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RECOMMENDATIONS OF WORKSHOP TO DELIBERATE AND DISCUSS ON ‘CRITICAL WILDLIFE HABITATS’ HELD ON 28th DECEMBER 2008 AT BHUBANESWAR |
The Workshop on ‘Critical Wildlife Habitats’ organized by ‘Wild Orissa’, an organization for conservation of nature and wildlife, held on the 28th December 2008 at Bhubaneswar, Orissa, deliberated and discussed on the issue of ‘Critical Wildlife Habitat’, apart from the relevant provisions of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act 2006 or STOTFDRFRA, Wildlife Protection Act 1972, Forest (Conservation) Act 1980, etc. and after detailed discussion and deliberation decided to recommend the following:
- The Government of Orissa may be urged to take expeditious steps for finalizing proposals on Critical Wildlife Habitats which are to include among others, ‘Corridors of Significant Wildlife Values’ for recommending them to the Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India, on a case by case basis
- The information according to the stipulated Guidelines issued by the Ministry of Environment & Forests may include the following in proposals on Critical Wildlife Habitats being forwarded by the Government of Orissa to the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India.
- Scientific studies evidencing documentation of biodiversity for ecological data on the habitat and status of the significant plant and animal species.
- Data on human animal conflict and assessment of impact of human presence on animal numbers and animal habitat.
- Studies on the extent of dependence and interaction of the affected communities with the forest resources within the proposed critical wildlife habitats
- It was recognized that there are many areas in the state of Orissa, falling outside the purview of National Parks and Sanctuaries, which have
- Viable populations of tiger and other rich faunal and floral species, rich biodiversity and life supporting ecological systems in natural wilderness areas.
- the potential to harbor viable populations of umbrella species (endemic species, top carnivores, mega-herbivores, indicator, wild relatives of species of economic value, endangered and threatened and migratory species the conservation of which is to benefit the human race, and which are urgently required to be recognized as ‘inviolate areas’. Accordingly the Government of Orissa is requested to take priority steps in listing out the same and recommend the same for being notified as Critical Wildlife Habitats. Wild Orissa has resolved to provide necessary assistance in this regard.
- Wherever the proposals contain suggestions for relocations and resettlements, it needs to be duly accompanied by a report about the anticipated adverse impact due to activities of habitations/settlements upon wild animals causing irreversible damage and threat to the existence of a species and it’s habitat.
- The Government of Orissa is requested to take steps for inviting proposals and eliciting opinion from wildlife conservation organizations, including Wild Orissa, functioning outside the state forest department, experienced in the field of wildlife and nature conservation, at the time of consideration of proposals for ‘Critical Wildlife Habitat’.
- The Government of Orissa is requested to take up demarcation of protected areas and Reserved Forests and notify the pending proposals for Reserved Forests and protected areas in the state of Orissa on a priority basis. Further patches of revenue forests in small pockets are distributed all over the state. They should all be demarcated, mapped and notified as Reserved/Protected/Village Forests and brought under control of forest department for improving its vegetation and providing suitable habitats for appropriate wildlife. Funding should be made available for the purpose expeditiously. They should not be allowed to be quarried or used otherwise
- It is requested that the Government should access and document the traditional knowledge of biodiversity and fauna and flora in possession of tribes and traditional forest dwellers residing in and around an area being considered as a critical wildlife habitat.
- The Government of Orissa may be requested to take necessary steps for recommending to the concerned authorities for suitably amending the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act 2006 as:- Section 2(b) - The phrase “areas of National Parks and Sanctuaries” may be substituted by “Protected Areas as defined under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 including Conservation Reserves and Community Reserves and Reserved Forests under the Indian Forest Act 1927/Orissa Forest Act 1972 and ‘Ecologically Sensitive Areas’ under the Bio-diversity Act, ‘Sensitive Areas’ under provisions of the Coastal Regulation Zone Act and other categories of Forests falling under the purview of the Forest (Conservation) Act 1980”.
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