subsequent resolution passed by the village councils of Pangti, Ashaa and Sungro, making hunting the Amur Falcon illegal and punishable, which helped in reaching a zero mortality rate in Doyang, by the end of the bird’s roosting period. An awareness campaign was initiated to gain the local community’s support and also sensitize them on the need to conserve the visiting guests, emphasising the ecological and ethical importance of the Amur Falcon and urging the villagers

to ensure safe passage of these migratory birds. Churches also played a key role in spreading the message of compassion for the Amur Falcon, and thus motivating the people to come forward to protect the falcons during their roosting period in Nagaland. Amur Falcon Roosting Areas Union (AFRAU) is also supporting the conservation efforts of the Wildlife Trust of India at Pangti.

AFRAU members are jointly working with the Amur Falcon Protection Squad formed by WTI for the conservation of the migratory birds with the support of Nagaland Forest Department.

Signages were installed in strategically important areas and posters and leaflets were handed out among the community. Wildlife films were screened and workshops were held during wildlife week in October. The Amur Falcon campaign was also conducted in local schools across Wokha targeting school children to sensitize them on the need to conserve the falcons. Nagaland Wildlife and Biodiversity Conservation

Amur Falcons in the Wokha sky

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Trust (NWBCT) started conducting nature camps under its ‘Friends of the Amur Falcon’ programme for building awareness on conservation of biodiversity among the children and villagers in areas where the Amur Falcons were visiting for the third consecutive year.

On November 6, 2013, three Amur Falcons – Naga, Pangti and Wokha, named after Nagaland, Pangti village and Wokha district, respectively, were satellite tagged with an antenna and solar panel, weighing 5 grams, fitted on their backs. This was done in collaboration with scientists from the Wildlife Institute of India, Ministry of Environment and Forest, the UNEP, The Environment Agency- Abu Dhabi and the Nagaland Forest Department and the falcons released in Doyang forest. It was now possible to track their movements.

From November 7, Naga, a male, had taken the route from Wokha in Nagaland through Assam, Bangladesh, the Bay of Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka before entering the air space over the Arabian sea. During the same

period, Pangti, a female, took the route from Wokha through Assam, Bangladesh, West Bengal, the Bay of Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra before beginning the journey over the Arabian Sea. Wokha, also a female, followed Pangti’s path and was tracked flying over the Bay of Bengal way behind the other two. The movements of all three birds are being monitored by scientists in Hungary, filtering satellite data through a dedicated website. This is the first time the Amur Falcons in Nagaland were satellite tagged and their movements to South Africa are being monitored.

Gaining support from the community in Nagaland to protest against harming these endangered raptors was essential for the future of the species.

Continued efforts are needed to keep the locals motivated and provide a safer migratory passage for the Amur Falcons in the years to come. This model of community conservation by people can be replicated in other parts of the world as well.

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FIELD FORESTER | November 2015

COMMUNITY INTEGRATION / TAMIL NADU

Venom for anti-venom: A source of livelihood to Irulas A co-operative society has been able to harness the traditional skills of Irula tribals and provide them with ways and means of social and economic upliftment Anu Thakur

I

ndia is a land of rich ethnic diversity. There are still some social groups which would defy the very principles of human material progress and adhere to the traditional ways of living and earning their livelihood.

India counts significantly amongst the nations which house a large population of tribals inhabiting widely varying ecological and geo-climatic terrains.

As per the 2011 Census Report, tribal population in India is 104.5 million.

From ages they have survived the ordeals inflicted upon them by the nature and by other social groups.

The Irulas are Dravidian inhabitants and one among the 36 sub-tribal communities in Tamil Nadu with a population of about 1.17 lakh. Irulas are the second largest population of tribals in Tamil Nadu. The origin of the word 'Irula' is not clear. It could have been derived from the Tamil word, ‘Irul’ which either refers to the dark complexion of the Irulas or their being capable of finding one's path in the dark forests.

These small groups of indigenous forest-dwelling people have remarkable

expertise in catching snakes. They were one of the leading suppliers of snake and lizard skins to the global skin industry. The reckless exploitation that ensued threatened the local extinction of several species and subsequently hunting was banned in 1972 with the implementation of Wildlife Protection Act. This deprived the Irulas of their main source of livelihood.

They do not have a fixed means of livelihood. They are unskilled in doing any alternative kinds of job. They earn their living by doing ‘coolie’ work in rice mills and agricultural fields of the landlords. Fishing is also an occupation in some of the Irulas’ villages. Many of them do not possess even a Scheduled Tribe or land certificate for the place they stay in.

Irula Snake-Catchers Industrial Cooperative Society (ISCICS)

We had an opportunity to visit the Irula Snake-Catchers Industrial Cooperative Society (ISCICS). It is located in the premises of the Madras Crocodile Bank at Vadanemmeli, Kanchipuram district of Tamil Nadu.

In the early 1980s, Romulus Whitaker

Forest Range Officer Trainee of 2014-15 batch, CASFOS, Coimbatore

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FIELD FORESTER | November 2015

Unique code being clipped into ventral scales

Venom extraction

and Revathy Mukherji started a selfemployment scheme to help the Irulas come out of their abject poverty. Their continuous efforts resulted in the official registration of ISCICS on December 19, 1978.

The main objectives of this cooperative were to harness the traditional skills of the Irulas, to accord dignity and respect to their indigenous knowledge and to provide them with ways and means of social and economic upliftment. In due course, a specialist snake handling facility was established

at the Crocodile Bank.

We need to pay an entry fee of `10 for the Snake Pit centre where the Irulas introduce us to a variety of poisonous snakes which are kept inside systematically arranged mud pots covered with white cloth. “The snake is very poisonous,” says Muthu while pulling out a slithering Russell’s Viper from the mud pot. He narrates non-stop details of the life history and characteristics of snake. He makes all of us pretty excited while extracting the venom. He firmly holds the snake’s

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FIELD FORESTER | November 2015

Irula handling Indian Cobra

Snakes kept inside systematically arranged mud pots

neck over a glass receptacle and the venom percolates down into it.

The ISCICS focuses on four poisonous species: Indian Cobra, Common Krait, Russell’s Viper and Saw-scaled Viper that account for the majority of snake bite-related deaths in India. Irulas always move in groups of four or five to ensure that there are people around to aid each other in the event of a snake bite. They consume a herb before setting out to catch snakes, details of which they are reluctant to share.

The licensed members then go out and catch the snakes which are sold to the society at a fixed rate. Once purchased, the snakes are kept in individual earthen pots. The length, weight, sex and site of capture are recorded at the time of purchase. Each snake is marked with a unique code clipped into its ventral scales. Venom is extracted from each snake once a week for four weeks. The snakes are then released at predetermined sites in Reserve Forests in the presence of a Forest Range Officer.

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FIELD FORESTER | November 2015

Venom, once collected, is frozen, dried and stored at 10° C in the freeze chamber. This turns it into minute crystals. The crystallized venom is gathered in airtight bottles and stored in a refrigerator. The society sells the venom to a number of laboratories for conducting medical research and preparation of anti-venom.

At present, the annual turnover of the 350-member strong cooperative is `1.5 crore. An Irula is paid `2,000 for catching one Cobra or Russell’s Viper, `700 for Common Krait and `250 for Saw-scaled Viper. The society is involved in extracting venom, which is in great demand for making antivenom serum. For every one gram of venom from Indian Cobra, Russell’s Viper, Common Krait and Saw-scaled Viper, 10, 10, 40 and 100 numbers of individuals are required, respectively.

A gram of Cobra venom costs ` 25,000, that of Krait `40,000, Russell’s Viper `30,000 and Saw-scaled Viper `45,000.

The cooperative also earns `6-7 lakh annually from the entry fee to its Snake Pit Centre.

Apart from this the members are paid for catching rats and snake feed besides other bonus and incentives like medical allowance, an interest-free housing loan, an educational loan for children and an insurance cover of `10 lakh if a member dies of snakebite. If a member is bitten by a snake, treatment costs are also covered.

“The formation of the society and subsequent permission to collect snakes was an uphill task for Irulas,” says S Dravida Mani, Secretary and founder member of the ISCICS. “We established ourselves without any financial support from government. Now, the society has the ambition to become a global pharmaceutical company. It wants to expand nationally and manufacture serum which meets WHO standards.”

“We are going to train tribals in other part of the country and invest `10 crore to become a competent global exporter,” says Mani.

Given the high standard of goals, as regards the economic and social upliftment of Irulas by employing agencies such as ISCICS, much more is yet to be done. Though this exposure has somewhat exposed the tribe to the success parameters of human social and economic growth but the numbers achieved are none to boast of as of now.

It is heartening to see that this community has also ventured into manufacturing of numerous medicinal products, herbal teas, shampoos and other organic products derived from various trees and shrubs. The words of Robert Frost, ‘miles to go before I sleep’, manifests the essence of goals and standards to be achieved by this ethnic group. The Irulas need comprehensive engagement and a lot more attention from the government and the society at large.

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FIELD FORESTER | November 2015

COMMUNITY INTEGRATION / MAHARASHTRA

The Jungle Man Co-opting local forest residents can be an asset to the forest department in terms of understanding wildlife and traditional knowledge

Ashish Narayanrao Hivre

F

rom May 3-10, 2015, I got an opportunity to go for wildlife estimation in Koyna wildlife sanctuary along with all the RFO trainees of our academy. It was our maiden experience-gathering opportunity of a wildlife census. Koyna wildlife sanctuary is located in Satara District of Maharashtra and has a total notified area of 423.55 sq. km.

Koyna wildlife sanctuary includes the eastern and western catchments of Koyna dam, which is a major hydroelectric project centre in western

Maharashtra. The sanctuary is well protected by the large extent of the Shivasagar reservoir and the steep slopes of the Western Ghats on both the sides. This protected area is connected by a vegetal cover corridor of Chandoli and Radhanagari wildlife sanctuaries in the south. The average altitude is 897 metres above sea level. The mean annual rainfall is 5,500 mm.

The forest types here are southern tropical evergreen forests and southern moist mixed deciduous forest.

Dominant species are Anjani, Jambul, Hirda, Aonla, Pisa, Ain, Kinjal, Amba, Kumbha, Bhoma, Chandala, Katak, Nana,

Shamrao Kokre’s hut in the forest

Range Forest Officer (Tr.), Kundal Academy of Development, Aadministrationand Management, Kundal, Ta.Palus, Distt. Sangli, (MS)

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FIELD FORESTER | November 2015

Umbar, Jambha, Gela, Bibba etc. Karvi is found almost all over the area. Climbers such as Shikekai, Garambi are quite frequent. Shrubs species and medicinal plants such as Karvand, Vagati, Ranmiri, Tamalpati, Toran, Dhayati, Kadipatta, Narkya, Murudsheng, etc. with small quantity of Bamboo are also seen. Quite a large number of ephemerals, bulbs of seasonal plants are found.

The sanctuary shelters tigers (2), panthers (14), gaurs (220-250), sloth bears (70-80), sambars (160-175), barking deer (180-200), mouse deer, dholes, giant squirrels, otters, common langoors, pythons and cobras. A unique species of toad, Bufo koyanansis, is endemic to this protected area.

ACF Puranik had told us about the method of census and the steps to be followed for the census. He gave us the necessary equipment like GPS, range finder, camera, booklet, sleeping bag, ration required for eight days. I had been allotted the ‘Maldev beat’. I was accompanied by beat guard Ram Shelke and forest watcher Vaibhav Jadhav.

Shelke told me that Maldev is the last beat of the Koyna wildlife sanctuary.

On May 3, we began our journey at 9.00 am from Koynanagar to Maldev beat. we reached at 6.00 pm by launch.

That was my first longest journey by launch in wildlife area. I enjoyed it thoroughly and was once in lifetime experience for me. My whole journey was through core area of Koyna. At dinner, Shelke told me about Shamrao Kokre who lived in Maldev beat. The rehabilitation of the whole Maldev village was done way back in 1960.

The Kokre household was the only one

Shamrao Kokre and his family with the author

which is yet to be rehabilitated. Kokre was living with his wife and son. After dinner, we went for water hole census at night.

In the morning, we visited Kokre’s home. At that time, only his wife was present. I asked some questions about their livelihood. She told me that their entire dependence is on the forest.

They use fruits, tubers and bulbs as vegetable. She also told us that some years ago, they used some forest land for agriculture purposes but now the forest department had prohibited the same. The forest department had already offered to shift them from the forest area but they were not ready to do so.

Korkre’s house is an open hut.

There were no doors and windows.

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FIELD FORESTER | November 2015

His house was built up with timber and straw extracted from the forest.

Around his house we saw signs of wildlife like leopard, sloth bear, wild pig, and so on but he loved to sleep in the open. His wife told me that initially they had 250 cattle. Their main earning was from the dairy produce but due to attacks by tiger and leopards, they were left with only nine animals. The nearest village was almost 10 km away at Tiwre. She showed me several paper cuttings which spoke about Shamrao Kokre.

In the afternoon, Shamrao came to our tent to visit us. Shelke introduced me to him. I was amazed to see that Shamrao, despite being 82 years old, was very fit and in good health. We had very little conversation at that time. He thought that I had come to convince them to leave the forest area. He left us after half an hour. Shelke told me that the forest department and Kokre were at loggerheads about the rehabilitation.

Kokre is not ready to leave the place, though all his sons and daughter have shifted to the city area. Shamrao’s refrain is: “I am born in the forest and I shall die in the forest.”

After frequent visits, he opened up.

He told me about the flora and fauna of the Koyna wildlife sanctuary. This 82- year-old man has lot of knowledge about the forest and we can describe him as “walking flora”. He also told me about changes in habitat over the years and the condition of the sanctuary before the Koyna dam and status up to the date. He also told me about changes in animal behaviour. He also informed that very few tigers are left in

the sanctuary. One day I requested him to come with us for trekking. We started trekking at 6.00 am. After the completion of transect-line survey, we moved on to reach the Kusumlata Plateau at 12.00 noon.

During the trek, he told me many details about the flora of the region. He told me about the multivitamin and anti-oxidant properties of the leaves of the Pisa plant (Actinodaphne hookeri). He is also familiar with the medicinal value of the entire flora present in that area.

He told me that, he knew all the natural trails right from Belgaon to Thane that is whole of western Maharashtra. He has walked throughout Maharashtra.

Standing atop the Kusumlata Plateau he showed me the boundaries of the Satara, Ratnagiri, and Kolhapur districts. He also showed me old Vasota and New Vasota fort and their distinguishing characters. He again showed me the “W” point located there.

One of his best abilities is that he can locate the animal by odour. He can smell different animals and locate their position. To share just one of my experiences with him: One evening, we were sitting outside our tent when he suddenly got up and said, “I will show you sloth bear.” So we followed him towards the water hole and sure enough we had a sighting of sloth bear at the water hole. He informed us that the most dangerous animal in the sanctuary is the sloth bear. There had been many incidents of man and sloth bear conflict. He gave us tips on how to save ourselves from the sloth bear and also showed us the den of a sloth bear. He also said that the leopards of

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Koynanagar were not maneaters and they had never attacked a human being.

Clearly, Shamrao Kokre is a knowledgeable resource person having a good understanding of wildlife behaviour. The forest department can take benefit of his knowledge for the management of the forest. Though he is 82 years old,, but taking into consideration his extraordinary knowledge about the forest,we can treat him as a special case and offer him a job of forest labour so that we can utilise his knowledge.

The forester gets transferred after every three years so we cannot have

the same familiarity with the area. His son also has good knowledge about the forest. Interestingly, Shamrao has never been attacked by animals. His affinity with all things wild can be utilized in the course of man-animal interface.

As discussed, he possesses good knowledge about the flora and their uses. This can help us for the conservation and the preservation of some rare and endangered flora. We can also appoint Shamrao as a trainer for the forest guard and foresters, or as a guide for the beat boundaries.

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WILDLIFE / MAHARASHTRA

A Success Story An initative to help conserve the vulture population brings forth results with the help of community participation

Kalpana Homkar Chinchkhede

D

o you know the decline of which species has cost India Rs 3400 crore? The decline of this species has been recorded as the most rapid decline in history of a large population. In the 1980s, one of the sub-species was considered as the most numerous species of raptor in the world, with around 80 million individuals, but today, however, its popu-

lation numbers only several thousand.

These birds of prey are one of the most efficient scavengers, constituting India’s optimal natural animal disposal system. They live in communities and mostly near human habitation. For the deceased Parsi to reach heaven, these species serve as intermediaries between earth and sky. The dead body is placed on a Tower of Silence where these birds by consuming the body, liberate the soul. The dwindling population of

Vulture group in Damrancha village

RFO Trainee (2014-15), Burnihat, Assam

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A carcass being put on one of the machans or vulture restaurants

Parsi Indians, deprived of their celestial emissaries, has been obliged to drop these ancient customs for reasons of hygiene, since now bodies take six months to disappear. I am talking about Vultures.

One can imagine the quantum of acceleration in decline given that the population of White-rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis) fell 99.7 per cent between 1993 and 2002. The population of the Indian Vulture or Long-billed Vulture (Gyps indicus) and the Slender-billed Vulture (Gyps tenuirostris) fell 97.4 per cent. Out of nine species found in India, these three species are in danger of extinction. Research shows that in India, feral dog populations have increased by 30 per cent due to the disappearance of vultures, which consequently has increased the risk of human rabies and anthrax. After much work on possible

viral causes of the decline, the culprit was discovered by Dr. Lindsay Oaks and his team in 2003窶電iclofenac. It is a common anti-inflammatory drug administered to livestock and was widely used in India in the 1990s. The drug is fatal to vultures. A vulture is exposed to a mortal dose of diclofenac if it eats from the carcass of a recently treated animal. A simulation model demonstrates that if only 1 per cent of carcasses were contaminated by diclofenac, Indian vultures would be decimated and a study of carcasses showed that 10 per cent were contaminated.

Following research on veterinarian diclofenac, the drug was taken off the market in India on March 11, 2006 and a replacement drug, meloxicam, was quickly developed and proposed after tests on vultures in captivity. Meloxicam affects the cattle the same way as

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diclofenac, but is harmless for vultures.

The disappearance of vultures has allowed other species, such as rats and stray dogs, to take their place. These newly abundant scavengers, however, are not as efficient as vultures. A vulture’s metabolism is a true “dead-end” for pathogens, but dogs and rats become carriers of pathogens. Stray dogs also attract leopards to the human inhabited areas which can result into man-animal conflict. Dogs carry diseases like rabies, anthrax, plague, etc. from rotting carcasses. Statistics show that in India, 30,000 people die from rabies each year – more than half the world’s total. A person is bitten every two seconds and one dies from rabies every 30 minutes. Seventy per cent of the victims are children under the age of 15. The Indian government treats half a million victims each year at a cost of `1,500 per person. Poor citizens do not have access to this care. Moreover, huge

Nesting site of Long billed Vulture In Lakkameda

sum of money is needed to control the population of stray dogs. I was talking about all these expenditures when I mentioned Rs 3400 crore at the beginning of the story.

Every cloud has a silver lining. I am going to tell you a story of one such silver lining. This story started on October 8, 2013, as a joint effort of the people and the forest department. The place was Kamlapur range, Sironcha Forest Division in Aheri Taluka of Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra, where a group of 12 to 15 individuals was sighted. The first sighting was done by Atul Rambhau Deokar, who got his first posting as a Range Forest Officer in this range.

This was the beginning of a long and exciting story. He along with his team of three Forest Guards, Kadari, Pophali and Lade, started monitoring the birds.

One nest of White-Backed Vulture on a teak tree in the same village gave a ray of hope. It was kept under regular monitoring with the help of local villagers.

They conducted surveys in the villages in the vicinity and discussed the sightings with the locals. The next monitoring targets were the ‘Dhorphodi’ sites, a common place where dead cattle were put outside the village.

The results of this monitoring by the dedicated Kamlapur staff revealed that the vultures were being badly disturbed by stray dogs while feeding on the carcasses. Little was left by the dogs for the vultures to feed on and the vultures had to wait for their turn to feed. So, the team decided to set up ‘Vulture Restaurants’. This restaurant is a 30mx33m structure which is fenced by a chain link on wooden poles. A wooden

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Vulture restaurant in Kamlapur

platform called machan of 10ftx10ftx3 feet is erected inside this fence. Around `90,000 was spent to raise one such structure. These restaurants were set up in other ranges as well. Now, they have raised 11 vulture restaurants. Posters were distributed by the department with an appeal to bring the dead animal to these restaurants with an assurance or `250 per dead body. A format was developed for data collection from each restaurant that would be helpful in any future endeavor to conserve vultures.

The staff kept a meticulous record of the account of the villagers bringing the dead animals. They also maintained a proper data along with Latitude and Longitude of the vulture sightings at these restaurants. These records were regularly maintained by the respective Forest Guard and checked by Round Officers. This gave them a fair idea about the population of vultures in the area. Vultures are territorial and they migrate locally. The whole area was divided into grids for counting of nests.

This made the survey more robust.

Participation of the local people was the most important part of the story as they were the ones who provided the food for vultures. In return, the vultures provided them with hygienic environment. The villagers were getting financial benefits too. Moreover, the limelight was on this area as the place of this success story, making the locals proud and happy!

The department started the concept of ‘International Vulture Awareness Day’ to make people aware about the significance of vultures. This day is celebrated annually on first Saturday of September. Meetings of the staff and the villagers were organized where they were sensitized through discussion, documentaries and the suggestions for the cause were invited. In one such meeting, the idea of “Gidhad Mitra’ (Friend of Vulture) was put forth. These individuals support the department in survey, monitoring and creating awareness. The first Gidhad Mitra,

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Shrihari Gurjalwal was selected from the Kamlapur range.

Now, as the awareness is spreading, people bring injured vultures to the Range Office where they are treated by the Livestock Development Officer (LDO). Here, the people do not use diclofenac and the LDO does not prescribe it. But, still the medical stores are kept under regular observation.

Besides, awareness regarding the negative impact of diclofenac on vulture existence is being spread.

Diclofenac is not a problem in this area.

Here, the drug is not used as the tribals do not go in for such costly treatments for their unproductive cattle. But, the major problem was the unavailability of sufficient food because of stray dogs.

This obstacle was overcome with the introduction of vulture restaurants.

At the beginning the vulture population was just a group of 12-15 birds. Aforementioned conservation efforts resulted in the sighting of a group of 80-90 individuals on August 18, 2014, at Kamlapur. At the beginning the team found only one nest. Later, a new nest was sighted on a teak tree near a vulture restaurant. The positive development is that the villagers from other areas themselves have asked for vulture restaurants near their villages where they have reported the sighting of this valuable species. This shows that they are aware about vultures and the important role they play in maintaining the health of the ecosystem. In Deokar’s own words, “people’s participation is vital for the long term survival of the vulture.”

Training programmes were con-

ducted for the frontline staff regarding vulture diversity, physiology and ecology by Deokar. The department is planning more awareness programmes.

The research regarding the necessity of vulture restaurants is going on. The department wants to see whether the vultures would still come without the fencing and the machan. The department is thinking of conducting studies regarding the population, group dynamics and sex ratio of the vultures. A rescue centre for vultures is in the pipeline. Dhorphodi sites are conserved and villagers coming forward for vulture conservation are encouraged through financial incentives and by honoring them. Also, the Gidhad Mitras are paid an honorarium of `2,000 monthly for monitoring the vultures and providing information to the department. At present, three Gidhad Mitras work for the department. They provide regular updates of sightings of the birds.

This unique success story shows the importance of people’s participation in conservation of endangered species and how much the support and contribution of the staff matters. Deokar and his team have proved that ‘Actions speak louder than words’. Here the dedication of a handful of ‘greens in uniform’ has actually made it possible. The vulture was very near local extinction in this area. The increase in the number of individuals of this species is a matter of pride not only for the Kamlapur staff, but for the entire local community. And now it will be possible for the coming generations to get a chance to see this amazing raptor in flesh and blood and not only read about it in books.

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WILDLIFE / MAHARASHTRA

Adapting to kill An account of the newly observed predatory behaviour of the Greater Coucal (Centroupus sinensis), a member of the cuckoo family

Sonal Dattatraya Valvi

T

he Greater Coucal is one among the family of non-parasitic cuckoos and is largely terrestrial.

It is known to live in open forest, scrub, grassland, shrubbery and groves about human habitations. This birds stalks along the ground or clambers and hops with agility amongst branches in search of food. Greater Coucal have been known for feeding on caterpillars, large insects, snails, lizard, young mice and bird eggs. In addition, there is a report by B. Laxmi Naraya et. al. from Hyderabad of Greater Coucal feeding on the Common Myna.

Therefore the addition of data describing the unusual predatory behaviour of the Greater Coucal by killing individually and feeding on a Indian Hare (Lepus nigricollis) is reported here. The Indian Hare killed by the Greater Coucal was approximately 30 cm length and 15-20 cm height. By observation, the hare can be considered as a sub-adult and its weight must be approximately around 1 kg.

Behavioural observation was found coincidently on the campus of the Kundal Academy of Development Administration and Management (Forests), (KADAM) Kundal, Taluka Palus, Sangli district of Maharashtra.

Plate 1: Greater Coucal capturing the upper neck portion of Indian Hare Range Forest Officer (Trainee), Kundal Academy of Development Administration and Management, Kundal, Taluka Palus, District Sangli, Maharashtra

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Plate 2: Greater Coucal jerking the Hare and lifting above the ground to give larger jerks

The site is at latitude N 17째07'37.5'' and longitude E 74째25'20.0''.

The Greater Coucal was tracked for around 15 minutes before it attacked and killed the Indian Hare.

The KADAM campus has come into existence a year or so ago and construction and developmental work is still under progress. The site was earlier an undulating region with degraded grassland, which is one km outside the Kundal village. Thus the site where the incident was observed still has the characteristics of a degraded grassland with small shrubs, with an approximate area of 4 hectares. The common avifauna found here are Sunbird, Indian Robin, Magpie Robin, Pond heron, Egrets, Wagtail, Ashy prinia, Brahminy Starling, Black Drongo, Common Kingfisher, Babbler, Laughing Dove and Greater Coucal, etc.

The attacking, killing and feeding on the Indian Hare (Lepus nigricollis) has been captured on video and photographs are also taken for documentary evidence.

Observations

1. On 28/01/2015 at 7:15 a.m., I saw a Greater Coucal in the campus of academy. Till 7:25 a.m., I patiently watched it for some photographs.

It was just wandering / stalking on the ground and it was inspecting the area. In a short span of 10 minutes it went twice to a small Acacia tree and was watching the whole area from above. At around 7:25 a.m., it came down from the tree and landed near the grass. After walking for 10-12 metres in the grass, it caught hold of a small Indian Hare in its beak.

2. For the first instance, it caught hold of the upper neck region of the hare. A struggle ensued for around 10 minutes. During this period, the hare managed to escape once and started to run. But the Greater Coucal caught hold of it again by its ears and the upper neck by its beak. The hare was struggling continuously by moving its legs but was unable to escape. The Greater Coucal almost

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Plate 3: Greater Coucal feeding on the Indian Hare killed by it.

Plate 4: A Jungle Crow working as scavenger by taking the remaining beheaded part of Indian Hare.

lifted the Hare above the ground and was continuously jerking the neck.

In order to lift the hare by its beak, the Greater Coucal was jumping on its both legs for changing the position and giving a larger wrench.

3. By the end of the tenth minute, the Greater Coucal managed to lay the Hare on its back and swiftly got hold of the neck region from underneath.

In this position, it managed to

penetrate its beak into the hare’s neck and finally succeeded in killing the hare.

4. The Greater Coucal immediately started feeding on the kill and continued for the next five minutes.

It started eating from the neck.

5. Suddenly a Shikra (Accipiter trivirgatus) landed at the sight. The Greater Coucal ran into a nearby open bush (1-2 metres distance from

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kill) leaving the kill there itself.

I was watching this scene from around 15 metres. I believe that both the birds were able to sense my presence. The Shikra stayed there for approximately one minute and left the site without any remarkable move.

6. The Greater Coucal came back to the kill and started feeding again. After approximately 2-3 minutes, it had considerably reduced the volume of the kill. Then, it picked up the remaining carcass of the hare in its beak and took a flight to move out of the campus area (around 15 metres).

7. The story did not end here. The next morning when I visited the site again, I saw a Jungle Crow was picking at the head of the hare killed

by Greater Coucal. This shows the common scavenging behaviour of the crow.

From the above observations, it can be said that the Greater Coucal killing a sub-adult hare was reflective of opportunistic prey capture. Since the site comprises degraded grassland, so the common food availability for Greater Coucal must be scarce. Thus it was seen adapting itself to kill and feed on Indian Hare. The Greater Coucal used its beak to the fullest to capture and kill the hare. In this incidence, no use of its legs or claws was seen for capturing or killing the hare. It can, thus, be stated that given the opportunity, the Greater Coucal feeds on the hare and is able to capture and kill it individually.

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Ladakh / Jammu & Kashmir

A glimpse into the cold desert Ladakh literally means ‘land of passes’ and is famous for mountain ranges and passes and comprises of Leh and Kargil districts in Jammu and Kashmir.

“The land is so harsh and the passes so numerous, that only the best of friends or the worst of enemies would visit you” (Ladakhi folklore) Raza Ali Abidi

L

adakh comprises of Leh and Kargil districts in Jammu and Kashmir in the northern most part of the country. Ladakh literally means ‘land of passes’ and is famous for mountain ranges and passes. Ladakh has four major mountain ranges - the Great Himalayan Range, Zanskar, Ladakh and the Karakoram ranges.

Ladakh is one of the least accessible parts of the Himalayas with most of its area located above 4,000 metres above mean sea level. The region remains cut off from the rest of the world for approximately six months during winters due to heavy snow fall.

Ladakh has always been an important region owing to its location. In the past it was a crossroad to important trade routes, like the famous Silk route and nowadays it is strategically important as it shares an international border with both Pakistan and China.The famous Kargil War was an armed conflict between India and Pakistan that took

place between May and July 1999 in the region.

Climate and Topography

The terrain in Ladakh is dominated by a maze of enormously high snowcapped peaks where valley heights range from 2500-4500m while passes of up to 6000m and peaks reaching above 7000 m can be seen all around. The world’s second largest glacier outside the polar region -Siachen- is located here and is the world’s highest battlefield. It’s no wonder that such daunting heights play an important role in determine the land’s temperature. In winter Leh and Kargil experience temperatures as low as - 30°C and Drass at -50°C is the second most coldest inhabited place in the world. During summers the weather is pleasant, the average temperature goes over 25°C, but with low humidity the sun can still be scorching hot. The Himalayas create a rain shadow effect in the region, thus rainfall is a mere 2 inches but there is heavy snowfall in winters and it is the melting snow in summer which sustains life in this region. The major waterway of Ladakh is the Indus River, as it flows down it is joined by its other tributaries. The Suru valley, drained by the Suru River, one

FRO Trainee, Batch (2014-15), Thang Dumbur Sankoo, Kargil, Ladakh

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Landscape view

of the tributaries of the Indus forms one of the most significant valleys’ of the region.

People

Ladakh can be broadly classified into four regions Kargil, Zanskar, Leh and Nubra and is inhabited by people of different ethnic groups,namely the Mons, Dards, Tibetans and Baltis.

