BNHSCentenary

ffiatiifnttj « Shim *tt / fflfssfo/y ^Society

■^^

BNHS CENTENARY JOURNAL

SEMINAR

SSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE BNHS

November 1 2-1 5, 2003

It is fining that the BNHS has chosen the birth
anniversary of Dr. Salim Ali to rededicate itself to the
defence of wild nature and to redouble its effort to
promote good science, the foundation of our Journal,
whose 100th Volume ha&just been published.

The Bombay Natural History Society has a long and
distinguished history. From the day it was founded in
1B83 iis members have been documenting and
protecting the rich diversity of the Indian subcontinent.

In following pages you will learn more about this rich
history, extracted by Mr. ValmikThapar from the Journal
of the BNHS, which represents the best in natural
history, science and nature conservation.

From the earliest days. BNHS members have builtthis
society on an edifice of integrity and credibility. Ours
has always been an independent voice, sometimes a
lone voice in the wilderness, Fighting to protect our
rrreplaceable heritage has often been an uphill task,
but one that has united some of the finest humans in
joint purpose.

Guiding our conservation actions is a core team of
extremely talented and dedicated scientists, whose
research capability continues to provide our
conservation strategy with its keenest edge. With
science as the bedrock of the Bombay Natural History
Society today, we are uniquely positioned to guide the
nation on how to manage its land and water resources,
without damaging the fragile ecosystems on which all
life Is dependent, Nurturing and training young
scientists and biologists will always remain a core
objective of the BNHS.

Some time ago in my capacity as the President of the
BNHS i was privileged to Chair a Central Government
Committee entrusted with the creation of a National
Wildlife Action Plan for India. This document has been
very widely circulated by the Ministry and is going to
be the basic blue print for conservation action in India
in the years ahead.

But the Wildlife Action Plan cannot possibly be
executed in isolation. Wildlife conservation cannot be
restricted to national parks and sanctuaries. Areas
outside the protected area network are often vital
ecological corridor links and if they are not protecied.
we risk islanding pockets of biodiversity that will be
unable to survive in the long run . While wildlife experts
and protected area managers have been saying this
for many years, perhaps the time has come for all
categories of decision makers to accept that land and
water use policies will have to he re-framed to protect
ecologically fragile habitats and regulate the use of
natural resources within sustainable limits.

I am happy to note that significant steps in this
direction have started to be taken. Some recent
developments concerning the implementation of our
wildlife Laws and policies that are worth mentioning are
the appointment of a Central Empowered Committee
by the Supreme Court of India. The CEC has been
entrusted with the responsibility of assisting the
Supreme Court in safeguarding our priceless and
irreplaceable wildlife assets. It has already investigated
scores of matters.

A National Forest Commission has also been set up,
headed by a former Chief Justice of the Supreme
Court, Justice B.N. Kirpal, whose environmental
priorities are best reflected in the many sage
judgements he had delivered.

The recent changes in the Wildlife (Protection) Act,
1 972 were supported in an extremely positive and non-
partisan way by Members of Parliament 01 all political
parties. These changes have been widely
acknowledged by experts, officials and even human
rights groups to be a vast improvement on the older
legislation. For the first time we have, for instance,
added a category called Community Conserved
Reserves, which will encourage a large number of local
communities to lend their purpose and genius to the
taskof protecting our wildlife.

Bombay Natural 1 History Society

But all is ool smooth sailing. By some estimates
perhaps over Rs. 50,000 crores annually may be

extracted, legalfiy or illegally,, from forest lands alone!
We know that less than Rs. 500 crores is ploughed
back each year for real protection of this natural
diversity. Alarmingly, insurrectionist and separatist
groups have taken advantage of ineffective ar>d
inadequate government mechanisms, to generate
funds Irorn lorests and from the trade in wildlife
contraband to tinancetheir anti-nabonal agenda.

Clearly we need to take urgent steps to increase the
financial allocations for the conservation o< ou rlorests
and wildlife, and rejuvenate our nation's political will to
make this happen. One erf the most important messages
thatcan be sent to make this possible is to highlight the
role o5 forests in providing water. We will be looking
towards the many scientists and field biologists who
have travelled from afar to attend this Centenary Journal
Seminar for helptoachieve this task.

As you are all aware, this is the 30* anniversary of
Project Tiger. Indra has reason to be proud ol the fact
that, despite dire predictions, the future of the tiger is
reasonably secure within Our borders. Across the world
heads erf states and governments nave communicated
theirappreciation, even admiration, for India because
we have proved that protecting the tiger, a global
symbol for nature, is an article of faith for us. In return,
the tiger gives us one of the most precious commodities
in the wortd - fresh watertrom over 300 large and small
rivers that originate in tiger habitats.

The BNHS vision for the next Century is to continue
with our tradition of using good science to prated,
conserve and restore wild habitats and the environment
of our great country. This we believe will eventually
lead to an improved quality ol human life.

Nothing can demonstrate this fact better than the
manner in which Borivli's Sanjay Gandhi National
Park -which was declared a prolectedarea thanks to
the efforts of the BNHS and stalwarts such as the late
Humayun Aoduia'i - supplies millions ol citizens ol
Mumbai with fresh, clean water. The Society has
always worked to protect this park in whose dense
periphery our highly popular Conservation Education
Centre is located. We will do so in the future as well.

I call upon all citizens across India to join the BNHS
and be a part of our scientific and conservation mission.

Mr.B.G.Deshmukh
President, 6NHS

Defending Wild
India

10

JBNHS

100

voi.iMby

(irvULRUHISTOJ^

CONTENTS

HISPID HARE

Conservation of the endangered hispid hare
and Ball gras&lanei habitats in JakJapara

LITTLE ANDAMAN

The Mure of the Qnge people and
their forests is intertwined

HUMAN DAM

Ecological and Social Viability ol the
Hunan Dam Project

JBNHS 100 VOLUMES

The role ol me BNHS In Indian conservation
selected from the Journal ol the BNHS-

THE SATPURAS

P'olecWng this vital tiger landscape a stltl
possible

URANIUM MINING

Can we risk our wildlife and water supplies?

CORBETT

Enforcing 1h* law (Q protect wjf wWlile

TUNGARESHWAR

Saving this forest ensures our water security

GULF OF KUTCHH

EootoQfoaj noority or aoonomlc profltf

Conservation Department

Bombay Natural History Society

Hombill House, S. 3. $mgh Road, Mumbai 400 023.

E-mail: daptetfbnhs Org. Ted: 91 22 22821811

Fax: 91 22 22837615

ivww.bnhs.org

Mote: The conservation initiatives described on these
pages have been financed Dy the BNHS

Cow photo - Hka Pun at> Rlacfc Paimdoe Ft m rK O trxn riwKUVhw

12

18

20

Conservation Department 3

Endangered Hispid Hare

AND TAIL GRASSLAND HABITATS IN JALDAPARA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY. WEST BENGAL

Text and photographs by Gopinathan Maheswaran

As a seentisi with me Bombay natural History Society I
have been p-rrvileged to work and travel through some of the
most exquisite areas on the planet There can be no denying
my personal love and fascination for nature, but perhaps even
mors predominant wlthm me is a desire to understand the

Origin ol species, their survival techniques and the new threats

posed to them from anthropomorphic pressures. In the days
ahead I hope to use such knowledge to work with others
seeking to pra^ct wild nature. This I twfceve is In the national
Interest It is also clearly in the interests of a planet besieged

by all manner of woe§ including climate change, species
decline and pollution <t\ a never before Imagined scale.

What I would fee to share on those pages with readers is
my understanding and concern regarding the (ate of 1he Hispid
hare C#p*vtf*gus r»sptaus, a globally endangered lagomorph
(IUCN 1996). 11 is been listed as Endangered and included in
the Schedule I of the Indian WildRte (Protection) Ad, 1972. In
fad, the Hispid hare is one of only two lagomorph species.
fated by CITES, the United Stales Endangered Species Act.

