Simlipal Forest Fires
And no Nero did not fiddle!
In the case of tiger conservation, there could be no romantic opprobrium associated. There was sufficient action to quell the fire by the State forest machinery. The raging fires consumed a large portion of wilderness crucial for the survival of diversity in the State of Odisha in India.
Whenever calamity strikes whether it is the wrath of nature or man-made, it is the flora and fauna that suffer the most. This applies to our tiger reserves as well, and it takes a toll on the big cats besides other critically endangered species. Road/rail accidents, electrocution, traps, man-made fires, encroachments, poaching, habitat destruction, spatial development needs all are the new normal post hunting ban and the damage is tangible stress on ecosystems and the wilderness within.
The ignition could have been due to a natural event or man-made...the latter cause is not a big surprise. The big cats are in a perpetual state of conflict with humanity - not their making - around our tiger reserves where most of the associated species thrive. In fact, these are the last refuge of the big cats created in order to provide a home to them wherein all other animals and the ecosystem as a whole benefited. The tiger reserves are scalable testing models which have managed to stem the rot and the recent increase in dwindling tiger population is vindictive. The concept is a success and the inviolate core is beyond any scope of human interventions except to save the species. But these are at present limited to as islands of hope without scalability being planned at all.
The cause of forest fire at Simplipal is attributed to a climatic disorder where excessive dry weather prevailed throughout last year and in February this year causing the forest to ignite. The forest could have been subjected to sabotage at this vulnerable period.
Global warming has already started to take a heavy toll on life including that of us. Subtle changes are more likely to go unnoticed as that caused by global warming more so when the life form in news is the tiger or another endangered species on brink of extinction. Natural disturbances are promptly noticed whence the sufferers are humans. We live in a human-dominated World...in a place called Earth where all life forms have the right to live with dignity.
Though notified as National Animal of India, and valued as indicator species the pride exists only on papers or within the tired souls of few committed politicians, conservationists, and our wildlife managers desperately trying to accord a new lease of life to the predator. This does not mean that the tiger is not on the list of priorities on the National Scale but the implementation of conservation initiatives depends upon multiple layers of functionaries and concerned administrations. In the present state swift implementation of schemes and initiatives is crucial to bring forth tangible success.
The devastating fires are also an indicator of the gruesome new normal that the tiger faces in this fast-developing economy. It is relegated down the ladder of importance in the National Scheme of things especially whence infrastructure development and urbanization is concerned. And the very people who justify this relegation equivocally or unequivocally are the biggest thorn in the conservation of species. This state of ambiguity is creating a perplexing order as far as the state of National priorities are concerned and often some actions suggest that the big cats are way down the ladder.
While India creates schemes and programs to save the tiger and conservationists and wildlife managers strive hard to achieve the objectives there are truckloads of detractors in this country.
The delay or disparage in implementing conservative initiatives is because of lack of conviction or rather an absolute disregard for wilderness in India. The detractors fail to connect the existence of things crucial for our survival as an existential reality. It could be due to pure ignorance or due to overpowering greed where economic turnaround that results in local wealth creation is at the center of things and nothing else. For them, wildlife conservation and preservation is a romantic intent without any logic and purely habitual elite proclivity.
In this fray are not only the crooked vile political powerhouses, the detractors comprise some NGOs, self-centered businesses, few industry giants, disenchanted forest staff, wood loggers, and of course the local goons and many with ill intent. These form the invisible nexus...the immediate or peripheral layer which is a hindrance to conservation initiatives in our tiger reserves, wildlife sanctuaries, and National Parks. They manifest themselves in many ways especially by being complicit in wildlife crimes, illegal land grabs, and mafia behind the exploitation of natural resources. Some incite the locals against the scheme of things and make them inadvertent protesters without reasoning. Their activities are detrimental to conservation especially in the case of tiger reserves.
Although the ruling dispensations have been implementing laws and schemes for the conservation of our National Heritage, the implementation at State and ground level can be wanting. The conflicts we witness can be due to the disparaging attitude of detractors. Among so many factors that come into play, this breed of people is the thorns that manage to impact conservation efforts negatively. They are the silent killers who slowly and surely are acting against the concept of wildlife conservation in India.
===========================
Uday Works as Freelance Naturalist and Blogs on conservation, tigers, environmental issues.
He also provides SEO and Website Contents in English. He teaches Digital Marketing in Jabalpur in Summers.
He can be contacted at:
Mail: pateluday90@hotmail.com
Mob: 09755089323
No comments:
Post a Comment