Mons belong to the Aryan race, while the Dards are confined mainly to Drass and the Indus valleys. The Tibetans are the dominant racial strain in eastern and central Ladakh, two ethnically and culturally distinctive groups are the Tibetans living at Choglamsar and the nomadic Changpas with their herds of pashmina (a fine type of kashmere wool used for making shawls) goats in the eastern plains. Baltis and Purigpa are mainly found in western Ladakh in the Kargil region, and in some parts of the Nubra valley and Leh region.

Animal husbandry, agriculture and agroforestry form the basis of livelihood and food security in the permanent

settlements of Ladakh. Agriculture depends entirely on melting water from glaciers and people cultivate only staple crops like barley and wheat.

Peas, mustard, potatoes, carrots, turnip, radish, green leafy vegetables and alfalfa are also regularly cultivated on terraced fields sometimes in combination with apple and apricot trees.

Flora

The vegetation of the area is sparse owing to the harsh climatic conditions.

The physiographic conditions of the region ensures a short growing season (2-5 months) with exposure to harmful infra-red and ultraviolet radiations. High transpiration rates due to excessive heat often causeplant mortality, inadequate hours of sunlight especially during the winter season results in frost injury to plants. All these lead to poor seed germination, poor plant growth, poor root formation, deformed canopy, reduced radial growth and other physical signs/ phenotypic manifestations which affect

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Local house on the way to Zanskar

the productive biomass production in totality of the region.

Natural vegetation is overwhelmingly herbaceous - comprising of a few tree species and a few shrub species.

The forest cover in the region is very low (0.06% in Leh and 0.05 % in Kargil). The major trees growing in the area which are usually manmade plantations are poplar (Populus spp.) and willows (Salix spp) and shrubs like Hippophae spp. and Myricaria spp. can also be seen along river banks. Horticulture crops include apple trees and apricots which are grown up to 3500 m. The main trees are willow and poplar and they meet the requirement for fuel and timber.

They provide a good yield of fodder for the animals and twigs for baskets.

Fragrant juniper (Shukpa) grows naturally and is used for ceremonial and religious purposes. Firewood is scarce for both domestic and occupational use in cold deserts.

The herbaceous element is comprised of Thymus, Medicago, Trifolium, Anemone, Potentila, Epilobium, Verbena, Allium,

Aconitum, Delphenium,Aquilegia, Primula, Geranium, Polygonum and Cannabis. This abundance of the herbaceous element, has been the mainstay of the traditional medicinal system (sowarigpa) prevalent in this region.

Fauna

The fauna of Ladakh has much in common with that of Central Asia generally, and especially those of the Tibetan Plateau. Ladakh has a rich wildlife, cats found in the region include the Snow leopard (Uncia uncia), Lynx (Lynx lynx) Pallas’s cat (Otocolobus manul).

The dog family is represented by Wolf (Canis lupus), Red fox (Vulpes vulpes), Tibetan sand fox (Vulpes ferrilata) and Dhole (Cuonal pinus). Other animals include Brown bear (Ursus arctos), Stoat (Mustela erminea), Mountain weasel (Mustela altaica), Stone marten (Martesfoina), Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra), Himalayan marmot (Marmota bobak), Wooly hare (Lepus oiostolus) and the Ladakhpika (Ochotona ladacensis), Ladakh’s mammalian herbivores,

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Himalayan Marmot

belonging to six families, include eight wild ungulates: Tibetan gazelle (Procapra picticaudata), Tibetan antelope (Pantholops hodgsoni), Blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur), Ladakhurial (Ovis vignei vignei), Asiatic ibex (Capra ibex siberica), Tibetan argali (Ovisammon hodgsoni), Tibetan wild ass (Equus kiang) and the wild yak (Bos grunniens).

The avian fauna includes the black necked crane – the state bird of Jammu and Kashmir, bar-headed geese, ducks and several other water birds which breed near the lakes in thousands. The other birds in the region are Bactrian magpies, grey tits, chough, raven, sparrow, kite, kestrel, Turkoman rock pigeon, and many other species of birds. Tsomoriri – a Ramsar site - and Pangong Tso are important grounds for

the migratory birds. Hemis National Park, the largest national park of India is known as one of the places for highest density of snow leopards.

The cold deserts have a unique biodiversity and have been occupied by human beings since the dawn of civilization despite the harsh climatic conditions. The people of the region rely heavily on the trees for fuelwood, fodder, timber, agricultural implements and fire wood to escape the harsh cold winters. Though the cold desert covers more than fifty per cent area of Jammu and Kashmir state, little attention has been paid to its holistic development area owing to the challenging climatic conditions and topographical limitations, there is immense potential for development in this area.

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Tilora (Pushkar) / Setrawa (Jodhpur), Rajasthan

Sand Dunes Stabilization and Plantation Stabilizing dunes involves multiple actions including the planting of vegetation.

Small shrubs and grasses are better sand binders than trees.

Vrushali B. Tambe

S

and dunes are common features of shoreline and desert environments.

In physical geography, a dune is a hill of sand built by either wind or water flow.

These occur in different shapes and sizes. Sand dunes occur throughout the world, from coastal and lakeshore plains to arid desert regions. There are numerous types of sand dunes, these include longitudinal, crescentric, linear, star, dome and parabolic shaped dunes.

In Rajasthan, parabolic dunes are found in Shergarh area, linear or longitudinal dunes in Drishadavati in the north east Thar), transverse dunes on the IndoPak border and star shaped dunes in

Mahangarh and Suratgarh area. There are three essential prerequisites for the formation of sand dunes, these include; an abundant supply of loose sand in a region generally devoid of vegetation; wind energy source sufficient to move the sand grains and topography whereby the sand particles lose their momentum and settle out.

Sand dunes can have a negative impact on humans when they encroach on human habitats. Movement of sand dunes can happen through a few different means, all of them helped along by wind. One way that dunes can move is by saltation, where sand particles skip along the ground like a bouncing ball. When these particles land, they may strike other particles

RFO Trainee, Kundal Academy of Development, Management and Administration (Forests), Kundal (MS)

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and cause them to move as well, this process is known as creep. With slightly stronger winds, particles collide in mid-air, causing sheet flows. In a major dust storm, dunes may move tens of metres through such sheet flows. Sand avalanches, which is sand falling down the slipface of the dunes–the face of the dune opposite to the prevailing wind direction–also move the dunes forward.

Sand Dunes Stabilization

Stabilizing of sand dunes involves multiple actions. Planting vegetation reduces the impact of wind, wooden sand fences can help retain sand and other material needed for a healthy sand dune ecosystem. The stabilization of dunes is done by the following methods; Straw Checker Boards This method has been used extensively in China since 1950’s. In this method, wheat or rice straw or reeds (50 – 60 cm in length) are placed vertically to form the sides of the checkerboard, which are typically 10 –20 cm high.

Optimum grid size ranges from 1 x 1 m to 2 x 2 m, depending on local wind and sand transport conditions. Smaller grids are made in areas of stronger winds.

Sand Fences Sand fencing is widely used in coastal areas. The most effective configuration is a single linear fence perpendicular to the predominant sand transport direction. Fences 1.2 m (4’) high with a vertical arrangement of 3.8 cm (1.5’) wide wooden slats with a gap of 2.5 cm

(1’), giving a porosity of 50% are the most effective.

Surface Cover This method involves spreading wood chips, agricultural straw and other materials on the surface. It is widely used in the control of wind erosion from agricultural areas. The use of straw from agriculture can be however a problem in areas of high winds and sand flux rates, unless it is anchored or crimped to the surface.

Wooden material is stable in wind speeds up to 18 m/sec (40 mph) while wheat straw is stable only below wind speeds of 6.5 m/s (14.5 mph).

Vegetation This method involves direct seeding or transplantation of indigenous and exotic species. Plantation of grass slips or direct sowing of grass seeds is done on the leeward side of micro-wind breaks.

Status in Rajasthan

In Rajasthan, cultivation of dune slopes is a major form of land use. Dunes are largely owned by private farmers.

Initially the plantation of exotic trees and shrubs was carried out however today locally adapted species which can provide some economic return to the local population are being planted.

Small shrubs and grasses are better sand binders than the trees. There are a total of 72 sites under the sand dune stabilization projects.

Projects under sand dune stabilization include the Desert Development Program, the Biodiversity

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FIELD FORESTER | November 2015 Sand Dunes Formation Various materials used for Checkerboards Barriers. (a) Straw; (b) Shrub branches; (c) Stones and Shrubs; (d) Plastic.

Ditch fence

Loose Stone Fencing

Project, Climate Change Adaptation in Rural Areas of India (CCA RAI), Combating Desertification Project (CDP, and the RFDP Phase-II. The funding agencies for these projects are the National Agricultural Band for Rural Development (NABARD) and the Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund (OECF) of Japan.

The activities under these projects include; surveying – the area is first surveyed to assess the present vegetation

cover and identify gaps where bare sand patches and sand dunes occur.

Following which site selection is carried out. After site selection the micro plan for the site is prepared, this takes into account the population of the village, status, requirements etc. In the next step fencing of the selected area is done, three types fencing can be done; ditch type fencing; loose stone wall fencing and barbed wire angle iron fencing.

Once fencing is completed mulching

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Mulching

Khip grass

and cross mulching is carried out. Local vegetation is used and planted in the direction of the prevailing wind (from west to east). Mulching along microwindbreaks on the dune slopes is carried out by burying local shrubs upsidedown in the sand in parallel strips, these include khip grass (Leptadenia pyrotechnica) and saniya grass (Crotalaria burhia). After mulching, the seeds of creepers, grass, shrubs and smaller trees

are sowed along the windbreaks. Grass seed pallets with seed: manure: sand: clay in the ratio of 1:1:2:2 are prepared. The grass species used include, Calligonum polygonoides (Phog), C. polygonoides with Cassia angustifolia, Cenchrus setigerus (Dhaman), Lasiurus scindicus (Sewan) and Aerva tomentosa (Bui).

Plantation with trees and shrubs is carried out in the following fashion. Pits are dug in April, these are dug in the

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Original site with Prosopis

Successful Plantation

spacing of 3 m×3 m / 4 m × 4 m /5 m×3 m. Transplanting of nursery seedlings is carried out at the onset of monsoon and 500 plants are planted on each hectare.

The species used include Acacia tortilis, A. senegal, Prosopis cineraria, Anogeissus pendula, Ziziphus jujuba, Acacia nilotica, Maytenus emarginata. Two ‘kharif’ crops Pennisetum glaucum and Vigna aconitifolia and two ‘rabi’ crops Cicer arietinum and Brassica juncea are also used.

Choice of woody and grassy species:

The choice of woody and grass species depends on climatic and ecological conditions. Species selected for planting should meet a number of criteria. These include capacity to grow in nutrient poor environment, existence of tap root system, resistance to strong, hot, dry winds and their abrasive action, rapid growth and ability to regenerate easily and the capacity to improve dune soil.

After all these activities are

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Sand Dune plantation in Shairgarh

completed, there is a schedule of operations to be followed. During the first year weeding (once), watering (three times) and hoeing (three times) is done and the replacement of casualties (usually 20%). Operations during the second year include weeding (once), watering (two times) and hoeing (once).

The operations during the third year are watering which can be carried out once or two times.

Role of People For the management of the plantations Forest Management Committees are constituted. The forest guard is the Secretary of this committee.

The committee helps in the protection of the plantation. This scheme is kept in place for three years. After 5 years the plantation is handed over to the Gram Panchayat and grazing is permitted.

The monitoring of the site is carried out

by NABARD. Threats The plantations face a number of threats these include the following:

natural threats (hostile climate characterised by extremes of temperature, drought, high wind velocity, evaporation, scanty rainfall, termites, rats, porcupines and Nilgai; social threats (apathy and indifference towards the development programme); financial threats (huge expenditure, and requirement of financial resources); operational threats (actual working, lack of data, lack of detailed survey, carrying water from a long distance and non- availability of material on time).

Economic and Environmental benefits

There are a number of benefits both economic and environmental which accrue from the stabilization of sand dunes. These include among others, improved nitrogen and organic matter status in the arid zone dune, effective control of the drifting of sand, fodder for livestock. At the age of 50 months, A. tortilis produced 5.2 tons ha-1 fuel wood as compared to 7.00 tons ha-1 from P. juliflora and 7.15 tons ha-1 from Calligonum polygonoides. C. polygonoides

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FIELD FORESTER | November 2015 Plant species suitable for sand dune stabilization in Thar Desert. (Venkateswarlu, 1993) Annual rainfall zone (mm)

Trees

Shrubs

150-300

Prosopis juliflora, Acacia tortilis, A. senegal

Calligonum polygonoides,Ziziphus nummularia, Citrullus colosynthis

Lasiurus sindicus

300-400

Tecomella undulata, Parkinsonia aculeata, Acacia nubica, Dichrostachys glomerata, Colophospermum mopane, Cordia rothii

Ziziphus mauritiana, Z. nummularia, C. polygonoides, Citrullus colosynthis

Cenchrusciliaris, C. setigerus, L. sindicus, Saccharum munja

400-550

A. tortilis, P. cineraria, Z. mauritiana, Cassia P. juliflora, A. senegal, auriculata Dalbergia sisoo, Ailanthus excelsa, Albizzia lebbek, P. aculeata,T. undulata, D. glomerata, C. mopane

produced the highest biomass in the form of fuel wood utilizing minimum amount of soil water. The environmental benefits include microclimate amelioration, soil improvement and sheltering of habitations. The projects also provided experimental verification of the concept of planting Cassia angustifolia and Cenchrus ciliaris under canopy vegetation, this provided the best combination for production of

Grasses

C. ciliaris, C. setigerus, S. munja, Panicum antidotale

fodder and fuelwood. The sand dune stabilization projects in Rajasthan have had a success rate of 90 percent.

It has also revealed that a minimum of 40 percent survival of the plantation is necessary to get some benefits both economic and environmental.

The projects have also provided an opportunity for reexamination and reformulation of strategies to nurture dune vegetation.

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Mussoorie / Uttarakhand

Mine Reclamation: A Success Story Timely intervention and well-thought strategies saw reclamation activities conducted by the Forest Department bear fruit Sarika Khot

M

ussoorie is a beautiful hill station just above Dehradun city, the capital of Uttarakhand state. The place is an important tourist site and gets visitors from all parts of the country. The present day lush green hill station was once severely degraded area due to heavy mining activities. The hills of Mussoorie are reserves of high quality limestone and limestone-mining was in vogue in the area till three decades back. Mining in the region started in the British period, initially around the river beds later moving toward the mountain slopes, and by the year 1888 about 36 lime kilns were in operation in and around Doon valley. At that time about 16,000 tonnes of limestone was being exported annually from the Mussoorie hills. The opening of the railway in 1900 by the British further aided the supply

of limestone from this region. The activities continued post Independence and by the early 1980s, there were 101 mining leases.

The mining activities led to serious ecological imbalance, not only affecting the mining sites but also the areas surrounding Dehradun city. All these resulted in a severe impact on the local populace and environment.

The Forest Department and the local non-government organizations lodged several protests at different forums including the judiciary and as a result, several mines were closed in 1983 and almost all were closed down in 1985 on the order of the Supreme Court.

The apex court also formed a special committee to assess the activities in the region. The Forest Department took up the initiative and started reclamation activities of closed mines and they successfully did reclamation of 64 closed mines. To aid in the plantation

Lime rich area of Lower Himalayas RFO Trainee, 2014-15

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Species Used for Treatment • Timber species: Pinus roxburghii, Grevillea robusta, Shorea robusta, Cupressus torulosa, Jacaranda mimosaefolia, Acacia spp. etc.

• Fodder species: Bauhinia variegata, Albizia spp., Coriaria nephalensis.

• Grass species: Vetiveria zizanoides, Chrysopogon fulvus, Pennisetum purpureum,Desmonthus viviantus, etc.

• Soil binders: Equatorium and Combretum decandrum, Bauhinia vahilli, Rumex hastatu.

activities, an eco-task force was set up in 1985. The eco-task force constituted of 127 Infantry Battalion, (Garhwal rifles) ex-servicemen. It consisted of retired army personnel who undertook everything from reforestation to local educational programmes on such things as wildlife diversity, erosion control and water management.

The ecological task force was entrusted with rehabilitation work in 25 closed mines, in Gram Samaj land in Kyarkuli micro watershed of Doon valley under the technical guidance of the Forest Department.

In the initial phase, an experimental plot was taken up by the department.

Mine No. 44 was selected on

experimental basis and an area of about 20 ha was treated in 1989. Satisfied with the result, another 60 ha area was taken up in Mine No. 40(1). A full-fledged project for the treatment of 95 closed mines started from 1990-91. Of these, 69 were situated in Dehradun, and 24 outside. The total area of the project was 3,760 ha of which 1,624 ha was mined area and the rest 2,136 ha was outside the mined area but heavily damaged by mining activity.

Treatment of the Area

The forest department identified four major regions for reclamation and rehabilitation: 1. Mined face: The steep, exposed,

Mine area after reclamation

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Pre-Reclamatation

Post Reclamation

• Loss of vegetative cover and

• Screes are stabilized • Well flourishing vegetation • No soil erosion along the slopes • Soil is rich in organic matter with improved moisture regime • Good diversity of flora and fauna • Healthy ecosystem

disappearance of fauna • Soil erosion • Depletion and drying up of natural water springs • Choking up of streams, river and canals by rolling debris and mine spoils • Loss of grazing area • Loss of agricultural land and drastic reduction in crop production • Increased pollution • Insecurity due to blasting and noise pollution

rocky area devoid of soil and vegetation 2. Scree areas: These had been formed as a result of rolling scree from the mined areas completely destroying the vegetation below.

3. Nalas, channels and streams: These were small or big streams/nalas in and around the mined area which either were over burdened with scree damaged by mining operations were extremely sensitive to erosion.

4. Denuded and degraded forest areas: These areas were near mined areas and affected by mining operation.

Soil varied in depths and some vegetation was present.

Treatment Activities

• Mine face: Only suitable sites were selected for planting. Initially, only grasses and bushes were planted to bind the soil and for improvement of the site. At some places, the face

was so steep that they used ladders for carrying out planting activities.

• Scree areas: Soil conservation and vegetative measures were taken up.

• Treatment of stream/ nalas/ drains: Check dams on debris, basins at suitable places were constructed.

• Treatment of degraded and denuded area: About 1,250 plants per hectare were planted.

Impact

The region has been successfully restored and rehabilitated and is a major tourist hub in the country. The main reasons for the success of the project is timely intervention of the Forest Department, involvement of other stakeholders, direct intervention of the Supreme Court of India, use of native species and effective planning and execution by the Forest Department.

For reclamation of mines in other parts of the country, the techniques can be replicated from this success story.

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SundarbanS / west bengal

The Roar of Sundarban Tiger Sundarban in the Bengali language literally means ‘beautiful forest’. This mangrove forest spread over 10,000 sq. km. is largest of its kind in the world.

Shweta. T. Rathod

S

undarbans in the Indian state of West Bengal is the estuarine phase of the Ganga as well as of the Brahmaputra river systems. This littoral forest is a unique ecological habitat of the tiger and is not found elsewhere in the world. The mangrove forest of the Sundarbans is home to a number of tree species which have adapted to the peculiar estuarine condition of high salinity, lack of soil erosion and daily inundation by high tides. The Sundarban tiger reserve provides a habitat suitable for animals inhabiting

the vast tidal swamp area, because of their intimate association with the estuarine environment. A sizeable portion of aquatic and semi aquatic communities are inter-related with the animals inhabiting the terrestrial areas.

The uniqueness of the habitat is said to have contributed to certain behavioural trends of the Sundarbans tigers and these are not found elsewhere. Though spotted deer, wild boar and the Rhesus macaque are the main prey species of tiger, aquatic animals like the crabs and fishes are also eaten by Sundarban tiger.

The Sundarban tiger thus occupies the apex of both, terrestrial as well as the

Nylon net fencing in STR

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Nylon net fencing in Sunderban Tiger Reserve

Nylon net fencing in Sunderban Tiger Reserve

aquatic food web. The mangrove forest is home to a number of endangered and globally threatened species. During the monsoon season and then in the winter season a number of heronries form here. The reserve is also home to several species of Trans-Himalayan migratory birds.

Sundarban Tiger – A maneater

Sundarban tigers have always been ill-famed as man eaters. The earliest known reference to the man eating nature of the Sundarban tiger is found in the letters of Portuguese Jesuit missionaries, Francis Fernandez and Melchoir Fronseca, who travelled to Bengal in 1598 and 1599. They were

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the first to report on the fondness for human flesh of the tigers of the Gangetic delta. This behaviour of tigers does not have any intra-specific or intra-generic similarity with any of the Panthera species from anywhere in the world.

The various groups of human beings falling victim to tiger include honey collectors, fishermen including crab collectors, tiger prawn seed collectors.

Some of the reasons that have been put forward for this behaviour are salinity,

vegetation, prey density and biotic interference and straying of tigers into areas inhabited by humans.

Research on the Sundarban tigers has indicated that there is an increased percentage of human kills by tigers in high salinity zones. Killing of humans in high salinity zones is significantly higher than those in medium and low salinity zones. Other researchers have put forward the theory that the physiology of Sundarban tigers is

Members of Tiger Straying Combat Force

Trap cage in Sunderban Tiger Reserve

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affected by high salinity which causes irritation resulting in killing of humans by tigers this however is not backed by scientific proof. Histological studies of inner organs like liver, kidney can perhaps be used to substantiate this theory and this is carried out in the in case of any tiger deaths.

Research has also indicated that habitats comprising of pure Ceriops and Phoenix vegetation account for the highest human kills by tiger. It can perhaps be attributed to the fact, that dense vegetation of Ceriops and Phoneix may influence the tiger to explore a different preying strategy which may be successful for killing of human being after following them and assessing the chance of stalking by getting closest to them.

The frequency of human beings being killed by tigers is highest in areas during periods of heaviest concentration of people. Researchers have also concluded that increased utilization of forest by human beings resulted in higher casualties. Other

researchers have put forwards the theory that a fall in the prey density might also trigger the phenomenon of tigers preying on humans when the biotic interference is the most.

However, tiger density, prey density, kind and frequency of human activities and human casualties cannot be corelated as long as sufficient data are not available.

One of the major issues in managing man animal conflict in the Sundarban Tiger Reserve (STR) is the straying of tiger into fringe villages and the rescue of the same without causing any harm on either side. It is worth noting that STR’s north - western boundary has an interface with 25 fringe villages which are densely populated with human and cattle. Usually the staff and local villagers to drive the tiger back to the forest by using drums, crackers and lighting fires. Sometimes the tiger too goes back to the forest on its own.

These straying incidents are termed as temporary and in case of any repeated phenomenon, trap cage with live

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bait is used to trap the tiger and then relocate the same. However in cases of permanent straying, when the tiger takes refuge in a cattle shed or inside a hut, tranquilization is used to rescue the animal. Female tigers sometimes litter in paddy fields as they want to avoid the danger of cubs being killed by the male tigers. Old and diseased tigers like the ones with broken canines also stray because it is difficult for them to hunt the prey in forest.

Managing the Tigers

The Sundarban Tiger Reserve has received protection under Project Tiger since its creation. Protection against poaching and theft of forest produce is ensured through intensive patrolling by staff in motorboats and launches.

The offices and camps are located at strategic points to keep a watch over the area. There also exists an effective communication network for protection.

Eco-development, education, training and research are other thrust areas.

Mud flats on the periphery of the Reserve are artificially regenerated

with mangrove plants to meet local fuel wood demand and reduce the pressure on the buffer. Non-mangrove plantations are also raised along the roads and embankments of the fringe area to cater the needs of the people residing on the fringe. Soil conservation is taken up to stabilize vulnerable sites.

To facilitate the availability of sweet water for animals, ponds have been dug at several places in the forest. The other main activity is mitigation of man tiger conflicts. The number of casualties has been reduced from more than 40 per year to less than 10 per year.

This has been made possible by maintaining a strict control over the movement of people inside the Reserve, providing for alternative income generation and awareness building among people. These include eco-development and livelihood opportunities like pisciculture,crab and ornamental fish culture, honey collection, raising mangrove forests on the periphery, smokeless chullahs, development of water harvesting structures and formation of self-help

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groups and joint forest management committees. Villagers and school children are taken on study tours and a number of events like Aranya Saptah, Sundarban Divas, wildlife week celebration are undertaken to create awareness among rural people. Use of human-masks and electric human dummies are believed to have also contributed in controlling attacks by tigers.

Other precautions like erection of

branches of Ceriops, nylon net fencing at forest side and solar illumination at village side at night have helped reduce the incidents of tiger straying. For rescuing a strayed tiger, tranquilization using a dart gun is carried out when driving the tiger back to the nearby forest is not possible. The youth in the villages have also been imparted training to enable them to play an appropriate role in controlling the straying of the tigers into the habitation.

“Human Kind have not woven the web of life We are but one thread within it.�

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Satara Tukum Village / Maharashtra

Joint Forest Management with Difference Involving villagers in the management of forests in association with the forest department can be the solution to protect our forests while ensure livelihoods.

Sudhir Vinayak Sonawale

S

ometimes I wonder whether we are part of the same system. We are protecting forests on one hand, jointly with the government, and on the other side the government itself is felling forests.” These agitated words by Pravin Chichdhare, a village youth from Satara Tukum village in Vidarbha, Maharashtra, conveyed the collective sense of despair of his whole community. We were on our central India tour as part of Range Forest Officer Training to see the forests being protected by the village under the Joint Forest Management scheme. To our left was lush green vegetation that had regenerated and flourished under this arrangement; to our right, the Forest Development Corporation (FDC) was busy cutting down the existing natural forest. Villagers accompanying us were obviously upset about this felling carried out on a rotational basis for revenue generation.

“You can’t protect forests and wildlife in small patches when areas around are fast degrading” was Pravin’s explanation. “Destruction of forests in the surrounding areas adds pressure on our forests from both human and wildlife populations dependent on that forest”. Disillusionment with the

double standards of the government is, however, more than made up for by the excited enthusiasm with which the villagers show us their protected forest. Parts of it are just regenerating, but others are dense with a diversity of trees and bushes, some so thick that walking through is difficult. At any time, we expect to come across a wild animal or two,the birdsong of a number of birds can be heard and it is obvious that the area has rich biodiversity. As we walk along a stream, the forest’s water harvesting value also becomes obvious. Residents point us to a number of fruiting trees, and plants with medicinal properties. Clearly, the forest is a lifeline for the local people and many plant and animal species.

Satara Tukum is a small tribal hamlet in Pombhurna Tahsil, about 25 kms from Chandrapur District Headquarters in eastern Maharashtra.

The forests around the village stretch to the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve.

These forests were rich in wild animals till the 1970s. Subsequently, extensive disturbance from various sources caused habitat degradation and loss of wildlife. In 1997, Satara Tukum was brought under the World Bank sponsored forestry programme. Mr. Chapekar, the then Divisional Forest Officer persuaded the villagers to join

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the Joint Forest Management (JFM) scheme. A portion of the reserved forests – 285 ha – were allotted to the village community for regeneration, plantation and protection. The villagers saw the benefit in the scheme as it would mean greater availability of resources as also a share from harvesting of planted trees. For the Department, this was an interesting departure from the usual practice of allotting only degraded lands to villages for JFM, to place standing Reserve Forests into the hands of a community is a rare phenomenon in most parts of India. As the Range Forest Officer accompanying told us “we were failing in protecting the forests from outside forces, and saw in this arrangement a potential to strengthen our own hands”. At village meeting, a committee was formed to carry out protection activities.

The committee currently includes 96 members, one representative each from the village’s households, including 84 men and 12 women. The executive committee consists of 12 members, 3 of which are women. The committee has undertaken several steps for forest protection, including daily patrolling in rotational groups of seven people each. The patrolling teams used persuasion rather than force, to check those involved in hunting, felling of trees for sale as timber or firewood, and other illegal activities. They appointed a forest guard, and prohibited indiscriminate grazing, allowing it only in certain zones. A number of income generating activities were also carried out, including plantations of useful trees, and soil and moisture

conservation programmes.

The committee started an account in the local bank, which is used to give loans to farmers during the lean period. A Nagpur based NGO, Vidharbha Nature Conservation Society, helped form a Nature Club with the village youth.

Impacts of Community Initiative

Effective patrolling and protection resulted in quick natural regeneration and villagers began to notice return of wild animals such as herbivores and subsequently tigers and leopards.

Formation of the nature club, regular patrolling, and involvement of the youth in patrolling has reduced the incidents of hunting to a negligible number. Encroachment of forest land, which was one of the major problems, has completely stopped. Animals like wild dogs, leopards, sloth bears, spotted deer, and barking deer are sighted regularly. About four to five incidents of wild animal attacks on human beings are reported every year, an increase from the past. Regulated grazing has resulted in availability of abundant grass since 1998. The grass extracted from the forests has even been supplied to the flood hit areas of Orissa, and other institutions, after meeting the village requirements.

Prior to JFM, farmers were exploited by money-lenders from whom they were compelled to borrow money during the lean periods. The Forest Protection Committee now has its own revolving fund which is used to help farmers out in the times of need. The interest thus generated is ploughed

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back into the fund. Availability of daily wage labour, even though irregular, is also seen as a benefit by the villagers.

The forest department is trying a unique experiment under which funds available for controlling fires come to the village fund. The Range Forest Officer explained that “since villagers are protecting the forests against fire, this money therefore rightfully belongs to the village”. The greatest impact of JFM has been that the villagers have a greater stake in conserving the forest, and there is a sea change in the relationship between the forest department and the villagers. The fear and antagonism that the villagers once felt of the department, is not felt anymore.

The Flip Side

Unfortunately, Satara Tukum’s success story is now marred by a number of problems. The village received much attention from national and international community till the programme was running under World Bank funds.

Once the funding ended, various employment generating schemes could not be supported anymore. The forest department’s involvement with the village and its protection activities has also gone down substantially. The local Range Forest Officer confesses “this is the best village in my range, but I don’t have funds to encourage them.” For a village, where landholdings are very small and the people depend on daily wages for subsistence, it has become difficult for villagers to forego a day’s wage to go for forest patrolling. Villagers also fear that they may not get

the benefits from harvesting the forests. Till June 2014, there was no written Memorandum of Understanding signed between the villagers and the department. Another area of concern are policy changes in the JFM resolution that the state government makes.

Yet another major issue is that of institution building. In 1997, when the JFM committee was formed, only one member per household was included in the committee. This immediately excluded women from the decision-making process. Over the years the constitution of the committee has remained the same.

However, since 2004, some young people have become quite active, and want to be members of the Forest Protection Committee. But older members are reluctant to admit them, concerned that this may reduce the per capita share of benefits from harvested forest produce.

There are also concerns about the lack of transparency in the functioning of the Forest Protection Committee. Clearly, not enough attention has been paid towards building institutional capacity and systems of conflict resolution. Experiences with community initiatives elsewhere have shown that transparent functioning, availability of impartial information, and regular open discussions within the community, as also social movements against vices such as alcoholism, constitute the backbone of a strong decision-making process.

Solution

Given the current status of the forest conservation initiative at Satara Tukum, villagers and forest officials feel that some major steps will be

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needed to sustain the effort. Clearly, since dependence on outside sources of funding such as the World Bank is unsustainable, community-based forest conservation needs to become an integral part of the government’s own programmes. One possibility is to bring the village under the Forest Development Authority, in which case Central Government funds for development activities are pooled together at the District level and can be allocated directly to the village institutions for implementation. An additional boost in putting together developmental funds could be obtained from a circular, recently issued by the Chief Secretary of Maharashtra, asking all line agencies to give priority to JFM villages. The village also has its own fisheries tank, benefits from which could be enhanced with some help in marketing. Our talks with the local RFO brought up another interesting issue. In Maharashtra, 7 per cent of sales from forest produce is deposited by the forest department with the state government. The state government then distributes this money to Zilla Prishads.

