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.  

He can be contacted at: 

pateluday90@hotmail.com

Diamond Mining: Lure of the Lucre & Tigers

Eventually, after much hullabaloo, the diamond project in the Bunder Region of Madhya Pradesh was shelved by Rio Tinto. Citing financial reasons the concern handed over the project to the Government of Madhya Pradesh along with all the assets.   

Obviously, the Bunder Region was not good enough take for the company despite which they got the approval to go ahead. The project was mired in controversy right from its inception as the land contained a biodiversity-rich profile. Situated near Panna Tiger Reserve and Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary, the area is a link between the local ecosystems and constitutes a vital tiger corridor. The diverse floral habitats are home to leopards, sloth bears, chinkara, and other mammals, birds, and reptiles. 

Tiger experts unanimously agree upon the status as it falls under the tiger landscape. Under the stalled project more than five lakh trees were to be felled spelling an environmental disaster. Under severe opposition and administrative hiccups, the project viability was deemed poor. Eventually wiser council prevailed.    

The project envisaged the reaping of the rich harvest of roughs up to the extent of 27.00 million carats of rough. The open cast mining was discouraged and the company was advised to employ alternative means to dig for diamonds.  

But the disaster still seems to be in waiting since other investors are being sought by the concerned bodies. It seems the major discouragement is the environmental bye-laws in India. Nevertheless, projects which are ecological disasters should in the first place never be envisaged. By the time the mining would reach the end cycle we would have lost a substantial forest region forever.    

Central Indian States MP and Chhattisgarh are rich in mineral wealth including diamonds. Encouragement is being accorded to major global players to explore extensively and mine the invaluable ores.   

But the lure of the lucre would fetch in the loosening of laws in order to enable global players to mine with ease. India has an impressive diamond polishing industry but most of the roughs are obtained from Belgium. Finding substantial deposits for large projects is enticing for Governments aiming to become of the major diamond-producing regions in the World.       

Hence the sword of Damocles hangs over our valuable resources some of which are situated in the finest wildlife habitats.