The 10th meeting of the members of Chhattisgarh State Wildlife Board chaired by Chief Minister Raman Singh cleared the proposal for declaring Bhoramdev Sanctuary as ‘Tiger Reserve’ on Tuesday.
The meeting held at Chief Minister’s residence also endorsed the proposal to earmark the proposed ‘Tiger Reserve’ as ‘Core’ and ‘Buffer’ regions.
The proposal will now be sent to National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), New Delhi for final approval. The proposed ‘Bhoramdev Tiger Reserve’ will be spread in an area of 624 square kms in which 318 sq kms will be ‘Core area’ and 305 sq kms will be ‘Buffer Area’, officials informed.
The Bhoramdev Tiger Reserve when finally approved will be the 51st ‘Tiger Reserve’ in the country.
Notably, five years ago, a proposal was sent to NTCA in this regard as there was tiger movement from Kanha National Park, Madhya Pradesh to Bhoramdeo Wildlife Sanctuary, officials informed.
Now after getting status of Tiger Reserve, there will be DFO level Forest Officer there. Besides, there will be well trained staff including a veterinary doctor.
Besides, a tigress was spotted moving with three cubs and a tiger five years ago in Bhoramdeo wildlife sanctuary. So Forest department has sent a proposal to NTCA to declare it as Tiger Reserve.
Chief Minister Raman Singh had provided in-principle approval in a meeting of State Wildlife Board for formation of Tiger Reserve recently.As per officials, it may take time of six months for formation of Tiger Reserve. Barasingha (swamp dear) will be translocated here from Kanha National Park, MP, as there is conducive atmosphere for such animals.
There is abundance of water sources in Bhoramdeo in addition to other natural surroundings. This wildlife sanctuary is origin of Fen and Sankari rivers and these rivers join and take form of big one in Kanha National Park. Bhoramdeo has 160 sq km as core area and 152 sq km as buffer zone.Two tigers, a tigress and cubs had been spotted in Bhoramdev Forest Reserve during the last few months since March this year.
The Forest Department has installed trap camera for the monitoring of wild animal movements which proved presence of two cubs along with two tigers and a tigress in the reserve.
Bhoramdev Forest Reserve situated in between Kanha National Tiger Reserve and Achanakmar Tiger Reserve, has provided evidences of presence of wild life since three years of its formation.
The trap cameras installed across the forest region of Bhoramdev Forest Reserve has provided evidences of presence of tiger, tigress and cubs since last few years.The State Forest Department will also carry out a comprehensive survey of migratory birds visiting the State.
The survey would be completed by March 2018, officials informed. The survey would be carried out with the assistance of Bengaluru-based organisation named ‘Bird Count India’.
It would make Chhattisgarh the first State in the country to have carried out such a survey.Notably, Achanakmar region in Chhattisgarh is among 18 ‘Biosphere Reserves’ in the country, the Central Government has informed.
Biosphere Reserve (BR) is an international designation by UNESCO for representative parts of natural and cultural landscapes extending over large area of terrestrial or coastal/ marine ecosystems or a combination thereof.
BRs are designated to deal with one of the most important questions of reconciling the conservation of biodiversity, the quest for economic and social development and maintenance of associated cultural values and are thus special environments for both people and the nature and are living examples of how human beings and nature can co-exist while respecting each other’s needs.
The Biosphere Reserve Programme is guided by UNESCO Man and Biosphere (MAB) programme as India is a signatory to the landscape approach supported by MAB programme. A scheme called Biosphere Reserve is being implemented by Government of India since 1986, in which financial assistance is given in 90:10 ratio to the North Eastern Region States and three Himalayan states and in the ratio of 60:40 to other states for maintenance, improvement and development of certain items. The State Government prepares the Management Action Plan which is approved and monitored by Central MAB Committee”.
Chhattisgarh is among four other states which has submitted Detailed Project Report (DPR) for funding under the National Adaptation Fund on Climate Change (NAFCC) at a total cost of approximately Rs 108 crore for implementation in these states.
Notably, the ninth meeting of the National Steering Committee on Climate Change (NSCCC) was held last year. The Committee approved the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) on adaptation submitted by governments of Telangana, Mizoram, Jammu & Kashmir, Meghalaya and Chhattisgarh for funding, under the National Adaptation Fund on Climate Change (NAFCC) at a total cost of approximately Rs 108 crore for implementation in these states.India became the 56th signatory State to sign the ‘Raptor MoU’ that was concluded on October 22, 2008 and came into effect on November 1, 2008 on conservation of birds of prey in Africa and Eurasia.
The ‘Raptor MoU’ extends its coverage to 76 species of birds of prey, out of which 46 species, including vultures, falcons, eagles, owls, hawks, kites, harriers, etc. also occur in India.
The Union Environment Ministry released new categorisation of industries. Based on pollution scores, the re-categorisation was finalised as - Red, Orange, Green and White.