The Zilla Parishads are expected to use this money for development of forests under their jurisdiction. This however, often doesn’t happen. The Maharashtra Range Forest Officer’s Association has made an intervention in the High Court, arguing for this money to be

returned to the forest department.

Through this tax the state government earns about Rs. 50 crores every year.

The RFO felt if this money could be returned to the Department, it would be possible to sustain programmes like JFM in villages like Satara Tukum.

Finally, as our own study tour visit demonstrated, regular dialogues are critical. During our discussions with many of the men and women, we realised that they had no information about recent laws and policies. The villagers themselves stated that information on government schemes relating to employment often reaches them very late. A forum of discussion in which outside government and nongovernment persons could participate, would help strengthen the village initiative. The residents of Satara Tukum provide a critical service for the benefit of society at large, by conserving precious forests, water resources, and wildlife. The forests that they tend to are even an important corridor for the wildlife of the nearby Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve. Yet, this yeoman service provided by the villagers is largely ignored by most agencies. With some imaginative development related interventions, and the continued commitment of the villagers, this could be a success story in the long term that would be worth replicating across the country.

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From the Chief Editor’s Desk The National Forest Policy 1988 stipulates a massive need-based programme of afforestation and tree planting, with particular emphasis on fuelwood and fodder development, on all degraded and denuded lands in the country as a national imperative. Emphasis on village and community lands is given for the development of tree crops through technical assistance and other inputs from the government.

The revenues generated through such programmes belong to the panchayats where the lands are vested in them; and would be shared with the local communities in order to provide an incentive to afforest barelands.

The focus on weaker sections such as landless labour, small and marginal farmers, scheduled castes, tribals and women of certain ownership rights over trees and minor forest produce, could be ensured, subject to appropriate regulations, as well as the prism of multiple laws that dealt with ownership issues such as Panchayati Raj Act, PESA and the Forest Rights Act. Some success stories on plantations and community based models such as JFM initiatives are presented in this issue of Field Forester.

Needs of wildlife conservation was also stipulated in our policy to be an integral part of forest management. This issue contains articles on protected areas, leopard as a prominent species on the Indian landscape and the task of tackling illegal wildlife trade. Biodiversity conservation through innovations like forest food festivals are also brought forward in the present issue.

During the climate change negotiations in Paris, countries submitted their intended nationally determined contributions (INDCs) to UNFCCC, in which their voluntary actions were prescribed. India, amongst other things submitted to increase its forestry sink to sequester additional 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 by 2030. This is to be achieved through afforestation, reforestation, conservation and REDD+ activities for which capacity building of local communities, state forest departments and other stakeholders is needed. This is a target for the forestry sector which needs to be fulfilled with utmost dedication and indomitable spirit.

It should be mentioned here that for the first time in forest management history, sustainability of productive functions but also environmental functions and socioeconomic benefits to forest dwellers and other forest dependent communities were factored in day-to-day management of the forests through the National Working Plan Code – 2014.

Forest management thus is slowly formulating operational strategies moving beyond conventional objectives by ensuring involvement and commitment of local institutions and invoking the wholesome ecosystem approach with multiple functions, which would prove crucial for effective implementation of our international commitments in the realm of climate change and global warming through broader forest management strategies.

MP Singh

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FORESTRY / TAMIL NADU

An innovative approach to grow taller and less branchy teak Establishing windbreaks of casuarina on either side of teak trees row in boundary planting helps prevent stunted growth of teak and impacts on the branching pattern of teak by minimizing the dessicating effect of strong wind on terminal shoot growth.

C. Buvaneswaran1, P. Masilamani2 and S.Senthilkumar1

T

eak (Tectona grandis L. f.) trees when planted in boundaries or in farm bunds as a row planting often suffer stunted height growth and develop heavy branchiness on the apical region of the main stem. This stunted growth of teak has also been recorded in block plantations of teak grown in windy localities and on upper hill slopes exposed to strong wind forces. Research literature also indicates that teak is a light demanding species and thus tends to modify its crown characteristics to enable capturing of greater amount of sunlight. Therefore, when teak is grown on bunds or in boundaries of farmland, it produces profuse branches and in turn growth in height is limited and stem form is also bent and not straight. It has also been reported that strong wind is a deleterious factor for growth of teak.

This stunted growth of teak is also recorded in block plantations of teak

grown in upper hill slopes exposed to strong wind forces. On the other hand, there are now fast growing branchy varieties (clones) in Casuarina which have been developed for windbreak agroforestry system. Taking into account these two facts, an innovative hypothetical model for cultivating teak in windbreak agroforestry system has been conceived. In this model, it is proposed that teak will be grown in the middle row of windbreak and on either side of the teak rows, branchy varieties (clones) in Casuarina will be planted to provide protection from desiccating wind and produce competition for light to teak. This competition will benefit teak for growing tall without much production of side branches. As described earlier, the expected benefits from this proposed Teak + Casuarina based windbreak agroforestry system is that it will produce teak with less branches.

Under the study, the hybrid clone of Casuarina equisetifolia X Casuarina junghuhniana was used to create

Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, P.B. No.: 1061, R.S. Puram, Coimbatore -641002, Tamil Nadu, India.

2 Agricultural Engineering College & Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Kumulur, Trichy - 621 712, Tamil Nadu, India.

1

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windbreaks. The potential of this hybrid clone as a good species to be used for shelterbelt system in coastal tracts of Tamil Nadu has been established by State Forest Department. However, the potential of this clone for the use in windbreaks has not been fully explored for use in farmlands as windbreaks.

Further, its branchy nature and fast growth were the criteria to select this hybrid clone for this study. This present attempt was made to use this hybrid clone in windbreak agroforestry system to study its effect on the growth and branching pattern of teak in the bund planting system.

In the study, 1.63 acres of agricultural fallow land was selected in Puthanampatti village, Musiri Taluk, Tiruchirappalli district of Tamil Nadu, India. The altitude here is 88 meters above mean sea level. Mean annual rainfall is 566 mm. Average minimum temperature ranges from 5oC to 16oC and average maximum temperature ranges from 8oC to 23oC. After land preparation by ploughing, three parallel channels at distance of 1 m were created all along the boundary.

In the outer two channels, Casuarina equisetifolia X Casuarina junghuhniana hybrid clone were planted at 1 m spacing. In the middle channel, teak seedlings were planted at 2 m intervals.

The planting was done during October 2011. Tree rows were irrigated during the first year at least once in a week.

In the subsequent years, no separate irrigation was done for tree rows. The trees benefited from the management practices followed for the agricultural crop inside the windbreak boundaries.

Periodic cultural operations like weeding and soil working around trees were carried out twice a year.

Inside the field, two raised farm bunds were made running across the field, one bund from east to west and another bund from north to south. On either side of these farm bunds, 78 seedlings of Moringa (var. PKM1) were planted and interval between Moringa plants was 2 m. Inside the four blocks of the field, 90 coconut palm seedlings (var. tall x dwarf hybrid) were planted at a spacing of 7.62 m x 7.62 m. The interspaces between young coconut plants were used for cultivating various agricultural crops up to three years period. The intercrops grown were chilly (var. K2), tapioca (local variety), green gram (var. CO6), black gram (var.

VBN4), onion (var. CO4), and pumpkin (var. CO1). The schematic diagram of the field is given in Figure 1.

Girth at breast height and total height of teak and Casuarina hybrid clone were measured row-wise in all the four directions of the boundary. Figure 2 presents mean height (feet) and girth (cm) of teak in boundary planting. Teak registered a mean height of 14.7 ± 0.97 feet (4.5 ± 0.3 m) and a mean girth of 13.8 ± 1.01 cm at the age of two years.

At three years age, height and girth of teak in the boundary planting was 19.97 ± 0.64 feet (6.07 ± 0.19 m) and 20.7 ± 0.96 cm respectively. Thus, mean annual increment in height growth of teak was 2.02 m per year during the course of the study. Earlier studies on assessing teak performance in bund planting in a single row without any windbreaks revealed that teak registered height

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FIELD FORESTER | December 2015

growth of 8.2, 10.3 and 13.0 m at the age of 5, 9 and 12 years, respectively, and on an average the mean annual increment amounts to 1.29 m per year. Studies on performance of teak in boundary plantation on wheat fields in Eastern Uttar Pradesh, India also showed mean annual increment in height

growth of teak as 1.21 m per year. While comparing the mean annual increments in height growth of teak in the present study and the earlier studies, it can be concluded that windbreaks favour growth in height of teak in bund planting system.

In the study, mean annual increment

Figure 1: Schematic diagramme of the experimental farm field in Puthanampatti village, Musiri Taluk, Tiruchirappalli district of Tamil Nadu, India H = Casuarina equisetifolia X Casuarina junghuhniana hybrid clone; T = Teak; C = Coconut palm; M = Moringa H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H

H H H T T H H T H T H T H T H T H T H T H T H T H T H T H T H T H T H T H T H T H T H T H T H T H T H T H T H T H T H T H T H T H T H T H T H T H T H T H T H H H T T H H H

H H T H H H T H C H H H H C H H H H C H H H H C H H H M H M H H H H C H H H H C H H H H C H H H H C H H H T H H

H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H T T T T T T T T T H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H T T T T T T T T T C C C M M M M M M M M C C C M M M M I N T E R C R O P S M M M M C C C M M M M M M M M C C C M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M MM M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M C C C M M M M M M M M C C C M M M M I N T E R C R O P S M M M M C C C M M M M M M M M C C C M M M M H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H T T T T T T T T T H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H

87

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H H H H H T T T H H H H H T T T C H H H H C H H P S H H C H H H H C H H H M M M M M M M M M M H H H C H H H H C H H O P S H H C H H H H C H H H H H H H T T T H H H H H

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H T H T H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H T H

FIELD FORESTER | December 2015

Figure 2: Growth of Casuarina and teak in inner, outer and middle rows in different directions of farm boundaries in Puthinampatty village in Trichy district of Tamil Nadu (Age of trees: 3 years)

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in girth was 6.9 cm per year (Figure 2).

This increment falls within the range reported in earlier studies for teak in bund planting in a single row without any windbreaks, wherein mean annual increments in girth was to the tune of 5.22, 5.26 and 7.25 cm per year at the

age of 5, 9 and 12 years respectively.

Slightly higher mean annual increment in girth (8.67 cm) for teak in boundary plantation on wheat fields has also been reported.

While comparing growth of teak and growth of adjoining Casuarina

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rows in four directions of the farm boundary, it was observed that both girth and height growth of teak corresponded to the girth and height growth of Casuarina in adjoining rows as depicted in Figure 2. It clearly indicates that teak height growth is determined by height of protective barriers, particularly in windy localities, irrespective of edaphic and other management factors.

This new approach of growing teak trees along with Casuarina windbreaks

favours better growth of height in teak, particularly in bund planting system and in windy localities. Self pruning of branches in teak tree in the mid of Casuarina windbreaks helps to produce clean boles of teak without knots which will fetch a good price. Further research on mixed planting of teak and Casuarina in large scale block plantations will pave a way for enhancing quantitative and qualitative production of teak wood in the country.

Plate 1: Growth of teak in the middle row (Age: 3 years) with windbreaks of Casuarina in Puthinampatty village, Trichy district of Tamil Nadu

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FIELD FORESTER | December 2015

Plate 2: Growth of teak in the middle row (Age: 2 years) with windbreaks of Casuarina in Puthinampatty village, Trichy district of Tamil Nadu

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FORESTRY/ Maharashtra

Implementation of scientific gum extraction Training programmes have been undertaken by the Yawal Forest Division to protect the forest from such unhealthy and unsustainable practices of gum extraction

Rajendra R. Sadgir

Y

awal Forest Division is located in Jalgaon district of Maharashtra.

The forest in Jalgaon district is divided into two divisions - Jalgaon division and Yawal division. The Yawal division consists of forest of Satpuda range spread into Raver, Yawal and Chopda tehsils of Jalgaon district. The north border of division is demarcated from Madhya Pradesh state by Aner River. The total area of division is 897km2 and is divided into seven ranges - Yawal East, Yawal West, Raver, Chopda, Karzana, Vaizapur and Devziri from management point of view.

There are 64 tribal villages spread in the division. The people in this village depend on the forest for their livelihood.

In Dhule forest circle, the forest cover in Yawal division is comparatively well maintained. As per the guidelines of government, Joint Forest Management (JFM) committee had been established by the forest department. Scheduled tribes and other traditional forest dwellers have rights to the forest under the (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act

2006 in Yawal division. The main tribes in the region are Pawara, Tadvi and Koli. These tribes have rights to collect Minor Forest Produce from the forest for their livelihoods.

Dhavda (Anogeissuslatifolia), Sadada (Terminalia tomentosa), Salai (Boswelliaserrata), Kadai (Streculiaurens), are gum producing trees which are present in good numbers in the forests of Yawal division. These offer a good scope for extraction of gum.

Tribals collect gum from this forest by traditional gum extraction methods.

In this method they make deep and big cuts to the tree which reduces the life of trees. Also for more yield people set fire in the forest at night which causes tremendous damage. The gum obtained by this method is also not regular and there is fluctuation in the yield and thus collectors do not get a good price for their gum.

To protect the forest from such unhealthy and unsustainable practices of gum extraction, the Yawal division selected the four members each from the 15 JFMC villages. Training programmes were arranged for these 60 members at the Training School at

SFS (OT) 2014-16 batch

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scientific method of gum extraction, the quality of the gum improved as well as quantity. With the use of this technique the injuries caused to tree are also prevented, as small injections are inserted the life of tree has also improved. The problems of setting of fire, encroachment and illicit felling came down. The people also got more aware of the benefits of the trees.

The quantity of gum collected on an average is about 50 kg per person and each kg fetches Rs 250 in the market. It has thus helped improve the income of the tribal communities.

Pal in Raver taluka for implementation of a new scientific method for gum extraction. These selected members then functioned as trainers for transfer of technology to other villagers by motivation and regular contacts.

With the implementation of this new technique of sustainable harvesting of gum by ethofone injection, the gum yield from villages selected in Karzana range got a tremendous boost (Table 1).

With activation of JFM in these villages the migration of people for employment to other places has now stopped. With the practice of Village

Beneficiaries

JFMC

Yield(kg)

Amount Received

Devzari

28

Devzari

448

112000

Ghodachapar

19

Melane

295

73750

Jirayapada

36

Melane

628

157000

Karzane

38

Karzane

698

174500

Melane

50

Melane

1068

267000

Golapada

55

Melane

1626

406500

Barmali

132

Barmali

1302

325500

Devziri

10

Devziri

68

17000

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FIELD FORESTER | December 2015

WILDLIFE / Maharashtra

Leopard: Menace of over-population With breeding of leopards and harvest of sugarcane coinciding, the man-animal conflict is increasing in Ahmednagar district

Vishal K Borhade

A

hmednagar district is a dry region, located at the foot of the Sahyadri Ranges of Western Ghats in Maharashtra. Though the area is dry, it wears a lush green cover due to enhanced irrigation facilities. The people in the region are hard-working and are employed through the year as livelihood opportunities are generated by cooperatives in the area. The farmers here cultivate sugarcane. India’s first cooperative sugar mill was started here six decades ago. As the cooperatives expanded the areas of agriculture, it led to a loss in the forested areas. This disturbed the habitat of wild animals and gave rise to the menace of leopard attacks on villagers and their cattle.

The south-west part of the district is somewhat flat as compared to the northern part, which provides the terrain for leopards to breed and hide. The flat southern area has grasslands which provide home to the leopard’s prey base. But, to reach there, the leopards have to pass through sugarcane farms.

As they could get easy food in terms of cattle, goats and dogs and ample water to drink, which is never deficient in harsh days of summer, encouraged

them in due course of time to stay and settle in sugarcane fields. The leopard population also increased and this led to an increase in the number of cattle kills and attacks on villagers.

Further, the season of giving birth to cubs and the season of harvesting of the sugarcane crop – June to October – coincides. The leopards prefer moist and cool places among tall rows of sugarcane. During the harvesting of the sugarcane crop, the birthplace, and thereby leopard cubs, are often discovered by villagers and farm workers. During day, when the mother leopard goes out for the search of prey, these cubs are handed over to the local forest office. The absence of cubs provokes the mother to attack people in nearby areas. Numerous such cases of attacks by leopards are filed particularly during the harvest every year. This has become an area of major concern for the forest department. The forest department staff have to shift the cubs temporarily during the day, but, after sunset, they have to relocate them to the same farm from where they were rescued. This has now become a routine practice.

Incidents of attacks on people by leopards and the rescue of leopards

SFS OT (Maharashtra), 2014-16 Batch, CASFOS.

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from villages has become very common her. Leopards that enter a village are rescued by the forest department and again released in their natural habitat. It is mandatory for the forest department to release the leopards in their natural habitat within 24 hours of their capture. The Ahmednagar forest division generally releases them in the dense forest area of Western Ghats, which is approximately 100 km away.

The areas where they are released are at the periphery of Junnar Tehsil of Pune District. This has led to a repeat of the cycle of leopard attacks in this region too and the man-animal conflict is very common.

The issue of leopard ecology, when they live in agricultural landscapes, has been studied in detail by Vidya Athreya.

Her study reveals that the leopard once released into a different area, travels back to its original habitat. This theory proves that all the efforts taken by the forest department are temporary in nature, neither ending nor controlling the menace. I understood this when I got the charge of Range Forest Officer of the Rahuri Range of Ahmednagar Forest Division, during my on-thejob training. From the first day of my charge, I encountered many cases of sighting of leopards, its cubs and cattle kill by leopards. Half of the energy of the staff of Rahuri Range was being wasted in the rescue and release of leopards.

This is now one of the major problems in Western Maharashtra as the area is deprived of forested areas and the adjoining plain lands are sugarcane fields. Being a forester, I started to think of a solution to resolve this issue.

The key problem is the uncontrolled population of leopards. The Western Ghats in Maharashtra today do not have tigers due to many reasons, including, among others, habitat destruction, decreased prey base and reduction in forest area. On the contrary, the leopard, being very adaptive in nature, has moulded itself very well to existing conditions. The leopard here is at the apex of the food chain. Its adaptive nature has led to an increase in its population, but not in their prey base. The decreasing forest cover and degraded grasslands cannot support a large herbivore population. This has resulted in leopards roaming near villages in search of soft targets like cattle and dogs. This has also resulted in frequent attacks on small children and elderly people in the villages, even during the day. These incidences have soured the relations between the people and the forest department.

The view of the forest department is that people should accept the presence of wild animals and should take all necessary precautions. I too agree with this. However, these are just temporary measures. Also, taking necessary precautions imposes restrictions on the people and impacts their livelihoods.

People have to go and tend to their farms; they can’t stop their day-to-day activities.

Some of the permanent solutions could include prioritising the need for increasing forest cover and its quality, upgrading and expanding of grasslands and the creation of corridors for the easy movement of leopards from the northern part of Range towards the

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southern part, where the prey base is ample. Another simple, but difficult to execute, option would be to control the leopard population based on the carrying capacity of the area. This could be achieved by sterilisation of the male and female leopards. However, leopard falls in the First Schedule of wildlife animals and any such decision will be a difficult one. However, it has precedence. In Shimla, sterilisations were carried out to check the menace of

macaques. It might just be the need of the hour to prevent the escalation in the conflict between humans and leopards in this area. This, of course, would require necessary amendments in the forest laws, especially in the Wildlife Protection Act (1972). These two options – increasing forest cover and controlling over-population of leopards – can certainly provide a permanent solution to this major problem in Western Maharashtra.

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WILDLIFE / MAHARASHTRA

An encounter with leopard rescue operation The successful translocation of leopard from human habitat to its natural habitat in Nashik without any undue incidence is a matter of pride

Makrand Gujar1 & U.G. Vavare2

A

few decades ago, Nashik city was just a small area surrounded by rich forest. But due to rapid urbanisation and rise in population, the city has been expanding by leaps and bounds. Areas hither to not traditionally considered part of the city have now became integral parts of it. Due to the expansion of the city, there has been a rise in man-animal conflict, especially with leopards.

This narrative is of an incident I witnessed during my OJT at West Nashik Division of Maharashtra.

Upnagar is a suburb originally situated towards the west of Nashik city. It had many government establishments like the Artillery Training Centre andthe India Security Press along with dense vegetation on one side. The sighting of wildlife was uncommon and restricted only to the people living in the nearby government colonies. But due to rapid industrialisation and population growth, Upnagar has now become the centre of the city and leopard sightings have increased, especially early morning, at places like Ashwini

1

Housing Society, DhobhiMala, Bhuva Basti, etc.

On August 20, 2015, around 8.30 am in the morning, a distress call came from the police control room about a leopard sighting at a bungalow in Ashwini Housing Society on the Jai Bhavani road. After verification of the information,the wildlife rescue team was immediately called into operation.

Meanwhile, the local forest staff went to the spot and did a recce of the situation. They immediately informed their superiors about the situation and were monitoring the movement of the leopard. The locality is densely populated, and includes a school and adjoins the Nashik-Pune highway.

It was essential that the leopard be captured at the earliest given the circumstances.

In no time the news had spread and soon there was a huge crowd of people, school children and vehicles.

The leopard was showing anxiety signs and it had roared many times, which created panic in the public and it was getting difficult to handle the crowd. The police officer present on the spot called for additional force to

ACF (OT), 2ACF, West Nashik Division (M.S), Maharashtra

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control the mob and the entire area was cleared. Traffic was also closed between Upnagar and Jai Bhavani road, which brought the situation under control.

The wildlife rescue team arrived at the spot with all its equipment. The rescue team discussed the last sighting of the leopard with the house owner.

Then V.D. Kamble, RFO, Prashant Khairnar, RFO(T) and S.P. Thorat, Forest Guard, went for closer inspection of the area from the terrace of a nearby house. Based on the inputs and minute sounds being made by the leopard, they were able to track it under the gap between a washing stone and the wall of the compound wall. The leopard had hidden itself in very small place. The distance between the terrace and the leopard was approximately 30-40 feet.

The hindrance posed by vegetation,the compound wall and the fence made it impossible to undertake a tranquilising operation. However, after discussion, it seemed there was no other option to capture the animal.

In the meantime, the other members of the rescue team erected barricades around the bungalow to prevent the leopard from running here and there if it got aggressive during the tranquilization procedure. All other members were ready with protective gears like helmet,fibre board and sticks. A cage was also arranged for the translocation.

During discussion, it was decided to tranquilise the leopard from the servant quarter of the adjacent bungalow and arrangements were made for it. The back door of the servant quarter was opened

after some effort as it was not in use for a long time. Some of the members went to the terrace to monitor the movement of the leopard and gave information about its behaviour to the tranquilising team. The tranquilisation expert, S.P. Thorat, prepared three doses for the injection. In the meantime, the iron door of quarter was opened and through it, the leopard was clearly visible. The distance between Thorat and leopard was approximately 8-10 feet. Hence, it was decided to use the blow pipe for darting the animal. Thorat took permission from the RFO for darting the animal and after getting a positive nod, he blew the dart targeting the left thigh of the animal. The darting was successful with great accuracy in the first attempt itself and was confirmed by the members on the terrace. The leopard felt the injection, it roared and tried to take a big leap. As the dart hit the correct spot, it was unable to jump and sat instantly due to the impact of the chemicals. The tranquilisation was done at 10.15 am and around 10.30 am, members of the rescue team went near the leopard and pointed the snare towards it. There was no response from the leopard, confirming that it was unconscious.

After getting information about successful tranquilization, the forest staff, police and people led a sigh of relief and directions were given by U.G. Vavare, ACF, for further actions to transport the animal safely. Preliminary inspection revealed that the leopard was a male of approximately 1.5-2 years old, without any visible injuries.

The animal was lifted immediately on

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the stretcher and kept in the cage. It was transported to the Central Nursery for observation before release. The leopard came to consciousness at around 1 pm and was provided with food. Around 3 pm, the veterinary doctor checked the leopard and gave its approval for the release. The leopard was released at night in its natural habitat.

The successful translocation of leopard from human habitat to its natural habitat without any undue

incidence is itself a matter of pride.

The efforts taken by all members of the rescue team and West Nashik forest division are laudable. Though such incidence of animal wanderings in the city area should not happened but it is becoming a reality due to the alarming decrease in forest cover. Hence, we must be ready to tackle such incidents. This incident opened my eyes to some of the challenges that lie ahead in my service.

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FIELD FORESTER | December 2015

JOINT FOREST MANAGEMENT / MAHARASHTRA

Managing the Forest as the Homestead – the Saga of Baripada Starting with regeneration of the forest cover, the JFMC’s work has expanded to include health, education, watershed development, farming, renewable energy, self-employment, and empowerment of women.

Hemant Yashwant Shewale

B

aripada village was at some point blessed with a rich forest cover that extended to 445 hectares located in Sakri blocks of Dhule district, Maharashtra. However, in the 1980s, the local community was facing several problems. Illegal cutting of teak and removal of some other plants, mainly by outsiders, had begun to assume serious proportions. The hill near the village that had always been draped in green was turning into a barren, arid sand pile. This was worrisome for the villagers, who depended on the forests for their daily lives and livelihood.

Besides drinking water, they also faced scarcity of firewood, fodder and other non-timber forest products (NTFPs).

Agricultural productivity declined, poverty and unemployment increased leading to largescale distress migration involving as much as 70 per cent of the population. In the absence of other livelihood options, women had turned to liquor production as a source of secondary income. Liquor consumption led to social disquiet in the village.

The turnaround happened in 1991 when a group of youths led by Chaitram Pawar planted 3,000 eucalyptus saplings in the village commons, using their own money. Initially other villagers ridiculed them but when they saw the plants growing well, ridicule turned to respect. People were now receptive to ideas on conservation.

Pawar mobilised the village community and urged them to act. He pointed out that if deforestation continued, their access to dry wood, fruits and other minor forest produce would get affected. His efforts were supported by the forest department and a local NGO called Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram.

After repeated meetings involving all the villagers in 1993, it was decided to protect 445 hectares of the forest adjacent to Baripada. A Joint Forest Management Committee (JFMC) was formed in the same year.

All decisions are taken in the JFMC meetings and each member needs to be present for the meeting. In an interesting form of participatory management, the committee gives the responsibility of implementing certain decisions to

SFS Batch 2014-16, ACF OT (MAHARASHTRA)

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FIELD FORESTER | December 2015

the person/people who are deemed as potential troublemakers. The decisions are then recorded in the meeting register and are declared as JFMC rules, which are then communicated to surrounding villages by public announcement in weekly haats. The JFMC has formulated several rules for protection of the forest and sustainable use of forest resources by the members. There are strict penalties for breaking the rules like a fine of Rs 1,001 for timber hauled by bullock carts and Rs 1,500 for cutting a green or living tree. Also, each family is required to contribute voluntary labour (shramdan) for all the conservation works.

Two elderly people from the village are appointed as watchmen. They are responsible for reporting any theft or rule breaking. Every family in the village contributes Rs 3 per month or grain equivalent to that amount towards the wages for the two watchmen. Each watchman receives Rs 100 per month and the remaining amount is used by JFMC for social work.

Biodiversity outcomes: In 2004, a biodiversity register was created. The exercise is now repeated twice every three years. It registered 342 species of plants, natural forest vegetables, medicinal plants, fruits and flowers, birds and animals. Both floral and faunal biodiversity have improved since the conservation efforts began.

Creepers and grasses that had all but been lost to grazing and fire have now made a comeback. At least 25-35 per cent of the plants have regenerated on their own. Certain species not seen earlier like Caesalpinia crista, Acasia

Notable changes in Baripada (19922014) Issue

1992

Chlorination of water 0 Alcoholism 90 %

Smoking 90 % Vasectomy 4 % Construction of latrines 0 Roti, Dal, Rice & Change in occasionally Food habits green vegetables

2014 100 % in monsoon season 10 % 0 % from young generation 50 % 14 Families In addition Non-veg food, ghee & oil

catechu, keli, godghot and yelangi are also seen now. Endangered species like Plumbago zelanica, Polyalthia longifolia, Curcuma oblonga, Gloriosa suporba have increased in number. There are around 48 species of birds of which at least 4-5 are new. Peacocks that were not seen earlier are now abundant. There are 20 different species of animals in forest including leopards which are seen more frequently. The increase in the numbers of wild pigs has been remarkable.

Importantly, ground water availability has increased up to 10 metres. The availability of grass/ pasture has increased significantly.

The construction of continuous contour trench (CCT) and farm levelling have prevented soil erosion.

Improved well-being: Agriculture productivity has improved on account of improved water availability and improved soil moisture. Villagers are

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growing a larger variety of crops than just paddy and black gram. Onion has become an important cash crop.

Productivity of paddy, a staple crop in Kharif has increased 10 times since 1992 to 60 quintal per hectare while productivity of wheat, an irrigated rabi crop has increased by 50 per cent to 17 quintals per hectare.

Villagers have set up small businesses which were non-existent in 1992. Around 40 families are engaged in jaggery production. People have started bee farming and collection of lac (resin) from trees. The increased fodder production has brought about a tremendous change: Rs 200,000 worth of milk was sold by the villagers in 2014.

Food habits have changed with higher consumption seen now of green vegetables, pulses, animal proteins and ghee. Construction and use of latrines has increased. Distress migration and incidence of malnourishment has reduced significantly.

Starting with regeneration of the forest cover, the JFMC’s work later expanded to include health, education, watershed development, farming, renewable energy, self- employment, and empowerment of women. Baripada village presents an impressive example of community based conservation.

Initiated by a local youth with the support of the forest department and a local NGO, the conservation efforts helped in maintaining the receding forest line caused due to indiscriminate tree cutting or deforestation. The community’s efforts not only cleared the way for other development activities, but also won accolades at national and international levels. The village community won the award in a competition on “Local Knowledge and Innovation of the Rural Poor” in the Asian region, organised by the International Fund for Agricultural Development, Rome, and SRISTI in 2003.

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FIELD FORESTER | December 2015

WILDLIFE / TAMIL NADU

The restoration of pristine ecosystem To check the menace of wattle on Mathikettan shola, the forest department has cleared wattle in 25 ha on an experimental basis in Kodaikanal Wildlife Sanctuary

D Rameshwaran

S

hola, derived from the Tamil word ‘sholai’, is located in the valleys and folds of the mountains so as to get themselves insulated from the frost.

Sholas begin at the ranges from 16001800m in the Palani hills of Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu. The higher end of the range would constitute the more typical shola and this continues as the forest ascends to some 2500m. At this altitude, the trees are generally stunted with canopy formation never above 15m. The crowns, often supported by trunks of massive girth, are many branched, forming a very dense canopy and providing a moist, cool and shady interior that supports a rich micro flora of herbs, shrubs, ferns, mosses and epiphytes. Sholas are associated with extensive grasslands and together the two are considered as a single composite ecosystem.

Sholas are considered ‘living fossils’ for their sheer antiquity and virtual non-regeneration. Several prominent sholas are found in Kodaikanal Wildlife Sanctuary. But Mathikettan shola is one of the best in Kodaikanal Wild life Sanctuary of Tamil Nadu. It is spread in an area of 115.20 ha, in Ampthill

Down Reserve Forest of Berijam range.

