For the first time in UN calendar, the World Wildlife Day 2017 was observed for protection of swildlife and to create consciousness among the people globally.
The United Nations General Assembly at its 68th Session on December 20, 2013 proclaimed March 3 of every calendar year as the World Wildlife Day. The United Nations General Assembly also passed a resolution and designated this special day for wildlife conservation.
The essence of World Wildlife Day 2017 is to encourage the youths throughout the globe to protect wildlife from the ongoing threats, including habitat destruction, over exploitation and also illicit trafficking.
The youths can act as agents of such changes and perform as tools to achieve the objectives. This has been practically proved in the Rushikulya river mouth where the rookeries of Olive Ridley turtles are well protected by the youngsters during the breeding season of the reptiles.
Secretary General of United Nations Antonio Guterres rightly said that poaching and illegal trafficking pose a significant threat to wildlife, especially some of the world’s most iconic and endangered species. Strict enforcement of laws is important, but equally important is awareness. As consumers, we must demand that all wildlife products come from sustainable sources.
But our Government mechanism has failed to protect the wild animals of our State, including the habitats of wild animals. The poaching and illegal trafficking of tigers, elephants and other wild animals besides the migratory birds to different parts must be stopped and everyone connected with this heinous act must be brought to book.
Every day precious flora and fauna like orchids and birds like myna and parrot are exported to different parts of the country and elsewhere by the traffickers. Although the laws of the nation do not permit such trade, but the traffickers are active and carrying out their operations with the help of unscrupulous staffs of the Forest and police departments. So there is an urgent need to involve the youngsters in the protection and conservation activities.
At present, the biosphere reserves and natural heritage sites are not safe from crimes like poaching and trafficking of wild animals. There must be commitment from all sides to prevent the crimes and to promote justice.
Director General MS Irina Bokova of UNESCO has rightly told that the young women and men have a special role to play here, as they are changer-makers of today and future custodians of the endemic natural resources of the globe. She also emphasised to listen to them and nurture their involvement to craft new form of action to conserve and protect wild life on the basis of solidarity. This is the meaning of the 2017 World Wildlife Day under the theme of “listen to young voices”.
The connection of locals and global youngsters should be encouraged for effective wildlife conservation. Now every citizen should act coordinately to save the wildlife maintaining solidarity. Especially, the Government mechanisms should be fully aware of these themes of propagation in the national as well as in State level to achieve solidarity of young mass.
When the world is observing World Wildlife Day 2017, our forests are burning helplessly. Even the bio-sphere reserves like Similipal, Karlapat, Sunabeda and Satkoshia are burning, which become the habitats of precious flora and fauna of the tropical origin.
If we take the case of Karlapat sanctuary of Kalahandi South Forest Division, which is a vulnerable portion of Eastern-Ghat hill range, it is now subjected to wild fire. The bamboo is a member of grass family, which is highly inflammable, when dry. This year the bamboo forests of Kalahandi and particularly of Karlapart forest, flowered gregariously and also dried as a result of such flowering. This is the biological phenomenon of the Salia bamboo in particular.
The whole Karlapat Sanctuary consists of 147.66 sqkm area and this forest is recognized as a sanctuary officially since October 15, 1992. Unfortunately, the management plans for this sanctuary are not worked out scrupulously for conservation of flora and fauna. This forest practically burns thrice in a year by the wild fire, which is generally caused by man for various reasons. This happens due to slackness of the administration.
As informed there are 19 revenue villages inside the sanctuary which have bonafide rights over the forest resources like bamboos and other things. As a rule, dead and dried bamboos of this block should be cleared from the sanctuary areas to avoid fire accidents and for the safety of the habitats of precious flora and fauna of Eastern- Ghat. But this is not done by the administration so far.
The concept of Ama Jangala Yojana is management of local forests and forest lands by the concerned for the benefits of the village communities which will be ultimately of the properties of the people. As is learnt, the fire protection measures are not taken up as yet in this sanctuary area as well as in entire buffer zone. Again the advisory committees for wild life protection have not been formed for protection measures.
The writer is a former forest executive of the district. During the post independence period, the local bonafide right holders were contributing their labours for protection of fire hazards and enjoying the materials.
(The writer is a former senior forest officer and an environmentalist. Tel no 9937460649)