4 Bombay Natural History Society

and the IUCN Red List (C'TES-Appendix I; U S-ESA-

Endangered; and lUCN-Endangered criteria Alc*2c,
B1*2abcde, Ql)

in 1971 , a live Hispid hare was captured in Bamadt. Assam
in India, thereby ending The speculation thai the Species had
gone extinct There have been very lew published records ot
captures or positive sightings, ol the Hispid hare Since the
Orig^al type Specimen was deScnoed by Btyth In 1845 Several

authorities (eg Gee 1 964} teared, the species had gone extinct
until its joint rediscovery with the sympatnc Pygmy hog [Sus
sarVarwus) in northern Assam ol India in 1971 (Mallinson 1971 ;
Tessier-Yandell 1972)

Subsequently, a BNHS study (in 2000-2001) demonstrated
conclusively the dependence ol the threatened Hispid hare
[Caproiagus fttspidus) on native tall grassland habitat ol
Jatdapara WildWe Sanctuary in northern West Bengal. Jalonpara
Wildlife Sanctuary (216.51 km-*), an ecologically sensitive
ecosystem is located in the Hood plains ol Ihe river Torsa and
o*er small nvers, which have created large tracts of savanna
grasslands sustaining a small population o1 One-homed
rhinoceros {Rhinoceros unicornis) and Hispid hares. Recent
inventory study (funded by the SANCF ol the BNHS) on the
small mammals (rodents and shrews) of Jaldapara Wildlife
Sanctuary revealed the occurrence of Belanger's Tree Sftrew
Tupaia beiangerl, Grey Musk Shrew Suncus murinus,
Himalayan White -toothed Shrew CrocKfu/a attenuate, Indian

Bush Rat -Cjolunda atfpu<, House Ra1 R#ttv$ rattus and Fawn-
coloured Mouse Mus csrvicotor with in the Sanctuary and
Chances Ol encountering many more species may not be ruled
Out. Grasses Such as Sscctiarum rrarenga. S arundtnaceum,

S spontaneum, S. tcrftgislrosnium, imperata cytinatica,
Ptyragmtrts karka, htetefopogoft contartus, A/undo donax, and
Jherrwdea Spp are more common wilhin the Sanctuary.

The habitat that best supports Hispid hare populations Is
characterized by an intermediate understory cover (between
25-35%). low tree cover (thus favoring the growth of native
yasseH.i Bfld --.rge and unfragmerted grnsatendH fflfll CM 0«
used as feeding grounds. However this habitat type is
disappearing or being altered dram aJlcaity due to three separate
activities: overgrazing by domestic cattle, unsustainable lhatcn
grass cutting, and dry season burning. The resulDng habitat
loss has led to the ctassiftcaiion of the Hispid hare as oemg h
danger of extinction.

In our study, we also investigated Hispid hares in the
neighbouring Buxa Tiger Reserve. Htspid Hares were reportedly
present in the Buxa Tiger Reserve in the mid-1980s. At that
time a small population persisted in spite ot the already
degraded grasslands caused by overgrazing ol domestic cattle.
However, despite intensive searches for Hispid hares in the
tew remaining patches of tall grassland of the Baia Baiaoara
and Kalkut Rivers of the reserve, we found no evidence of
Hispid hare, And we must remember that our census In

A 3W*S sfuify rn 2000-2001 Oemonstratea canetu&vety me dependence C me Inreatenett HSptt note tCae'&agus tvsp&us) on native ra> ff/ss&and
hahfeJ ot Jaldapara W*HHm Sanctuary «i northern W&H &hT0flt

Conserwation Department S

all

±s- /*,

AM eociflfi heptd awnaM nwpib" flaw dttwflM M

Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary yielded a pooulabon estimate of
only 25-30 Hispid hares, a number of animals highly prone to
extinction processes. In Jaldapara, construction of roads and
lire- lines has taken its toll on the grassland fauna, For the
easy movement of camp etephanis and bullock carts carrying
grasses tor ramp elephants, non-metal roads have Deen built,
which in most areas traverse through the 'targe grass patches,
thereby preventing the movement o' species like Hispid hare
which always prefer thick ground cover. Absence ot suitable
corridor? between Jwo grassland patches proved to be e
deterrent, especially during summer or grassland burning
season. According to Diana Bell of the University of East
Ariglia, United Kingdom, there is strong evidence that
Widespread Cutting and burning of tall grasslands has been

deleterious to less mobile species end species less toierant
of disturbances, including Pygmy hog and Hispid hare

in Jaldapara. the Forest Department has taken up me ibsm
of planting palatable grass species in more areas as fodder to
camp elephants. Even though some ot such patches nave
grown enough and are ready to be harvested, they hardly
provided any support to Hispid hares both In terms of food
and shelter The distance between two grass clumps was large,
and me open, space in Between played a negative rote in terms
of protection to naies Large open areas may tie barriers or at
least deterrents to movements o< rabbits, and mis was true
for Higpid hares m JaWapara Wilrjife Sanctuary. So tne nares
that want to disperse out may not be able to reach a suitable
alternative patch especially during the grassland-burning
season. The PrincipaJ Component Analysis (PC A) result shows
mat ground cover, short vegetation and tafl vegetation together
determined the movemenis ot Hispid hares in Jaldapara. Apart
from these, disturbance also played a rote to some extent,
clearly depicting the picture ot hare abundance only In the
place where disturbance In terms of grass cutting and burning
was less. Therefore, we expected to find higher hare densities
in the habitats where leering grounds (grasslands) and natural
undisturbed unoerstory were more abundant than In habitats
where grass arwiVor protection availability was low in habitats.
which had been transformed by humans. Natural processes
of succession resulted in the conversion of a few grasslands
Into woodlands, which basically reduced the utflzabfe habitat
of species like Indian One-homed Rhinoceros Rhinoceros
unicorrvs. Hog deer Axis porctnus, and Hispid haio.

Recommendations

Each ot the three factors mentioned above are resporcscio for
the decline of the grasslands preferred by Hispid hares and
must be addressed In order to ensure survival ot the species,

• Grazing by domestic cattle in wildlife sanctuaries or
reserves shouW be reduced or eliminated.

• Cutting of the native tali grasses by locals tor thatch

artd todder, is indiscriminate »nd widespread. This
practice O'ten results in the removal ot whole grass
dumps, thereby reducing the ground cover. In order to
reduce the pressure on the grasslands, the number oF

camp elephants ot the sanctuary be reduced.

• There should be & change in the pattern of grassland

burning. Currently, the season tor burning the grasslands,
coincides with the breeding season ot me Hispid hare,
and the tires not only destroy habitat, but reduce the
reproductive potential ot the species.

• A major difficulty 10 achieving these recommended

management decisions is the lack of knowledge about
Hispid hares m the region. An active educational
campaign should be undertaken to ensure that the staFf
or the Sanctuary are aware of Hispid hare and its
Importance.

Each of these suggested changes in management of
the grasslands within wildlife sanctuaries and reserves in
northern West Bengal may have negative economic
repercussions, Local people have come to rely on the use ot
these areas lor their livelihoods. However, solutions must be
found to allow changes to be made to proteci Hispid hares
and other native wildlife in these areas, while still providing
local people with a means lo benefits these habitats provide,

FACTS

■ Tlx'Hhpidh4rcw»rcdiMm'cTciiafc»ngwirfiilic»yniraitii:P^'gniy
hug |.?bi ubrttanl in ncif litem A*sini in 1971,

■ Hvjwl hare Cnprviogto hi/ptJui pr-efcra only ww, rail (more dun
I S i»» 7 m lalll gnmbntt habitat* in Trrat and Jin/in in India.

' Wei. i-ill ijrinland hah-uait ut du.appej.rinc or heinc alierrd
diamaricHlh/ in India due to three tcparjic acrivitic*: ui'crgrjxinu.
by drtHV-.Ui" Ct-lilr, UrtHBlainrible (hatch grau cutting. *nd dry

season burning.

■ Prewni known distribution in India: TcMJ glB»lflnd( in Utlfll
I'tadeth, csjicciilly the Dudwa Naiiunal Park and ■met. tall
Eodfandj ifi frtdapifl Wildlife Sanctuary, Tft'cii Bcnjsl.

