Conservationists must accept the fact that existing roads will remain open and further planned roads will be constructed.
The Government agencies concerned with road network works, will also have to understand that some forest areas are non-negotiable.
The approach should be based on sound science to ensure wildlife conservation along with road development in a manner that doesn’t lead to wastage of public money. This was the general view expressed by officials of various departments and subject experts at the conclusion of a three-day training programme mainstreaming biodiversity in road and rail transportation projects for promoting smart green infrastructure organised jointly by the Wildlife Institute of India and the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
Speaking on the occasion, WII director VB Mathur said that at a time when railway, road and power transmission networks are expanding throughout the country, it is necessary to keep biodiversity concerns in focus while planning these projects. The responsibility to develop a field guide for planning and implementing wildlife mitigation measures has been assigned to WII by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, he informed. He said, “It is essential to replace ad hocism and emotionally influenced thought with science based plans and actions. The vital task of primary data collection is done by the WII and we are open to being subjected to rigorous tests. While preventing wastage of public funds, it should be noted that there is an element of animal behavior due to which one can not guarantee whether the elephants and other wildlife will use the corridors and passes developed for them. This task should also be kept open to experimentation with utmost diligence, “ he said, while also stressing on the need for all the government agencies and other stakeholders concerned to come together for coordinated and effective action.
SP Sharma from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) said that the authority is ready to go by the various suggestions and guidelines drafted keeping the wildlife and environmental aspects in view provided it is based on sound science and does not entail wastage of public money.
Dipankar Ghose from WWF India stressed on the need for engagement of the authorities with the scientific and conservationist fraternity. Provision of budget for realignment aand mitigation are necessary in addition to strict guidelines for road construction in wildlife habitats.
Referring to wildlife mortalities on roads, former member of the national board for wildlife, Prerna Bindra recalled the number of snakes killed by vehicles while crossing the road. She said, “Snake mortalities on roads is alarming. The rise in snake road-kills has led to rise in rodent population which in turn is damaging agricultural crop affecting both the farmer and our food security.” Stating that the engagement with civil society is very low, she also stressed on the need for consistent communication with the media to ensure proactive public and prevent dispersal of incorrect information. “Conservationists must know that roads will be here and more will be built but the government agencies should also know that some areas are non-negotiable as in the case of constructing a motor road through a flamingo habitat threatening the existence of the birds,” she said.
Expressing his views, road ecologist and deputy director of Australian Research Centre for Urban Ecology, University of Melbourne, Rodney van der Ree said that considering his visit to India in 2012, the nation is moving at a good pace and in the right direction.
The three-day course, attended by 39 participants including road and rail planners, transportation engineers, decision makers, wildlife managers and impact assessment professionals, has been designed to keep professional abreast of recent developments in the field of road ecology and to upgrade technical skills for responsible planning of roads to balance growth and mobility of people with the security of habitat connectivity and permeability for wildlife species.