The ongoing draft notification from the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) concerning an Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) encompassing the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (WWS) has stirred protests in Wayanad, Kerala. The designated zone spans an area of 118.5 sq km, including areas outside the sanctuary, revenue villages within it, and placing certain restrictions on human activities.
Details of Draft Notification
The projected ESZ covers a total area of 118.5 sq km. Out of this, 99.5 sq km lies outside the sanctuary, with the remaining 19 sq km occupied by revenue villages within the sanctuary. The draft notification necessitates several restrictions on human activities. These include a prohibition on new and existing mining, stone quarrying, crushing units, and polluting industries.
Additionally, the establishment of major hydroelectric projects and sawmills, brick kilns, and commercial use of firewood within the ESZ is prohibited. The draft also bans the erection of new commercial hotels and resorts within 1km of the protected area or up to the extent of the ESZ boundary. Lastly, any felling of trees in private lands needs to get prior sanction from the competent authority in the state government.
Purpose of the Notification
This notification marks a vital step towards guaranteeing the safety of people residing near the Wildlife Sanctuary. The welfare of farmers living on the forest fringes is increasingly compromised due to escalating incidents of wild animal attacks. Over the past 38 years, wildlife attacks have claimed as many as 147 lives in the district.
Issues Raised Against the Notification
The main concern for critics of the draft notification is its potential impact on both agricultural and business sectors. Around 57 enclosure villages situated inside the WWS are included in the ESZ. The stipulated restrictions on vehicular traffic and other curbs could, as a result, hinder the normal functioning of these sectors.
Moreover, the implementation of the draft would encroach upon the livelihoods of thousands of farmers living near the sanctuary. Roughly 29,291 acres of private land on the sanctuary fringes would fall under this zone, thereby stifling development in this area indefinitely.
About Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary
Nestled in Kerala, the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (WWS) forms an integral part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. Spread over 344.44 sq km, it adjoins the tiger reserves of Nagerhole and Bandipur (Karnataka), and Mudumalai (Tamil Nadu). The Kabini river, a tributary of the Cauvery, flanks the sanctuary. Its rich biodiversity includes South Indian Moist Deciduous forests, West coast semi-evergreen forests, and plantations of teak, eucalyptus, and Grewelia.
Understanding Eco-Sensitive Zones
Eco-Sensitive Zones, also known as Ecologically Fragile Areas, span areas within 10 kms around Protected Areas, National Parks, and Wildlife Sanctuaries. In certain cases, these zones extend beyond a 10 km width, encompassing sensitive corridors, connectivity, and ecologically significant patches crucial for landscape linkage. MoEFCC notifies ESZs under the Environment Protection Act, 1986, with the primary goal to control activities around National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries, thereby minimizing negative ecological impacts.
The Way Forward
Given the current circumstances, it becomes pivotal to reconsider the effects of environmental policies at the local level. Factors such as local participation and alternative income-generating opportunities for affected communities should be taken into account for successful conservation initiatives.