The name, Mathikettan Shola, itself is curious as roughly translated from Tamil it means “Shola where one looses oneself’. This shola plays a major role as primary watershed of Periyakulam town and Vaigai river basin and also as a shelter for leopards, wild dogs, elephants, sambar deer, Indian gaur, Nilgiri langur, etc. Numerous species of birds and butterflies are also found here. Flora of Mathikettan shola is one of the most valuable treasures of food chain, Endemism, in addition to being the terminal refuge for endangered species of Syzygium and Elaeocarpus species.

Nowadays, Mathikettan shoal, with its varied climatic and ecological conditions, has a large variety of species, some of which are indigenous and some exotic. These exotic species have been introduced from time-to-time and which have now become naturalised, such as Acacia mearnsii, Acacia decurrense, Acacia dealbata, Eucalyptus globulus, Eucalyptus elata, Eucalyptus citriodora, Pinus patula, Pinus radiata, Pinus insularis, Alnus nephalensis and a number of other miscellaneous species which suppressed the native vegetation.

The current rate of development and

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Shola ecosystem in Kodaikanal Wildlife Sanctuary

tourism too are playing an important role in the loss of plant bio- diversity.

The peripheral and open area of Mathikettan shola is completely encroached by wattle (Acacia mearnsii) and this has become a serious problem for the food chain, biodiversity and water. Wattle secretes some organic compounds which alter the soil pH and damage soil microbes and nutrients, affecting the growth of native vegetation and causing biodiversity imbalance. Also, wattle produce lot of pods through the year, hence the new seedlings continuously emerge and no one can stop the vigorous growth of wattle. As a result, fauna and flora of Mathikettan shola is decreasing periodically.

The forest department, therefore, has carried out clearing of wattle on an experimental basis in 25 ha of Kodaikanal Forest Division, under the Tamil Nadu Biodiversity Conservation and Greening Project (TBGP), during

the year 2013-14. Only those areas where the shola regeneration had been observed were taken up for clearing and restoration under the above scheme.

Under this scheme, wattle trees were felled. But, before felling, all trees in the identified areas were enumerated and their dimensions recorded. The side branches of the trees were removed and then the main tree was cut in steps, starting top down, in order to avoid damage to the regenerating shola saplings by the falling logs. The cut material were later stacked at site for quantity assessment for disposal as well as to allow the wild animals to move freely. The side branches, lops and tops and thin wattle saplings were collected and burnt to clear congestion and avoid fire hazard. In the subsequent year, all new wattle recruits and emergent secondary weeds were manually uprooted after rains. It is proposed to carry out this manual uprooting operation for at least four more years to

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ensure that grass and shola species are established firmly in the area.

During my field visit to Mathikettan shola, I made a detailed study with the help of forest staff about the effectiveness of the above methodology.

We observed that many native grass species were emerging in the wattle removed areas. As a result, wild animals like elephants, sambar deer and around 20 to 30 Indian gaurs were revisiting the area and there was also evidence of presence of tigers. Latest wildlife census is also supporting the presence

of tiger, based on its feeding behaviour and pugmarks. Following the success of this methodology, the same was included in the Draft Management Plan for Kodaikanal Wildlife Sanctuary and the proposal was also sent to the government for approval of largescale removal of wattle. Once the government approves the proposal, it will help to allow shola and grassland ecosystem to function as the life supporting system for wildlife and for the well-being of mankind in the near future.

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FORESTRY / Meghalaya

Biodiversity in sacred groves There is an urgent need to apply forest management strategies to Mawphlang Sacred Grove as part of the effort to preserve sacred groves in the country

Pradip Eknath Patil

O

ur East India tour started on September 11, 2014. The programme was to visit different forests of East India and study the aspects of forestry management.

As per the scheduled programme, we – a batch of 39 officer trainee from SFS batch 2014-16 CASFOS, Dehradun – visited number of well-known and better managed forest areas like Bhitarkanika National Park, Sundarban Tiger Reserve, Himalayan Zoological Park, Kaziranga National Park and Eagle Nest Wildlife Sanctuary. But the place that impacted me the most was the Mawphlang Sacred Grove.

One of the most remarkable features of the Khasi Hills is its sacred forests.

Early in the morning, on September 30, we visited the famous Mawphlang Sacred Grove there. It was just 25 km away from Shillong, the capital city of Meghalaya, and it was an hour-long journey. Two villagers, who were local community representatives, welcomed us and took us to the sacred grove.

The forest, in 75 ha, was community owned and protected by them since last 500-600 years. Such a long history of forest protection surprised us. After

discussions with the local people, we came to know that in that forest you cannot cut any trees or branches. “If someone did so, illness and misfortune will befall on him or her.”

About 400 plant species and large number of wild animals are present in the Mawphlang Scared Grove, indicating its richness in biodiversity.

One can easily observe the ground well covered with a thick cushion of humus accumulated over a long period.

It has survived for many hundred years and today acts as a reservoir of biodiversity, harbouring many plants and animal species as a patch of relatively undisturbed forest. The great efforts taken by local people of this area are appreciable. Such sacred groves are preserved by natives in North-East India since centuries as a part of their religious beliefs. Sacred grove gives the message of control over greed of humans and protection of forest for the well-being of all.

We, the foresters, need to have such spiritual attachment with our forest.

The presence of human beings on our planet has become possible only because of trees. Each person should take a lesson from such communities and their tradition to save nature.

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In India, sacred groves are found all over the country, especially in the regions inhabited by indigenous people. Although there has been no comprehensive surveys carried out in the country, approximately 13,720 sacred groves have been documented.

Such groves are commonly found in the Western Ghats in the states of Maharashtra, Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. In North-East India, most of the sacred groves have been recorded from Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Manipur.

After our visit to the Mawphlang Sacred Grove, we had a discussion on the management of forest in the grove.

Is there any need to intervene in the management of sacred groves? This is debatable. Most of us suggested keeping the forest undisturbed as forest

can take its own care. But, when I read in the newspaper about the decline in the health of sacred groves of in the Western Ghats, in Maharashtra, I was surprised. Why it is happening? Why, without touching the forest, its health declines. Yes, it is true that nature takes its own care, but our intervention to protect the forest is the need of time. If we divide threats to forest in terms of ‘threats from outside’ and ‘threats from inside’, the most serious ones are from outside. To overcome it, we need to modify our management strategies. This is the reason for the need to intervene in the management of sacred groves.

Detailed study and its implementation can definitely save the decline of sacred groves of our country. Sacred groves have a long history and we have to take steps to keep these treasures.

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JOINT FOREST MANAGEMENT / Maharashtra

The success story of Satara Bhosle A small village in Chandrapur district has joined hands with the forest department to set an example on joint forest management

Nitesh S Deogade

T

he village Satara Bhosle, situated in Chandrapur District of Maharashtra, comes under Ballarshah range of central Chanda forest division in Chandrapur Circle.

The village is 36 km from Manora and under Pombhurna Taluka. It is a 100 per cent tribal village and most of the people belong to the Scheduled Tribe. The village has 71 families and a population of 310. Among them, 92 are male, 101 are female and 117 are children. Further, the number of literates is 143 and illiterates, 167.

It means, the percentage of literacy is 46 per cent.

The total area of the village is 153.40 ha, out of which 148.48 ha is agricultural land. Of the remaining 4.92 ha, 2.96 ha is village land and 1.92 ha is protected forest. The headquarters of the forest guards is 2 km away and situated in the village Satara Komti.

On October 25, 1998, Mr DV Zade, Forester, conducted a meeting of villagers of Satara Bhosale and explained the importance of Joint Forest Management as well as encouraged them to establish the JFMC (Joint Forest Management Committee). After

much persuasion and follow-up by the forester, the villagers established JFMC and elected the executive body on November 6, 1998. In the 11-member executive body, there is one chairman, one vice-chairman, four male members and three female members. Besides this, a forester is member-secretary and gram sevak of the gram panchayat is the member of the executive body.

The area of compartment number 441 is 323.750 ha, out of which 100 ha is handed over to the JFMC for protection purposes. The villagers decided to start the work of plantation in the rainy season of 1999. As preparation, in March 1999, the villagers dug 12,000 pits. The rate of pit digging was Rs 3.02 per pit, but the villagers gave this work to JFMC at the rate of Rs 1 per pit and on April 18, 1999, JFMC opened the account in bank and deposited Rs 12,000. From voluntary work time to time they deposited money in the bank account. From 1999, the JFMC conducted various projects like cement nala bund, loose boulder structure, Gabian structure, vermi-compost, children’s park, DhanyakoshYojana, etc.

This committee was registered on June 4, 2000, under to the Maharashtra

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Society Registration Act 1860. The registration number of this JFMC is Maharashtra/167/2000. Since 2005-06, the concerned village is included in the Forest Development Committee, Central Chanda Division, Chandrapur.

Plantation: Work was done in 1999 on 30 ha, in 2000 on 30 ha and in 2006, through Forest Development Committee, on 36 ha. Presently, the plantation is very successful.

Soil moisture conservation: Four cement nala bunds, 34 loose boulder structures as well as 9 loose boulder bunds were built in the wildlife week of 2010. Because of this work, soil erosion decreased visibly and according to the farmers, water level of their farm wells increased.

Vermi-compost production: Villagers used vermi-compost for organic farming and collected Rs 10,000 by selling surplus vermi-compost.

Investment: In the saving account of JFMC, balance amount is Rs 81,405. On November 30, 2004, they deposited Rs 63,375 as fixed deposit. After addition of interest, the total amount of fixed deposit on November 30, 2009, is Rs 78,620. Again, they put the same amount in fixed deposit.

Self Help Group: In the village, seven women SHG and one men SHG is working. They took Rs 40,000 as debt and invested in various shares.

Water holes: The villagers constructed one water hole in the nearby forest which retains water throughout the year and is very useful for wildlife.

For such a wonderful work, they were awarded the first prize on district level of Rs 51,000. From this amount,

they deepened water holes in the vicinity of the forest area through voluntary work.

Others: In the village, prohibition of grazing and illicit cutting, drinking of alcohol and the work of cleaning the village is still going on. Through voluntary work, they completed road construction. They have also established in the village a children park, library, etc.

The JFMC has conducted various schemes in the village by collaborating with various government departments. a) The Project Office distributed solar lamps and smokeless chulhas to 63 beneficiaries. b) Established Chilly Grinder Machine on 100 per cent subsidy. c) From the Fishery department, fishing nets worth Rs10,000 were distributed. d) Fishing in the village area is not auctioned to other people. They do fishing on their own by using JFM funds. Through this work, they are getting employment worth Rs 60,000 per year. e) Distribution of free bicycles to schoolchildren. f) Beside this, JFMC is helping in making roads in village, and on water holes, grinding machines, ration facilities, library, etc. g) Through the National Samvikas Scheme, villagers have constructed a storehouse for seed grain. h) Through the scheme of JAL SWARAJ, the work of water supply is going on in the area.

Social Attachment: On December 9, 1999, they sent 400 kg grass to Orissa to

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help the storm-affected people.

Protection Work: In groups of 8-9, villagers regularly patrol the forest area. So, it is possible to control illicit cutting and illicit grazing. Every year, they make fire-line in and around the forest area and this has decreased the chances of forest fire.

Condition of forest area handed over to JFMC: On February 26, 2009, they made two plots of 20x20 m and counted the trees and found them

in good condition as compared to the past.

The concerned area is thus protected by the JFMC. So, the chances of forest fire are rare now. Also, because of controlled grazing, natural regeneration is good.

In 2009-10, the village was awarded through the Sant Tukaram Van Gram Scheme. At the district level, the village was selected for the first prize of Rs 51,000 and at the State level, the second prize of Rs 5,00,000.

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JOINT FOREST MANAGEMENT / Chhattisgarh

Success story of Hazra Falls With the help of JFMC, this naxal-impacted region has turned the corner and many tourists are visiting the place

Nitin C Gondane

T

he Hazra Fall is renowned for its beauty and is a valuable source for local irrigation, thereby managing the balance between recreational and commercial uses. The fall is located in beautiful sylvan setting that straddles the border between Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh, more specifically between Salekasa and Dongargarh.

Hazra Fall is source of inspiration for explorers, travellers, filmmakers, residents, villagers, birdwatchers, conservationists, etc.

The forest department, Gondia division, has started development of the fall and its surrounding and bringing the fall to the attention of people.

During the last three years, tourism became popular due to the efforts of the Gondia forest division. With increase in

railroad traffic, fall has drawn attention of many tourists and explorers.

The area is dominated by the tribal community of ‘Gonds’. There is no other source of employment here other than farming, which is totally based on monsoon rains. Till three years ago, there was hardly any tourism in the region and due to lack of attention the fall was suffering from blockage and was under the threat of extinction because of inaccessibility and poor conservation efforts. The local community was facing many problems in meeting their daily needs because of lack of employment opportunities and poor industrialization. Also, nature’s fury had put the farming community under debt, forcing them towards naxalism.

After understanding these problems, Gondia forest department

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started developing Hazra fall as a tourist place, keeping a dual view in mind – conservation and solving the unemployment problem of villagers thereby reducing the influence of naxals in the area. To achieve this, there was a need to gather the people on a single platform. Hence, the work began with the formation of a Joint Forest Management Committee (JFMC) of villagers and the department started to run many schemes through JFMC. The members of the committee were selected from people from the village Navatola. The first major task was construction of a road and it was done with the efforts of villagers through ‘shramdan’. Following this, cleaning and beautification work, creation of tourist facilities, recreation and promotion was done with the combine efforts of the JFMC and the Gondia Forest Division. For better management, the department trained youngsters of the committee in different fields like water sports, mountaineering, hospitality, crowd handling, etc. The outcome of the project is that people started visiting Hazra Fall. Nearly 200-300 tourists visit the fall on a week day while on Saturday and Sundays the number rises to nearly 600-700. They enjoy and praise the efforts made by the Gondia division in the development and promotion of the fall.

The major outcomes of the project include:

1) People started earning Rs 5,000-6,000 per month.

2) JFMC started getting good revenue from tourism of Hazra Fall.

3) 50 per cent revenue is spent on the development of the village.

4) 50 per cent revenue is spent on the salary of JFMC workers.

5) It started attracting attention of tourists from all over Maharashtra.

6) Many organisations came forward and started contributing for development by providing monetary and other help.

7) Many people joined hands to provide and share technologies for further improvements.

Future Prospects

1) Setting up of a zip-line for the bird’s eye-view of the Hazra Fall.

2) Setting up of a cafeteria for tourists.

3) Creation of a souvenir shop.

4) Providing a trekking route and camping facility for interested tourists.

5) Promotion of locally available food.

6) Promotion of tribal culture.

7) Providing life cover to all JFMC members and also providing area insurance for tourists.

After the necessary development, the tourism department is planning to fully handover Hazra Fall to the JFMC so that they can start earning more revenue through it.

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JOINT FOREST MANAGEMENT / TAMIL NADU

Case study on Vachathi incident It is important to involve local people in the process of forest conservation.

And this is only possible when their basic needs are met

Priyadarshini V

T

he article is based on a village, Vachathi, dominated by underdeveloped section of the society.

The main aim of this article is to understand the importance of development of forest fringe village and importance of coordination between the forest and line departments against a forest crime.

The incident focuses on how a forest crime may turn into a communal clash and later on into an “Atrocities Act� if there is no proper coordination between the judiciary and executive and also if no rapport exists between the common people and bureaucrats.

Vachathi is a village located in Harur Taluk, Dharmapuri district, Tamil Nadu. The people in the village are so poor that they depend upon the forest for their basic needs. There was hardly any development activities undertaken and hence most of the people were involved in any activity (like poaching and smuggling) that fetches money to them.

A day before the fateful day (June 20, 1992), forest officials were informed that some of the people in that particular village were actively involved in smuggling of sandalwood

procured illegally from Chitteri hill region. During that time, the problem of sandalwood smuggling had become a menace to the forest department and also a cause of concern for the Government of Tamil Nadu. Based on the information received, few of the forest staffs went to the village for interrogation in the pretext of nabbing the offenders. The villagers, who were mostly tribals and Dalits, got aware of the motives and resisted them from entering into their hamlet. The staff looking for the smugglers were assaulted by the villagers. One of the injured staff member informed the incident to the authority concerned (DFO). A high level meeting was organised among the administrators of the district and hence a Special Squad, comprising of personnel from the forest department (155), police (108) and revenue (6), was formed to tackle the anti-social elements. The special force raided the entire village and seized sandalwood logs kept hidden in their houses. The raid continued for two days. During the operation, the property of the villagers was damaged, valuables were looted and those who resisted the raid operation were thrashed and assaulted.

After the incident, the villagers

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gathered at a common place and discussed their losses. They approached the local police to lodge a complaint against the raid. Since the raid was conducted with due instructions from the high level committee, the complaint was not accepted. Annoyed by the response, the villagers, along with the help of local supporters, lodged a complaint against the misuse of power.

Subsequently, writ was filed in High court as well as in the Supreme Court. At this point of time, the “Forest offence” turned to the case of “crime against SC & ST atrocities Act”.

The case was investigated by CBI and the trial was held at Dharmapuri Principal District Court. After the prolonged trail, all the 269 accused involved in the special operation (including top administrators of the concerned departments) were found guilty and sentenced on September 29, 2011. Of the 269 accused, 54 died during the trial. Of the remaining 215, 126 belonged to forest department, 84 were policemen and five were revenue officials.

The incident is an eye opener for every administrator, irrespective of the department. The incident clearly shows that the neglect of any section of the society will lead the people towards illegal activities, which ultimately put any administration in trouble.

The incident would not have occurred if the people of the village have had a better socio-economic status, not deprived of any development measures; was aware of their natural resources and their responsibility in preserving and conserving it; and, essentially had a

good relationship with the government officials. The failure of all these might have resulted in forest crime – illegal smuggling of sandalwood – which later led to this incident, which is a black mark in the history of the management of that area.

While dealing with the forest offence, consultation with legal experts may be more helpful. A proper analysis about the nature and the extent of the offence and also about the offenders has to be done. Before making any decisions, the possible outcomes of the decision have to discussed thoroughly. When there is a strong reason for organising a joint operation, the plan of action, right from selection of staff (inclusion of female staff and representatives of all community) to execution of operation, has to be formulated systematically and cautiously. Clear instructions regarding the approach and use of power has to be provided for all the staff engaged in such operations. The execution of the plan should be more transparent and properly recorded.

From the judgement of the Vachathi case, it was clear that sanction of prosecution (Section 197 of CrPC) from the concerned authority is essential and mandatory for investigating any government servants. But in this case, the compliant was lodged as ‘police excesses’ and hence prosecution sanction was not obtained by the CBI. Since this case is sensitive, CrPC Section 164 was applied on all the accused, some who had not even participated in the incident but were convicted.

After this incident, the responsibility

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of these departments has been increased. The forest department has to take steps to create awareness among the people (especially among those living at forest fringes and also those in places situated around highly valuable species, both flora and fauna).

Special camps have to be conducted periodically to educate them about the existence and significance of forests and forest products, Forest Act and Rules, Forest Rights Act, etc.

Conservation and protection of forests can be done better only with the involvement of local people. The support of local people can be expected only when they are socially, economically

and ecologically empowered. Once their basic needs are fulfilled, the over-exploitation of natural resources can be controlled. The employment opportunity in the forest department viz., in plantation works, as protection squads, as eco-tourism guides, etc., can change the forest offender into a guardian of forest. Participatory approach – involving local people along with the forest and line departments – can be effective in protecting and managing the natural resources.

It also develops a good rapport between the people and administrators, which is very essential for good administration.

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Forestry / ODISHA

Forest Food Festival: A successful example of biodiversity conservation Forest Food Festival in Rourkela went a long way in improving livelihoods of the forestdependent community by bettering forest health

Vinod Kumar

F

orests are intrinsically linked to tribal livelihoods and tribal heritage. The lifestyles in tribal hamlets of Odisha are synonymous with nature friendliness. Since time immemorial, the culinary habits of tribal populations have been heavily inspired from nature and are largely based on forest species. In today’s context, with the fast depleting natural resources and growing population, there is a tremendous awareness on forest conservation.

The focus of forest conservation has been refreshingly on biological diversity in recent times. Biological Diversity Act, 2002 had been a huge fillip in this direction; the preamble of which enunciates “An Act to provide for conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of its components and fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the use of biological resources, knowledge and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto”.

Biodiversity links forest conservation to tribal livelihoods in a big way. Foods from forests play an important role in meeting food and nutritional security, very strongly during off - seasons and

drought years. Forest food cuisines form a part of the rich tribal heritage, being ingredients of the traditions, celebrations and festivals. Thus, conservation strategies can utilise this opportunity by focussing on forest cuisines and highlighting the role of biodiversity thereby benefitting communities, traditional knowledge as well as biodiversity conservation.

Forest Food Festival is an innovative concept practiced in Maharashtra and was proposed in Odisha as part of the initiatives of Odisha Forestry Sector Development Project (OFSDP) with intent that it will ‘inter alia’ provide an insight into species of relevance for food security, and that traditional knowledge is being respected and getting documented.

Odisha Forestry Sector Development Project (OFSDP) is a project launched

by Odisha state government with the support from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The major objective of the project is to restore degraded forests and improve the income level of villagers by promoting sustainable forest management, JFM and community/tribal development.

IFS, Director, Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy

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Conserving the biodiversity and improving livelihood of the people is one of the major thrusts of the project.

When forest protection is good and forest has improved, it is also a time to make assessment of its food value.

Forest Food Festival would aim to improve livelihoods of forest dependent community by improving forest health.

Participatory community collectively stand to gain from the decision to host the event.

Actions on these lines elsewhere in Maharashtra and Odisha have influenced community with introduction of under planting in their forests being protected. This has been experienced with JFM bodies in Rourkela Division in implementing Odisha Forestry Sector Development Project during revisit to micro plans and species to be included therein considered by the VSS community.

Perception of stake holders before initiative – threat to food security

Most tribal village women regularly collect roots, shoot, flower, leaf parts of tree/ herb/ shrub from forest in different seasons, as a part of their culture and traditions for sustenance /subsistence. For many a tribal community, tubers were the staple diet but with easy availability of cereals like wheat, rice, etc such crops are being over looked / neglected. On the other hand administration through its public distribution system, is making available food grain at subsidized rates.

With so called modernisation, factory products like biscuits/ fried things

/ noodles, etc., (which is actually a junk food) are reaching village markets in attractive packages; some of the items are marketed aggressively and as a result, local products are pushed into background, or maybe even get pushed out of competitive market. Even cultivation of local food items, may become unattractive from economical angle.

Sometime, the modern or affluent segment of the society that is, at ,times considered to be role model by local youth, look down upon local products as unhygienic and ridicule it. Even media at times perceives local food like tubers or tree seeds as ‘distress food’ but in case of unforeseen circumstances, it is only such easily available hardy crop; let us not consign them to oblivion. If such trend continues, even whole some / nutritive items, may be lost sight of and be forgotten. Such a loss will not be in the interest of preserving relevant biodiversity as well. Corrective steps thus need be taken and forest food festival is one such novel approach.

The Forest Food Festival

Participation of local women who make fresh collection of items from the forest and prepare tantalizing food items would be required. Village seniors / expert in the field of nutrition/‘ayurved practitioner’ can taste the food and select items based on number of parameters like plant species used and its seasonality, method of cooking, spices used, hygiene, etc.

The selected participants would have a chance to test new idea and show case newly acquired skills; to

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produce some exquisite, nutritious food items that might not appeal to palate but are also recognised by even medical practitioners /nutritionists, as nutritious food. Common perception about forest that it is an assemblage of tree species that provide primarily wood for construction, fire wood for the hearth and some non timber forest resources, could be augmented with strength of food products also. A city based person hardly realizes the range of food products along with timber and services that this forest eco system provides to all the living creatures.

The purpose of the food festival is further to preserve and develop the traditional knowledge on ‘wise-use’ of forest resources handed down by the ancestors. It can also highlight and popularize such items and bring recognition to tribal forest based foods and food practices by members of the indigenous communities. Festival can initiate change in mindset, many surprises that so many items are being prepared and many new items can be prepared from the forest species / these items can support their food security and well being /this can be a platform for the village for convergence with other line department. The species used as forest food is presented as three boxes separately for fruits, leaves and flowers.

The experience from Maharashtra and Odisha

UNDP and Government of India in 2014 awarded Baripada village of Dhule District, in Maharashtra, under Community stewardship in Biodiversity

conservation category. To encourage them further, the initiative was facilitated

by Honorable Union Minister of State (IC), Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shri Prakash Javadekar in a state level function organised in Pune.

In October 2013, 34 VSS from tribal community villages of Banki Forest Range of Rourkela in Odisha first time organised Forest Food Festival to show case their newly awakened understanding of forests as a food basket to their own brethren in rest of Banki. They felt “If this concept is followed to its logical end, it will ease food scarcity that ever looms large.”

Learnings & way forward

a) It accords recognition to role of women in understanding food resources and its conservation. b) It also accords recognition to forests as source of food – this concept need be extended to ecodevelopment committees / Joint Forest Management Committees/ Van Panchayat / Biodiversity Management Committees. c) Such events will promote local food items as food security and in turn will promote retention / planting of these plant species, in forest assigned to Committees or protected by communities. d) This will, incidentally, promote biodiversity conservation e) Thought process need be extended to other areas so that the forest species that are sources of food items are cultivated in nurseries / planted and utilised by the people. f) As it will spread message that

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forest foods are very nutritious and organic (and are better than junk food) such events can be linked to eco-tourism. g) This programme will encourage the villagers to conserve, sustainably harvest and utilise such species. h) One-time effort will not suffice and thus be repeated every year in different places and different seasons to cover whole range of species

i) Learning be integrated into micro plans / its revision as a component of ANR under-planting in a systematic manner and executed by SHG/ BMC members. j) Such efforts are precursors to adoption of institutional frame work expected under the Biodiversity Act 2002 and rules made under by the state government.

Box 1: Forest plant foods: Fruits Plant Name

Scientific Name

Habit

Season of availability

Anzeer

Ficus carica Linn.

Tree

Rainy

Amuta

Antidesma ghaesembilla Gaertn.

Tree

Winter

Badru

Olax scandens Roxb.

Shrub

Rainy

Gururu / Ghunti Gardenia gummifera Linn. f.

Tree

Rainy

Baincha Kuri

Flacourtia jangomas Raeusch.

Tree

Spring

Bankundri

Melothria heterophylla (Lour.) Cogn.

Herb

Rainy

Ban karaila

Momordica dioica Roxb. ex Willd

Herb

Rainy

Bhawarkuri

Cordia macleodii Hook. f.Thomas.

Tree

Summer

Benchi

Casearia graveolens Dalz.

Tree

Summer

Bhadoo

Vitex glabrata R. Br.

Tree

Summer

Lawa

Ficus glomerata Roxb.

Tree

Rainy

Joraikuli

Erycibe paniculata Roxb.

Shrub

Summer

Dhamna

Grewia subinaeqnalis DC.

Tree

Summer

Terrel

Diospyros melanoxylon Roxb.

Tree

Summer

Kadiweer

Garuga pinnata Roxb.

Tree

Rainy

Kukrakari

Gelonium multiflorum Juss.

Tree

Spring

Karmata

Dillenia aurea Sm.

Tree

Summer

Korkotta

Dillenia indica Linn.

Tree

Winter

Kashiphal

Bridelia retusa Spreng.

Tree

Summer

Kongat

Dregea sp.

Herb

Winter

Kowa/Sarbara

Garcinia cowa Roxb.

Tree

Rainy

Nanunia

Emblica robusta

Tree

Winter

Oserwa

Capparis zeylanica Linn.

Tree

Rainy

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Char / tarop

Buchanania lanzan Spreng.

Tree

Pinder

Randia uliginosa DC.

Tree

Winter

Puinjamala

Syzygium cerasoideum (Roxb.) Raizada

Tree

Summer

Summer

Pakare

Ficus lucescens Blume

Tree

Rainy

Rai

Dillenia pentagyna Roxb.

Tree

Summer

Soso

Semecarpus anacardium Linn. f.

Tree

Spring

Thedu

Ficus hispida Linn. f.

Tree

Winter

Box 2: Forest plant foods: Leaves Plant Name

Scientific Name

Habit

Season of availability

Ban Kundri

Melothria heterophylla(Lour.) Cogn.

Herb

Rainy

Bathua

Chenopodium album Linn.

Herb

Rainy

Ban-Poi

Basella alba Linn.

Herb

Rainy

Chakor

Casssia tora Linn.

Herb

Rainy

Daliara/ Balbalia

Portulaca oleracea Linn.

Herb

Rainy

Herb

Rainy

Herb

Rainy

Bilikhuji/ Chamani Cleome isosandra Linn.

Marshi sag

Amaranthus viridis Linn.

Kansaree

Commelina benghalensis Linn.

Herb

Rainy

Katai

Menya laxiflora Robyns.

Shrub

Winter

Kankodo

Momordica dioica Roxb.ex Willd.

Herb

Rainy

Kointho/ Pitta

Leucas cephalotes Spreng

Herb

Rainy

Sing aa / Kurul

Bauhinia purpurea Linn.

Tree

Summer

Kachoa

Trianthema portulacastrum Linn.

Herb

Rainy

Kalmi

Ipomoea aquatica Forck.

Herb

Whole year

Koilkhara

Asteracantha longifolia Nees.

Herb

Rainy

Lahenga /Sirgitti

Celosia argentea Linn.

Herb

Rainy

Lapung

Aerva lanata Juss. Ex Schult.

Herb

Rainy

Madranga

Alternanthera amoena (Lemaire) Voss. Herb

Rainy

Marmuri

Antidesma diandrum Heyne ex Roth

Tree

Rainy

Pimpari

Polygonum plebeium R. Br.

Herb

Rainy

Purni

Trianthema decandra Linn.

Herb

Rainy

Sunsunia

Marsieia minuta Linn.

Herb

Rainy

Siramo

Gynandropsis gynandra (Linn.) Briq.

Herb

Rainy

Mansaru

Colocasia sp.

Herb

Rainy

Suni ara

Portulaca quadrifida Linn.

Herb

Rainy

Zanumare

Amaranthus spinosus Linn.

Herb

Rainy

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Box 3: Forest plant foods: Flowers Plant Name

Scientific Name

Habit

Season of availability Winter

Agasti phool

Sesbania grandiflora Pers.

Tree

Jerhul / Hutar

Indigofera pulchella Roxb. in part

Tree

Spring

Hupu

Cochlospermum religiosum (Linn.) Alstm

Tree

Summer

Kujri

Celastrus paniculatus Willd.

Herb

Summer

Kongat

Dregea sp.

Herb

Rainy

Kurchi

Holarrhena antidysenterica (Linn.) Wall.

Tree

Summer

Mahua

Madhuca indica J.F.Gmel.

Tree

Summer

Pinder

Randia uliginosa DC.

Tree

Rainy

Phutkuli

Phyllochlamys taxoides Koorders

Tree

Summer

Sahar baha

Dillenia pentagyna Roxb.

Tree

Rainy

Sahada Baha

Streblus asper Lour.

Tree

Summer

Tentuli

Tamarindus indica Linn.