■ I Wihly eKi wrol i mwl from Bunliper Reserve. Vt'iir ben^al.-fthere
it wji kiuc* id have occurred in midlWlV

■ The estimated porwiirion l.2O0O-2uni ) oil I lipid hut in |aldapm
ft'ildJireSam-NUtrv i. 23 ill individuals- a number of aniimla hijdJy
pcoiK to mtinctiwi

I.im«! ai Endangered and IncJuded in rhe Schedule I of ch* Indun
VFildlcfc UWecriori) An. 1972,

Th< Hiipid lure a one of only cwv« Ii£i>mi-rph ipecxs Inrtit hy
Q i i.s. ihrt:riitpdSr«wEndjijipjncd5p«m.Vi,iiidclK-]l'CN
Red I in

6 Bombay Natural History Society

Little Andaman Interdependence

The forests of Little Andaman were saved from the axe thanks to the Onge.
Now the forests are helping the Onges to survive. by Panka/ Sekhsaria

The is a pristine troptcal rainforest thai harbours a huge
dlversrty of biological weafth. it's a patch that's hardly been
surveyed, leave alone documented for its wealth and riches. It
has beaches on which endangered sea turtles have been nesting
lor aeons and has creeks and mangroves that are Infested with
the finest specimens of salt-water cracooftes. The forests here
are homelo innumerable species of plants and animals. rtc*udlng
endemics Hte Andaman Day Gecko- Pt&tsumfi anoamenese.
Andaman Serpent Eagle Spriomts etgini, Andaman Teal AnaS

g&benfrons and Andaman Wild Pig Sus sc/efs- andamowws.
The latter two being, in tad, on threatened lists of the
IUCN It ts clearly a biological hot Spot and importantly, also the

home of a remarfcable, bu1 very vulnerable and threatened
human community.

This Is the 720 Sq. Km Island of Little Andaman,
one of largest In the Andaman & Nieobar group tocaied in the
Say of Bengal. The chunk of forest mentioned is the
Onge Tribal Reserve of Little Andaman and the people In
question are the Onge. a small community of negrito
origin for whom me inbal reserve was created in 1957.
Had 11 not been for the fact thai the forests had been
'kept aside' for the Onge, they would almost certainly have
been logged to death by now.

This as a pnstmo troptcal rainibresf that harbours a huge orversrty at aioiogicat weaflft. it's a patch trial's hAitfty b&et) surveyed".
leave akme documented for its weafth and riches. Destroying it is akm to burning a library without documenting its conranrs.

Total A$N geographic area:

8. 2 '-9 sq. km.

The Andaman group:

6.408 gq. km.

The rteobar group:
The foiesi ana:

1,841 sq km.
7,170.69 sq km

Total Islands:

349

Inhabited islands:

38 (24 fci r« Andaman group
and 12 in tie Mcobar group.)

Touil vMagat:

547

Indigenous people:

Sentinetese. Jarawa, Onge,
Great Andamanosa.

Nicobarese, Shompen

The 520 Sq. kms. Onge Reserve- however does much more
than just protecting Ihe lands of and For the Onge. It performs a
tfftical role for bodlvcrsrty conservation, one lhal is as important
as the protected area network in Ihe Islands

Here are some important statistics The tola) land surface In
Ihe Andaman Islands is a Woe man* than 6000 SQ. Km. Thero

are- over a 100 protected areas that have been created here

untie* the Wfcflfc (Protection) Ad of 1 972- The aro fais protected
is about a 1000 sq kms, 50% of which are 1he marine protected
areas Of the Mahatma Gandhi and Ram Jhansi National Parks.
The total Forest area, therefore protected under the WLPA
amounts 10 about 500 Sq km, roughly Ihe sue of the Onge

Reserve. The largest of these protected areas is the 133 sq.
km., interview island.

It b extremely signrtcant to add here that ihe tribal reserve on
Little Andaman is not ihe onry targe landmass protected *i this
manner. There is an even larger, more than 700 sq. km Jarawa
Trfial Reserve spread over the two main islands of South and
Middle Andaman. Like the Onge Reserve, the forests ofl the
Jarawa Reserve looara extremely rich and! have been protected
by the Jar a was from any extractive and destructive outside
intervention

In the conflict ridden conservation landscape or the country,
here is an example where the needs of biological and

TERRESTRIAL BIODIVERSITY

Partieulars

Specie*

EndemUm

Fkwerlng Plants

2500

223

Mammals

52

33

Birds

344

19

Reptiles

78

24

Amphibians

18

3

Land MoRusc

no

77

Arachnids

94

39

Hemiptera

146

22

Dip iota

214

24

Coleaotera

87a

92

Lepidoplera

426

52

taoptera

40

19

Odonata

36

4

Annelida

30

9

environmental conservation and those of human communities
come with a neat overlao. The Onges have lived in harmony
with their forests and natural resources tor a tew 1000 years it
>s an example that we could also leam from, an example that
we should seek to emulate. However, if one looks at the history
of these Islands over the last four decades or so. one gets a
complelery different picture.

The case of Little Andaman and the Onge is oxtremely
iBustratrvB. In 1998 a study by Kalpavnksh. that was funded by
the Conservation Wing of the BNHS revealed shocking evidence
of Ihe violation ol the forests, and the tribal reserve or the Onge.
The Onge Tnbal Reserve had been created In 1957. when the
entire island ol Little Andaman was reserved under Ihe Andaman
and NHocbar Protection of Aboriginal Tribes RegiAabon (ANPATR),
1 956. The forests were protected and SO wens the Onge. In the
70s, however, two den otifcat ions %vere effected Nearly 200 sq,

MARINE BIODIVERSITY

Particulars

Mammalia

Reptiles

Fishes

Corals

Echinodermata

Melius ca

Crustacea

Polychaeia

Anthozoa

Porrtara

Meiofauna

km. ol the forests were- taken out of the tribal reserve and handed
over for large scale clearing for settlements and conversion of
forests into agricultural lands and plantations ol exotics like red
Oil palm and A huge timber ertracbon operation. The Onge, their

flghn uid H ih need of the latest*, far Hie* own wrvrwai too,
were completely "gnored.

The consequences are visible for all to see. Large chunks
of the forests are gone, many turtle nesting beaches have been
completely mined away, large scale erosion from deforested
areas has. smothered the ad)c*ilng coral reefs, the crocodiles
have been hunted and so have the Andaman Wild Pigs.

Species

End*

rnlsm

7

-

12

-

1,200

2

200+

?

a

350

4

1.000

18

600

G

184

4

326

2

72

-

490

102

The de notification of the tribal reserve and the destruction
ol the forests have not just impacted the wild wealth of the
Islands, it has severely impacted Ihe Onge themselves, an

ancient people who are slowly but surely, be*tg pushed to the
brink of ejdtnction.

It is now Clear that the protection of the human community
here is as vital tor the survival of the- torest, as Ihe protection of
the forest is lor thesurvrvai of the Onge Unicssthls 15 understood
and acted upon there rs Sttle chance-, either for the Ongo, or for
the forests ol Little Andaman and other important Islands In the
Andaman. A small beginning has indeed been made. In a
significant order passed by the Supreme Court of the country

S Bombay Natural History Society

The protection of Ihm Ongu Intofe i$ ox vital for Ute SuMral 0/ PW KVeST 35 ITU- (MGMCttWI W BM fOtMt & tor the StWiVatGf 0)6 0ft(».

in May 2002, commercial exploitation ot forests Irom the
Andaman Islands was slopped tor the nrst time afier a century
of operations. The issue of encroachments of forest and tribal
lands is being deafi with, the court has askod for measures to
restrict and eve ntualy slop 1he large scale imnngraton of people
from mainland India to Ihe elands, sand mining is being phased

out and the threat from exotics to the forests is also being
tfeattwith.

