Parks Do Work! A Necessity For India s Future

Transcription

1 Parks Do Work! A Necessity For India s Future The Global Gathering, Wild 10, Salamanca, Spain 6 October 2013 Vivek Menon Execu&ve Director and CEO, Wildlife Trust of India Advisor to the President, IFAW

2 A Mega Biodiversity Hotspot Over 350 species of Mammals, 1224 species of Birds and nearly 3151 species of Reptiles, Amphibians and Fishes Over 650 Protected Areas: 4.9 % of geographical area of India

3 A Mega Human Hotspot Over 1.2 billion people! (17% of world population) Nearly one thirds directly depend on natural resources and critical ecosystems for survival Diverse cultures & Traditions

4 Conserva.on in Ancient India The first PA in the world is not the Yellowstone Na.onal Park, USA established in 1872 The 1822 Act to Prevent the Cruel and Improper Treatment of CaHle of the UK is not the first animal protec.on law of the world The Gajavanas of Arthashastra wrihen by Kau.lya ( 300 BCE) were the first mapped out PA in the world years ago! The edicts of Asoka the Great ( BC), carved out in stone, talking of protec.on of wildlife and animals and prescribing punishments for those who transgressed were among the first wildlife and animal welfare laws of the world

5 Conserva.on in Post Independence India Heavy policing: helped curbing poaching (Rangarajan, 1996, 2001) Exclusionary principles: helped secure space (Pimbert and PreHy, 1995; Saberwal et al. 2000) Flagship and Umbrella concept driven: helped cover the vast land

6 Conserva.on in today s India India: A triangular paradigm of conserva.on Ethical Baseline Ahimsa, Dharma, etc. from as far back as 320 B.C. (Menon, 2013)

7 Heritage Banks Na.onal Parks * 102 (28 States) Wildlife Sanctuaries * 515 (35 States) Conserva.on Reserves * 47 (9 States) Community Reserves * 4 (3 States) * World Data Base on Protected Areas (IUCN/UNEP)

8 Heritage Banks Tiger Reserves # 53 (19 States) Elephant Reserves # 32 (14 States) World Heritage Sites * 6 (7 States) * World Data Base on Protected Areas (IUCN/UNEP) # Ministry of Environment and Forests, India

9 But Do Parks Really Work? Reduc.on of land cover change (Nagendra, 2008) Reduc.on of anthropogenic effects (Bruner et al. 2001) Panthera leo persica: Survived only because of a private PA (Nawab of Junagadh banned hun.ng in 1900s) Cervus elaphus hanglu: Survive today mostly within an erstwhile game sanctuary (Maharaja Hari Singh, 1951) And where would the Indian Rhinoceros be without PAs? (Nagendra, 2008) (Bruner et al. 2001)

10 What has the PA System Given India? 60% of the world s Asian Elephants 65% of the world s Tigers 85% of Indian One Horned Rhinoceros 100% of the Asia.c Lions

11 Conflict, The New Killer Our problems are mostly outside PAs now more than inside PAs Increasing animosity people and parks

12 Two Indian PA Success Stories Periyar Tiger Reserve, Kerala, Southern India Greater Manas, Assam, northeastern India

13 Periyar Tiger Reserve, Kerala 881 Km 2 : primarily evergreen to semi evergreen forests

14 Periyar Tiger Reserve, Kerala 10 th Tiger reserve (1978) and a Na.onal Park (1982) Also a part of Elephant Reserve No. 10 (1991) Home to over 60 mammalian, Bird and Fish species and over 315 indigenous medicinal plants, as well as two ancient tribes, the Mannans and Palians All extrac.on of forest products and access to the park was banned by the hon ble Supreme Court 1996: Fringe popula.on (Bhardwaj et al. 2006)

15 Exclusion, Then Inclusion Access denied: loss of livelihoods Serious mortgages and debts: animosity and despair India Eco Development Project (1996): Periyar Founda.on Cons.tuted (2004) Local community based tourism developed: trekking, bamboo raping, day and night patrol walks, honey trail treks, regulated angling

16 The Consequence Regained access: Extrac.on of fodder and thatching grass Self regulated honey collec.on Self regulated fishing Locals now protect, restore and manage, besides earning a (green) livelihood from the park itself. Wildlife flourishes: Tigers (34 40), Elephant (1100); Reduced animal mortality and human animal conflict

17 Greater Manas, Assam Home of the Bodo people, the Tiger, the Indian one horned rhinoceros, the Asian elephant and a myriad of other beings. A Na.onal Park, a Tiger and Elephant Reserve and a World Heritage Site.

18 Greater Manas The Crisis 1980s Bodo uprising: decima.on At least two large mammals: locally ex.nct Other wildlife and habitats lost UNESCO declares it in Red List WHS in Danger 2003: Bodoland Accord

19 Regaining The Lost Glory Wildlife 2003: Surveys and planning : Animal rehabilita.ons (7 Rhinos, 10 Elephants, 7 Black bears, 4 Clouded leopards and 1 Tiger)

20 Regaining Lost Pride People 2003: Capacity building and support to CBOs & individuals (5 8 CBOs, over 450 locals supported) 2006: Capacity building (VRP) and Equipping (>500 FD staff trained and equipped)

21 Regaining Lost Pride People 2011 Reclaiming of vital habitats ~ CBOs and BTC ini.a.ves

22 Regaining Lost Pride People 2010: Adop.on of green livelihoods Reduc.on of dependence on firewood (182 cookstoves installed) Weaving training and support for women (70 handlooms and 1 weaving center) Support for hor.culture (2 Tractors; 1 hor.culture shed and cash crop planta.ons: mustard, ginger, chilly and turmeric) Small businesses (Tailoring & Grocery shops)

23 The Consequence Greater Manas officially declared by BTC From zero rhinos in early 2000 to 24 Rhinos Up to 658 Elephants today (MoEF, 2010) From zero.gers in late 80s to 11.gers (± 4.3) 17 Community Based Organisa.ons patrol and pursue eco development and awareness ac.vi.es UNESCo takes it out of Danger List

24 Lessons Learnt: Without Pas India would not have been able to protect much of its current natural treasure house. To keep this success story going on, the interphase between People and PAs is cri.cal Thank You!