Conservation of biodiversity and sustainable development of Manipur
Caroline Akoijam, Rohikanta Sijagurumayum, Chongpi Tuboi *
Keibul Lamjao National Park on 25 November 2018 :: Pix - Shreebas Laipubam
Nestled in the dense green corner of North-east India, lies the State of Manipur. The valley is guarded by nine ranges of bluish green hills intertwined with a cascade of gushing streams, a canopy of flowers and lazy lakes resembling a lotus and thus Late Prime Minister of India Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru named it the “Jewel of India”. Mesmerized by its scenic beauty, Lord Irwin aptly called this small paradise on Earth, the “Switzerland of India”.
Manipur is rich in biodiversity. Among the four biodiversity hotspots in India, Manipur fall under the Indo-Burma region and the valley is endowed with rich biodiversity and endemism. Adding more to its beauty is theonly terrestrial lily found nowhere in the world, Shirui Lily (Lilium macklineae), the endemic and the “rarest” species Dzuko Lily (Lilium spp.), the beautiful sparkling lake known as the “Loktak Lake”, the largest freshwater lake in the North-eastern region of India.
Keibul Lamjao National Park (KLNP), the only floating National Park in the world is located on the South-eastern part of the lake. It is the only abode of Sangai (Rucervus eldii eldii), also known as the Brow-antlered deer; which is listed as an endangered species under ScheduleI of Wild Life (Protection) Act (WLPA), 1972.
Sangai occurs as a single, isolated population within a restricted area of only 22 km2 area in the Park. The species is likely to go extinct due to severe pressures on its habitat, inbreeding depression, lack of connectivity to neighbouring landscape, mortalities due to flood and fire etc.
In order to conserve the rich biodiversity of the State, the Government of Manipur has created one National Park viz. the Keibul Lamjao National Park and two Wildlife Sanctuaries viz. Khongjaingamba Ching Wildlife Sanctuary and Yangoupokpi-Lokchao Wildlife Sanctuary. Under the WLPA 1972, National Parks are strictly protected, virtually no resource extraction except that which is in the interest of wildlife conservation.
However, certain rights of people living inside the Wildlife Sanctuary could be permitted in consultation with the Chief Wildlife Warden. The Sangai, the pride of Manipur, is already under pressure in KLNP due to thinning of phumdi which is reducing the availability of space of its long term existence. The scientists and conservationist from all over the world has suggested an immediate action for creating a second home for Sangai.
With the increasing climate change and anthropogenic threat on biodiversity, the need of the hour is to adopt measures for the conservation of biodiversity of Manipur including Sangai. The amendment of WLPA 2002 has introduced two other categories of PAs i.e., the “Conservation Reserve” and the “Community Reserve” under the Section 36A and 36C of the Act, respectively.
The Conservation reserves can be declared only for government owned land, whereas, a Community Reserve can be declared for commonly owned land which can be managed with the consent from the local communities.The Act specifically mentions that the local inhabitants will not be devoid of their rights to utilize the resources available in the Conservation Reserve. Instead, a management committee will be formed consisting of representatives of the local inhabitants.
Under the Section 36B clause (2), the Act states that “The committee shall consist of a representative of the forest or Wildlife Department, who shall be the Member Secretary of the Committee, one representative of each Village Panchayat in whose jurisdiction the reserve is located, three representatives of non governmental organisations working in the field of wildlife conservation and one representative each from the Department of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry”.
Under the Section 36B, the Act states that the committee formed will be advising the Chief Wildlife Warden to manage the reserve which has been quoted in the Act as “The State Government shall constitute a conservation reserve management committee to advise the Chief Wildlife Warden to conserve, manage and maintain the conservation reserve”. This shows that the power of conserving a Conservation Reserve goes to the local inhabitants. The committee has the freedom to regulate its own procedure for managing a Conservation Reserve as per the 36B clause (3) of the Act.
Under Section 36C, the Act introduced the fourth category of PA, called as “Community Reserve” which is quoted as “The State Government may, where the community or an individual has volunteered to conserve wildlife and its habitat, declare any private or community land not comprised within a national park, sanctuary or a conservation reserve, as a community reserve, for protecting fauna, flora and traditional or cultural conservation values and practices”.
There will be a community reserve management committee which will manage the reserve as mentioned under the Section 36D quoted as “The State Government shall constitute a Community Reserve management committee, which shall be the authority responsible for conserving, maintaining and managing the community reserve”.
Under the Section 36D clause (2) as “The Committee shall consist of five representatives nominated by the Village Panchayat or where such Panchayat does not exist by the members of the gram sabha and one representative of the State Forests or Wildlife Department under whose jurisdiction the community reserve is located”.
From these, it is evident enough that the power of managing the Conservation Reserve and the Community Reserve lies in the hand of the local communities, which is significant change from the earlier conservation approach.As on July 2018, there are altogether 104 National Parks, 544 Wildlife Sanctuaries, 77 Conservation Reserves and 46 Community Reserves in India.
With high human density and degrading landscape due to change in land use, the Manipur needs more Conservation Reserve and Community Reserve for sustainable development and conservation of biodiversity and sustainable development. This will empower local communities to manage the local biodiversity such as Endangered Sangai, as well as sustainable development of their surroundings.
“Let's think and act for a better future through sustainable management of biodiversity!”
* Caroline Akoijam, Rohikanta Sijagurumayum, Chongpi Tuboi wrote this article for The Sangai Express
The writers are research assistants at Wildlife Institute of India, Post Box No. 18, Chandrabani, Dehra Dun
This article was webcasted on November 28, 2018.
* Comments posted by users in this discussion thread and other parts of this site are opinions of the individuals posting them (whose user ID is displayed alongside) and not the views of e-pao.net. We strongly recommend that users exercise responsibility, sensitivity and caution over language while writing your opinions which will be seen and read by other users. Please read a complete Guideline on using comments on this website.