This, however, is only a beginning. Significant progress Can
only be achieved when Ihe lands and forests Of Che OngO and
Jarawa are protected at all costs, even restored to them where
they were taken away There has to be an enpfccit recognition Of
their Inbal way of life, a respect For then Iradlbons; their knowledge

and an acknowledgement thai they are our most important

partners In the conservation of an unique natural hentage: The
forests of the Andaman islands

ORDERS OF THE SUPREME COURT

In 1999, the Soc»ety for Andaman and Nicobar Ecology
45ANE), along with Kalpavriksh end the BNHS filed an
intervention in the Godavarman (Forest) case in the Supreme
Court in the matter of the forests and indigenous people ol the

RECOMMENDATIONS/ALTERNATIVES

Andaman Trunk Road

Water transport

Poaching

Better patromg Baiter CoordnaJlon

Sand rAning

Stone Oust and limber (for local use)

Tourism

Nwj ot lwrt*m plan based on

carrying capacity

M igrants

Declare islands as an Inner Line

Area and Islanders 1 cards

Shipping

Make it rnpre efficient

Exobcs

Complete eradication

Andaman & Nicobar Islands. After ctetailed deflorations which
included] the appcwitment of the Shekhar Singh Commission to
make recommendations in the matter, the Supreme Court
passed landmark orders related to these islands in 20Q2. These
include:

Stoppage Of all commercial timber extraction Operations

from the natural torests in the islands

A Dan on transport of limber from the Islands to any part of
Ihe country

Shutting down of the Andaman Trunk Road m rhnsp pn-ts
where rt runs through or along the forests of the Jarawa
Tribal Reserve

Declaration ot the islands as an Inner Line Area to oeal
with ihe serious proolom of continued Immigration of settlers
Irom mainland India to the elands

Closing down of the Andaman & Ntcobar Forest Plantation
and Oevetopment Corporation

Phasing out the existing monoculture plantations of red oil
palm, rubber and teak

Removal of encroachments: and

Phasing out of ihe sand mrtngope rations from the beaches.
of the islands; promotion of appropriate materials and
technologies for construction and regulation of tourism
dovdopmom In ihe islands.

Unfortunately, however, though more than a year has passed,
some of the key orders continue to remain unimptemertfed by
Ihe Island Administration. These include the closure of Ihe
Andaman Trunk Road and the declaration of Ihe tslands as an
Inner Line Area. The local admin istra1»on is sadly losing
an historic opportunrty to ensure ttw long term sun/w^l of the
forests of Ihe Indigenous peoples of these island?

Conservation Department 9

Ecological and Social Viability of the

Human Dam Project in Vidharba

by Depak Apte

The proposed Human (pronounced hooman) Dam is a major
irrigation project slated for construction across tbe Human
River in ihe vVeinganga-Godavari basin, near the Sirkada

Village in Ihe SindewaN Tahs"l of Maharashtra Stale. The

Human is a tributary of the Andhan River which ultimately

joins Ihe Wainganga.

The Imgallon Department o1 Maharashtra had prepared a

project proposal lor this dam lor which it reserved
administrative approval as tar back as 1983. The proposed
project seeks to divert 132 MM 5 01 wat«f to MSEB's
Chandrapur Thermal Power Station, out 0* its- dependable-
yield 01 438.29 MM 3 . Subsequently, it was decided to divert
this water to the Andhari river project by way of a proposed

Right Bank Canal (RBC) Of the Human Project. The project
also Involves diversion of 2906-26 hectares Ol lorest land
and therefore needs both lorest and environmental clearances
hum the Ministry of Environment and Foresis <MoEF)

The Forest Advisory Committee ot the MoEF suggested
i- i '*._: '}••-• subrnafgeTlCS by ~'.-.-'- 'irn F n i -.- -•■, -■ [■-- 1 .-■-
the total lorest areasubmerged.The praject authorities agreed
to a reduction ot one metre, which would bnng down the
lores! submergence Irom 2906.26 ha to 1536.35 ha. On this
basis, the MoEF gave the site clearance to the Irrigation
Department to enable it to conduct the required surveys and
investigation.

The Conservation Department of BNHS was concerned that
the- area m question would-be damaged and that the ecological
impact on the tiger would be too great. It therefore conducted
independent ecological and social impact studies ol the
Human Project, from which the following issues emerged:

1. Submergence of the narrowest wildlife corridor; The

15 villages under lull submergence lie in and around
the narrowest corridor connecting the Chandrapur and
Brahmapun Forest Divisions. The area adjoining the
Submerge nee zone on the west bank isa reserved forest,
which lairs in Chandrapur Division, This area is
contiguous with the Tadoba- Andhari Project Tiger to the
west and the boundary ol the proposed reservoir would
be a mere 3 2 km from the tiger reserve.

2.

3.

Water Availability: Each village m (he area has a

functioning village pond, locally called a 'Bowdf . These
are perennial wator bodies. Thus the issue of water
scarcity seems 10 have b&en exaggerated.

Existing pressures orvTadoba-Arvd hart Tiger fteserve
(TATR); At present there are several villages around
TATR. The impact of livestock from' these villages is
dearly visible In Kolsa Flange where more than 3,000
cattle graze. This livestock competes hot only for grass,
bul also for limited water, especially in summer. The
submergence area 01 Human Dam is 4.25 km from

TfatotmiBollhdobaandBnhmpuriiiiiipQn&GwriirMHjs. l&oayFw aw connected Dy a tfrm*Bnan«*f'»Woaf torsar. IT aprecWalVMSrhS rh9r>otr
Q&ie passage jrur ffw Human Oam tested H this is atewefl me tuum ot me i/ger. psur attf tosoctMtmS nmga imurw tviCtoe jeabcf

10 Bombay Natural History Society

4.

(b)

Tadoba N.P. boundary and 3 2 km
from TATR. In many villages, large
I (acts ol land are to be submerged
and this can only serve to exert
additional pressure on TATR tor
fuel wood and grass.

Legal aspects and violations

Construction ol the colony and

Bub-bund: As pari of the Human
Project, a housing colony was
partially constructed at
Mawargaon in Che early 1 980 'sand
work on a sub-bund for the project
was also completed pnor to 1985.
How was this work undertaken in
1he absence of Central
Government clearances-?

Total submergence area
Revenue land
Private land

Forest land

Villages under 1 full submergence

Villages under- partial submergence

Populated affected

flight bank canai (RBCJ
Left bank canal (LBC)
Project cost
Total felling of trees
Catchment area

Forest type

Proximity of protected areas

61 73 ha

528 ha

4109 ha

*535.B5ha

15

24

14,000

84.10 km.

50.70 km.

Rs. 423 Crore

1 .50,791

1 ,03,300 ha Out ol which 37% is

forest area.

Southern Tropical Dry Mixed

Deciduous forest

Tadoba National Pa/k is 4.25 km

and Andhan Sanctuary Is 3.2 km

from submergence area

Public hearing; The public

hearing for Hie Human protect was
reportedly held on November 26, 1399 at the Collector's
office. However, since the EIA report was only prepared
in December 200V one wonrjers on what basis the
public hearing was conducted (two years before the EIA
report was prepared). As per the Environment Protection
Act (EPAJ, the EIA must be prepared prior to the public
hearing. This renders the hesnng invalid.

5. Full utilization and maintenance of existing village

ponds, lift irrigation projects and minor irrigation
projects: The BNHS survey team visited several
existing irngation projects in both the submergence
and downstream areas of (he propel, from traditional

village tanks and ponds to minor irngation and Itft
irrigation projects. Additionally, many of the minor
irrigation projects already constructed are still not fully
utilized This suggests that a combination ol minor
irrigation and lift irngation projects can fulfil the needs
ol the command area. Many ol these projects have
cropped up after the Human project was mooted and
this brings Into question the need for the Human Dam

in the first place.

EXISTING EIA AND CRITIQUE

Analysis and review of benefits and costs due to the dam
as proposed in the Environment Impact Analysis Report
for the Human Dam

The EIA report produced by the project authorities has
several serious shortcomings and flaws.

* The report omits to mention the proximity ol ihe
proposed project to the Tadoba-Andhan Tiger Reserve
and thus Ignores Its impact on the tiger and its habitat.

a The National WrtJirte Acbon Plan and the letter issued

by MoEF in 2002 state that areas within 10 km. ol

PAs and wildlife corridors should be declared eco-

sensitrve under the EPA. The construction of a large
dam would violate this official government policy,

• No studies were conducted on the impact ol the dam
on riverine flora and fauna,

• The EIA Report says that no rare and

endangered species of flora and fauna are found in
Ihe area. This Is patently Incorrect and is contradicted
in the report itself, which acknowledges that the
project site is home to tiger Paniftem wans, leopard
Pantfr&ra partus, gaur 3os gaurus, chrral An-is ajtfs
and other species, which a professional, detailed
study will reveal.

