WILDLIFE AND NRM

Wildlife and wildlife habitats are increasingly under threat from the environmental consequences of

mankind's unsustainable activities.

Serious threats to many faunal and floral species are imposed on them

which calls for actions and discussions on the issue of NRM and

wildlife.

www.ace.mmu.ac.uk/esd/Environment/Wildlife.html

REASONS FOR EXTINCTION

• DEFORESTATION

• POLLUTION

• HUNTING

THE RIVER DOLPHINS OF GANGES

CONDITIONS AND ACTIONS TAKEN

DECLINE IN THE DOLPHIN POPULATION DUE TO CERTAIN HUMAN ACTIVITIES:

• Human activities such as dam building, entanglement in fishing nets, boating and pollution.

• Hunting for meat and oil is the evergreen reason in this regard

• Urgent need is to care for these animals as they are an important part of the ecosystem

www.wdcs.org

IMPORTANCE

• Extremely valuable species for monitoring the environment as there presence in adequate number signifies the richness in the biodiversity of the river system.

• Acting as the indicator of health for the ecosystem of our rivers it is at the top of the aquatic food chain

www.wwfindia.org

INITIATIVES TAKEN• Vikramshila Conservation Action Plan by collaboration with

local conservationists from the Vikramshila Biodiversity Research and Education Centre (VBREC) Patna University,T.M. Bhagalpur University, Whales and dolphin conservation society (WDCS) initiated a project.

• Action Plan prepared by WWF-India in 1997 by developing local expertise through awareness activities among local communities research, including a comprehensive assessment.

• Comprehensive assessment and documentation of the dolphin population, their habitat, and the threats they face.

• www.wdcs.org

ACTIONS:

• Strengthening of community awareness and participation;• Encouragement of community ownership and management

of fisheries; • Establishment of a river biodiversity research and education

centre; • Educating government agencies and influential individuals,

promotion of river dolphins as a flagship species of healthy rivers;

• Monitoring and conducting focused conservation efforts on the status of dolphins and environmental conditions in the Sanctuary;

• Promoting oil made from fish scraps as an alternative to dolphin oil for attracting fish.

OLIVE RIDLEY TURTLES

• Orissa coast – World’s largest egg laying centre or largest graveyard.

• 9 years – 90,000 deaths.• 3 beaches of Orissa – 1000’s of trutle’s

nesting place – Devi, Gahirmatha, Rushikulya.

• Nesting period – Nov - May

www.newsfromkkp.blogspirit.com

Fate of Olive Ridleys

http://oceans.greenpeace.org http://www.planetsave.com

Eggs and hatchlings of Olive ridley turtles

www.newsfromkkp.blogspirit.com www.hindu.com

Olive Ridley

• Uncontrolled mechanised fishing.

Trawlers – more than 100.

Trawl nets and Gill nets.

• Planting of Casuarina on nesting beaches.

• Bright lights near coast.

Source: A movie on Olive Ridley turtles - “AWARENESS”, Dated-2003

Olive Ridley – Efforts to save

• Endangered.

• Orissa Marine Fishing Regulation Act.

• Use of Turtle Excluder Device (TED).

CONSERVATION

• Closing seasons. • Use of TEDs. • Fishing boundary – 5 kms.• Lights – switched off – nesting period. • Casuarina – uprooted.• Actively patrolling for few months.

Source: A movie on Olive Ridley turtles - “AWARENESS”, Dated-2003

CONSERVATION

• Combined efforts of

> Orissa coast guard

> Fisheries deptt.

> Forest deptt.

> Boat owners.

The objectives

• To ensure maintenance of a viable

population of tigers in India for scientific, economic, aesthetic, cultural and ecological values.

• To preserve, for all times, areas of such biological importance as a national heritage for the benefit, education and enjoyment of the people.

Tiger Conservation in India

• Its name lies in the topmost position among the species of endangered animals

• 1900 - 40000 tigers • 1972 - 1827 tigers

REASONS :• habitat destruction.• forestry disturbance.• loss of prey.• poaching.• competition with local villagers and domestic animals

http://www.wwf.org

PRESENT POSITION

• NUMBER OF RESERVES INCREASED FROM 9 TO 23.

• COVER AREA 33000 SQUARE KMS.

• REHABILITATION OF THE PEOPLE LIVING UNDER PROTECTED AREAS.

People, Parks & Wildlife: Towards

Coexistence – By Vasant Saberwal • People, Parks & Wildlife provides an accessible account of the

conflicts surrounding protected areas even as it makes a compelling case for changing current management practices to incorporate the livelihood needs of the local population.

• The strategy of forming a network of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, a system of enclaves where human activities are prohibited, has succeeded in preserving some threatened ecosystems and increasing the populations of endangered species such as the tiger and the elephant, this success has come at great cost.

• The burden of conservation has been disproportionately borne by those living in and around the protected areas. Often they are already poor and marginalised groups, whose customary rights to use the forest have been curtailed.

Source: www.hinduonnet.com

Vasant SaberwalVasant Saberwal is a director, script writer and

academic researcher, with special interests in ecology, development and indigenous cultures.

• In 1996 he received his doctorate from Yale University for his work on change and continuity among the Gaddi, a pastoral community of Himachal Pradesh.

• He has co-directed several films with Sanjay Barnela, including Pastoral Politics, Turf Wars and The Elusive Mountain – Gya.

Source:http://www.opendemocracy.net/author/Vasant_Saberwal.jsp

References• Nair, S.M.; Endangered Animals of India and their conservation,

National Book Trust, INDIA.• The Ecologist Asia, Vol. 12, No. 12.• Panda, July 2004.• Panda Issue I, 2004• Feasting Fasting, Down to Earth, November 30, 2006.• http://www.haridwar.nic.in• http://www.cdnn.info• http://www.wwf.org• http://www.wwfindia.org• http://www.wdcs.org• http://www.lairweb.org • http://www.cms.int.• A movie on Olive Ridley turtles - “AWARENESS”, Dated-2003• www.hinduonnet.com (VASANT SABERWAL’S BOOK –

PEOPLE,PARKS AND WILDLIFE:TOWARDS COEXISTENCE)

THANK YOU

• ANANDA SAHA (09)

• SOHIL BHATT (52)

• SUBHODIP GANGULI (53)