Tree

Winter

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JOINT FOREST MANAGEMENT / MAHARASHTRA

Wildlife protection outside protected areas: A success story Two villages of Maharashtra and the forest department have shown that nothing is impossible if there is a will to work and interests of everybody are kept in mind

Rajan Talmale

A

s per Wildlife Protection Act, National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries are managed and controlled to provide an assured habitat. These Protected Areas are the exclusive areas for the brooding and breeding of wild animals. There is a specific management strategy for the management of their habitat. But the boundaries of a Protected Area cannot restrict the wild animals from roaming.

For example, an individual Tiger needs a territory of approximately 20 to 25 square km. Increase in their population will decrease per head area of tiger. Protection, conservation and management of wildlife out of the purview of such protected areas is successfully attempted in territorial areas of Nagpur Forest Division.

The story starts on February 7, 2012.

A pregnant tigress of age 4-5 years was rescued from a dry well in a farmland, near village Kathlabodi of Kondhali Range by the Nagpur Forest Division with the help of a young wildlife activist Mr Kundan Hate. During the rescue, she was tranquilised and this

resulted in ‘self-abortion’ of her three well developed foetuses. It was a new experience for the team that the trauma during the rescue made her body unfit to carry out pregnancy. After complete recovery, it was decided to release the tigress in her habitat.

With the permission of PCCF, she was released in Compartment no. 11 of Reserved Forest of Kalmeshwar Range on February 14, 2012. After release, she was monitored with camera traps only, as the department didn’t have any other high-tech gadgets like Radio Caller; nor was it needed before.

The turning point is that, in 2013 once again, she gave evidences of her presence with three cubs in camera traps near village Nimji in Kalmeshwar Range. That tract was with a narrow prey base, comprised mainly of blue bulls and wild boar. Later her cubs were seen separated from her in the summer of 2014. Then the thinking started for the need of their protection from adjoining villages, need of increasing prey base; need of water in summer days as the tract is dry, rocky and degraded due to human activities. At six km, there is National Highway 6, as well as logistic

SFS OT, 2014-16 Batch,CASFOS, Dehradun

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park, godowns, warehouses and some factories within three-km distance. All these were putting their habitat under threat. Those days, newspapers were describing the news of tiger poaching and trafficking by Baheliya gangs. All these made their protection a challenge for the department.

Forest department accepted this and made a strategy; the area where she was sighted was closed for public, patrolling was increased and monitoring was intensified with increased number of camera traps. Each and every precaution was taken for restricting the coverage by media with an intention to prevent havoc in public. Everything was going on secretly. These were all the shortterm measures. The long-term measures were intended to increase the prey base, ensuring water availability for whole year; and people’s participation was the only key towards the success and fund management.

Mr Kundan Hate coordinated between the higher officials and the ground staff for the funds diversion and allocation; and the most important, winning the good faith of villagers.

The local JFM Committees of Nimji and Ladhai actively participated by performing a large number of soil and moisture conservation activities like CCT, LBS, Gabbion structures, water holes for drinking of wild animals, sowing grass seeds on TCM and other structures, desilting of natural water sources, etc. The villagers were largely dependent on this forest for grazing of their cattle. The cattle used to drink water at Vena reservoir which is near to these villages and do grazing in this

forest area. Grazing and illicit felling made the area degraded and the eroded soil started silting the reservoir.

As a substitute for grazing, compartment no. 6 of 191.42 ha was allotted to the JFMC of Nimji. This area was used for fodder production. Only members of the JFMC were allowed to enter and collect. The fodder was sold by the committee at nominal price and, thus, stall feeding was started by cattle bearers. The revenue from fodder was used to pay the wages of collection and carriage of fodder. Another need of the villagers was fuelwood which they used to satisfy from their ‘Nistar’ claims. Initially the needy villagers were allowed to enter the forest only with forest personnel. Later, as the funds came, slowly families were distributed LPG connections. Thus grazing and felling was completely phased out. The area of concern was not allotted for Tendu collection. Plantation programmes were taken in 2011 and 2012 and 125,000 seedlings were prepared in nursery under MGNREGA. In 2012 and 2013, Nimji achieved award under ‘Sant Tukaram Van Gram Yojna’. Funds from the award were used for purchase of utensils and other appliances to start a catering business in order to strengthen the SHGs of village women. Some farmers and landless labourers were provided with hybrid milching animals.

All these endeavours resulted in lush green area with ample availability of water in harsh days of summer; and goodwill of people towards the protection of the tigress and her cubs and conservation of habitat. In 2014-15,

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JFMC of Nimji achieved ‘First’ position in ‘Sant Tukaram Van Gram Yojna’ on the state level as it complied with all 17 conditions of works to be completed.

Till date, there is not a single case of man-animal conflict. Rarely some cases of cattle kill happen, but villagers are never seen aggressive as they get the compensation with fast transaction.

People believe that the carnivore kills their cattle only when it needs a change in taste. An ideal relationship is developed among the wild animals and the villagers. All this attracted the villagers of other villages and now they have started active participation in JFM. The villagers and the department staff report some wild animals like leopard, caracal, mouse-deer, hyena and rattle, which were nerve recorded there before. Number of herds of sambhar, spotted deer, wild boar, bluebull, wild dogs, fox and wild cat, etc., can be sighted now. The improved grasslands have attracted many animals and improved the biodiversity of this area.

The wildlife from adjoining Melghat and Pench Tiger Reserve and Bor Wildlife Sanctuary may have settled here. Though the area is having some detonator manufacturing plants, countering their loud sounds of testing, the top predator is living here and other wild animals are flourishing; this is nothing but a miracle.

The supreme result of all these efforts recently resulted in sighting the same tigress with her 2-3 month old three healthy cubs again in camera traps. Their presence is a solid proof of success of the teamwork. The higher officials, when reported with this

scene by a wildlife activist (now he is Honorary Wildlife Warden of Nagpur District) and the ground staff, they are now working with preparation of Special Wildlife Management Plan, aiming at their Protection and Conservation, ensuring sustained prey base and habitat management; forest protection, wildlife management and controlling man-animal conflict etc.

Anticipating the increase in wildlife population, some activities proposed in that plan are – meadows development programme, habitat and water source development works, infrastructure development for protection including protection huts, residential amenities for staff, road repairing, checkpoints, purchase of patrolling vehicles, research projects for wild animals like rattle, caracal, etc., purchase of high-tech gadgets for monitoring, construction of parapet walls on irrigation wells in nearby farmlands, study on habitat and corridor development with the help of WII, fire protection works, rapid response team for rescue, relief and rehabilitation, soil and moisture conservation programmes including de-silting of natural water resources, funds for intelligence and public propaganda, etc.

The key to success here might be that for the protection of wildlife, the rights and privileges of the local people were not abolished unlike Pas, and the department succeeded to preach that their interests are more in protection and conservation of nature. Also, the protection and conservation of the tigress and her cubs was given priority.

The story has given rise to some

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questions –whether exclusive protected areas like NP and Sanctuaries are needed to expand in terms of numbers or area? Why NGOs do not identify and concentrate on potential territorial forest areas, instead of dumping funds in PAs only? What is the solution or preparedness for the management of spill-over population from PAs as there is restriction to expand their areas? Is there any middle solution for satisfaction of tiny needs of local human population with nature conservation, hand-in-hand?

We cannot declare the whole land-

scape as a PA. In future, the need will arise for the management and control of spillover population of wild animals from PAs. Although PAs facilitate them to live natural life, their increasing population cannot be nourished there.

PA has not proved to be the solution to the increased man-animal conflict. This story highlights the need to improve relationship between people and forest department; how man and animal can live together without any conflict; and, the need to concentrate on Territorial Forest Areas for the protection and conservation of wildlife.

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JOINT FOREST MANAGEMENT / MAHARASHTRA

Thoseghar reaching the heights JFM has changed the way the people look at forests; it has become a major source of revenue for the panchayat and employment for youth

Dr. Rajendra Pundalik Nale

T

hoseghar is a small village situated in the Western Ghats in Maharashtra state. Falling in the jurisdiction of the Satara Forest Division, it is blessed with beautiful landscapes enriched with semi-evergreen forests, rich biodiversity, landforms, plateaus and waterfalls with perennial streams.

The village has a population of 1,216 with 766.49 hectares of forest area. Most

of the population is involved in the agriculture business and is dependent on the adjoining forests for their daily needs like fuelwood. In the valley of the Kalganga River, water falls from a height of 350 metres, making it India’s fourth highest waterfall. This magnificent waterfall creates tremendous scope for ecotourism; an added advantage is provided by the beautiful plateaus in adjoining areas.

In 2004,the Joint Forest Manage-

Officer Trainee, SFS-2014-16 batch

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ment Committee (JFMC) was created in Thoseghar bythe Forest Department with the intention to reduce pressure on the forest and manage the forest in cooperation with the local villagers.

In the early days, there were doubts about the intention of the forest department considering past systems of forest management and administration. These doubts cleared with time given the continuous efforts and communication of the Forest Department and villagers; and a new era of joint forest management started.

The JFMC was formed involving the local panchayat leaders, villagers and forest staff. First, a mechanism was set in place to manage ecotourism facilities. Facilities like ticketing, parking fees, garden management, tourist management, forest enrichment, Nature Information Centre etc., were handed over to the JFMC for management. Nearly 20-25 villagers were employed,either on continuous or seasonal basis, to take care of all routine works through the JFMC. Revenue generated through this activity and its systematic use under the guidance of forest officials earned

recognition, prestige and honour to the village.

Revenue Generated Year 2013-14 2014-15

Revenue Generated (in Rs) 14,70,000 15,29,000

This revenue is used for making payments to staff and for enriching the forest by plantations, protection activity, etc.

The JFMC is actively participating in forest protection. Various initiatives have been undertaken with the guidance of Forest Department and include: 1. Rapid Fire Response Team – JFMC has been created with the view to assist forest department to prevent and control forest fire with the help of team of villagers. Now the committee is thinking to give modern equipment’s to manage fire.

2. LPG gas connections and bulk waterheaters - JFMC and Maharashtra Forest Department has supplied 151 LPG connections and six heaters on 50 per cent subsidy basis to villagers to reduce the dependency of the villagers for fuel wood.

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3. Grazing is now managed by the forest dependent along with JFMC. It takes care that the grazing will not become a problem in forest areas.

4. Persons involved in forest offences are intimated and restrained by Thoseghar villagers from committing forest offences like illicit felling, hunting, etc.

5. Tourists are managed in systematic way, hence preventing problems created by tourism like pollution, damage to forests, etc.

On a visit to Thoseghar, one can notice the following changes in the way the ecotourism site is managed.

• Clean premises, information boards about dos and don’ts to tourists can be seen in the ecotourism facility and forest area.

• Continuous audio broadcast stressing importance of forests and guiding tourists.

• Continuous monitoring of the entry

gate with the help of CCTVs. • Electronic ticketing machine for bringing transparency in the accounts.

• Proper parking facility to avoid road blockade.

Thoseghar JFMC President Shankarrao Chavansays, “This joint forest management with the help of the forest department has changed the way we look at forests. It has become a major source of revenue for the panchayat and employment for unemployed youth.

Previously, the forest was perceived as of no use but now this view has changed and now all villagers are also actively participating in conserving and managing forests.”

Local villagers are also happy with the initiative and some of them cautioned about the need for transparency as huge amounts of money are involved.

Seriousness and need of JFM can be seen through the creation of the

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Contingency Fund. The JFMC has created a contingency fund of Rs 2 lakh to be used in case of any emergency or to fulfill needs of funding in case of less tourism is a particular season, or due to reasons of less rain, and so on.

While the success of joint forest

management is being debated elsewhere, in Thoseghar it is working successfully. We need to take notice of one thing, where there is potential of sustained income from forest resources, the chances of joint forest management becoming successful are very high.

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WILDLIFE / TAMIL NADU

Hidden trade in Madurai Several recent instances have prompted the DFO to set up a voluntary organisation called ‘Friends of Forest Madurai’ to gather information on wildlife trade.

M.G. Ganesan

M

adurai may have several things to be proud about, but it has the dubious distinction of being a major transit point for trade in both wildlife and marine life. The city has no major forest area close by nor can it boast of any aquarium of repute. But it is the ‘routing centre’ for rare species, say wildlife and police authorities. In August 2015, in a joint operation, forest officials seized five turtle carapace and 10 pairs of Rose Ringed parakeets trapped in the wild and brought to the Sunday market for sale. The forest officers got wind of the illegal transaction, swooped in and rounded up the offenders, who were charged with violating the Wildlife Protection Act. Wildlife authorities say they enjoy a good rapport with the Customs and Airport authorities. Besides they have their own informers. Similarly, they get ground level information on the sale of live birds trapped in the wild.

They also conduct surprise checks at private handicrafts shops, pet shops, ayurvedic medicine shops, industry and restaurant whenever they get information about sale of meat, birds and artifacts made of animal parts.

The DFO set up a voluntary organization called ‘Friends of Forest Madurai’ to gather information on wildlife trade, rescue of wild animals, hoarding, meat sales, sales of artifacts made from wild animal parts. The officer says that only in a recent case where the Tiruppur district smuggler was detained and a tiger nail seized, did the forest officers work systematically and executed a plan. Though they knew they were on to something `big’, they were simply unaware what the prize catch could be. They had set up an informant to obtain details about hare meat, but ended up busting a racket involving tiger nail.

Also, forest officials in Madurai seized 400 pangolin scales from 37-yearold Narikorava, at Karuppayurani, Madurai on August 11, 2015. The scales were about to be sold off. TRAFFIC, the wildlife crime control wing of the World Wide Fund for Nature - India (WWF-I) field operatives helped the officials to nab the offender. The operatives said the scales were sold between Rs 10,000 and Rs 30,000 depending upon the seller. The scales were believed to have medicinal properties that could cure piles and rheumatism. In Tamil Nadu, people burn the scales and the

2014-16 Batch, Tamil Nadu

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ashes from the burnt scales are used as medicines. In China, too, these scales are used in traditional medicine; people also make rings out of the scales and wear them on their fingers. We learnt that pangolins are killed in a very cruel manner. Being very shy animals, the pangolins coil their body into a ball-like shape when they feel threatened. As they are docile animals, they never attack when they are caught. So the poachers easily trap them and pack them in gunny bags.

The Explaining about the cruel method in which the pangolins are killed and The live animals are then put in boiling water and once they are dead, the scales are removed and the flesh is eaten by tribals living across the state. The forest officials laid a trap and arrested a person who came forward to sell 400 scales for a price of Rs 25,000. Pangolins are categorized under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act and those who indulge in poaching of this species may get three years of imprisonment with a minimum fine of Rs 25,000.

The culprit has been produced before the judicial magistrate two in Madurai and remanded in judicial custody. TRAFFIC field operatives said there is a great demand for the scales in China and other Southeast Asian nations. They are also investigating the country medicine practitioners (Nattuvaidyars), who placed a demand for these animals. The Nattuvaidyars cheat the public by claiming the smoke from pangolin scales help in relieving piles, thereby creating an illegal trade for these wildlife items.

In another case, a 40-year-old wom-

an was arrested by forest officials for trading wildlife products at the Sunday market area on Tamil Sangam Road on September 9, 2015. Officials seized five green turtle carapaces, broken carapaces pieces and 52 pangolin scales.

The women, who hails from Nagamalai Pudukottai situated on the city outskirts, has been arrested under the Wildlife Protection Act. Forest officials suspect that she may be a key player in the wildlife trade in the city. She has been remanded to judicial custody.

Throughout the questioning, she maintained that she collected the items from nearby forest areas. But stumbling on green turtle carapaces in Madurai forest areas is impossible and spotting a pangolin is difficult in the region. In another incident, on the night of September 29, 2015, a Sivaganga district smuggler who tried to smuggle star tortoises at Madurai International Airport was detained with the help of custom staffs. They seized 247 star tortoises which were being smuggled from Kerala via Madurai to Kuala Lumpur. The customs officials at the airport after a check on his cabin baggage revealed that he was illegally taking the tortoises to Kuala Lampur via flight to Sri Lanka from the city.

The consignment was estimated to be worth over Rs 60 lakh. The species are extremely popular among overseas exotic pet traders and many people in South East Asian countries preferred to have them as pets. These star tortoises are primarily found in dry and deciduous forests and can survive for up to 3 days without food or water while being transported. In Madurai,

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they can be found in forest areas in Vikramangalam and Sirumalai. The forest authorities found that this was probably one of the first instances of star tortoises being smuggled and seized at Madurai Airport.

From the investigation, we came to know that the smugglers are involved in several crimes such as ketamine smuggling, pet animal trade, animal part trade, endangered animal trade simultaneously, catering to the demand in India and the South East Asian countries. Though officials agree that Madurai is nothing more than a transit point, they do not rule out the possibility of Madurai emerging as a base for illegal trade in wildlife. The DFO has cracked the whip on wildlife poachers in the district and earned the title, the Jungle Man of Madurai. Many local nature lovers, environmentalists and wildlife enthusiasts say that he is probably the first DFO who fined two private mahouts in the city for making their elephants beg in crowded places.

There are also habitual offenders who hunt wild boar and black napped hares. In the last six months or so, the forest department has confiscated wildlife trophies such as peafowl legs and porcupine quills from poachers.

Madurai area has little forest in

comparison to other districts and the wildlife here comprises mainly of smaller mammals. These too need to be conserved, as small mammals play a crucial role in the food chain and ecological balance. The forest department should get closer to the public to sensitise the people towards nature and wildlife.

As part of the outreach activities, a Facebook page ‘Madurai Forest Division’ has been started, which acts a platform for wildlife lovers in the city to come together. To improve people’s connection to forests and environment, more awareness campaigns are being conducted. Forest officials cite the example of one such safe rescue of snakes.

Through the voluntary organization, social media and campaigns, a network of wildlife volunteers has been built across the district. The plan is to further strengthen this team so that people in different places can provide fast and reliable information on wildlife offences. In addition, the display of banned items at major air and seaports, involving the people living on the forest fringes and coastal fishermen for protecting the natural resources can also help reduce the illegal trade in marine and wildlife.

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WATERSHED DEVELOPMENT / MAHARASHTRA

Hiware Bazar, a success story The Hiware Bazar experience stands out, not only in terms of equity outcome, but also in terms of improvement in livelihoods and the impact on sustainability

Geeta Pawar

E

very few years, villages in central Maharashtra, like those in other drought-prone regions across the country, face crippling water scarcity that threatens lives and livelihoods and fuels migration. Despite decades of drought-relief programmes, there has been little change over the years.

Hiware Bazar lies in the droughtprone Ahmednagar district. It is in the nagar ‘taluka’ of Ahmadnagar district in western Maharashtra and is 28 kms from Ahmadnagar city. Hiware Bazar lies across 977 hectares (ha) at the foothills of the Sahyadris. Of the total geographical area of the village of 976.84 ha, 795.23 ha is cultivable. The village receives only 300-400 millimetres (mm) of rainfall a year.

Over time, with steady degradation of their forest land, there was severe water paucity for drinking and irrigation purposes. This led to very low productivity owing to dependence on rainwater. Only on half-an-acre of land could water-intensive crops grow.

Hard rock makes up 80 per cent of the land. Indiscriminate grazing had eroded the green cover. People migrated in hordes due to constant crop failures

and drought. By the early 1980s, almost 50 per cent of the village population had drifted out of the village. During 1989-90, less than 12 per cent of the cultivable land was under cultivation.

The village’s wells used to have water only during the rainy season.

In 1990, Popatrao Pawar, after completing his M.Com in Pune, was persuaded to return to his village. He was elected sarpanch and gave up a potential career in the city. Under his leadership the village drew up a plan based on priorities set by villagers themselves – with top priorities on safe drinking water, irrigation water, employment, education and health. The village used funds from government schemes and launched a programme to regenerate its natural resources. In 1972, percolation tank was constructed under drought relief work. In 1982, under similar circumstances, it was repaired. In 1995, the Adarsh Gaon Yojana was launched. In keeping with the requirements of AGY, resolutions were collectively adopted in the gram sabha to start working on the ‘panchasutri’, or five principles – restrictions on free grazing, ban on tree felling, ban on alcohol, adoption of family planning and voluntary labour. An

SFS 2014-16 batch

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NGO called Yashwant Agricultural, Rural and Watershed Development Agency was set up by Popatrao Pawar in 1993 and the scheme began to be implemented from1994. An important feature of the Hiware Bazar case is that the implementing agency was not an external NGO, but a village-level organisation that worked closely with the gram panchayat.

A Watershed Development Programme is essentially designed to increase the moisture content in the soil, thereby leading to an increase in productivity. The village was divided into three micro-watersheds, the first with an area of 612.14 ha, the second with an area of 123.4 ha and the third with an area of 241.3 ha. Total geographical area of the village is 976 ha and it is divided into three micro watersheds.

Of this, 70 ha is forestland, developed while working in close cooperation with the forest department. Presently, its entire management is village’s responsibility. The department even does not have their guard to protect the reserves. This relationship between the department and the villages was painfully developed. In 1992, the forest department rejected the request of the villagers, as the villagers, due to free grazing, ruined the department’s earlier works. However, the villager’s persistence made the department reconsider in 1994, bringing joint forest management (JFM) programme to the village and the results are evidently visible to everyone. Under JFM and Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS), water and soil conservation works were taken up in the upper reaches.

Under this programme, about 52 earthen bunds, two percolation tanks, 33 loose stone bunds were constructed.

About nine check dams have also been constructed in a series on the downstream nallah. The principal watershed works constructed include continuous contour trenching and tree plantation (on forest, private and panchayat land), contour bunding, nala bunding, percolation tanks and five storage bandharas. In a span of four years, most of the work under AGY was completed.

In Hiware Bazar, when the watershed work began and trees were planted as a first step, the question of cutting of trees was brought up. A resolution was passed in the gram sabha to ban cutting of trees or even branches of trees from the commons. People could, however, cut branches of trees from their own fields. Two positive aspects of the ban on tree cutting in Hiware Bazar are worth noting. These restrictions were imposed uniformly for all uses (fuel and non-fuel), and indigenous varieties of trees (such as babul, tamarind and bamboo) were chosen because they were more suitable to local climatic conditions and likely to survive longer.

The revenue from these trees (as well as other product of the commons) goes to the gram panchayat.

The main focus was on the creation of EGS, constituting Continuous Contour Trenches (CCT) and Earthen Bunds.

The construction of CCTs and Bunds has been completed by the villagers themselves, through the process shramdaan. Three watersheds were built at a cost of Rs 42 lakh spent by

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the government; 17 lakh was provided as shramdaan. With shramdaan, the panchayat built 40,000 contour trenches around the hills to conserve rainwater and recharge groundwater.

Alongwith the contour building, they planted 45,000 trees on a 30-hectare area of government land. Preference was given to species like bitter neem, kashid, babul and shisham. The villagers made special efforts to protect and nurse more than 70 per cent of the planted trees. In appreciation of their efforts, the department provided 36,000 new saplings in 1993-94. The villagers saved the remuneration earned and used it for improvement of the watershed.

In 1994, the residents, alongwith the Gram Sabha (village council), approached 12 different agencies to implement watershed works under the state’s EGS. The village prepared its own five-year plan for 1995-2000 that emphasised local ecological regeneration. Implementation of the five-year plan then became the objective of the EGS, which was otherwise a wage employment programme. This was to ensure that all departments implementing projects in the village would have a common and integrated work plan.

In the years 1997 and 1998, additional 206 ha were brought under afforestation.

By 1999, the village had grown 600,000 trees by adopting the technique of ‘Continuous Contour Trenching’ (CCT) by using contour markers and digging contour pits 2 square feet Square and 1 foot deep. This was supported by the already dug pits which conserved soil and water. One running metre of the

pits stored 1,000-litres of water. There were about 1,500 running metre pits within one-hectare land and, therefore, one hectare stored 1,500,000 litres of water. The total geographical area of the village is 976.44 ha, out of which 150 ha land is under social forestry. Therefore, the entire forest area under CCT could conserve about 225,000 cubic metres of water (150 ha x 15 lakh litres of water).

The villagers implemented a drip irrigation system to conserve water and soil, and to increase the food production. They avoided crops like sugarcane and bananas, which require a high use of water.

Due to watershed development measures, the groundwater table rose and irrigated area increased. Farmers, previously able to cultivate only in the kharif season and grow bajra in rabi, could now grow in more seasons and switch from the traditional jowar and bajra to cash crops such as onion, potato, tomato and horticulture. As area under cultivation and cropping intensity increased and the cropping pattern changed, incomes rose sharply. With more assured irrigation and therefore lower risk, farmers began to invest more in their land, such as by building additional water storage structures.

Some families that had migrated returned to the village. Many farmers used their increased agricultural earnings or took loans to buy cattle. The re-vegetation programme, as part of watershed development, has increased availability of good quality grass, which has, in turn, contributed to increased milk yield. The grass harvest increased from 100 tonnes in 2000 to 6,000 tonnes

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in 2004, and the milk production rose from 150 litres a day in the mid-1990s to 4,000 in 2010. Today dairying is an important mainstay of their economy.

The village is now among the top income villages in India.

The fruition of the watershed development programme has aided immensely in agriculture and in providing drinking water. It has also been instrumental in the conservation of both water and soil. Both the quality of the technical watershed works and the resulting positive socio-economic changes have now been widely acknowledged in government and NGO circles as well as in popular media. What is most striking about Hiware Bazar’s growth is that most families gained from it, either directly or indirectly.

Today the village has only three BPL families. Moreover, a commitment to sustainability helps ensure that benefits secured are not lost. Prudent water management, coupled with crop planning, guarantees drinking water year round, and agriculture and dairying are maintained as far as possible, even in low rainfall years.

Equity will be on one particular dimension of these changes. More specifically, I consider the distribution of the benefits and costs of the watershed development project across different land-holding classes. The reason for focusing on this particular dimension of equity is the linkage between access to land and access to water, which means that the benefits of any water intervention, such as watershed development, end up being distributed in proportion to landholding, or

sometimes even disproportionately in favour of larger farmers. I consider below what the experience in Hiware Bazar has been in the context of various rules adopted in the course of the project, the two major effects of watershed development – increased availability of irrigation water and increased employment opportunities – as well as the watershed-plus measures.

The aim of the exercise is not so much to label the project as “successful” or “unsuccessful” from the point of view of a specific version of equity, but rather to learn from both its positive and negative aspects.

Apart from the pancha-sutri, the other set of rules adopted in Hiware Bazar were related to water. Rules related to water could either deal with distribution of water or with use of water. The rules about distribution of water can be further classified into two kinds: (a) rules that determine the particularset of people who will get access to water; and (b) rules that determine how water will be distributed within this set of beneficiaries, i.e., allocation rules. If 100 litres of groundwater is available, 80 litres are used and 20 litres are kept as buffer stock. The water is recharged during July. Additional water led to higher productivity and also enabled cultivation of cash crops, such as onions and potatoes.

How equitable the above practice should be considered, is open to debate.

Given that the link between access to land and access to water (as well as the underlying distribution of land) is considered inevitable by most people (not just in Hiware Bazar but elsewhere

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too), the fact that water distribution follows land distribution could be considered equitable, especially if the larger land-holders do not get a share of water that is greater in proportion to their landholding. However, one could also raise the broader question of whether public resources (such as state funds for watershed development) should be used for the development of a private resource (such as groundwater) without making any attempt to change the structure of rights over groundwater, especially when access to water is important not just for improved livelihoods but also for greater social and political power. In the Hiware Bazar case, there was at least some attempt to compensate those whose benefits from watershed development were limited.

But, in cases where there are no such attempts, the above water distribution rules could end up re-enforcing existing land-based inequities.

Equity concerns in any single project are influenced by a number of factors such as the differing conceptualisations of equity by various agents involved, limits to the number of radical concerns that can be taken up any one time, macro-level factors such as government policies and laws on relevant subjects, and the nature of the development process that people are interested in setting in motion. Similarly, the equity potential of government schemes for wells is limited by the requirement that beneficiaries should have a minimum landholding of three acres; while the logic behind this is that without a certain level of landholding, the water in the well would not be optimally

used, the result is that marginal farmers find it difficult to avail of the schemes.

But given the constraints within which any project functions, the Hiware Bazar experience stands out, not only in terms of its equity outcome, but also in terms of improvement in livelihoods and the impact on sustainability. The measures to attenuate the negative impact of the ban on grazing, the rules about use of water and the careful targeting of watershed-plus measures have been particularly critical. An important lesson that one can, therefore, been drawn from Hiware Bazar is that some of the inequities considered ‘inherent’ to watershed development projects can be partially remedied by local-level initiative, and it is important to think about ways in which this experience can be used to improve the equity outcome in other watershed development projects.

Hiware Bazar’s success has hinged on the involvement of the entire community who collectively decide their development priorities, contribute labour, and manage their natural resources by regulating and enforcing norms. Most community decisions are taken at GS meetings.

Involvement did not come overnight.

Education has been an important medium to raise awareness of key issues. Participation by all members has created a strong sense of ownership. Schoolchildren read rain gauges and measure groundwater levels. Women collect and manage a monthly water tax on individual connections. Decisions on water budgeting, crop planning and

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maintenance of water structures are taken in the GS. In addition, there are village committees to monitor forest conservation, wildlife protection and cleanliness.

To institutionalise sharing of water, the village introduced a practice of water budgeting. Using a ‘waterbank’ principle, the budget ensures that the village does not draw more water than it stores in a year, and a small amount is kept in reserve. Depending on rainfall in that year, available water is allocated amongst various uses, with first priority for drinking water for humans at 50 litres per capita per day (lpcd) and cattle (30 lpcd). Here, water for drinking purposes (of humans and animals) and for other daily uses gets top priority. After budgeting for drinking water, 70 per cent is set aside for irrigation. The remaining 30 per cent is kept for future use by allowing it to percolate and recharge groundwater.

Taking this broad framework for water use, a yearly audit is carried out to assess water availability and adjust use accordingly.

Since 2002, Hiware Bazar has been doing an annual budgeting of water assisted by the Ahmednagar district’s groundwater department. Every year the village measures the total amount of water available in the village, estimates the uses and then prescribes the agricultural cropping to be taken up.

All this is done through the instrument of Gram Sabha, whose decisions are binding for the residents of the village.

The cropping pattern is undergoing a change in favour of cash crops but with high productivity and availability of water, food crops produced in the village also suffice. Many families now buy foodgrains from the market. Food security will not be an issue for the village for a long time to come.

Through the five years of water budgeting, the village has been able to identify its average water availability.

It is estimated that with 400 mm of rainfall, a small amount, the village of Hiware Bazar will have sufficient water throughout the year. Because the village has an average shortfall of 50 to 80 million litres, the Gram Sabha has banned drilling of borewells for irrigation. The audit process begins with the monitoring of the groundwater level of the six observation wells identified in the village, along with the amount of total rainfall received measured by the village’s 3 rain gauges. The cumulative sum of rainfall and groundwater is the total water available to the village after monsoons.

The village has also won numerous awards, such as the National Productivity Award in Dryland Farming in 199798. The initiatives greatly improved the socio-economic conditions in the village and the village was declared as an “Ideal Village” by the Government of Maharashtra. At the “National Groundwater Congress” in New Delhi on September 11, 2007, the village received the “National Water Award” by the Government of India.

