Tiger Conservation - Dispersal Corridors

An ultimate action that is required for the conservation of tigers in India is the fortification of corridors present between the reserves/forests in order to facilitate dispersal.  This is crucial since the animal is by nature local migratory and many reserves that conserve the big cats are pathetically small. Facilitating gene transfer is also crucial in order to prevent inbreeding. 

Wildlife Corridors

Nothing is satisfactory on this front, and by creating protected areas we have absolved ourselves of further responsibilities especially as regard to ecological niche outside. By creating PAs which was a necessity and will remain for very long time we have downgraded or made irrelevant the status of land in the periphery or buffer which are on many instance viable corridors or if not they can be converted as viable or sustainable living quarters for the wild animals overflowing from the core of the PAs. Here the reference is not limited to area notified as buffer the extension that could in form of degraded land or scrub which could be enabling connectivity through continuity in whatsoever manner is also important. This gargantuan exercise could prove to be a deterrent for political initiatives especially whence translocation  of communities is concerned. 

There have been seemingly committed instances of realization of creating such vital corridors amongst the relevant departments with encouragement from MOEF of various ruling dispensations that came to rule and were relegated to the ballet box subsequently. With the priority shaped by the economics, a strong development agenda is in place, and thus the creation of additional protected areas in absence of indicators species the governments think they cannot afford anymore, especially whence it goes against the populist trends (voter appeasement) that are shaping Indian democracy. 

There have been numerous instances of violation of salient principles of conservation using lacunae in land management, especially in the case of corridors with no statutory recognition in this country. The violation of green patches of ecological importance and the slicing of reserves for linear development is quite evident. This is done by using statutory prerogatives and through the proclivity of the legal frameworks supporting the development agenda. Conservation and environmental agendas desperately requiring implementation are not of immediate concern to ruling dispensations past and present.  It seems at times the institutions created to thwart unplanned and unviable projects themselves are not convinced or favor rapid developments in the country. They are merely acting as agents to legalize all is well with certification. Corruption in the country has reached every nook and corner since independence making institutions lax or accomplices in heinous crimes against the environment. 

The big cats suffocating in small reserves with not much space for population increase and movement to nearby viable habitats is a reality. Wildlife populations are being an isolated increase in the country due to increasing structures bolstered by unchecked urbanization that is constantly devouring habitats and areas of ecological importance. Even within reserves, there is no alternative space for survival in case of random natural events like depletion of food, prey, fire, and deluge. Thus habitat fragmentation due to this unplanned development is posing a threat to biodiversity so far unscathed by humans and their priorities.    

The propensity to create or redevelop perfect biological corridors in order to facilitate migration, prevent gene isolation and preserve and enhance biodiversity is clearly missing in this country. In such a doomsday scenario, the only alternative solution left at hand of the concerned is the micro-management of multiple-use corridors to facilitate migration through remaining viable passages and prevent man-animal conflicts and poaching the scourge of wildlife conservation in India. This micro-management of multiple-use areas has been out of the purview in our myopic approach to conservation in India. Just creating small reserves is not the solution if we are really serious about preserving biodiversity and stemming the rot that is the species extinction in India.  

For greater understanding read ...sustenance of meta population in corridors...A  WWF Study.

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Uday Works as Freelance Naturalist and Blogs on conservation, tigers, and environmental issues. 

He also provides SEO and Website Content in English.

Uday Teaches Internet Marketing Classes in his hometown in Jabalpur in Summer.  

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