Goa Govt Feels Declaration of TIGER RESERVE will not serve any SIGNIFICANT Purpose
Neither will it be feasible in view of availability of relatively small Protected Areas and large population living in and around these PAs
SURAJ NANDREKAR/ Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Goa State Wildlife Board is of the opinion that the declaration of already notified Protected Areas in Goa as Tiger Reserve will not serve any significant purpose and neither will it be feasible in view of availability of relatively small PAs and large population living in and around these PAs
The Board also feels that the constitution of Protected Areas as of the State as Tiger Reserve before completing the settlement process and detailed consideration of all the relevant aspects related to socio-economic impact on local population will be premature and which may escalate the issues of man-animal conflict.
This is what was discussed in the State Board of Wildlife on July, 2023 before the High Court gave its decision directing Goa to notify Tiger Reserve.
Following is what was discussed at the meeting:
Agenda Item No. 2: To apprise SBWL status regarding declaration of Tiger Reserve in the State
i. A presentation was made to apprise the Board including chronology of events as follow:
a. Suggestions / reports received from National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) in 2011, 2016, 2020 & 2022 to submit proposal for constitution of Protected Areas (PA) of the State as Tiger Reserve.
b. Eastern periphery of Goa forms a part of Western Ghats, which has been declared as PA comprising of four (4) Wildlife Sanctuaries and one (1) National Park. These are contiguous with the forest and protected areas of States of Maharashtra and Karnataka thereby giving higher level of protection to the wildlife, including apex predators.
c. The legal provisions on protection of wildlife under of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 for PAs including Wildlife Sanctuary, National Park and Tiger Reserve etc, are the same.
d. The Forest Department in coordination with neighbouring States is taking all necessary measures for monitoring, protection and conservation of tigers. A Revenue Officer cum Collector (ROC) has been appointed by the State Government under Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 for settlement of claims and rights of residents in the existing PAs.
e. All possible measures to protect wildlife and its habitat inside the Mhadei and other PAs is being taken by the Forest Department. For monitoring at Beat level – smallest functional unit of forest management, wildlife trekkers are engaged with Forest Guards as per requirement to combat and prevent illegal forest activities. Forest frontline staff patrols in their respective jurisdictions, day and night, to keep check on poachers and antisocial elements etc. Apart from this, protection measures, wildlife management activities such as habitat improvement, management of water holes, grassland areas, planting of indigenous fruit bearing species, removal of weed etc. are continuously being undertaken in PAs.
f. Forest Department has established patrolling camps in sanctuary areas to keep strict vigil on movements of wild animals, including apex predators across State borders.
g. As per the directions of Goa State Board for Wildlife (GSBWL) in its meeting held on 16.12.2017, a study on socio-economic impacts on the local people residing within and in the fringe areas, is to be carried out before taking steps to declare Tiger Reserve. A proposal for carrying out Socio-economic survey through Wildlife Institute of India, MoEF&CC, Gol is under consideration of the Government.
h. As per NTCA guidelines including dated 16.11.2007 minimum inviolate space of 800 -1000 Sq Kms should be maintained as core or critical tiger habitat to support a viable population of tiger based on the studies conducted by Wildlife Institute of India. However, some reserves have lesser area as well. In case of Goa, total protected area including Bondla and Or Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is approximately 750 Sq Kms.
i. A total of 59 human habitation/villages are completely and 10 human habitation/ villages are partially inside boundary of PAs and these are homogenously distributed. Further, there is large number of villages in Eco Sensitive Zone areas around the Protected Areas in Goa.
j. Therefore, constitution of PAs as of the State as Tiger Reserve before completing the settlement process and detailed consideration of all the relevant aspects related to socio-economic impact on local population will be premature and which may escalate the issues of man-animal conflict.
k. The Board was also informed about the PIL filed in Hon’ble HC on the matter and that after completion of hearing recently, the judgement of Hon’ble Court has been kept reserved.
ii. After presentation, the Board had a detailed deliberation including following:
a. Mr Parag Rangnekar, representative of GBCN (NGO| mentioned that rights in PAs may be settled once for all expeditiously so as to make our PAs inviolate.
b. Representative of WWF (NGO| & Shri Sujeet Dongre of CEE emphasised that to ascertain the impact of declaring TR, a socio- economic study may be carried out through an expert agency / organisation on which the Board was of the view that such a study, if so considered necessary for the purpose, may be commissioned separately with approval of the government.
c. The Chairman directed GFD to ensure required measures for protection and conservation of wildlife in Goa. He assured that funds, as per requirement, would be provided by the Government.
iii. The Board noted that legal provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, with respect to protection, for PAs including Wildlife Sanctuary, National Park, and that for Tiger Reserve etc. are almost similar. Considering the existing facts and circumstances, the Board unanimously resolved that declaration of already notified PAs in Goa as Tiger Reserve – which as per NTCA guidelines should be an inviolate area – will not serve any significant purpose and neither will it be feasible in view of availability of relatively small PAs and large population living in and around these PAs.