CONCLUSION AMD RECOMMENDATIONS

It jS the considered opinion of the BNHS that the Human
Dam Project must no! be allowed to proceed In its present
form, on account of the adverse environmental impact it
would have on the region's forests, wildlife and biodiversity.
We recognize, however, that the genuine requirement ol
the local population must be met sustainabty and In a manner
that is socially gust. Towards- this end we have proposed the
following alternative development options for the proposed
catchment, submergence and command areas ol the Human
Project, which may eliminate the need for such a destructive
project by delivering comparable benefits to the local
populace at a fracuon ol trie planned! cost or the Human
Dam. without the attendant ecological damage.

I, Existing village tanks and ponds should be de-silted to
increase their storage capacity

ii. Farmers should be prowled economic assistance and
technical Know how to reduce distribution and

evaporation losses.

III. Existing irtt and minor imgaton projects should be utilized
to their fuflest capacity.

Iv. Dredging and cte'Silting operations, and catchment area
treatment should be undertaken to prevent siltahon of
existing reservoirs

V. A district-wide drive should be undertaken to identify
Sites lor small check dams and water conservation
Structures. Such measures will provide employment,
even as they enhance the water table and the water
and food security ol the region,

Conservation Department 11

TRIBUTE TO THE

CONSERVATION TRACK

RECORD OF THE BNHS

Based un Journal extracts
selected by Valmik Thapar

TBic FmnwleK

*

• Dr, D Ml mil ll<

• Hi I hk»U- -Dr.!htt«..Vr|--

- Ilr. R, ft Ub.,

■ <HM>Mm - br mm PMdnpMB

■ Mr .It Aaltorwa

■ in- a a. m. in ■■!.*■

■

I s u.

,-_,..

ihfant *aiirt;i.

1^

"in tit*! iln SiicicU ir
1886 And wiwiti

haeklwiierM almou
wu Jcciifck.

In April IKMI. H KPMpWMAnitr Iii Ihr

: 1'i'MiirKiH und Hated

"" -- - tfwgmvriimenrsfuHilii I'.-
a vn-w 1V1 ,\\UihIi\lung if Cfose St-aium lirrtng which
nil tiuhgrimns btrj.t ami hirrmhr.n witd animal*
sfuwfd fitt praucfxtf ~

'**

1

Tfl

Ceil f XV. Wall
lotted die Ni.ach

in ISW. Pwtfvccrtd

^8J

rata talk wscirch on

"

L'riJuni Serpen K Mid

Lain In nurd la undertake

field wort fiw

ihreedccaJo.

12 Bombay Natural History Society

1 '

^ki * *

W. S. Millard

^L - ^

Joined ihc Socio!} in

1906 and launched the

much needed mammal

survev of India, liurma

& Ccvlon between

191 1-191-1

~31

Mill. ii il played m 1 1 in ;m UmI'Ii role in
■nitiuiinj* amendments to the proposed
Indian Game Act of 19(18.

The BNIIS mm got herons and kingfishers
protected since the demand on their
feathers was enormous.

"51

Another BNHS member P. T. L. Dodsitorth added
hLs voice to the issue of illegal trade. In 1910, he
campaigned for the government of British India tu:

• prohibit the export of plumage from one

Indian port to another.
■ to prohibit the possession in India of birds

skin and feathers.

He fought these battles because June 1907 hud
seen the catalouging for auction of 20.000
kingfishers in London.

Mammal Survey of India, Burma and Ceylon
(1911-1923)

E. C. Stuart Baker

I -'ntned ornithologist

of the day. his

superbly illustrated

papers were published

as "The Game Birds

of India" in 1921.

Conservation Department 13

~?1

And...
"The Indian Ducks and

their Allies"

~?l

Lt CoL R. S. P. Bales

Pioneered wildlife
and bird pholograph\
in India alter joining
the Society in 1921.

I firf

feflk' Education Proerammes
1927

A young Salim Ali
I intcracling with blind
f^^r scluxtl txn.s in the Prince
r*l ofWalcs Museum.

WW! *-*

JM| A fen vears lata lie

w

Ak vk^LhM ''—^

L^^l. was surveying the
1 mammals of 1 lyderahad
State for the BNHS

~7

S. H. Prater

Deeply committed

to the Society between

1923- 1948.

^1

In 1933, Prater said:

" — there is need/or a real organisation whose
sole concern will be the protection of wild

animals — "

"Our efforts to protect wildlife have failed
because of die liaphazard methods we employ,
die lack of any commuted policy and the lack of
any protective agency to carry that policy into
effect "

14 Bombay Natural History Society

The Golden Jubilee of the BNHS (1933)

Between 1875 and 1925. as many as 80,000 tiger*
were killed in India alone

*

A. A. Dunbar Brumlrr, an extraordinary
conscr\ationist wrote in 1933:

"the molar car tins is perhaps the biggest factor
of all in the disappearance of game — "

"every car that moves by day or night has one or
more guns in it

"the destruction is terrible "

Vj

-*

In 1934. Champion wrote in the panes of Ihe JBNHS:

"Frankly, die position is appalling. The vast increase in
gun licences which has taken place in recent years,
combined with the greatly improved means of transport,
has caused a drain on the wildlife if the districts such as
can end only in the abnost complete destruction of any
kind of wild creature considered to be wortli
powdered and shot "

m

R C. Morris was a great fighter for the southern
forests and in 1935 stated:

" — / consider that clnlal. bhickbuck and chinkara
have certainly decreased to a dangerous extent and
will be extinct in South India in not many years — "

He fought hard for the creation of national parks
and special staff to go with it.

Conservation Department 15

In 1935, Salim Ali completed a survey of wildlife
or Hyderabad state and said:

" — at //«■ back of all this senseless slaughter and
law breaking which has brouglit about ihe present
sorry plight is the apatliy of public opinion inwards
the need for the preservation of our fauna "

india'n animals

H ■ H «■»!■ M> twin

i

SII Prater's book in

1948 on Indian

Mammals remains a

landmark publication

in the field of natural

history till date

tv» m —t vru iMTO*' <0C*»

~?1

Lt. CoL R. W. Burton

WiIhBNIIS.be

spearheaded the battle (o '

save independent India's

wilderness 1948.

World War [I was over

~y

Burton was a great post independence campaigner
for a separate wildlife department and staff.
He stated:

"The years are passing. This great natumal asset is
wasting away It is the duty of every government to

protect it for posterity The urge sliould come jrom die

highest levels. "

"II tthout a wildlife department as suggested herein the
surxival of much of the wonderful wildlife i if India is
inconceivable and a great national asset will disappear

nevrr In he renamed as tlie majority of the unique
species will become extinct

Dr. Salim Ali on a field trip in the
Great Rann of Kutch < 195(1)

_

vm

|l

Humavun Ahdulali

^r afl

Honorary Secrclan of

the Society from
1950 lo 1962 and served

on the Executive

Committee till he died

on 3* June, 2001.

Through Abdulali.

HNHS created the
Bombay Wild Animals
and Birds Act in 1951.

16 Bombay Natural History Society

E. P. Gee angling on the rner Munas *

Spearheaded conservation strategies in 1950s and earlv 60s

In Gee's words (1952):

the gradual extermination of wildlife m huiia hasimw
reacheda stage when His of /he utmost importance that
the exact status of wildlife sanctuaries slioidd be
reviewed and — "

He also fought for a separate department for
"ildlifc and for a special staff.

"officers in charge of sanctuaries or national parks
should he specially selected for these appointments. "

ih,n- is no point in passing resofutiorts and making
laws if they can not he enforced "

In 19fio, Juan Spillet was enlaced by BNHS to
survey India's wildlife.

He travelled 13.500 miles across India's
forests with 300 miles on foot and 21 days on
the hack of an elephant.

He felt there were two vital problems - too
many people and too much grazing livestock!

In the same year Indira Gandhi came to
poH er.

f

*;

®

to

Dr. s.iliin Ali

LJH

1

By 1990. the Gandhis had gone. India's wildlife
nightmare had begun. It still continues...

But it would have been worse without the
sacrifice of our forest staff.

... and the intervention of the Supreme Court.

