Raising serious concerns over fragmentation of elephant corridors and rising jumbo/wildlife deaths across the country, the Standing Committee of National Board for Wildlife (SC-NBWl) has stressed on giving Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) status to elephant and tiger corridors, and also other identified key wildlife corridors in totality.
The deadline for eco-sensitive zones as given by Environment Ministry to the States once again expired on May 15, and the Ministry being left with no options has extended it for the fourth time in a row (beginning from December 2012, February 2013 and May 2013) to July 15.
According to SC-NBWl member Dr MK Ranjitsinh, a detailed list of potential elephant corridors in the country have already been prepared and forwarded to all the State Governments. However, the States continue to be reluctant to even consider them for due notification. Worse still, the States were even reluctant to declare these as Reserve Forests under the Forest Departments and even less so as conservation reserves and sanctuaries.
“We are losing corridors day by day and not a single corridor has been functionally established and legally notified,” regretted Dr AJT Johnsinh, wildlife expert and SC-NBWl member.
Stressing on the necessity to give eco-sensitive zone status to elephant and tiger corridors, SC-NBWl members pointed out that an alarming rate of diversion in key wildlife habitats and corridors is being witnessed. They pressed that diversion of forest land in Elephant Reserves, elephant and tiger corridors that are identified and demarcated by the State Government or Central Government, be immediately brought under the purview of the Standing Committee of the NBWl.
Kishor Rithe, SC-NBWl member, further stated that “the wildlife corridors” are already part of the Wildlife (Protection) Act which means they should obviously be given the status of ecologically sensitive areas.
ESZs are to be notified as under provisions of Environment Protection Act (EPA) 1986. which stipulate that lands falling within 10km of the boundaries of Protected Areas should be notified as eco-fragile zones for protecting wildlife habitats and corridors. The declaration of ESZs had become necessary as per National Wild life Action Plan (2002-16), he pointed out.