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Note: Articles may be sent at the following email ID: fieldforester@gmail.com 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 will be 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, 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

CONTENTS

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FIELD FORESTER V o i c e s volume 1 ● issue 3

f r o m

t h e

f i e l d

JANUARY 2016

FIELD FORESTER | January 2016

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From the Chief Editor’s Desk Why should biodiversity matter to anyone? Biodiversity, ecosystems and the lives of people are inextricably linked. Millions of species are part of this biodiversity and each species (recorded or undiscovered) is important. Each species has a specific role and the extinction of any species gradually weakens the structure and integrity of our ecosystem and the environment. The dynamics of biodiversity and the ecosystem can be best illustrated with Edward Lorenz’s metaphorical theory of the Butterfly Effect. The effect of species extinction is indeed like the butterfly effect at work; the connection between rapid deforestation in West Africa and Ebola is already a much discussed subject which needs more study.

Biodiversity loss and species extinction has raised much concern as well as action in conservation circles and governments, however despite all efforts biodiversity loss is still occurring at a disturbing rate. Vital ecosystems continue to be disturbed, degraded and destroyed. This can have cascading consequences including accelerated climate change, threats to human health and serious economic costs.

India, a mega-biodiversity country and one of the richest nations with regard to biodiversity wealth should show greater concern about the management and conservation of its biodiversity. The current issue of the Field Forester covers success stories related to biodiversity management and conservation from all over the country. The proper assessment of biodiversity is imperative for the proper management and conservation of biodiversity. However the same cannot be said about the forest biodiversity in our country. Many a times we manage our forests without knowing properly about its wealth- especially with regard to its biodiversity. It is very important to have proper biodiversity assessment protocols and inventories of the biodiversity. The National Working Plan code, 2014 has made that step towards meticulous recording of observations in the forests which can later go on to supplement more detailed assessments and studies. Only when proper assessment has been done and inventories are in place can a more scientific monitoring of biodiversity take into effect. While efforts are being made to conserve and protect our country’s biodiversity it is high time to take a more concerted and scientific approach to biodiversity.

MP Singh

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CONSERVATION / MAHARASHTRA

Protecting the habitat of the Indian Giant Squirrel The forest department has taken a number of steps in Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary, one of the few refuges of the threatened Indian Giant squirrel

VK Borhade

B

himashankar wildlife sanctuary is located in the Sahayadri Range of the Western Ghats in Maharashtra. The wildlife sanctuary spread over 130 km2 falls in Ambegaon and Khed tehsil of Pune district. The sanctuary was established in 1984 under the provision of Wildlife Protection Act 1972. The main objective behind the creation of this sanctuary was to protect the habitat of the Indian Giant Squirrel (Ratufaindica). The Indian Giant Squirrel is endemic to the Western Ghats and found only found in a few forest patches of Western Ghats. As its name indicates it is much larger in size compared to other squirrels of India.

The Bhimashankar Wildlife has number of sacred groves, maintained by the local tribal people. These sacred groves act as source material of seeds for vegetation in the nearby area and squirrel is the main agent of dispersal.

The sanctuary has a large biodiversity of endemic and specialised flora and fauna. Leopard, sambar, stripped hyena, jackal, barking deer, wild boar,

common langur etc. A large number of reptiles, amphibians, butterflies and insects are also found here. Recently, Blue Mormon – a butterfly – which is rarely observed in the sanctuary has been declared as the state butterfly of Maharashtra.

Such vast and rich biodiversity hub plays an important role in conserving the critical habitat of the Indian Giant Squirrel. This population of squirrels is distributed in land patches which are not connected to each other; this separation has led to speciation i.e. evolved a new sub species. This speciation has led to a variation in the colour of the species.

Recently a new colour combination has been observed in Kolhapur Forest Circle of Maharashtra, during the census of Indian Giant Squirrel.

The Indian Giant Squirrel measure about 35 cm in length and the length of tail is about 61 cm; the body weight is about 2 kg. It has an attractive body with a combination of two colours, white and brown. Sometimes cream colour is observed on the legs. Generally, this species never comes on the ground.

The squirrels move from one place to

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another by using upper canopy of the tree. It jumps from one tree to another; in one jump it can covers about 6 metres. Their movement is restricted if the patch of forest has discontinuities; this generally happens in degraded forests. This animal is solitary in nature and has its territory which it marks by urine. They never allow another squirrel to enter into their area except mates and young ones. When the young ones grow up, they start to search new areas for establishing their own territories. They are omnivorous in nature; eat fruits, flowers, bark, insects, and eggs of birds. The squirrels play a great role in maintaining the balance of the ecosystem by dispersal of seeds.

The main predator of this species are birds of prey and the leopard. When faced with a life threatening condition the squirrel freezes or flattens itself against tree trunk instead of jumping.

The species is more active during day time and are most active early in the morning and during evening hours. It uses 6 to 8 nests,located on different trees in its territory. These nests are used as sleeping places and one of them is used as nursery.

Today the existence of the Indian Giant Squirrel is threatened. Dams, highways, industrialization, railway lines etc. are causing a loss of habitat.

Illegal tree felling and chopping has reduced the tree canopy in many areas. This has led to shrinking in the boundaries of their habitat. As a result of which their movements are getting restricted, causing separation of one population from another. This results in inbreeding and narrowing of gene pool.

All this has affected the population of this beautiful animal. The problem has become so severe that one sub-species out of five, which was endemic to the region of Dang in Gujarat, is now extinct. The occurrence ratio has also decreased to 2.9/km2 in some patches of Western Ghats – Tamhini, Mulashi and Mahabaleshwar. This is certainly a cause for alarm for the existence of Indian Giant Squirrel.

However, according to the Pune-based Wildlife Research and Conservation Society, the occurrence ratio is a healthy 15.9/km2 in the Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary.

This ratio shows that there is certainly something special and unique to this area in terms of management, protection and conservation. My discussions with RFO and local people revealed a number of reasons for this.

The area still largely inaccessible, thus there is less human interference. Also, there are some sacred grooves which are protected by local tribal people,this has maintained the canopy cover. The forest department too is effectively controlling the illegal felling and lopping in the area. Awareness has also been created among the local people not to cut fruit trees in the areas where viable populations of the squirrels reside. The forest department has also carried out plantation activity in the area between two source populations.

In these plantations, fruit species preferred by the squirrels have been planted. This effort has increased the movement of Giant Squirrel and increased its population;ultimately increasing the gene pool. The forest

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department also promotes the activities of JFMC by involving them in conservation programme and by providing them alternative livelihoods as guides,caterers,tollkeepers on check posts and as forest watchers. A NGO in the area also helps create awareness among the local people about the animal and its importance. These are some of the measures which have resulted in unique favourable environment for the species and have led to a sizable increase in the number of Indian Giant Squirrels in Bhimashankar Wild Life Sanctuary.

YEAR

NUMBER OF NESTS

ANIMAL POPULATION

2009

7787

719

2013

10179

1700-1800

2014

11340

1800-1900

2015

11915

1489-1985

(*Times of India and Indian Express News sources)

Since before 2015, census was carried out only in Bhimashankar WLS, the number of Indian Giant Squirrels only related to this WLS is known. In 2015, for the first time, a state-wide census was carried out. Generally counting of Indian Giant Squirrel is done on the basis the number of nests. Since one squirrel uses 6 to 8 nests, dividing the total number of nests by 6 or 8, gives an approximate total number of squirrels.

In Bhimashankar WLS, this method of census is supported by modern techniques such as digital mapping with use of Global Positioning System (GPS) and Geographic Information System (GIS). These modern techniques help to know whether the canopy area has increased or shrunk. Also, it gives an

idea of land patches where the breeding populations exist. Armed with this information the forest department is now taking initiatives to connect these patches by plantation programmes to increase the connectivity between two source populations.

Like other protected areas, Bhimashankar WLS is facing problems which can in future have an impact on this fragile ecosystem of the Indian Giant Squirrel. Bhimashankar is both, a holy place and a tourist destination.

Each year lakhs of pilgrims and tourists visit this place. This creates noise pollution and litter which disturbs this shy animal and its habitat. Lots of litter creates the unhygienic condition. The windmill project which was banned in 2011, has caused removal of large trees, resulting in restriction on movement of the animal. The WLS is also facing the problem of encroachment by people of surrounding areas. Local people clear the forest for agriculture and settlement, this has shrunk the habitat of the Giant Squirrel. Illegal lopping and felling has also increased the severity of the problem. Proposals of widening of the approach-road to the temple; construction of the newly proposed highway passing through the sanctuary have the potential to spoil the Indian Giant Squirrel’s habitat.

The Indian Giant Squirrel is the pride of Western Ghats and also the state animal of Maharashtra. This beautiful animal needs protection in its habitat like Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary.

Though the forest department is making efforts to conserve it, it’s now the duty of each and every citizen to protect it.

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Conservation / Himachal Pradesh

Community-based livestock insurance programme to the aid of snow leopard As a result of the programme in the Spiti Valley, the attitude of people towards wildlife has changed and has resulted in a decrease in man-animal conflict

Pradip E. Patil

T

he least known cat in the renowned cat family is Snow Leopard because of its secretive and challenging habitat. It has been listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Less than 4,000 wild Snow Leopards are present in world and India ranks third in their population.

A rough estimate of the Snow Leopard population in the Indian landscape is 400-700 (Snow Leopard Survival Strategy 2014.1), and it is mainly restricted to the Himalayan and TransHimalayan areas of five states, namely Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. The total range is estimated to cover 126,842 square kilometres. Snow Leopards are found in the hilly, snowblanketed, inaccessible, sub-alpine and alpine zones, above 3,200 metres in the west and 4,200 metres in the eastern part of India.

As the snow leopard has a large home range, to sustain a viable population in the undisturbed landscape is a prime need. Therefore, the Snow Leopard is considered as an ideal flagship as well

as umbrella species for the conservation of mountain ecosystems of India.

The adjoining areas of Ladakh and Spiti Valley in the Trans-Himalayan region are a home for healthy prey and good Snow Leopard population in India. Suryawanshi (2013) reported that the density of the Snow Leopard population ranges from 0.5 per 100 square km to 3.4 per 100 square kilometre for five different areas in the Spiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh. This represents Upper Spiti Valley’s alpine habitat, one of the most critical habitat to the Snow Leopard.

Background of the problem

The upper Spiti Valley, situated in the north eastern part of Himachal Pradesh, is one of the least populated regions of India.

The valley encompasses roughly 3,000 square km of relatively undeveloped alpine habitat, with an average altitude of 4000m above mean sea level, having only 25 villages. It is known for its green pastures, high-altitude lakes, and rare and endangered wildlife. Snow Leopards are found all over this valley.

The unique and beautiful landscape of

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the Spiti Valley is point of attraction for many nature lovers and currently about 10,000 tourists visit this place annually to experience the uniqueness of natural beauty and with hopes to see the Snow Leopard.

With passage of time, this remote area has become more accessible and connected to the rest of the world. This has caused excessive livestock grazing and unmanaged tourism and economic activities. This has increased pressure on natural resources and threats to the survival of Spiti Valley’s wildlife and ecosystem.

As high quality grazing land reduces, wild and domestic animals overlap more and more. The number of mountain ungulates, like the Blue Sheep and Ibex, has decreased significantly due to competition with domestic livestock. This has resulted in an increase in attacks on livestock.

This conflict has resulted into many instances of retaliatory killing of Snow Leopards by poisoning, snaring or by other means.

Studies by Mishra et al. in 2003 report about 3-12 per cent annual loss of livestock holdings in high conflict areas because of snow leopards and wolves.

Damage to domestic animals causes great economic loss to poor families as they are totally dependent on their livestock for livelihood. In addition, the difficult landscape allows limited alternate livelihood opportunities to local communities.

Compensation schemes in the Spiti Valley were facing problems of low compensation rates (6–20 per cent of market value), time

and costs involved for claiming compensations and corruption which discouraged people from applying for compensation schemes. One cannot claim compensation for livestock loss in protected area and it was the technical problem. Instead of mitigating, the conflict had led to greater aggression towards wildlife. This has made Spiti Valley a high-conflict area between pastorals and wild predators.

Other challenges

Though Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary and Pin Valley National Park are notified protected areas in and around the Spiti Valley, conservation in these high altitudes is relatively neglected. In addition, the protected area management in these high altitudes has lack of resources and trained manpower and absence of clear boundary demarcation. Thus, it is nearly impossible to maintain a large National Park and Sanctuary without community participation.

Interventions

The Snow Leopard Trust started its work in India in the beginning of 1998 with Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF) to conserve the Snow Leopard.

An objective of the programme was to protect the unique ecosystem of the Upper Spiti Valley with the help of local people, without changing their traditional way of life.

During the early phase of the programme in 1998, the NCF signed a contractual agreement with the Kibber village council for not harming or killing snow leopards or its prey species and

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also keeping 1500 ha of nearby areas free of livestock grazing for a period of five years for benefit of wild animals.

Compensation was given to villagers for not using the area. Council itself assured that animals will not enter into grazing-free area.

In 2002, a community based, locally managed livestock insurance programme was started by NCF in Kibber village. The main aim of the programme was to reduce economic losses due to livestock predation by wild carnivores by sharing the risk. Villager needed to deposit premium amount to secure their livestock. Provision was also made to give financial rewards to the better performing herder. By seeing good response to the livestock insurance programme, it was expanded to four more villages in 2006. The programme then spread to four village clusters covering 10 settlements and 250 households in Spiti and Ladakh, insuring over 500 animals. Villagers have learned to maintain all records needed for running of the insurance scheme.

Now, after every kill by carnivores, herder needs to inform the village community members, who then confirm a thumbnail-sized numbered metal tag on ear as proof of insurance on the preyed animal. The insurance body then granted them between Rs 2,500 and Rs 10,000 as compensation amount, as per norms.

The administration and responsibility of programme is now totally with the villagers. And, because of this, there are no fake claims. The SLTNCF contribution for premium in early

stage of programme and judicious use of funds by villagers has made livestock insurance programme of Kibber village self-sustaining within five years.

In addition, the trust also managed to set aside a 20 square km reserve near the villages for the endangered Snow Leopard and its prey. In 2012, awareness programmes like eco camps were held in school for 132 children and 13 teachers, where they learned about food chains in their local habitats.

Similarly, in 2014, about 20 schools in the Spiti Valley participated in multiple educational events.

This project has focused on participatory processes for planning and implementation of innovative conservation programmes, which is not only confined to wildlife protected areas but to the entire landscape.

Results of interventions The Snow Leopard Trust report (2010) states that Kibber livestock insurance programme has become selfsustaining because insurance fund had built surplus year-by-year. Initially, SLT and NCF were paying 60 per cent of the premium, but now it is wholly paid and run by villagers. Five villages from Spiti Valley have collected a fund of Rs 24 lakh.

In 2014, livestock insurance programmes areas running successfully in 7 villages with 115 households and three villages have established grazingfree reserves for Snow Leopards and its wild prey.

In 1500 ha area kept free from grazing, within five years — 1998 to 2003 — Bharal (Himalayan Blue Sheep) population increased four-fold

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and stabilised to approximately 300 individuals. In 2009, roughly 100 ibex were observed actively using another reserve area round the year. NGOs, using 40 research cameras to estimate Snow Leopard abundance and its prey populations, found that the Spiti Valley area was being actively used by Snow Leopards.

As a result of livestock insurance and awareness programme in the Spiti Valley, the attitude of people towards wildlife has changed. It has resulted in end of retaliatory killings of carnivores.

Villagers are thus actively participating in conservation.

The Indian government and NGOs active for conservation launched ‘Project Snow Leopard’ in 2009 to help this high altitude’s flagship species with its highly endangered populations.

The community-managed livestock insurance programme has become a unique role model for planning and implementation of conservation strategies in other Snow Leopard areas of country.

The Snow Leopard Trust’s longtime India Director, Dr. Yash Veer Bhatnagar, has been honoured with the ‘Wildlife Service Award’ by Sanctuary

Asia, India’s largest wildlife magazine, for his exceptional conservation work in the Spiti Valley and other Himalayan regions.

The first landscape-level Management Plan for the Upper Spiti Landscape, including Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary, has been made by the NCF team for the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department. The management plan was prepared and officially accepted in October 2011, and it is based on NCF’s long-term research in the Spiti Valley landscape.

Conclusion

A key factor that brings success to community-based conservation efforts like livestock insurance scheme is dependent on active community involvement. We can assure active participation of local people in a conservation programme by creating affinity toward wildlife unique to their land. Sympathy of people towards wildlife can be maintained by taking care of their economic loss in the case of man-animal conflict. This experiment is worth replicating in other parts of India where similar kinds of man-animal conflict is present.

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CONSERVATION / WEST BENGAL

Red Panda conservation: A captive breeding initiative by Darjeeling zoo The Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park has shown that red panda can survive in a zoo with appropriate maintenance and conservation steps

Trupti A. Nikhate

P

admaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park also known as Darjeeling zoo, is occurred in the area of 67.56 acre (23.3 Ha) of land in the beautiful landscape of Darjeeling city of west Bengal state. This zoo established in the year 14th August 1958,earlier it is known as Himalayan zoo later smt.

Indira Gandhiji gave the name it as Padmaja Naidu Himalayan zoological park by the governor of West Bengal state in the year 1975. Appreciable work done in the field of captive breeding of the

snow leopard, Red panda, and Tibetan wolves (Himalayan species). This is only zoo in the country to release captive breed red panda in the wild in the south East Asia. It is the main centre for the central zoo Authority of India’s red panda programme and also member of the world association of zoos and aquariums. Ex-situ conservation in zoo and release of red panda in wild is renoved work done by the Darjeeling zoo.

Red panda scientific name: Ailurus fulgens, also known as lesser panda, red bear cat and red cat bear. It is a small arboreal mammal. native from

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Himalayas to south western china, generally feeds on bamboo species but can also eat insects, eggs (omnivorous).

It is under endangered category of the IUCN red list. In wild near about mature 10,000 individual survive in world. Main threat to the red panda are Fallowing data shows about the details of the founder population in Darjeeling zoo House Name Anita Basant Chanda Divya Gora Hari Indira Omin Prity

Stud Book Number 8221 8649 8222 8648 9305 9302 9330 9404 9430

Sex Date of Acquisitions F Wild M Wild F Wild F Wild M 10.11.94 M 10.11.94 F 10.11.94 M 25.12.96 F 25.12.96

Red panda births in PNHZP, Darjeeling Year

No. of Born

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

2 5 6 5 6 7 2 5 1 3 3 0 1 1 2

No. of Litters (a no. of young animals born to an animal) 1 3 3 3 2 3 1 2 1 2 2 0 1 1 1

No. of Deaths

1 3 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

habitat loss, fragmentation, poaching, & inbreeding depression. Two species of red panda found in the world one is Ailurus fulgens, And another is Ailurus stylani. Ailurus fulgens lives in the western part of Nepal, Assam, Sikkim, and Bhutan. Ailurus stylani lives in the north eastern part of southern china and northen burma

Discussion

Any breeding programme should depend upon various things like their nature, feeding, breeding season & behaviour also. Ex-situ Conservation of red panda in Darjeeling zoo is a planned conservation Breeding project as a part of global captive breeding master plan which was initiated in 1990’s in that zoo. Initially the zoo has four red panda from the wild then they added another five more red pandas in the breeding programme from the European zoo to augument the four wild red panda.

For this conservation breeding programme the Padmaja Naidu Zoo done the unique record keeping activity which includes 1) Stud book Maintenance: It includes the information like Taxon name, number, current status, in vital statistics sex, age and origin information are incorporated ,birth type, birth location, birth date all this detailed information are included in it for future management it became very fruitful.

2) Animal history card: In animal history card they include information of the red panda like name, sex, scientific name, distinguishing mark, habitat, parentage, vernacular name,

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FIELD FORESTER | January 2016

in acquisition category they include information like how and from where acquired, when acquired and birth date, age on arrival, size and weight on arrival, 3) Veterinary treatment card 4) Individual treatment file 5) Animal deworming card 6) Animal vaccination card 7) Animal tranquilization card 8) Animal operation card 9) Animal feeding card 10) Beat(daily) report

Conclusion

The greatest achievement is in the year 20/6/1994 when the two red panda mainly named Ekta and friend born two the Basant and Amita those two are from the wild origin (in zoo) and when the another red panda female which was released in the wild she mate with

wild male and gave birth to an cub in 2003-2004 in Singalila National park.

From this achievements we can say that this type of conservation activity in modern era helpful for the conservation and reintroduction of the endangered species in its natural habitat and zoo like PNHZP play crucial role in that programme.

Another zoo also adopt this technique for their local species conservation E.g. from this success gangtok zoo also initiate the conservation breeding programme for the red pandas with the help of central government National exchange of the red panda from zoo to zoo and zoo to national park or in their natural habitat increases.

Will the red panda survive in zoo? and the answer shows by the PNHZP yes they survive with appropriate maintenance and conservation.

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FORESTRY / MAHARASHTRA

Successful wildlife management practices Given the improved availability of food and water, the floral and faunal biodiversity is totally changed in Gugamal National Park

Vidhya P. Vasav

W

ildlife management is a science that relates to the art of making decisions and taking actions to balance the needs of wildlife with the structure, dynamics and relations of population, habitats, and people. There are essentially two kinds of management approaches– active and passive. Active management implies taking positive measures, increasing herbivore populations by creating grassland, ensuring distribu-

tion of herbivores in summers by creating waterholes, and so on. Passive management entails prevention of certain actions or letting the natural process take its own course, promoting natural succession of vegetation and not interfering with the natural occurrence of fire. The present case study discusses the successful practices taken by the forest department to achieve goals of wildlife management in Gugamal National Park.

Gugamal National Park with an area of 361.28 sq.km is a core area of Melghat

Map of Gugamal National park

SFS batch 2014-16

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FIELD FORESTER | January 2016

Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra. The park area is comes under Gugamal Wildlife Forest Division Paratwada. This park comprises four ranges, i.e. Chikhaldara, Dhakana, Tarubanda and Harisal.

In active wildlife management, the first step taken by the forest department was the rehabilitation of villages.

The villages situated in the core areas of Gugamal National Park are Kund, Koha, Virat and Churni. The main populations in these villages are Koraku and Gavali communities and they mainly depend on forest for their bonafide and domestic needs. In order to reduce the dependency of these inhabitants on the forest, the villages in the core areas of the park were rehabilitated phase wise.

After there habilitation work, meadow development was done for the replacement of invasive species by palatable grasses in rehabilitated areas.

The five sites were selected for meadow development such as Vairat (50 ha.), Kund (30 ha), Koha (45 ha), Belkund (20 ha) and Churni (50 ha). The seed plot

was established at Vairat to serve as a seed bank for meadow development.

In this seed plot, 18-20 types of grasses were planted such as Themedatriandra, Apludamutica, Hetropogoncontortus, etc.

The seeds of grasses collected from this seed plot were spread in natural meadow areas. The various operations carried out by department for the grassland development in the above mentioned sites are detailed in Table 1.

Another important activity undertaken was soil and moisture conservation work, including creation of artificial waterholes and salt licks. The soil and moisture conservation work was done from March to May and included construction of Gabion structures, artificial waterholes, earthen dam and so on.

(Table 2). The department carried out soil and moisture conservation work at each meadow development site. This helped to increase availability of food, water and space for wild animal.

One of the other most important activities undertaken by the forest

Table 1: Month-wise operations to be carried out for grassland development S.No.

Month

Work detail

1

May

Earth work and barbed wire fencing to seed plot was done

2

June

After first shower, seeds of palatable grasses collected from seed plot were spread in the natural meadow areas

3

July & August

First weeding was carried out. The shoots were collected from seed plot and planted in natural meadow areas.

4

September & October

Second weeding was done and seeds collection from seed plot was carried out.

5

November &December

Third weeding and seeds collection from seed plot was done

6

October, November & December

Lantana eradication by manual uprooting method was done.

7

June to July

Seeds collected from seed plot were stored in gunny bags.

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FIELD FORESTER | January 2016 Planting of new shoots of grasses in natural meadow area

Grassland development area

department for wildlife management was silage-making. The silage operation was done in the month of November when the grasses have 20-30 percent moisture content. First, a pit of 5m depth, 5m wide was dug. It was then covered with the help of polythene sheet. The grasses were bunched and placed in the pit to make a layer of about 1 feet. A jaggery solution was spread above the layer of grass. Another layer of grasses is added followed by the jaggery solution. This procedure is repeated till the pit is full.

The pit is covered in an air tight manner with another polythene

sheet. The jaggery solution act as a preservative and increases the nutrient value of grass. In the summer season, when herbivores face a scarcity of grass, these grass bunches can be taken out of the pit and spread along the waterholes.

In terms of passive wildlife management, the department undertook the creation of firelines in February and March. A 40 m fire line for division boundary, 30 m fire line for range boundary, 12m fire line for round boundary and 6m fire line for beat boundary were created.

The forest division has prepared a patrolling schedule for the forest staff

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FIELD FORESTER | January 2016 Table 2: Detail of soil and moisture conservation work.

Sr. No

Soil and Moisture conservation Structures

Location of structure

Number of Structures constructed

1

Gabion structures

Belkund

10

Vairat

24

2

Artificial waterholes & creation of salt licks

Belkund

1

Vairat

2

Kund

2

Koha

1

Kund

2

Vairat

1

3

Earthen dam

Pit of size 5mX 5m

Spreading of polythene sheets

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FIELD FORESTER | January 2016 Spreading of jaggary solution

Prepared silage

and establishment of 10 permanent patrolling protection camps in the park. Each protection camp has one forest guard and 3 forest labours on daily duty who halt at the camp for the night. These 10 patrolling camps are Chatiburda, Bandarkau, Banam,

SipanaKhandi, Gugaamal, Rajdevbaba, Vairat, Chikhaldara, Gobara and Sadhukundi. The forest staff in these camps undertook daily camp patrolling as per scheduled routes, pug impressions and pad creation for wildlife count, waterholes’ desiltation

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FIELD FORESTER | January 2016 The results of this successful wildlife management practice is reflected in the increase in wildlife population (see table).

sambar

Barking deer

Wild boar

langur

Bison

Peacock

Jungle fowl

Wild dog

Total

2012-13 23

-

94

44

79

208

90

50

29

4

621

2013-14 18

-

166

81

108

217

143

63

40

9

845

year

Sloth bear

Tiger

Name of animal

2014-15 28

39

168

79

67

218

194

78

41

18

930

2015-16 34

45

190

89

82

269

350

91

57

22

1229

and increasing capacity of waterholes, and collection and recording of data on direct and indirect signs of wildlife.

For preventing wildlife poaching, they carry out litmus test of waterholes every day and use magnetic detector during patrolling to detect poaching traps by magnetic detector. On a monthly basis, local peoples’ interaction and information about poachers is sought through EDCs. The success of this work has been the significant increase in the number

of herbivores. Now the movement of carnivores is easily ascertained in the park and remain inside the park because of greater prey availability and reduced man-animal conflict. Invasive weed species have reduced as has soil erosion. The percolation of drain water has improved following the soil and moisture conservation work. Given the improved availability of food and water, the floral and faunal biodiversity is totally changed thanks to the effective wildlife management practices.

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WILDLIFE / Assam

Saving the whole genus from extinction The successful re-introduction of Pygmy Hog into the wild can become a model that can be replicated in various parts of the country

Shinde Kondiba Baburao

R

ecently, while awarding the Harry Messel award to Dr Goutam Narayan, IUCN’s Species Survival Commission acknowledged his dedicated research of two decades on Pygmy Hog and for saving the whole genus from extinction through conservation breeding.

Till 1995, when Dr Narayan became interested in Pygmy Hog, all efforts of conservation of this rare species were futile. The accidental re-discovery in 1971 of Pygmy Hog by a tea planter, J Tessier-Yadell, in the tea garden market near Barnandi Reserve Forest of North Assam, led to the first attempt of captive breeding of this species in a tea estate and Guwahati Zoo. Subsequently, in 1985, IUCN’s Pigs and Peccaries Specialist Group (PPSG), at the invitation of Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) formulated a conservation action plan for Pygmy Hog. But, it remained unapproved due to political unrest in the region and motivational problems till 1995.

The Pygmy Hog Conservation Programme (PHCP) was started in 1995 under a formal International Conservation Management and

Research Agreement – first of its kind in India – between the Assam State Forest Department, the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust (DWCT), PPSG and the MoEF. The main objective of this consortium was to conserve Pygmy Hog through captive breeding and grassland ecosystem management.

Pygmy Hog is rarest and one of the two critically endangered suids in the world. It is an evolutionary relic and the only representative of the Porcula genus. The body size, ears, short medial false hooves, absence of characteristic tail, tusk and construction of nest and its year-round use by both sexes, distinguish it from the related genus Sus. The historical distribution of Pygmy Hog was a narrow strip of tall alluvial grasslands from North Uttar Pradesh to Assam, through terai region of Himalayan foothills both in India and Nepal and the Bengal duars. Presently, it has lost most of its range to human migration and its only viable wild population is surviving in the Manas National Park and two re-introduced populations in Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary and Orang National Park.

Though omnivorous, it mainly feed on grasses and its very survival

SFS Batch 2014-16, CASFOS, Dehradun

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is depend on grasslands which provide it place to hide, build a nest, water and protection from flood. The decline in population of Pygmy Hog is attributed to loss and degradation of grasslands due to human habitations, agriculture expansion, indiscriminate fire, contagious disease spread from livestock and faulty wildlife habitat management practices such as tree plantations in grasslands and dry grass burning in summer coinciding with the farrowing season. Therefore, the Pygmy Hog is a sensitive indicator species which highlights the threatened habitat of the region on which other species such as Rhino, Swamp Deer, Wild Buffaloes, Hispid Hare and Bengal Florican also depend for their survival.

Captive Breeding

The first custom-built research and captive breeding centre for the Pygmy Hog was constructed at Basistha, near Guwahati, the Capital of Assam, in 1995. The following year, six wild hogs (2 males, 4 females) were captured from the Manas National Park and kept in this centre for captive breeding. The care was taken to capture pregnant sows, so that the heterogeneous population could be built for future breeding programme without going for capture from the wild, which was time-consuming and a daunting task. Simultaneously, five more wild hogs were captured for radio telemetry study and released back at capture site.

The three sows, out of four, produced 13 piglets (7 males, 6 females) in the same year, out of which 12 survived. In 1997, seven more litters were born, raising the

total number to 35, an increase of 580 per cent from the founder population.

However, seven sub-adults and adults succumbed to death, out of which six to multiple bacterial infections. Another 22 piglets were added from five litters in 1998. The year 1999 witnessed another disease outbreak at the centre, claiming several young ones due to piglet diarrhea, and added 11 piglets from five litters. With the addition of 14 piglets in 2000, the total population of the centre rose to 65. This was the unprecedented success of the Pygmy Hog captive breeding programme so far. But, owing to short gestation period and large litter size, population had increased rapidly and created an accommodation problem in the centre.

Later, more extension enclosures were added to accommodate the growing population and quarantine facility had been constructed to take care of possible disease outbreaks.

Till 2001, the captive population had risen to 77, a 13-fold increase in six years of the programme. From 2001 to 2007, the rigorous measures were taken to stabilise the population and to maintain the genetic heterozygosity in the population through DNA studies at CCMB, Hyderabad. Around 70 adult hogs were maintained in the captivity till 2007 and, in 2008, decision was taken to re-introduce about 12 hogs every year into the wild.

