AERIAL VIEW
Environmental experts like Rajendra Kerkar say Mhadei is known to be tiger pockets and its inclusion under the management schemes of tiger reserve will help the future population of tigers to disperse into adjoining protected areas.
The benefit also expands to revenue villages that come within the buffer zone as the concept of coexistence is proposed in these areas, Kerkar says.
However, the locals are upset that once Sattari becomes a buffer zone for Tiger Reserve it will be declared as ‘Eco Sensitive Zone’ no mining activities could be carried out in the areas close to the core zone and would directly hit their livelihood.
SURAJ NANDREKAR
Editor, Goemkapronn
The High Court’s deadline of declaring the Mhadei Wildlife Santuary as Tiger Reserve ends on October 24 and though the Goa government said it would request a extension of deadline, it is very unlikely that the HC would agree as the case is now before the Supreme Court.
The Goa government has challenged the HC order in SC and therefore the HC is unlikely to intervene as matter is pending.
Moreover, in next one week the State has to issue a notification declaring Tiger reserve as the SC has refused to grant a stay.
The State has to demarcate core and buffer zones of tiger reserve in the State while striking a balance among ecology protection, tribal welfare and tourism promotion, feel conservationists and wildlife experts.
Politicians as well as the tribal people of Sattari are upset with the order as they feel it has not addressed their livelihood issues.
Some tribal people, particularly those in Mhadei sanctuary, say that life for them has become difficult of late ever since five tigers were killed in 2020.
Environmental experts like Rajendra Kerkar say Mhadei is known to be tiger pockets and its inclusion under the management schemes of tiger reserve will help the future population of tigers to disperse into adjoining protected areas.
The benefit also expands to revenue villages that come within the buffer zone as the concept of coexistence is proposed in these areas, Kerkar says.
However, the locals are upset that once Sattari becomes a buffer zone for Tiger Reserve it will be declared as ‘Eco Sensitive Zone’ no mining activities could be carried out in the areas close to the core zone and would directly hit their livelihood.
Local communities are an important stakeholder in any carnivore translocation programme and therefore, their acceptance of the translocation and support are essential to ensure its viability.
Now that the Goa government knows there is going to be no reprieve from the HC order of declaring Tiger reserve, the best they can do is as a part of the adaptive management strategy, it must assess the concerns and issues to provide a practical solution.
The major concerns of the people in Sattari are – (1) socio-economic, (2) ecosystem values and dependence, (3) relationship with the forest department and (4) losses and fear.
Restriction from the forest department, fear for livestock, and experience of losses due to wildlife has had a negative influence on their attitude as we have seen in case of killing of five tigers in 2020 in Golaulim.
We need to recommend that the villages in the landscape are prioritized based on their needs and accordingly, specific interventions are made to address their concerns.
Future augmentation programme must give importance to intangible factors such as fear and perceived restrictions and opt for the involvement of the local community in the decision-making process.
We need to understand that though Goa is a developed state and has highest per capita income, people in rural areas like Sattari are still backward.
Local communities, especially in rural landscapes, depend on the forest for their livelihood. Those living in remote areas tend to suffer high poverty, low income, scarce employment opportunities, and government services.
Therefore, organizing awareness and counseling camps, especially for people who have suffered losses previously and whose livelihood is affected, should be adequately considered. Lastly, considering the conservation importance of the reserve and possible future translocation it will be important to integrate a shared vision and aspirations of the forest management and the local communities.