Good science, coupled with sharp interventions
from conservationists are needed to defend our
« ilderness. This strategy must define the
BNHS mission in the decades ahead.

Conservation Department 17

SAVING THE SATPURA
TIGER LANDSCAPE

by Kishor Rithe

I am a BNHS member and I believe that the Society has a
sacred task ahead of it. While the rest of the world continues
with business as usual, it is we who must be the keepers of
Eden. It is left to us to defend India's vanishing wilds and to
protect the myriad species, including the recently re-discovered
Forest Spotted Owlet (Athene blewito), that seem to be headed
firmly towards extinction.

I have watched tigers {Panthera tigris) in Melghat and have
trekked through the rocky margins of the Pench River in the
tiger reserve of the same name. I have ranged as far as Kanha
and Bandhavgarh and I know that the entire belt is alive with
wildlife and that a little effort now will result in a magical
regeneration of wild species small and large.

With a group of student many years ago I participated in
long pad yatras (walking campaigns) through the Satpura
mountain ranges, seeking public support for one of the oldest
mountain chains in the world that run parallel to the Vindyas in
Central India. The time has come for us to relaunch such
initiatives so that the people who live here are made aware of
the immense wealth they may lose if they allow others to plunder
their heritage.

By profession I am a teacher, but my life is now devoted to
protecting nature. In the course of my travels I have had to fight
miners, road builders and sundry contractors, with greater
frequency than I have had to deal with poachers and wildlife
traders. To my mind, the former are the more difficult to counter.

I am unashamedly in love with the tiger. And it will come as
no surprise to readers to know that the Satpura mountain chain
has been categorized TCU-1 (Tiger Conservation Unit One) area
by the Wildlife Conservation Society and WWF-lndia. When
tigers have vanished from most of India, I believe, the deep
ravines, hidden valleys and extensive forests of the Satpuras
will continue to support tigresses and their cubs. I look at my
battle to protect this wilderness as one with the global effort to
save the tiger and all the species that share and comprise its
secret world.

The slopes and valleys of the Satpuras are home to probably
the largest remaining contiguous tiger habitat in the world. Since
1999. Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), the Nature
Conservation Society, Amravati and the US Fish & Wildlife
Services have jointly worked to assess the status and contiguity
of tiger habitat in the Satpura region. In the process we have
constantly had to engage in major conservation battles to save
this unique landscape.

The Satpuras are defined as part of the Central Indian
Highlands in the Deccan Biogeographic zone of India. This large

and continuous tiger belt includes 13 existing PAs covering an
approximate area of 6,500 sq. km. Tigers, of course, range far
outside the boundaries of national parks and sanctuaries and
reports suggest they currently occupy 10,000 sq. km. of forest
lands in the Satpuras. Protecting and regenerating this tiger
haven is vital to the battle to save the species.

Satpuras: India's wild gene bank

The Satpuras support a variety of life forms. Champion and
Seth (1968) identified the two predominant forest
types occurring here as the South Indian Moist Deciduous
Forests of the northern Satpuras and the Southern Teak Dry
Deciduous Forest. Globally important populations of some of
Asia's rarest animals and birds including the Forest Spotted
Owlet Athene blewitti. Green Munia Amandava tormosa.
Tiger Panthera tigris. Rusty Spotted Cat Felis rubiginosa. Caracal
Felis caracal and Barasingha Cervus duvauceli are to be
found here.

The northern Satpuras harbour an endangered arboreal
mammal, the Indian Giant Squirrel Ratufa indica centralis. Other
mammals include Common Giant Flying Squirrel Petaurista
petaurista. Palm civet Paradoxurus hermaphroditus, Ratel
Mellivora capensis. Indian Porcupine Hystrix indica and Otter
Lutra persipicillata.

The Satpuras feed 50 rivers.

Danger in paradise: Prime threats include dams, mines and
hydel projects, logging, Forest Development Corporation of
Maharashtra (FDCM) monoculture plantations, poaching for
wildlife derivatives, the trend towards the denotification of PAs,
encroachments on forest land for agriculture, illegal grazing and
fires. These varied forces seem to be conspiring to split the
Satpura tiger habitat into small compartments, which would
inevitably lead to fragmentation and eventually, local extinction.

DAMS

Chikaldhara Pumped Storage Project: This proposed project
on the boundary of the Melghat Tiger Reserve threatens to drown
over 1 00 ha. of tiger habitat. The area is prime deciduous forest
and is frequented by both tigers and leopards.

The Upper Tapi Stage II Project: A second dam is also
being proposed in Melghat - the Upper Tapi Stage II Project,
which threatens to drown another 244 ha. of tiger reserve
area and an additional 1,673 ha. of forest land in Maharashtra,
including a part of the denotified portion of the Melghat Sanctuary.

The Bawanthadl Dam (Rajiv Sagar Interstate Irrigation
Project): The location of the dam, the resultant reservoir and

18 Bombay Natural History Society

- **££§£ . *2S£HP*~. Jkxv * kim ' wm garaMB

The Bawantnai Dam threatens to disrupt the fragile corridors between Pench. Kanna and Nagzira in the Satpura ttger landscape

some of its canals are in the corridors connecting Pench to the
Nagzira Sanctuary. Tiger habitat continuity between the Pench
Tiger Reserve in the Satpura range (both in Maharashtra and
Madhya Pradesh) with the Kanha Tiger Reserve in the Maycat
range is through this forest belt in the northwest Balaghat forest.
These corridors will be almost totally destroyed by this project,
which envisages the construction of a 348 m. high dam and
over 100 km. of canals. An estimated 2,350 ha. of forest land
will be lost in both states and 1 1 villages will be displaced.

DENOTIRCATION

The denotification of around 500 sq.km. of the
Melghat Wildlife Sanctuary in 1994 has drastically
reduced the level of protection afforded to this area,
with repercussions on the sanctuary itself. Even though
the area remains under Project Tiger, it is accorded
much less priority. Consequent to the denotification,
several activities like dam construction and logging have
been proposed.

Narmadu Rl

■ The Narmada and Tapi Rivers originate in the Satpuras

■ Main tributaries of Narmada: Tawa, Denwa, Nagdwah,
Malm, Koti, Sonbhadra and Bori.

■ PAs in the catchments of these tributaries: Bon Sanctuary,
Satpura National Park and Pachmarhi Sanctuary.

■ The Tapi Basin extends over an area of 65, 1 45 km', which
is nearly 2.0% of total geographical area of the country.

■ The Tapi is a rich source of alluvium and produces good
agricultural soil.

■ Main tributaries ot Tapi: Puma. Girna. Panjhra. Vaghur,
Bori and Aner, Sipna. Khapra, Gadga, Khandu and Dolar.

WILDLIFE TRADE

From the past seizures it seems that illegal trade
in medicinal plants such as Musali Cblorophytum
tuberosum and Curculigo orchioides, Ashwagandha
Rauvolfia serpentina and others are on the rise. Among
wildlife derivatives, bones and skins of tiger and leopard.
deer antlers and bear bile are in demand and pose a
constant threat.

What lies ahead?

For the long-term conservation of the Satpura landscape area,
we need to look at protected areas and the regions
surrounding them separately.

In PAs we need -

■ To create inviolate areas by implementing "Voluntary
relocation".

■ To have effective wildlife conservation, protection and
management practices.

■ To implement wildlife conservation through specialised
wildlife wing by allocating it proper manpower, sufficient
resources and enough funds.

■ To declare new sanctuaries and national parks.
Outside PAs we need -

■ To declare selected areas as Ecologically Fragile under
the Environment Protection Act.

And to identify still other areas for protection under the
Community Conserved Areas category — Sec. 36A of the
Wildlife (Protection) Act 2002. In the latter case, communities
could participate in conservation and in turn win benefits
including forest resources for bona fide use, as they used to
in days gone by.

Conservation Department 19

Protecting the

Corbett National Park

(with help from the Central Empowered Committee)

BY DEB! GOENKA, HON. TREASURER. BNHS

I was asked by the BNHS to travel to the Corbett Tiger Reserve
(CTR), to observe and then report on a long standing problem
concerning illegal encroachments on forest land. I have been
involved in the protection and legal defence of our forests
for over two decades now, but almost nothing prepared me
for what I discovered In the backyard of India's first ever
Tiger Reserve.