Re-introduction

With successful captive breeding, the next step to achieve the ultimate goal of the programme was to re-introduce captive bred hogs into the wild. For re-

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introduction, extensive studies were carried out to locate probable sites in Assam and three sites, namely Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary, Nameri National Park and Orang National Park, were finalised. Efforts were taken to restore the grasslands at these sites before the release by site-specific management interventions, such as controlling indiscriminate grass burning and livestock grazing. Besides, the pre-release centre with a holding pen and three pre-release enclosures with simulated grassland were established at Potasali, in Nameri Tiger Reserve, as part of the soft-release process. The hogs to be released were encouraged to feed naturally and their supplementary diet reduced to one-fourth of their daily requirement gradually.

The first batch of three social groups – 16 captive bred hogs (7 males, 9 females) were released in Galgeli grassland of Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary in May 2008. Two more batches, consisting of 9 and 10 captive-bred hogs, were released in the same grassland in 2009 and 2010, respectively. The reintroduced hogs were monitored using field signs (droppings, foraging marks, nests, etc.) and video camera traps. A total of 35 (18 males, 17 females) hogs were released in the Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary. All of them are surviving there. Another 8 social groups, consisting 39 hogs (18

males, 21 females) were released in grasslands of Orang National Park in 2011, 2012 and 2013. Thus, the PHCP has so far released 74 captive bred hogs into wild at two sites, 12 times the founder population. The next site decided for the release is Barnadi Wildlife Sactuary, where the Pygmy Hogs were re-discovered in 1971.

Wild capture

Maintaining heterozygosity is crucial for sustenance of any captive breeding programme and PHCP was no exception. As the founder population of PHCP was small (only 6 hogs) there was chance of in-breeding in the population, even though the management had taken due care to avoid it through DNA studies. So, 3 more wild hogs (1 male, 2 females) were captured from Bansbari Range of the Manas National Park and introduced in Potasali Centre for future breeding.

Conclusion

In India, focus of wildlife management so far is on conserving big animals with intent of ecosystem conservation. Thereby, conservation of small creatures has not yielded desired results. The PHCP is, therefore, a shift in our perception of importance of few flagship species to every species in ecosystem.

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WILDLIFE / MADHYA PRADESH

Re-introduction of Swamp Deer The resurrection of the Barasingha from near extinction is one of the most successful stories of wildlife conservation in the world

Bharat Solanki

T

he Hard-Ground Barasingha, a handsome swamp deer, was rescued from the brink of extinction within Kanha National Park, and is one of India’s most successful conservation stories. In 1970, the population fell into decline and was reduced to just 66 animals as a result of habitat loss, infectious disease and over predation by tigers. As a result, a major conservation programme was launched in an effort to curb the rapid losses of this species.

The Hard-Ground Barasingha found in Madhya Pradesh are recognised as a sub-species of the nominate species of Swamp Deer (Cervusduvaucelibranderi). This species was systematically described for the first time by R.I. Pocock (the famous British mammologist, who also coined the species name branderi after A.A. Dunber Brander, a British forest officer).This majestic species belongs to the family Cervidae. It is called Barasingha because of its twelve antlers which are conspicuous in males only. Also the state animal of Madhya Pradesh, the Hard-Ground Barasingha is a vulnerable species as listed in the IUCN Category list.

The species was earlier distributed throughout India, Nepal, Pakistan and Bangladesh (as shown in the map). Currently, the population of this species is restricted only to the Kanha Tiger Reserve because of alteration, fragmentation and degradation of its habitat.

The Barasingha is a specialised feeder, consuming just a few grass species like Themedatriandra, Saccharumspontaneum, Vetiveriazizanioides, Iseilimalaxum, which are found in the meadows of Kanha. The population also dwindled due to illegal hunting on account of the medicinal value of its antlers.

The Hard-Ground Barasingha is one of three recognised species of Swamp Deer: The TaraiBarasingha (Cervusduvauceliduvauceli) is found in the foothills of the Himalyas (Gangetic plains), mainly in the DudhwaTiger Reserve while the Eastern Swamp Deer (Cervusduvaucelirangitsinghi) is found in the swampy grasslands of North-East India.

It is a totally graminivorous species and because of this grasslands are crucial for its survival. The species also prefers open areas of marshes, grasslands and woodland with understory. The hot season is a tough time for the Barasingha and that’s why

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FIELD FORESTER | January 2016 The map shows the enclosures used in the KTR.

they need frequent access to swamps to dip its muzzle, drink water and wade several times in a day.

Barasingha were observed for the first time in January 1863 by Captain James Forsyth in Halon valley of Kanha and near Panchmarhi.

Kanha Tiger Reserve is situated in the Maikal Hills which constitute the eastern segments of the Satpura Hills inthe Narmada river basin in Central India. This park stretches from 220 02’ to 220 27’Nlatitude and 800 26’ to 810 03’ E longitude. According to WII, this area comes under geographic zone, 6E-Deccan Peninsula of Central high lands. Kanha consists of a core zone (940 sq km.) and buffer zone (1009 sq. km.).

In 1938, the Forest Department estimated the population of the Barasingha to be 3038 in Kanha National Park. By 1970, the population drastically declined to 66 by 1970.

The major reasons responsible for the dwindling Barasingha population were

identified as follows: • Inbreeding depression • Degradation and fragmentation of habitat • Natural calamities and epidemics • Man-made changes like construction works, fire protection works, unremoval of invasive species, etc.

Experience has been shown that little food and relatively poor cover will be available for wild herbivores if the dense forest is cut down. Therefore, the Kanha management took the first step towards conservation of species through relocation of villages from the national park so that they could able to improve and manage grasslands to support for foraging, dispersal and multiplication of swamp deer.

Inside Kanha National Park The Park management fenced an area of about 28 ha by making and erecting a chain-link enclosure. The area included habitats of grasslands, water bodies, wallows and small groves of sal

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FIELD FORESTER | January 2016

trees. There, they kept five Barasingha for multiplication, with the hope of increasing the population. By 1979,the population gradually increased up to 20. Motivated by this success, the Park management authority erected another fence in the Supkhar range and eight Barasingha were translocated to the range in 1981. Thereafter, insitu enclosure areas of Kanha were expanded up to 50 ha. In this enclosure, deer respond very positively and the Barasingha numbers reached 84. by the end of October 2010.

In this way, unbelievable work was done by the management authority of the Kanha Tiger Reserve and this showed significant results (see Tables 1 & 2).

Translocation from Kanha The population in the KTR was facing inbreeding depression due to the restriction on the gene flow. There was Table 1 YEAR 1960-65 1988 1996 2003 2015

TOTAL INDIVIDUALS 66 535 308 321 600

REMARKS Banajar valley

concern that due to natural calamities, epidemics, inbreeding depression this species may be extinct from the wild.

Therefore,it was felt that the only way to ensure long-term survival was to translocate/re-introduce the species to a suitable habitat. The ensuing search found two suitable habitat, i.e. Satpura Tiger Reserve (STR) and Van Vihar National Park. The Field Director, KTR, was deputed to prepare and submit a detailed protocol for the pre-capture preparation, capture operation, transportation and release of the animals to Van Vihar National Park and STR. They decided three objectives for this operation: 1) To establish gene pool 2) To spread awareness about conservation 3) To establish a protocol for reintroduction of Swamp Deer Inspired by the South African capture and translocation technique, the boma method was employed to capture the Barasingha (see box). Besides, a large transportation truck was customised to carry 15-20 animals comfortably. The truck was closely linked to a ramp camouflaged with plastered soil and grass to make it look natural to the animals. In this way, the transportation truck, the ramp and the chute of the

Table 2: Population of three Species S.N.

YEAR

TOTAL INDIVIDUALS

REMARKS

1

1978 1999-2000

700 400-500

Eastern swamp deer R. d. ranjitsinhi

2

1988 1999-2000

500 300-350

Southern swamp deer R. d. branderi

3

1990 2000-2003

1500-2000 2170(with 350 springs)

Western swamp deer R. d. duvauceli

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FIELD FORESTER | January 2016

boma became one composite structure at the capture site. This structure was installed several days before the actual capture operation in the field so that the animals could get habituated to its presence and could freely enter and exit it.

On January 8, 2015, seven animals were successfully captured, transported and released in the Van Vihar National Park, Bhopal.

The habitat in Satpura Tiger Reserve is similar to that found in Kanha and therefore suitable for Barasingha. STR was known to have had a Barasingha population in the past as well. The permission to capture and translocate 20 Barasingha was given by the technical committee of the Government of India in January 2015.

The first eight animals were captured and transported on March 3, and another eight on March 15. Four other animals were translocated a little later.

At that time, Kanha had a Barasingha population of around 600 animals. The

“reintroduced” animals were kept in a specially designed enclosure in STR for future multiplication and gradual release into the wild.

Successful re-introduction of Barasingha has shown the way for all other endangered and vulnerable species. Steps for intensive protection and conservation should be taken immediately so that their extinction can stop.

Boma structure

165

The word “boma” is a South African term for capture-enclosures or large cages. It consisted of a wide funnel tapering into an animal selectioncum-loading chute. The main structure of the boma was made of steel sections (2.5 m height and 3 m long) but the wings of the funnel were extended with the help of chain-link fence supported with grass mats to make it opaque for animals.

FIELD FORESTER | January 2016 Vehicle attached to Boma

Animals in the enclosure

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FIELD FORESTER | January 2016

WILDLIFE / West Bengal

Managing human-tiger conflict in Sundarbans Tiger Reserve Nylon net fencing has helped check instances of tiger straying into fringe villages, significantly reducing the conflict rate

Shrikant Subhash Pawar

S

undarbans, the estuarine phase of Ganga and Brahmaputra river systems, is known for its mangrove forest and tigers. This forest is the only such ecological habitat of the tiger. The typical littoral forest of the Sundarbans comprises tree species adapted to the peculiar estuarine condition of high salinity, lack of soil erosion and daily inundation by high tides.

Background

Ferocious and man-eating behaviour of the Sundarbans tiger has been a great problem. This happens as a result of -STR Created in 1973.

-Total geographic area 2585 Km2.

-Forest Sub group 4B tidal swamp forest.

• True Mangrove species = 26.

• Mangrove associates = 29.

• Back mangrove species= 29.

• Fish species = 364, • Mammals species= 47.

• Insect species= 114, • Birds species = 234.

either an attack on the villagers entering the forest or by the tiger straying into human habitation. Millions of people living in the vicinity of forest depend on the Sundarbans ecosystem for their livelihood because it has rich diversity of aquatic and terrestrial flora and fauna and millions get their livelihood through fishing, collection of honey and fuelwood/timber.

The man-eating behaviour of Sundarban’s tiger does not have any intra-specific or intra-generic similarity with any of the Panthera species from anywhere in the world. The various groups of persons falling victim to the tiger includes fishermen, crab collectors, Tigers - 400 • Famous for their amphibious life.

• Both terrestrial as well as aquatic food web.

• Swimming has led to changed food habits (fish, crabs, water monitor lizards).

• Uniqueness of habitat causes certain behavioral trends, which are unique.

• Their behaviour is highly individual specific.

SFS Batch 2014-16, CASFOS, Dehradun

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FIELD FORESTER | January 2016

honey collectors, tiger prawn seed collectors and even Forest Department staff.

Reasons behind the man-eating behaviour of Sundarban Tigers are: Salinity: Human deaths by tiger in high salinity zone are higher than the zone of medium and low salinity – Siddiqi & Chowdhury (1987).

Ceriops & Phoneix vegetation: Dense vegetation of Ceriops & Phoneix forces the tiger to explore different preying strategy, which may be successful killing of human being after following them – Chakrabarty (1978).

Biotic interference & prey density: Biotic interference and prey density causes high human deaths – Deodatus & Ahmed (2002).

Straying of tiger into fringe villages: The major issue in managing humantiger conflict in STR is the straying of tiger into fringe villages.

Control measures for humantiger conflict

There is no village inside the Tiger Reserve. Outside the Reserve, there are more than 1,000 villages within the Sundarbans area, out of which around 100 villages are very close to the Reserve at its northern and north-western fringe, which are densely populated with people and cattle. Here, we can say that not only the excessive human interferences, but also the straying of tigers into these fringe villages is the reason of man-animal conflict in

Villagers wear face masks on the back of their heads to confuse the tigers, who prefer to attack from behind.

Nylon net fencing in Sundarban tiger

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FIELD FORESTER | January 2016

Sundarbans Tiger Reserve. The staff and local villagers use different ways to drive the tiger back to the forest, such as drums, crackers, fire, trap cage with live bait and tranquilisation. Sometimes no interventions are needed; tiger goes back to the forest on its own. However, the process of rescuing a strayed tiger is very difficult in STR because of difficulties in transportation and crowd management. As the capture and release is difficult to carry out, preventive measures have to be thought out so that can avoid the straying of tigers could be avoided.

Up to some extent, dependency of people over forest can be minimised by giving them alternate livelihood opportunities, but they can’t be totally stopped from entering the forest. On the other hand, straying of tiger can be prevented by fencing the boundaries of vulnerable forest areas by nylon net. Using Avicennia posts along the forest fringe have been found to be very effective for the last ten years There are some psychological things which keeps away the tigers from the human and found to be very effective, such as electric human dummies and tiger masks. But the straying of tigers into nearby villages is successfully prevented through nylon net fencing.

These fencings last about three years. Earlier, nylon net fencing with Avicennia posts was practiced. Now it is planned to be replaced by RCC posts and bamboo to reduce Avicennia cutting and recurring expenditure.

Recent observations reveal that tigers have started negotiating the 8-feet high fence by jumping over them. The use of

RCC posts and bamboo pole can also help to erect the fencing at a height of 1012 feet. The mesh size is 4”x4” to avoid any strangulation of wild animal like deer. Till 2012, more than 50 km of forest fringes had been fenced. To restrict entry inside the forest, patrolling activities are strengthened. No unauthorised persons are allowed inside the protected area. This reduces chances of possible conflicts and tiger attacks.

Nylon nets are checked for its height (8 feet minimum) and the height of Khal guard has be maintained at least 5 feet above the highest tidal level estimated for ‘Kotal’ period. If the net is found to be brittle or the posts of the fencing are found to be rotting at the base, they should be immediately changed after bringing it to the notice of the concerned authority.

Results

The data till 2010 clearly shows that the conflict has reduced considerably after 1990. Before the year 2000, every year human deaths used to touch double figures. After 2000, the efforts became more integrated and the situation has significantly improved.

At the same time, it is seen that cases of tiger straying into the fringe villages has reduced considerably after 1998-99.

This trend is continuing till now.

Conclusion

Sundarbans Tiger Reserve has been facing human disturbances, but it has one of the highly unique ecosystem with great biodiversity value. If we want to conserve this mangrove habitat, then the survival of the tiger is very

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FIELD FORESTER | January 2016

Abstract of tiger straying & human killing in Sundarbans Tiger Reserve Year

Frequency of tiger straying

1998-99

37

1999-00

32

2000-01

27

2001-02

21

2002-03

15

2003-04

13

2004-05

14

2005-06

02

2006-07

11

2007-08

11

2008-09

12

2009-10

14

Person killed / Injured by Tiger (Report based on STR) Report based on other sources-RCHP, Gosaba and NGOs Year Died Injured Year Died Injured 1990-91 43 8 1990-91 53 10 1992-93 34 5 1992-93 40 05 1994-95 05 1994-95 16 02 1996-97 02 2 1996-97 06 03 1998-99 02 2 1998-99 21 02 2000-01 15 4 2000-01 40 03 2002-03 14 2002-03 02 2004-05 02 2004-05 2006-07 2006-07 2008-09 09 2008-09 01 2009-10 08 1 2009-10 04 02

(Source: Tiger conservation plan of Sundarbans Ttiger Reserve, 2012).

important. For achieving this objective, the management of the Sundarbans Tiger Reserve has to resolve the humantiger conflict.

The high dependency of local people on forest is responsible for the maneating behaviour among the tigers.

There are limitations in reducing the dependency on forest. Enforcement of law and creation of alternative livelihood options for the fringe forest dwellers are some ways to reduce forest dependency and, ultimately, human and tiger deaths.

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WILDLIFE / nagaland

Longleng: New capital for Amur Falcons A village community in Nagaland shows how successful conservation is possible without sponsors from any source

D. Rameshwaran

A

mur Falcon (Falco amurensis) is an annual migratory bird of the falcon family. During OctoberNovember, winter sets in the northern hemisphere. To avoid this extreme climate, Amur Falcons migrate to the southern hemisphere, particularly to the southern African countries where summer sets in that time. Life is more comfortable there due to availability of abundant food (insects). For this, Amur Falcons undertake long flight and cover a distance of around 22,000 km during their onward and backward migration.

During migration, they stop at several places in the north-eastern part of India, like Mizoram, Assam, Manipur and Nagaland. The primary roosting sites are found in Wokha, Longleng, Peren, Dimapur, Pheu, Zanheboto and Mokokchung areas in Nagaland.

In Nagaland, the majority of people (90 per cent) belong to the tribal community. In the past, they were dependent on hunting, gathering and subsistence agriculture for livelihood.

After the 19th century, their main occupation has been agriculture. But, due to insurgency and disturbed conditions in recent times, low-level

traditional hunting turned into a much more destructive practice. Due to poor socio-economic condition, they started harvesting Amur Falcons on a largescale and sold them in the market.

In 2012, ‘Conservation India’, a Bangalore-based NGO, prepared a report about the mass-scale killing of Amur Falcons in the Doyang catchment area. This report invited attention of conservationist at the national as well as international level for protecting these migratory birds. India, being a signatory party to the “Convention on Migratory Species (CMS)”, is bound to prevent this massacre and provide safe passage to this species. So, the Indian government took action by joining hands with the state forest department, NGOs and other stakeholders to protect these birds. Their efforts to create awareness alongwith timely enforcement of law and introduction of livelihood improvement programmes changed the attitude of people and they converted from hunters to conservationist. As a result, no killing of birds was reported in 2013. All these changes occurred within one year and improved the eco-tourism potential of that area.

Following the success of conservation

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in the Doyang catchment area, an area in the Longleng district of Nagaland, which is managed by a village community called ‘Yaongyimchen Community Biological-Diversity Conservation Area (YCBDCA)’, was in the news last year (2015) for three reasons. First, is the presence of new species named ‘Snow White Amur Falcon’, which resembles the “Gyr Falcon” living on the Arctic Ocean coast and had never earlier been reported in the area. Second, some Amur Falcons remain there throughout the year without undertaking return migration, and, third, Amur Falcons, which earlier roosted in Wokha district, particularly in the Pangti area, now selected this conservation area for roosting.

YCBDCA is wholly managed by the village community. This area covers hundreds of hectares of forest areas of Nyangchi, Awakung, Owa and Akchang. The initiative was taken by villagers of Yaongyimchen, Alayong and Sanglu community in 2010. The village community is working tirelessly without sponsors from the government or any other source for the protection of Amur Falcon. This has been successful mainly because of the efforts of Y Naklu Phom, Executive Secretary of the Phom Baptist Church Association and Convenor, Lensachenlok (name of the village committee).

Awareness and restrictions imposed by the district administration are the two main reasons for the successful conservation of Amur Falcons in the community conservation area.

Awareness was created by the adoption of a resolution by the village community

during the Citizen’s General meeting in 2009, where they decided to make the conservation and preservation concept more relevant to the community. This sensitised the entire community and led to the establishment of YCBDCA. The village community is now also deploying five to seven volunteers everyday to roam around the conservation area for giving protection to the roosting site. For further protection, the district administration has issued an order to all the village councils to get involved in the conservation process as per the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. The order also states that if any village failed to protect this migratory bird, strict action will be taken by withholding the Village Development Board (VDB) funds.

As a result of these efforts, the number of Amur Falcons visiting the area increased four to five times (not less than two lakh birds) in 2015, in comparison to previous years. These efforts are also attracting different wild species to this area due to the increased availability of food and protection.

Above all, it has given a fillip to ecotourism in this area.

The community of Yaongyimchen has now taken initiative to construct a watch-tower near the roosting sites for the visitors to see the birds.

The community is also providing accommodation facilities in the conservation area as well as in the village alongwith local food to guests with an aim to promote ‘Eating Fresh and Living Fresh’.

Yaongyimchen community has now become the role model for the entire country. It has shown that sponsorship

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or financial support is not the criteria for successful conservation. The only need is to understand the value of the environment and tireless efforts from the entire community to bring positive change.

It is very clear that conservation

through village community is very effective and has proved that no alternative can match this. Now the role of the government is to give moral support to the community and take this success story to other parts of the country.

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Forestry / Karnataka

Huli, a boon for wildlife, habitat and conflict management An indigenous web-based application software in BTR has effectively helped in monitoring patrolling activities, wildlife, habitat and man-animal conflicts

Ganesh R Randive

F

orest management deals with wildlife management, habitat management and conflict management. Issues of poaching, illicit felling, encroachment, habitat fragmentation, fire, mining, grazing, etc., are big concerns in protection and conservation today. However, the use of modern technology, like camera traps, hand held GPS, DGPS, etc., has helped monitor this.

Watchers, or foot-patrolling persons, are the basic backbone in any conservation effort. This antipoaching camp gives the accurate picture on the ground of threats to the habitat. Anti-poaching camps, during their day monitoring, collect detailed information on sighting, pugmarks, scats and any other observation of habitat disturbance. But, they could not transfer this data to senior officials. For proper management, we need to get this information daily and accurately.

The forest department of Karnataka, understanding this problem, came up with indigenous web-based application software, ‘Huli’. Before Huli, there were

no means for monitoring the patrolling carried out by anti-poaching camps.

The project Huli was started on March 1, 2011, on a pilot basis in BTR by the Karnataka Forest Department.

Huli effectively monitors foot patrol staff of anti-poaching camp of the BTR tiger reserve and is useful in wildlife, habitat and conflict management. It gives complete information – date, time and geographical information.

The recording system of the app helps in recording the sounds and video of wildlife on the field and also makes it own remarks. Huli is an innovative tool and an administrator sitting anywhere can log on and get complete day-to-day information. It has helped in real time monitoring and increased accountability of the staff. It identifies the location with geo-coordinate data where critical measures need to be taken for habitat management. The main motive of Huli was to effectively monitor patrolling of anti-poaching camps (APC), patrolling forces, wildlife habitat and illegal activities, and mananimal conflicts. Some other goals were to identify corridors for wildlife management and decision-making and

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to find direct and indirect evidences on repository of wildlife.

The field staff of APC of BTR carried GPS-uploaded PDAs during patrolling.

They log the location of animal sighted, scratches on the trees, pug mark, scat, and indirect and direct evidences of wildlife they have seen. Their complete route is tracked and, at the end of the day, the watchers transfer the data from device to computer. Using cellphone boosters, they send the data to a centralised location where data from different APCs of BTR is collected. This develops a complete patrol map. The complete observation of the day can be seen remotely on the net. The BTR APC has been provided with the power backup which lasts for 6 days and cellphone signal booster are provided to see that they have enough connectivity.

Huli has been very useful in tracking the movement of tigers, elephants and other animals. It has helped in coordinating the movements of APC, foresters, forest observers and guards with the help of GPS. The actual location of the field staff can now be monitored. The watchers log the location of each sighting of tiger, herds of prey, scat, encroachment, cooking fire, etc., and enter the data. This data is simultaneously entered in the Huli software. Simple graphic-user interface enables the forest watcher, tribal or any illiterate person to log his details. This is consolidated to derive monthly data, which helps in giving the picture of ecosystem dynamics, habitat, wildlife – sighting, movement of tigers, elephants or herbivores like deer, gaur – and helps in pinpointing any disturbance

to the habitat by poachers or grazers.

Once the data is generated, it helps to identify sensitive points where major patrolling measures need to be taken.

It also helps in understanding the corelation between the prey base and tiger population in BTR to take important and major steps to monitor it.

The Huli has also been found to be a boon in the management of man-animal conflict. The conflict management app system caters to online registration of complaints and their inspection in this regard. The public can download this application by using APK file. When a man-animal conflict occurs, they can report it directly to the department.

This application facilitates real-time reporting and submission of complaints or grievances. The information is received in the form of videos, photos and geo-tags. The status of the request can be tracked and this helps in conflict management.

This app is user friendly and is available in English and local languages with pictorial information. It can be used as a diary. It tracks and records the events completely. This app has helped in using traditional and indigenous knowledge of tribes, and thus, in wildlife and habitat management.

The offline mode of data collection is another advantage which overcomes the problem faced by foresters in remote localities. Login Id and password of this device protects the information from being stolen by illegal elements. The National Informatics Centre has tested its vulnerability.

There were many positive efforts taken by the department for the

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extension of the project – the user is guided and addressed 24X7 by interactive voice response and calls; SMS-based help; trouble-shooting queries and frequently asked questions posted on the department sites; detailed procedure on using the system given; and, blog developed to solve any problems.

The impact of Huli in the forest management of BTR is that earlier details given by APC where confined to the circle but are now viewed by all officers with geo-tags locations and representation on maps; earlier, the data was noted in a diary which was submitted late and hampered the monitoring, but now complete information with location, date and time is given; earlier, decisionmaking was done on the output provided by the field staff, now it’s based on real-time information. Now, each APC and staff is correctly monitored

and guided, monitoring of the habitat is done on the basis of exact locations, the online registration of complaints and online disbursement of amount has solved many conflicts and the accountability of the staff has improved.

The Forest Department of Karnataka won the prestigious e-India 2013 award in G2G category for this application software and also the Brand is Award for revolutionary change in forest management by excellent use of the information and communication technology. Data collected by 11,800 km of patrolling has been recorded on this application. Nearly 2,580 sightings of wildlife have been recorded. This project has fulfilled the objective of getting accurate information on wildlife, habitat and conflict management. After the success of Huli in BTR, an improved version of Huli, called Hejje software, is being developed by the department.

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Conservation / Karnataka

Ban on night traffic, a boon for wildlife conservation A case study on Bandipur National Park results in a pathbreaking decision regarding operation of roads inside protedted areas.

V Priyadarshini

T

he case study highlights the involvement of different stakeholders – conservationists, forest and allied departments, individuals, organisations and institutions together towards the protection of biodiversity.

It also gives emphasis on the teamwork which emerged as the only viable option available so far to implement any measure that leads to the protection, conservation and management of wildlife and thus ensures the peaceful coexistence of all kinds of life in the earth.

The study focused on the impact of roads on the existence of different wildlife – small, medium or large mammals, insects and birds, etc.

Roads led to habitat fragmentation and destruction and degradation of habitat quality. Development of roads in such protected areas led to increased poaching and illegal trade activities, pollution, invasive weed infestation, etc., which further decreased wildlife population. Road kills wipe out the breeding population and hence reduce the population and ultimately results in

loss of biodiversity of the habitat.

The study was conducted in Bandipur National Park and Tiger Reserve, situated in Chamrajanagar district of Karnataka. The study was initiated in 2001 by the conservationists of Nature Conservation Foundation, based at Mysore, Karnataka, for carrying out the study on bird diversity of Bandipur. But, during the course of study, the team of conservationists was shocked to record the alarming incidence of road kills, especially along the State and National Highways laid through the wildlife habitat. The team started documentation of wildlife deaths (especially along NH 67 AND NH 212) from 2003 onwards. After years of relentless efforts by the team, a detailed report was prepared. The report showcased the illeffect of roads and the impact of speeding vehicles which posed serious threat to the existence of wildlife as well as habitat destruction.

In 2006, the report was submitted to the forest department as well as the district administration, which were already working day and night in combating wildlife offences and illegal transportation of materials meant for

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public good. The forest department of Karnataka looked at the report as an important tool in formulating mitigation measures against the threat posed for wildlife (as envisaged in National Wildlife Action Plan, 20022016). Due to consistent efforts by the forest department and conservationists, the plight of wildlife was documented in detail and was submitted to the district administration. Initially, the authorities implemented ban on vehicular movements (from 9 pm to 6 am) along the two National Highways. The ban was withdrawn due to pressure from other stakeholders. But the genuine concerns on wildlife sparked the ‘conservation responsibility’ among the likeminded individuals, institutions, etc. A PIL was lodged in the High Court of Karnataka, demanding closure of highways at night, citing the potentiality of the road in wiping out valuable resources of India.

The detailed report, which consisted of well-documented scientific findings, supportive photographic evidences and presentations, RTI reply on trade-related affairs, etc., attracted the attention of judges in the High Court of Karnataka.

The report had answered every plea of the stakeholders who stood for “infrastructure development” as well as personal deeds. Every argument that stood against the conservation efforts of the forest department and other conservationists were defeated through appropriate and alternative solutions.

The proceedings were highlighted by the media extensively. They became instrumental in creating awareness among the people in every possible way

and hence succeeded in bringing out the undisputed support from the public in preserving the habitat of wildlife.

As a result of the tireless efforts played by each and every stakeholder, a historic judgment was given by Karnataka High Court on March 9, 2010, which put the ban on vehicular traffic during dawn and dusk (9pm- 6 am) along the highways of Bandipur National Park.

Outcome of the case study

• Following the ban on night traffic along NH 67 and NH 212, Rapid Action Project was initiated in Bandipur National Park to create awareness among the public, tourists and, especially among truck drivers. The role and responsibilities of drivers towards the protection of wildlife in the park were highlighted.

The people were educated about the speed limit, which was very crucial in preventing wildlife deaths along and across the highway. The speed of the vehicle was reduced to 40 km/ hr from 80-100 km/ hr.

• The ban in Bandipur led to the similar steps in other states as well.

Following Karnataka, night traffic was banned in Mudhumalai Tiger Reserve of Tamil Nadu, Gir National Park and Velavedar Wildlife sanctuary of Gujarat, etc.

• Funds from various national and international organisations were arranged to divert road projects from eco-sensitive zones.

• The case study brought out the plight of wild animals and their behavior.

Hence, the importance of protected

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areas, animal corridors, habitat quality, etc., were increasingly in limelight recently.

• The role of media has grown tremendously and it has become a vital tool in creating awareness among the public in mass scale.

• By keeping in view the demands of other stakeholders as well, new roads were proposed and laid outside the protected areas.

• The case study resulted in meetings, conventions and seminars among the policymakers at every level.

Inspite of pressure from powerful lobbies as well as greedy needs of the stakeholders, policymakers exhibited their solidarity and determination in conservation of wildlife by formulating policies and strategies which prioritise ecology and environment, protection of

wildlife corridors, biodiversity, etc.

• Educational institutions were directed to create awareness among the children at a very young age, so as they look wildlife as a part of the ecosystem and not as creatures for entertainment.

• The ban on night traffic was further extended from 9 hours to 12 hours (6pm - 6am) in other tiger reserves of Karnataka from December 2015.

The study proves that proper and well-documented scientific findings, along with extensive studies on other related aspects, ends up in a positive note. Simple and good interpretation of scientific studies helped in better understanding of the subject, which resulted in bringing the stakeholders together. The integrity shown by every stakeholder resulted in quick decision by the judiciary.

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WILDLIFE / Madhya Pradesh

Successful tiger reintroduction project in Panna Proper preparation, planning and execution created a reintroduction model for tigers to be replicated in the world.

Manisha Purwar

P

anna National Park was declared in 1994 as the 22nd tiger reseve in India and the 5the in Madhya Pradesh. It is located in Panna and Chhatarpur districts of Madhya Pradesh. The area of the park is 542.67 square km. This forest division is the only large wildlife habitat remaining in North Madhya Pradesh. This area is the northern most tip of the natural teak forest and the easternmost tip of the natural kardhai forest. The forest of this park, alongwith Ken Gharial Wildlife Sanctuary and adjoining territorial division, form part of catchment area of the 406 km long Ken River which runs north-east for about 72 km through the park.

