Threats & obstacles in conservation of biodiversity in Manipur
- Part 2 -

Kh Hitler Singh *

Illegal Burning of Forest near Khudengthabi :: Pix - Dr Oinam Sunanda Devi

4. Illegal timber trade.

Illegal timber trade is a serious menace in the interior jungle of Manipur. The activities are undertaken by the villagers through the agents of timber merchant or contractors. The villagers got a few paltry sum of money for the standing trees and a few other villagers shall get minimal wages for cutting and declimbing of the trees. The contractor shall invest money on road cutting, mechanization of lumbering using JCB and bulldozer.

It is now faster to convert trees into logs and transport from forest to the saw mill with the availabilities of modern machines and tools which were earlier carried out by elephants and manual strength. These activities were carried out without permit from the concerned authorities. When the villagers are explained about the illegality of their activities; they are in the opinion that they cannot stop these as they have no alternative source of income.

5. Trade and commerce on wildlife produces.

Wildlife produces such as skins, bones, horns, scales, nails etc of endangered wildlife are in very high demand in the International Market especially in the South-Eastern Asian countries viz China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam etc for use in the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). The National highway connecting Imphal-Moreh is one of the important exit route for the illegal wildlife produces.

The produces intercepted by the Assam Rifles and other enforcing agencies include the Skin of Tiger, Bone of Tiger, pangolin scale, Serow Horns, Otter skins, Sambar deer antler, skull of Tiger and leopards. It is reported that trade in wildlife produces is the second largest illegal trade just after the illegal drugs and narcotic trade.

6. Unchecked issue of licensed gun.

License guns are major menaces to the Wildlife population. License for possessing Gun is easily provided to the villager without verifying the intent of the license gun holder and in many occasion these guns are used for poaching and hunting of wildlife in the Forests. Even in case of License applicants who are inhabitant of villages located within the 10 km radius of National Park and Wildlife Sanctuaries are provided license for possessing Gun without the "No Objection Certificate" from the Chief Wildlife Warden of Manipur and these guns are used for violating Wildlife protection Act 1972 even inside the National park.

7. Forest Wildfire.

Forest fire is also one serious threat to the Biodiversity Conservation. It is regular practice to burn down forest for hunting and just for fun. Forest Fires are also caused by the Shifting cultivators while they are doing slash and burn method of cultivation. Areas beyond the shifting cultivation area are also come under fire some times. During the fire many young one of wild animals, nest of birds, chicks of birds are burned instantly.

8. Ever increasing human population.

Human population has been on the rise. The population of Manipur in 1951 is just about 5.77 lakhs but in 2011, it is more than 27.21 lakhs. As population rise the demand of different forest resources are also on the rise. New area is cleared for settlement and agricultural activities to meet the growing need of increased population.

9. Shifting (Jhum) cultivation.

Shifting cultivation is an age old practice of agriculture in the hill district Manipur. These activities can cause depletion of Forest in large area over several period of time. Of late the abandon shifting cultivation area is subjected to shifting cultivation within five to seven years i.e. jhum cycle had been shorten due to lack new area and population growth. The villagers when talked about the adverse impact of Shifting cultivation and value of mandays, they had put in the activities; it is learnt to them that there is almost negative gain but they cannot stop jhuming as they have no alternative work to earn something in their village.

10. Encroachment of Reserve Forest, Protected Area, Wetlands etc.

Encroachment for settlement of new villages, starting agriculture, horticulture and other cash crops plantation, fishery ring bund etc in Reserve Forest, Protected Area such as National Park, Wildlife Sanctuary, Wetland such as Loktak Lake, Pumlen Lake, Khoidum lake etc also decreases the area of habitat of wildlife and decreases the quality of the nearby ecosystems.

11. Expansion of agricultural land.

Due to expansion of new agricultural land the Forested area cleared for producing agricultural crops. Many trees are cut in the process and also the habitat is lost due to such activities. Agriculture and Fishery are also undertaken in the formerly wetlands depleting foraging and feeding ground of migratory water birds.

12. Lack of alternative livelihood to the villagers settling around the Forest.

Villagers settling in and around the Forest are mostly poor and they are largely dependent for their economic activities to the Forest. Some villagers collect minor Forest produce, some collect fire wood, some are engaged in making charcoal in the Forest and some are engaged in cutting down of large timber tree for earning money.

13. Diversion of forested land for many developmental activities.

Many forested land are diverted for different non forestry activities. In Manipur recently part of Yangoupokpi Lokchao Wildlife Sanctuary is diverted for Border Fencing in the Indo-Myanmar boundary.

Part of Western Forest Division had been diverted for construction of Jiribam Tupul Railway Line. These linear developmental works segregate the ecosystem present thereon thus required artificial wildlife corridors.

14. Invasive and exotic species.

Many exotic species which were introduced in Manipur for different purposes may become invasive species. Para grass considered to be a good fodder plants for the cattle has become a menace in the Keibul Lamjao National Park area restricting growth natural fodder plants.

15. Low level of awareness among common peoples.

Because of low level of awareness about Wildlife Protection Act 1972 and benefit of conserving the vast resources of wild biodiversity people are not very much mindful to hunt wild animals and also to destroy unique wildlife habitat in Manipur.

16. Fluid law and order situation.

Fluid law and order situations and unarmed forest staff; protecting and conserving biodiversity is almost uphill task. Movement of enforcing staff is restricted due to presence of many armed underground groups.

17. Legal jargons in dealing with wildlife and environmental laws.

It is very tedious, time consuming and taxing exercise to convict an accused involved in wildlife offence. Many a times wildlife cases concerning Schedule I and Part II of Schedule II wild animals, the case is to be brought in the Court of CJM with information to the Chief Wildlife Warden. Due to legal jargons and absent of standing counsel of Forest department many cases involving very endangered wild animals species; the accused could not be punished with penalty as prescribed in the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 (amended upto 2013).

The lenient views of the Honorable Judges to the Wildlife offenders are also major problems for recurrence of Wildlife Offences. In Wildlife Offence prescribing minimum imprisonment not less than three years which may extends to seven years; Honorable court had ordered only for monetary penalty of fine of hardly Rs 3000 to 5000 which are very much against the spirit of Wildlife Protection Act 1972. And it is very rare in Manipur to go to the Higher Courts against such Judgments.

18. Few enforcing staff and lack of training

In many Territorial Divisions which are also Wildlife Divisions and DFOs being Wildlife Wardens and Territorial Ranges which are also Wildlife Ranges and RFOs being Range Wardens are supported with very limited numbers of field staff.

Thus it is quite difficult for the staff to effectively check and apprehend wildlife offenders who are committing wildlife offences inside the deep Forest. Further lack of training in handling wildlife offence cases; it is quite difficult to bring out the cases to the Hon'ble Judges for conviction of the Wildlife Offenders.

19. Too small areas under P.A. network

India's National Wildlife Action Plan (2006 2011) envisages 10% of the geographical area of the country under PA coverage. The National percentage of PA coverage is 4.90% as on 2015. But Manipur has only about 3.79% of G.A. under PA which is very less than the prescribed area of Forest rich State having about 76% of Geographical area under Forest cover.

These are some threats and obstacles in conservation of Biodiversity in Manipur as perceived to the writer. We hope there are ways and means to overcome these limitations. With the support from all the stakeholders, it is hoped that Manipur shall succeed in conserving the rich Biodiversity endowed by the Creator of the Universe.