The BNHS has always been at the forefront of the battle to
protect wild India, as can be seen from the extracts published
elsewhere in this booklet, that were selected by Valmik Thapar
from the pages of the Journal ot the BNHS. It seemed
particularly fitting therefore that, as recently as May 2003,
the Society was co-opted by the Centrally Empowered
Committee (CEC) as a "Special Invitee" to assist the CEC
with regard to the escalating problem of encroachments within
the Corbett National Park (CNP).

In my capacity as the Honorary Treasurer of the BNHS, I
was requested to assist the CEC in its investigations. I visited
the site between June 16-18, 2003, and submitted a detailed
report to the CEC in the first week of July 2003.

The salient recommendations listed below in this report will
provide a better idea of the scope of my recommendations.
This is the manner in which we will need to sweep through
our sanctuaries and national parks and force "peace" to prevail
in our troubled wild havens. Apart from fulfilling their existing
responsibilities, this I believe, is the task to which BNHS
members, scientists and staff should dedicate themselves
in the years ahead.

OBSERVATIONS

1 . The existence of the encroachers as well as the Imgation
Colonies is definitely creating a serious problem for
wildlife and wildlife habitats within the CNP/CTR. It is
therefore necessary to ensure that all the encroachers
and encroachments are removed immediately i.e. within
one month.

2. Since the continued existence ot the Irrigation Colonies
within the CNP/CTR is also creating serious problems
for wildlife and wildlife habitats, I also recommend that
these colonies should be shifted out of the CNP/CTR in
an urgent and time bound manner. The fact that this

22 Bombay Natural History Society

area is now part of a notified National Park would mean
that the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972,
as well as the recent orders of the Honorable Supreme
Court of India pertaining to the protection of national
parks and sanctuanes are now applicable to this area
as well, and need to be enforced.

3. Until such time as the colonies are removed, the excess
land available with the irrigation department should be
immediately handed over to the forest department. This
exercise may be carried out by a Committee comprising
of the Irrigation Department. Revenue Department and
Forest Department, as well as a member of the CEC.

4. The Irrigation Department may be asked to set up a
check post at the gates of Ihe colony so as to ensure
that only bona fide residents and visitors are allowed
inside the colonies.

5. The District Magistrate and the Superintendent of Police
may be asked to take personal responsibility for ensuring
that there is no law and order problem created by the
encroachers.

6. No public meetings or functions should be permitted by
the district authonties if they are to be held on Reserved
Forest lands.

7. No loudspeakers should be permitted within the
Reserved Forest areas.

8. All illegal or unauthorized water, electricity and telephone
connections should be disconnected by the concerned
departments. The Superintending Engineers may be made
personally responsible for ensuring that this is complied
with.

9. A Company of Police Armed Constabulary (PAC) may
be deployed at the site under the control of the Director,
Project Tiger to facilitate the removal of encroachments.

10. The Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) may be requested
to dispose of the cases under the encroachers in a
time bound manner. This could be done by clubbing the
cases together or by any other means within the legal
framework.

11. Alternatively, a special officer could be appointed for
the limited purpose of hearing

these cases on a day to day basis.

12. All domestic livestock shall be
removed forthwith from the
Reserved Forest areas by the
Irrigation Department with the help
of the police.

13. All non-operational staff must be
shifted out of the Reserved Forest
area within three months.

14. All operational staff whose
presence is essential shall be
relocaled 10 the Irrigation Colony
outside the CNP within 6 months.

15. All wire fencing, boundary walls,
houses and structures constructed
within the CNP area should be

demolished by the Irrigation Department after they are
vacated, and the debris and other material shall be
removed and disposed off on non-forest land. All wells
and pits shall be filled up. unless required by the Forest
Department.

16. All ornamental gardens, garden furniture, wire fencing,
boundary walls, etc. that are creating obstacles for
wildlife around the Saddle dam and Main Dam areas
should also be removed by Ihe Irrigation Department
within three months.

17. The site should be rendered safe and habitable for
wildlife, and funds should be provided by the Irrigation
Department as committed in letter no. 903 (i)13-1 1 dated
August 22, 1966 from the Conservator of Forests,
Western Circle, U.R, to the Sahayak Sachiv. Van (Kha)
Vibhag, U.P. The amount of Rs.1.25 crores that was
supposed to be given in 1966 to the Forest Department
should be immediately transferred along with the overdue
interest to a separate bank account that shall be opened
by the Director Project Tiger in any nationalized bank.
These funds could be used exclusively for the protection
and conservation activities of the CNP, and would be
subjected to the normal account and audit procedures
of the State Government.

18. In case the Irrigation Department wishes to continue
lis activities within the ecologically sensitive and fragile
environs of Ihe CNP after six months, they could be
asked to deposit a sum of Rs.1.27 crores per hectare
per year (or part thereof) with the Director CNP, for the
land retained by (hem within the CNP.

From what we understand the BNHS report has been accepted
in toto by the CEC. And subsequent to the submission of
this report, the Irrigation and Forest Departments have already
carried out demolitions for the removal of encroachers within
the CNP

This kind of action is sure to send signals to other would be
encroachers and will hopefully help to slaunch the rot that
had been allowed to seep into the arena of forest protection
over the years.

A copy of the BNHS site visit report can be downloaded
from the BNHS website www.bnhs.org

Conservation Department 23

I have been to Tungareshwar often and it
seems impossible to believe that the thick
glades, flowing waters and vibrant wildlife
can co-exist within a stone's throw from a
bustling highway and human disturbance.
But nature is alive here. No sooner do you
enter its confines that birdsong fills your
ears and botanists could ask for few better
examples of a moist evergreen forest.

When I trekked to the highest point (570m)
I saw the canopy stretch northward towards
the Tansa valley and I prayed that better
sense would prevail and that the fragile
corridors connecting Tungareshwar with
Tansa would be restored, rather than
snapped.

Studded with deciduous patches that only
add to the biodiversity value, Tungareshwar
harbours perennial water sources and this
is why wildlife densities are likely to be high,
provided we are able to offer the area the
peace and seclusion it needs.

Records in the BNHS suggest that the
forest hosts over than 600 species of
plants, over 250 species of birds, 150
species of butterflies, over 36 species of
herpetofauna and many more yet to be
documented. The area is also important for
owl moths from the genus Olhreis (seven
species). It is also the largest breeding site
for the atlas moth Attacus alias around
Mumbal. The leopard Panthera pardus is the
predominant predator and thrives on spotted
deer Axis axis, barking deer Muntiacus
muntjak and sambar Cervus unicolor. It was
as recently as May 2003 that a tiger

MAP NOT TO SCALE

4- ' »

24 Bombay Natural History Society

Panthera tigris was reported from
Tungareshwar.

Besides its immensely high
biodiversity potential, this magical
forest also acts as vital catchment
area, which helps to recharge
thousands of freshwater wells in
the Vasai Taluka. The water
security of this entire region
depends on this forest and its
natural surrounds.

CONSERVATION ISSUES

Over last few years, the systematic
and illegal expansion of roads and
illegal diversion of natural streams has
threatened this biodiversity rich area.
A cart tract (from Sativali to
Tungareshwar Mandir) as shown in
forest topographical sheets has now
been illegally converted into a 20m
wide road that provides vehicle access
to all and sundry. This road further
continues to Sadanand Baba's ashram
and needs to be further investigated
lor violation of the Forest
(Conservation) Act 1980.

The course of three natural streams
has been diverted by blasting the
streambed to remove large rocks and
to provide uninterrupted access to
vehicles throughout the year. This is
banned in Reserved Forest Areas.
Another road from Parol to Sadanand
Baba's ashram, once a pristine
forested tract, has now been converted
into a 10m wide road and is another
blatant example of a FC Act violation.
When we undertook a walking survey,
we estimated that thousands of trees
must have been hacked to expand the
road along its 15 km length from
Sativali to the ashram and another
seven kms from Parol to ashram. The
two-storied ashram building and its
attendant infrastructures need to be
investigated for its legal status.