This park is home to more than 200 bird species, including the bar-headed goose and king vulture. Animals found here are the tiger, sloth bear, chital, chinkara, nilgai and sambhar.

Tiger Reserve

In Panna National Park, which was declared as a tiger reserve in 1994, a decrease in tiger population has

been reported several times. In 2004, there were reports that no tigers were found in the reserve; there was no direct evidence of tiger presence like pugmarks, scratch marks on tree, etc. In 2009, it was said that entire population has been eliminated.

Threats

Poaching: Poaching is the number one threat to the tiger’s existence.

Every single tiger organ is sold on the black market. Tiger parts are used for traditional medicines to cure ailments.

China has a great market for tiger part.

Tiger skin is also used for décor, it indicates status and wealth across Asia.

Habitat loss: The tiger is increasingly under threat from deforestation for agricultural developments, especially monocultures.

Panna Tiger Reintroduction Project

The MP forest Department initiated the Panna Reintroduction Project in March 2009. This project had two phases and involved translocation of six tigers. The phase I and phase II were adopted protocol of All India Tiger

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Population Estimation and Monitoring for sampling design and data collection.

Phase 1 Earlier it was thought it was impossible to relocate tiger in a new area. But, the Panna Tiger Reserve made history in the world; it has completed six years of tiger relocation.

The number of tigers in the reserve has gone up from 0 to 28.

T1 and T3: The Ministry of Environment and Forests approved a proposal to translocate two tigers to the Panna Tiger Reserve. One female tiger from Bandhavgarh National Park (T1) and one female tiger from Kanha National Park (T2) was translocated to Panna Tiger Reserve.

T3: This tiger was first tranquilised on November 2009 at Pench and was brought to the Panna Tiger Reserve, where it was keep in an enclosure at Badagarhi inside the Park area. Due to technical and logistical reasons, the tiger was brought to Panna without a radio collar. The tiger was under watch for 7 days and a team of expert veterinarians had decided to tranquilise the tiger for the second time on November 13.

The next day, the tiger was released in the Reserve. T3 started moving in the south direction towards its original habitat. T3 was tracked continuously for over a month and brought back to the Reserve. This was a huge task of Panna forest department. This massive search operation was supported by 70 members and four elephants were also deployed.

T4 and T5: Two female day-old cubs, T4 and T5, were brought Kanha

Tiger Reserve. Their mother was killed by territorial male and the cubs were hand reared by Panna Tiger Reserve for 18 months. They were successfully reintroduced in the Panna Tiger Reserve, which deployed the urine test to encourage them to mate.

Phase 2 T6: T6 is part of the second phase in the relocation of tigers to Panna. T6 was relocated from Pench Tiger Reserve.

She was let free in the Balaiya Ghat area of the Panna Tiger Reserve, However, she had to be re-tranquillised and rereleased as she had wandered into the peripheral area of the park.

Tigers Monitoring

Panna had lost all its tigers in the span of four years, from 2006 to 2009-10. This put the spotlight on obvious dangers to their lives, making it essential to radio collar the tigers.

Method: Muscle relaxant is used for tranquilising the tiger. The effect of the tranquiliser lasts for about an hour.

The tiger’s eyes are covered with a black cloth, so that it can’t see anything.

When the tiger is tranquilised, the radio collar is attached to its neck and after that the tiger is ready to be monitored. A team manually tracks the tiger with an antenna and transmitter, which indicate the tiger’s GPS location.

Continuous locations are tracked and reading of the transmitter is noted down in a register issued by the forest department. Tiger trackers work 24x7 and give hourly updates about the tiger. A checking party is assigned to inspect the activities of

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the tracking party. The information gathered by the tracking party is collected by the RFO. Working of transmitter: The ideal reading of the transmitter is 60 beats per minute. It indicates that the tiger is absolutely healthy. If the beats are more than 80, the tiger’s life may be in danger – it’s either ill or injured and needs immediate attention. If the reading falls to 30 or 20 beats per minute, it indicates some problem in battery.

Tracking by drone: Drones will track tiger movement across the Panna Tiger Reserve. This is the first time that a park will use them. Panna has the permission to use two drones until June 2014 to see how they work. The miniature antenna and receiver attached on each of the drones will help in monitoring and managing the security of the tigers.

Result

T1 gave birth to four cubs in April 2010, of which 2 survived. T2 gave birth to four cubs and all four survived. The third tigress, T4 (orphaned cub), was found dead on September 19, 2014, due to infection caused by its radio. T5 was released in the wild in November 2011.

Solution

● Mitigating the most pressing threats facing the species by training and outfitting law enforcement patrols.

● Investigative teams to secure protected areas utilising informant networks to apprehend poachers. ● Identifying and protecting tiger habitats. ● Using advanced technology to prevent poaching, including handheld Thermal Imagers ● Training the government and NGO staff to use the best scientific methods to monitor tiger and its prey populations. ● Relocation of 16 villages at the edge of Panna forest. There are two ways to relocate villagers; the NTCA gives Rs 10 lakh per family to go elsewhere and the second is to take part of money and get settled on a piece of land.

Special attention was paid to the buffer zone on the periphery of the forest, which is used by both cattle and wild animals. The forest department ensured immediate compensation to a villager if his cattle were killed by a tiger.

Conclusion

The reintroduction programme of tigers in Panna has proved to be successful and can be replicated in the world. In Panna, proper preparation, planning and execution created a reintroduction model for tigers to be replicated in the world.

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Conservation / Maharashtra

Mangrove cell succeeds in rehabilitation in Mumbai Mangrove Cell was established in 2012 to create awareness about importance of mangroves and to train staff for effective conservation of mangrove areas

Amol Pandurang Thorat

M

umbai, the capital city of Maharashtra with an estimated population of about 22 million, is the 6th populous agglomeration in the world. There are seven islands which make Mumbai and a home to communities of fishing colonies. With increase in population, Mumbai was reshaped by Hornby Vellard project in the 18th century, which, by reclamation work, connected these seven islands. With the construction of major roads and railways, the reclamation project changed Mumbai into a major seaport on the Arabian Sea. Mumbai has a long history of land reclamation. Present day Mumbai is a part of a two major groups of islands that were connected through the process of land filling over past many years. This led to a change in the floral and faunal diversity of this region. The process of land filling is still continuing for solid waste disposal and expansion of urban and industrial campuses in Mumbai. The rapid rate of urbanisation in Mumbai changed land use pattern drastically e.g. reduction in

forest and agriculture land, reduction in mangrove forests and at the same time increase in built-up area. Most mangroves in and around Mumbai are being destroyed rapidly and are being turned into landfill sites.

These sites have heavy accumulation of non-biodegradable solid waste materials accumulated in mangroves areas. Mumbai creeks are major sinks for discharge of sewage and industrial waste which is generated in the city.

Considering it is a city of more than 27,000 people per square km, huge amount of sewage is generated which is poorly treated and dumped in the creeks. Also, industrial effluents are also discharged into creeks which changes characteristics of water and also biology of mangrove ecosystem. In 2005, the Bombay High Court directed the state government to declare mangroves as reserved forest. This has resulted in more protection to the mangroves area and has also shown increase in its cover.

Mangrove and its importance

Mangroves are salt tolerant trees and shrubs that grow in the intertidal regions of tropics and subtropics.

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They come up better in places where freshwater mixes with seawater and where sediment contains accumulated deposits of mud. Mangroves have the ability to survive in an adverse environment. They sustain in high salt content area and developed adaptation to thrive in this environment.

Mangroves have been proved to have tremendous biological resources, which confer various benefits to mankind. It plays an important role in enriching coastal biodiversity, in climate change mitigation, protection from tsunamis, cyclones and storms surges.

Today, mangroves face constant threat from urbanisation, agriculture, aquaculture, sewage and industrial effluent, oil pollution, cutting of mangroves, reduction of ecosystem health, overfishing, sand and iron ore mining and natural threats like flooding, grazing, poor natural regeneration, bio-fouling, cyclones and effect of climate change. Mangrove habitat has lost many animal species that were restricted to mangroves habitat at an elevated risk of extinction under IUCN categories and criteria. However, none of the mangrove plant species are in IUCN Red list.

Mangrove distribution

The total area of mangroves in India is about 4,628 sq km, which is about 7 per cent of the world’s total area of mangroves. According to Mangrove Cell, 19 species of mangroves are found on the Maharashtra coast and 12 of these species are found in Mumbai.

Mangrove cover in Maharashtra is 186 sq km (State of Forests Report – 2013’’)

which includes mangroves standing on private as well as public land. The distribution of mangrove cover across the six coastal districts of Maharashtra is as follows: S.NO. NAME OF MANGROVE DISTRICT COVER IN SQ. KM. 1 Mumbai 02 2 Mumbai 43 Suburban 3 Thane 53 4 Raigad 62 5 Ratnagiri 23 6 Sindhudurg 03 TOTAL 186

Mangrove Cell

To protect, conserve and manage the mangroves of the state, a cell was established on January 6, 2012, in Mumbai and headed by Dr N Vasudevan (IFoS), a Chief Conservator of Forests. The objective behind the conservation of coastal biodiversity is to create awareness about importance of mangroves and to train staff for effective conservation of mangrove areas. To increase the mangrove cover in the degraded areas, the Mangrove Cell has initiated mangrove afforestation programmes since 2012-13. Mangrove nurseries were established at Bhandup, Godbunder and Manoriin Mumbai, Guhaghar in Raigad district, Mithbao and Achra in Sindhudurg districts. Lakhs of mangrove saplings will be available in nurseries in 2013-14. Largescale afforestation programme were carried out with the involvement of local people.

The objective behind afforestation is to improve the species diversity on the Maharashtra coast. Efforts were

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Activities of Mangrove Cell in Mumbai 1. Mangroves plantation by Mangrove Cell Place

Year of Plantation

Area (Ha)

Spacing (m) Species

Number of seedlings

Bhandup

2013-14

10

1.5 * 1.5

Avicennia marina 44,440 Ceriopstagal

Kanjur

2013-14

5

1.5 * 1.5

Avicennia marina 22,220 Ceriopstagal

Mandale

2013-14

10

1.5 * 1.5

Avicennia marina 44,440 Ceriopstagal

Kanjur

2014-15

4

1.5 * 1.5

Avicennia marina 17,776 Ceriopstagal

Mandale

2014-15

10

1.5 * 1.5

Avicennia marina 44,440 Ceriopstagal

2. Afforestation Works Carried Out In Mumbai 2012-13 Sr.No 1 2 3 4 5 7 8 9

Location Manori Charkop Airoli Koparkhairane Bhandup Total Plantation Bhandup Mahul Gorai Total ANR

Area (ha) 21.00 19.12 5.62 2.70 7.87 56.31 10.00 8.00 4.00 22.00

Nature of work Plantation Plantation Plantation Plantation Plantation Assisted Natural Regeneration Assisted Natural Regeneration Assisted Natural Regeneration

3. Plantation activity region wise Region Central Mumbai Western Mumbai New Mumbai Total Area

Area Planted in hectare 50 40 90 180

taken to revive the mangrove cover by facilitating better tidal inundation (Assisted Natural Regeneration).

4. Protection: Demolition of illegal huts

was carried out in mangrove areas and around 850 huts have been removed since 2012. Each hut’s average size was 4mx5m, which means 17,000 sq m areas was cleared. Mumbai Mangrove

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Conservation Society was established for protection and mangroves were planted on these areas.

5. Awareness programme: Mangrove Cell is creating awareness in various schools, colleges, institutions and corporate companies. They celebrate various days, like Wetland Day, World Environment Day, International Biological Diversity Day, etc., with the help of various NGOs and civil societies.

Results

The biennial survey conducted by the Forest Survey of India, Dehradun, shows that during 2013 to 2015, mangrove areas have gone up from 186 sq km to 222 sq km. Between 2005 and 2013, it was static at 186 sq km, but after the establishment of the Mangrove Cell, it increased by 36 sq km. This is the highest increase in cover recorded by any state in the country during 2013 to 2015. Total mangrove cover of country has gone up by 112 sq km, from 4,628 sq km in 2013 to 4,740 sq km in 2015.

Despite heavy pressure on Mumbai and suburbs, it has shown an increase of 5 sq km, which means 43 sq km to

48 sq km. this means nearly 12 per cent increase in the area. The Cells have created awareness in many schools, colleges and institutions.

Conclusion

The Mangrove Cell is working efficiently for the conservation and protection of mangroves in Mumbai and in the state. It carried out various restoration works in these areas. Today, mangroves have become a global concern because of their continuous destruction worldwide. Therefore, we must primarily create awareness to educate the public and must avoid dumping of waste and releasing hazardous effluents in mangrove areas. In each state such a Cell should be established to undertake rehabilitation initiatives, nursery establishment and afforestation as well as replanting in degraded areas. Many international agreements and various regional agreements are directly relevant to conservation of mangroves. Still, largescale mangrove restoration and rehabilitation programmes are needed to be taken up to save the last surviving oceanic rainforest with national and international integrated efforts.

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Conservation / Maharashtra

Kaas flower plateau: Steps taken to battle tourists’ rush Formation of Joint Forest Committees and strict monitoring of number of tourists per day has helped in checking the threats caused by increase in tourism Girija N. Desai

T

he Kass Flower Plateau is a pristine site of endemic flower species with large carpets of flowers. It is situated 30 km from Satara (Maharashtra) in the Kaas Wildlife Sanctuary in the Sahyadris, in the Western Ghats. The Kass is a volcanic plateau, basically formed of basalt and laterite rock rich in bauxite. It is a biodiversity hotspot with about 6 per cent of flower species in the red data book.

In 2012, this plateau was listed as the World Natural Heritage Site by Unesco.

The Kaas plateau region comprises of about 1,400 plant species with 15 botanical families and more than 400500 species of wildflowers. As Satara is a small district of Maharashtra, the Kaas plateau was totally untouched till

the last decade. Due to its high degree of endemism, it became famous following studies by various researchers and scientists, which ultimately led to visits by tourists. The flowering season in Kaas plateau is from July to October and, on an average, about 1.5 lakh tourists visit Kaas every year.

The name Kaas has originated from the presence of Kaas tree (Eleocarpus glandulosus) in the region. The region is under protection of the Satara Forest Division.

Geographical Details Latitude 17O42’ to 17O45’N’ Longitude 73O47’ to 73O56’E’ Area approx 1972 ha RF Avg. Annual Rainfall 1,800 to 2,300 mm Forest type 3B/C-2 Southern Moist

mixed deciduous forest

SFS Batch 2014-16, CASFOS, Dehradun

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The impact of tourism

The basic motto of world heritage convention is to preserve the natural world heritage sites in sustainable manner for future generation and its conservation. The great influx of visitors in the recent years has the potential to affect plants which are sensitive to trampling as most of the species found in the plateau are on the lower surface with a very small soil layer. Overcrowding of the place results in trampling of floor plants with less resistance. Vehicles are a source of chemical pollution, causing threat to flower species at the lower surface of the plateau. Cattle-grazing is also a major threat to this world heritage ENDEMIC FLORA OF KAAS Botanical Name Alysicarpus belguamenses Cassia auriculata Murdania lanuginose Exacum pumlum Impatiens Hitchenia Caulina Hypoxis aurea Utriculateria purpurensis Drosera indica flower Senecio graham Drosera burmanni Neanotis lancifolia Impatients lawii Eriocaulon tuberferum Vigna vexillata Pentanema cernumn Pogostemon Deccanensis Smithia hirsute Pinda Tridax procumbens

Local Name Gulabi shewra Tarwad Abolina Chirayat Pandhara terada Charvar Sontara Sitchi Aasure Gavti davbindu Sonki Davbindu Taragucha Jambhala terad Panged Halunda Sonsari Jambhali Manhiri Kawla Pand Dagdi pali

site. Disturbance by tourists include water pollution at the Kaas lake area and plastic waste. Various activities, as trekking, hiking, rock climbing, are a major cause of soil disturbance.

Moreover, windmills are installed here in large numbers and are causing disturbance to the ecosystem.

The Kaas plateau is a pristine natural site and needs efforts from all ends of the society for its conservation.

This tourism is expanding day by day and there is an increase in littering by tourists. The large number of tourists is a major concern in decreasing the aesthetic value of the site and adding to the pressure on local communities and nearby lakes by Kaas village population.

Due to fast increasing popularity of Kaas plateau, the land prices in the nearby surroundings have gone up drastically, making it difficult for farmers and villagers.

Major threats

The loss of biodiversity and aesthetic value of Kaas is a major concern.

Also, economic benefits from tourism are not sufficient for conservation activities. Also a cause of concern is less concentration on conservation and high trend towards tourism management.

According to Unesco, only 2,000 visitors per day are allowed, but this number increases to about 50,000 per day during peak tourist season.

Conservation measure taken

The forest department of Maharashtra has framed Joint Forest Management (JFM) committees with villages in Kaas plateau. The primary objective of JFM

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committees is to check pollution and do waste management. This includes removal of plastics, bottles, garbage and food materials on a frequent basis.

Mass public awareness programmes on protecting biodiversity of Kaas are organised by various educational institutes every year and these include, conservation sensitisation on social networking sites, poster presentations and tourists’ awareness campaigns.

The forest department of Maharashtra has initiated five-year plans for conservation. The department has built fences bordering roads to avoid trampling of plants and herbs. Temporary, mobile latrines have been encouraged by the forest department; as the Kaas plateau area is under a reserve forest, no permanent structure can be formed.

The JFM committees are promoted for conservation activities, security, ticket counters and guide facilities.

A project plan of the interpretation centre is in pipeline for approval in the forest ministry. The online booking system for tourists is maintained by the forest department. As per rules, only 2000 tourists per day are allowed. Rs 10 per tourist is being charged, which goes into the accounts of JFM committees for protection and conservation.

Information and signages with slogans of ecosystem conservation are installed by the Maharashtra forest department.

Vehicle parking is restricted in the 3 km periphery around the Kaas plateau.

Driving beyond the 20 km/hr speed is

restricted by the forest department. The number of forest guards in the Kaas plateau region is increased during June to September.

The Kaas forest area is divided into A, B, C1, C2 blocks. Fire lines, fire-fighting kits, check nakas and firewatchers are provided by the Satara Forest Department. Fencing of about 10 kilometres is done by the forest department with gaps every 1 km.

Various fees and taxes levied by the Satara Forest Department Fees per individual Rs 10 Mini buses Rs 100 Bus Rs 150 Commercial photographers Rs 50 Deposit to carry plastic (refundable) Rs 50 Fine for plucking flowers Rs 100 Plucking of plants Rs 200 No of tourist 2009 2010 2011

50,000 175,000 300,000

Result of conservation effects

Nearly 3,000 plus plastic bottles were collected per day in the years 2010, 2011 and 2012. Today, the number has reduced to less the 500. Tourist monitoring online booking system has reduced the rush. Fencing and barriers act as protection from grazing activities. With active participation of JFM committees, conservation efforts are fruitful.

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COMMUNITY / MAHARASHTRA

Concerted action in Coimbatore NGOs like Siruthuli have played a key role in conservation of the Western Ghats, signifying the importance of peoples’ participation

R. Rajmohan

P

eople’s participation is one of the biggest weapons to achieve any goal. After Independence, the public is increasingly contributing towards rural development through participation in rural projects, campaigns and social services. Another remarkable level of participation is seen in environment. The past few years have witnessed a lot of change in the attitudes, approaches and policies of non-government organizations (NGOs) and their participation in environmental conservation activities.

NGOs are playing an important role in raising environmental concerns, environmental education, promoting sustainable development and conservation of environment.

There are many examples one can take. One such is the contribution of Shri Jadav “Molai” Payeng of Assam to forest development forest in Jorhat. Another example is that of Abdul Kareem of Puliyamkulam, who created 32 acres of forest in Kadarkod while Rajendra Singh of Alwar district in Rajasthan is working for water harvesting and water management.

In the Western Ghats region, the

Keystone Foundation has been working in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (NBR) with indigenous communities on eco-development and wildlife conservation. OSAI, an NGO for student environmental groups, is also focused on the Western Ghats, their water resources and their conservation.

It has been organising seminars and exhibitions. Another success story is that of an NGO in Tamil Nadu is Siruthuli.

This case study details and analyses the activities and achievements of Siruthuli and its collaboration with the Forest Department.

Siruthuli is a non-profit movement formed by a few socially conscious corporates in 2003. Siruthuli means ‘a little drop’ (in Tamil). The idea was to motivate the people of Coimbatore to come together to save the city. It envisioned creating a public movement to address the environmental issues facing the city, especially the water problem.

Industries and corporates joined hands with the Residents Awareness Association of Coimbatore (RAAC).

The ultimate aim of this organisation is to improve the level of underground water table through desiltation, creation of new water bodies, river restoration, restoration of the green cover through

ACF Trainee, CASFOS, Dehradun

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massive afforestation, solid waste management and creating awareness about environment conservation. Over the past decade, it has grown into a mass movement and continues to do exceptional work for the city’s well being.

Coimbatore is the second largest city in the state of Tamil Nadu. It is located in the southern part of the Western Ghats. The Coimbatore forest range is surrounded by eight major water bodies – Singanallur Lake, Valankulam Lake, Ukkadam Periyakulam, Selvampathy Lake, Narasampathi Lake, Krishnampathi Lake, Selvachinthamani Lake and Kumaraswami Lake. These wetlands are a major life-supporting component of the area with high concentrations of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, invertebrate species and also contributing to the livelihoods of the human population.

But all that changed in the early 2000s.The lakes were drying up; the river had run down to a trickle; and groundwater was depleting fast.

Things went from bad to worse in 2003 when the city faced a severe droughtlike condition. And sadly, all this was man-made.

The major reasons for the environmental degradation in Coimbatore were water pollution due to industrial waste, encroachment of the elephant corridor, lack of proper waste management in the urban areas. Degradation of water bodies by development activities and largescale conversion of agricultural land to real estate are leading to fragmentation and degradation of natural habitats. The tanks were shrinking in size, clogged

with all sorts of urban garbage and construction of concrete roads on the bunds. In many cases, water hyacinth covered the entire water surface of the tanks. The unavailability of water was increasingly leading to humananimal conflict.

Then in 2003, Coimbatore district was declared as a drought hit area by the State Government. The ground water table levels of Coimbatore went to as low as 1,000 feet deep. The River Noyyal and all lakes were completely dried out. This critical situation led to the birth of Siruthuli. A series of activities were undertaken under the aegis of the NGO. Save the Lake (Kulam Kaappom): With the mass participation of residents and volunteers in Coimbatore, the channels of Singanallur Lake, Valankulam Lake, Ukkadam Periyakulam, Selvampathy Lake, Narasampathi Lake, Krishnampathi Lake, Selvachinthamani Lake and Kumaraswami Lake were cleaned. Also, construction of rainwater harvesting structures in and around Coimbatore city were undertaken.

Construction of check dam: A check dam was constructed in association with the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) and Forest Department on the Nandangarai perennial stream flowing near Kalkothi Tribal Hamlet. With a water holding capacity of 100 million litres, the check dam helped to recharge ground water resources in Coimbatore area and provided drinking water to wild animals in the surrounding forest.

Rain water harvesting structure: Siruthuli constructed artificial ground water recharge harvesting structures

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Source: Tamil Nadu Water and Drainage Board

on road side and in open spaces in Coimbatore. This structure consisted of a deep bore well, percolation pit, filter chamber filled with filter materials and concrete slabs.

By 2005, a visible difference was apparent. The river was returning to life, a few lakes were brimming with water and ground water levels were getting back to normal. Siruthuli’s commitment ensured that the pace did not slacken.

It is not surprising then that Coimbatore was given the Best City Award in 2014 for efficient management of water through restoration of tanks.

Another great achievement is the renewed sighting of rare birds in the rejuvenated water bodies. The Salim Ali Center for Ornithology and Natural History reported more than 116 species of birds in the Coimbatore water bodies and surrounding area in 2014. The Spot Billed Pelican (Pelecanus philippensis), a globally threatened species, was

reported from Ukadam Lake. Oriental White Ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus), Gadwall (Anas strepera), Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus) were also reported during the bird survey. The Environment Conservation Group (ECG) reported sighting the migratory bird, Great Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) in Coimbatore Lake; normally, this bird is seen in Gujarat.

The ground water table level drastically increased from more than 150 metres deep to less than 30 metres during the last 10 years. The graph shows the comparison between different zones in Coimbatore from January 2004 to January 2009. In June 2015, the average ground water level of Coimbatore increased up to 13 metres!

The Western Ghats is the one of the major biodiversity hotspots in India.

For development and conservation of the Western Ghats, the Tamil Nadu government has initiated the Western Ghat Development Programme

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(WGDP). This programme includes fire protection, anti-poaching and soil moisture conservation. In the Nilgris district, the state government has initiated the Hill Area Development Program (HADP) for conservation of Shola forest, improving wildlife habitat and fire prevention works. Outside the forest area, the Tamil Nadu Forest Department in collaboration with

the Japan International Cooperation Agency is implementing a Biodiversity Conservation and Greening Project to increase forest cover. As the case study of Siruthuli has shown, increased participation of various stakeholders such as environmentalists, NGOS, corporate and the public will go a long way in strengthening the conservation activities of the State Forest Department.

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WILDLIFE / TAMIL NADU

Reducing human–elephant conflict The early morning system instituted in the Valparai plateau is an innovation that has had effective results and must be sustained

P Arunkumar

V

alparai plateau is a 220 sq.km area, which was once a pristine rain forest before the British in the late 19th century clear felled these pristine forests and raised tea, coffee and cardamom plantations.

This has resulted in fragmented rain forest patches in between these estates.

Valparai is also surrounded by various sanctuaries and national parks both from the Tamil Nadu and Kerala side that includes the Anamalai Tiger reserve and Parambikulam Tiger reserve, both of which are contiguous with the area.

These areas had historically been the migratory corridor of elephants. Today, elephants often cross through these estates to reach from one forest patch to another as it is known that elephants have a very good memory and the migratory routes almost remains the same over generations together. Thus, it is obvious that very often there is interface between the people and elephants resulting in property damage mainly buildings where grains are stored like ration shops and noon meal centres. The worse consequence of this interaction is the death of people.

All this is slowly leading to a situation

Valparai Plateau with details of protected areas surrounding it SFS Batch 2014-16, CASFOS, Dehradun

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where people started turning hostile against elephants when their dear ones are lost. This is not a good sign for conservation as in a landscape like this conservation of these pachyderms is difficult without the cooperation and goodwill of the people.

It is under these circumstances of increasing unrest due to loss of property and life that the NGO Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF) intervened. After working on elephant conservation for over a decade in the Valparai plateau, Anand Kumar, working for NCF, came up with the innovative idea of a elephant early warning system and together with the cooperation and support of the Forest Department and the local people were able to implement it.

the local cable channels when mobile phones were not popular among the people. The cable TV has a reach of about 5,000 households in the area.

This was one of the earliest methods of elephant information system used by the NCF team starting from the year 2006.

SMS alerts: As the reach of mobile technology increased and the people also started switching to satellite television, the SMS based alert system was introduced. For this a database of mobile numbers of plantation workers, students, drivers and pastors in local churches and other people interested to receive the message was created. As and

The Early Warning System The early warning system is based on the premises that majority of human deaths occur in conflict zone when both human and elephants are caught unaware of each other’s presence leading to attack. So the early warning system is basically making the presence of elephants aware among the people living there.

It includes tracking and locating elephant movement through the Rapid Response Force comprising local people, using Forest Department staff and information from local people and dissemination of the same through various channels.

Local Cable TV: Initially the information about presence of elephants was disseminated in the form of messages that were relayed in

SMS alert sent giving the location of the elephants with emergency contact number.

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when the information about the location of elephants is received from the team tracking them, bulk SMS is sent to all the mobile numbers within 2 km radius of the location of the elephants. The 2 km area was fixed based on the longterm study done by NCF that elephants within a period of 24 hours would move around a 2 km radius. The message is bilingual in both English and Tamil, the local language.

Initially when the project was launched, people were reluctant to share their mobile numbers. As the initiative caught up, the response from the people was great and they started to give information even about the location of elephants. The SMS service acts as a timely alert to the local people and they avoid the route where the elephants are present and also seek the help of the Forest Department or Rapid Response Force. The Forest Department personnel deployed for this

operation in the conflict zone are in a closed user group for instant sharing of information and immediately respond for any emergency call reaching the spot to save life and property.

Visual alert system: Apart from the above mentioned alert systems, a visual alert system consisting of a red LED flashing light fitted over a 10 m long pole (Figure 3) at 24 strategic locations was put in places of high probability of elephant movement locations. This is visible for about 1 km.

These lights are fitted to a SIM card and can be operated from a mobile number. A maximum of three numbers can be registered for activation of this light. For turning on this system, locals were involved with a minimum of two mobile number registered and as soon as the message is received by them, they turn on the light system.

It was found that in 98 per cent of the cases, the lights were operated by local

Red flash light visible for a long distance giving the location of elephants, so that people can avoid going to the area.

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people themselves from the registered numbers.

Effect of the Early Warning System The effect of these early warning system and other interventions of forest department was studied by the NCF team in terms of incidences of human attack and loss of life and property over a three-year period (2011-12 to 2013-14).

Reduction in the incidences of loss to property: It was found at the end of the study period that there has been a gradual reduction in the loss of property. The number of incidences of loss of property during the study period has showed a marked reducing trend.

When compared to the first year, there

was a 41 per cent reduction of incidences of elephant attack on property. The success is greatly attributed to timely dissemination of information, rapid response of forest department staff to protect the property and the cooperation of the local people.

Reduction in fatal encounters: The effect of this timely information provided through bulk SMS has helped people to avoid the elephants which have in fact resulted in gradually reducing the fatal incidences which became zero during 2013 as can be seen from the figure below, but unfortunately in February 2014 there were two fatal incidences.

On analysis of the incidences, it was found that one incidence was due to the ignorance of the warning provided

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by the alert system and the other was due to the fatal injury caused while running away in panic to escape from the elephant and not the actual attack by the elephant.

The success of the alert mechanism can be attributed to ● Long-term research done on the human elephant interface in the landscape to understand the genesis of the problem. ● Designing suitable multipronged need based solution to suit the site specific problems. ● Creation of awareness among the people about the problem and the need for restraint. ● Cooperation of all the stakeholders involved.

For his effort in the reduction of elephant and human conflict when other parts of the country has seen a rise in such incidences, NCF’s Ananda Kumar was awarded the Whitley Award, dubbed as the Green Oscar.

In order to sustain the system so created, there should be a long-term plan of self sustaining the mechanism

by involving people and also institutionalising it. These measures are still short-term mitigation measures to reduce the interaction of people and elephants, to have a long-term solutions one should be thinking of creation of corridors along the plantations especially along the Nadu Ar-Sholayar river system passing through the middle of the Valparai plateau along which the elephants migrate. If a corridor is created by planting along the width of the river system, local tree and grass species that exists in the rain forest patches concentrating on some fodder species of elephants, then the elephants will have peaceful movement from one forest patch to other without any disturbance to both human and elephants. Efforts should be taken to think of ways of storage of food grains that would not attract elephants and that could not be damaged by elephants such as underground storages and use of suppressant or maskers for masking the smell of grains so that the animals cannot detect the foodgrains.

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Note: Articles may be sent at the following email ID: fieldforester@gmail.com 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 will be 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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