The Conservation Department of the
BNHS has organized several tnps to this
forest and has spearheaded a sustained
campaign against these illegalities in the
Tungareshwar Reserved Forest. We
have also lobbied persistently with the
forest and administration authorities
of the Maharashtra Government.
Representations made to the Ministry of
Environment and Forests at the Centre,
the State Forest Department and
the Central Empowered Committee on
this issue look like they might just
yield results.

-■*r -

Marine National Park,
Gulf of Kutchh:

A conservation challenge

Gulf of Kutchh is an ecological miracle. A complex coral
reel ecosystem, coupled with extensive mangroves,
dominates the landscape of the shallow waters of the Marine
National Park, the first in India to be dedicated to the protection
of our threatened marine flora and fauna.

Today the entire coastline is threatened by a combination
of mangrove destruction, oil spills, toxic waste and
reclamation. Yet. somehow, the region continues to support
marine life. Nature Is not quite as helpless as we
might imagine.

I remember early days of my shell expeditions in 1980's
to these coastal areas. The coral reefs of Narara, Pirotan,
Poshitra and Beyt Dwarka always fascinated me. Their vibrant
colours, shapes and myriad forms were attractive no doubt,
but even more absorbing was the question of their ancient
origins, the purpose of their shapes and sizes. I will never
forget the stunning threat-display of an octopus that I chanced
upon in the shallows, and its subsequent ability to change
colours, to merge with the background. Wading further out
from the tide line, I saw elegant crests of brain coral,
magnificent architecture of moon and plate corals and shoals
of reef fish swimming among them. I was mesmerised and
in me was bom a determination to understand this ecosystem
better and protect it as best I could.

My subsequent expeditions were equally rewarding.
I saw cowries (Cypraea sp.), wentle traps (Epitonium sp.)
and rock shells (Murex sp.) and then returned to spend

hours studying their origins, the way they found food and
how they avoided the dangers always lurking in the shape
and form of predators.

Wading through cold, ankle deep water in winter was a
simple pleasure that was not merely pleasurable, but
rewarding to boot. It was always easy to see large sand
anemones in their various hues of green, brown and blue.
Pirotan at sunset was intoxicating. Sitting on the beach and
staring out across the sands, I was treated to a veritable
orchestra of colours and calls. The deep purple of Reef Herons
(Egretta gularis), the majestic pink of Flamingoes
(Phoenicopterus ruber), elegant Avocets (Recurvirostra
avosetta) and ever-busy Little Stints (Calidhs minuta) were
my constant companions. Come evening and many more
water birds including ducks would pick their favourite roosts.
And nothing seemed capable of tiring the terns and gulls
that seemed to dominate the seashore. When I got tired of
watching Grey Herons (Ardea cinerea) and the teeming flocks
of waders, I would peer through my binoculars and sometimes
be blessed by the sight of dolphins that hunted fish and
octopus just offshore.

Mangroves of the Gulf of Kutchh are the only mangroves
that exists in the Gujarat state. These magical plants in turn
support huge breeding colonies of painted storks (Mycteria
leucocephala), herons, egrets, ibises, spoonbills (Platalea
leucorodia), darters (Anhinga melanogaster) and little
cormorants (Phalacrocorax niger).

26 Bombay Natural History Society

This marine ecosystem represents an economic asset
that our planners and developers have, sadly, not recognized.
Corals, sandbars, mangroves and dunes are the best
defences against the wrath ot the oceans. These land-sea
frontiers are the breeding grounds of perhaps over 70 per
cent of all marine creatures, upon which our own food security
is dependent. Yet we find short term profiteers have been
allowed to rip these natural wonders apart. Little wonder
Gujarat now suffers the constant threat of cyclone damage,
sea erosion and falling fish catch.

Today my work with the BNHS. as its Conservation Officer,
provides me with an opportunity to share my fascination and
love for the marine world with children and adults alike and ft
also permits me to join hands with those who are witling to
fight to protect this irreplaceable hentage.

LOCATION

The Gulf of Kutchh is an arm of the Arabian Sea, separating
the Saurashtra Peninsula from the Great and Little Rann of
Kutchh. At its seaward (western) end it is 58 km wide, Irom
which point it tapers gradually eastwards, extending for nearly
170 km with maximum depth of 60 mts and an average depth
of about 20 mts. Most of the beaches are sandy and muddy,
or have large sandstone expanses.

The Marine Sanctuary and National Park are situated, on
the southern shore ot the Gulf of Kutchh. They were
established in 1980 and 1982 respectively under the
provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act. 1972. The
Sanctuary extended over an area of 270 sq. km., from Okha
to Jodhya. The core area of 110 sq. km. was subsequently
notified as a Marine Park, comprising areas of 7,000 ha off
Okha in the west and 4,000 ha off Jamnagar to the east.

In 1982, this protected area was enlarged to over 400 sq.
km. There are between 30 and 40 islands on the Jamnagar
coast in the Marine National Park, all surrounded by reefs.
The best-known islands are, of course, Pirotan. all of six sq.
km. (16 km. north of Bedi Port) and Karubhar.

CONSERVATION ISSUES

In the past three decades, rampant extraction of corals
and sand by the cement industry has left deep scars on this
fragile ecosystem and has caused substantial destruction
leading to increased turbidity. I believe this is the main reason
for the sharp decline in marine life. At places like Narara and
Pirotan the damage is probably beyond repair. As if this were
not enough, a series of refinenes have been inflicted on us
by the Indian Oil Corporation. ESSAR, Reliance and. we now
understand, few more may be joining the fray. Operational
ports such as New Port, Ruchi. Bedi. Kandla. Mundra and
Navlakhi were built without appropnate environment impact
studies. Naval ports including Valsura and Kargil and the
proposed Poshitra add to the woes of the beleaguered marine
life. Several chemical and salt industries dump effluents into
once pure waters. And to add to this mayhem, is the
anthropogenic pressure from as many as 3,000 mechanized
fishing crafts. The biodiversity of Gulf of Kutch is under
fullscale assault.

The supposedly benign salt industry has actually stripped
the coastline of its mangroves and is a key reason for human
deaths that now take place when cyclones strike.

Sand anemones, pearl oysters (Pinctada vulgaris), sacred
chanks (Xancus pyrum) and brain corals have vanished from
Narara, perhaps the worst hit of all the regions. On a recent
visit, all I saw was dead coral debris. The sea is waiting for
Homo sapiens to pass. I thought to myself, before it reclaimed
what was nghtfully its own.

CONCLUSION

While children continue to be taught about nature, manne
ecosystems and the impact of ecological disharmony,
influential people continue to abuse their power to tear and
rip at the innards of Gujarat's marine wonderland. Several
actions initiated by the Gujarat Forest Department are serving
to delay, or thwart the damage and this includes mangrove
plantations, educational camps, and restricted tourist access
to few islands, so that word of mouth support spreads. Clearly,
however, this is inadequate.

The BNHS is in touch with potential partners and
supporters to protect this western seaboard and its associated
coral, mud and mangrove habitats.

Apart from imparting nature education to all sectors of
society from children to industrialists, we have honed in on
five priorities:

1 . A moratorium on further reclamation and/or destruction
of coastal ecosystems.

2. Tight control over mechanized fishing in the Gulf of

Kutchh.

3. An effective disaster mitigation plan particularly for oil
refineries and chemical industries, with appropriate fund
allocation made over to ecological restoration projects.

4. Better surveillance and enforcement infrastructure for
forest department and coordinated action with the Coast
Guard and Indian Navy.

5. Control over illegal sand mining.

Deepak Apte. Conservation Officer. BNHS

BIODIVERSITY

Particulars

Speckes Diversity

Algae

108

Corals (Hard & soft)

56

Sponges

70

Fishes

200

Prawns

27

Crabs

30

Molluscs

400 +

Turtles

3

Sea snakes

3

Birds

175

Mammals

3

Conservation Department 27

" — at the back of all this senseless slaughter and
law breaking which has brought about the present
sorry plight is the apathy of public opinion towards
the need for the preservation of our fauna."

Dr. Sdlim Ali

BNHS Centenary Journal Seminar

Mumbai, November 12 - 15, 2003

•.ibofisors

DSP

Merrill Lynch

^tata f&y HSBC4»

PIROJSHA

CiODREJ

FOUNDATION