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Ecology & Environment
Mahesh

01/11/23 12:18 PM IST

Goa govt is opposing tiger reserve tag for Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary

In News
  • Recently,Goa bench of the Bombay High Court directed the Goa government to notify a tiger reserve in Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS) and other contiguous areas of the state within three months.
Background
  • The 2014 Status of Tigers (Co-predators & Prey) in India report, released by the statutory body National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) formed under the Wild Life (Protection) Act of 1972, speaks about the tiger presence in the region.
  • The report said the Cotigao-Mhadei forest complex of Goa comprises five protected areas: Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary, Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary and Mollem National Park, Bhagwan Mahavir National Park, Netravali Wild ife Sanctuary and Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary, and they together cover an area of 750 sq mts, forming a contiguous belt connecting the forests of Karnataka and Maharashtra.
  • It further added that Goa has a persistent tiger presence with about three to five tigers.
Status of proposals for a tiger reserve
  • The NTCA has made multiple recommendations to the state for a tiger reserve.
  • Following this, protections for the area would be enhanced and lead to stricter security measures, such as a ‘Special Tiger Protection Force’ for guarding purposes.
  • There is evidence to show that tigers in Goa are not merely transient animals but are a resident population as well.
  • Mhadei is a contiguous tiger landscape to Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka to its south-east and to Anshi Dandeli Tiger Reserve to its south which has around 35 tigers.
  • A study carried out in 2008 said that protected areas of Goa and their contiguous forests in Karnataka and Maharashtra were possibly some of the best potential tiger habitats in the Western Ghats region and needed protection.
NTCA recomendation
  • In March 2016, the NTCA recommended that the state government should notify a tiger reserve in the Cotigao-Mhadei forest complex.
  • Over the next 18 months, the Forest Department prepared a tentative map for the reserve – comprising largely undisturbed areas with few human hamlets as the core zone, its most protected area.
  • This was adjoining the Kali Tiger Reserve and Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary of Karnataka and Maharashtra, in the North of Mhadei WLS, Bhagwan Mahaveer WLS and National Park, Netravali and Cotigao WLS.
  • A draft proposal in 2018 mentioned that a map has been drawn to demarcate the contiguous forest habitat in existing protected areas in Western Ghats as the core zone.
  • Main villages and human habitation were to be kept outside this zone and placed in the proposed buffer zone, as far as possible.
  • The proposed map said that out of 745.18 square kilometres of protected areas, 578.33 sq km was proposed as core zone and 166.85 sq km as the buffer zone.
Why the proposal was stalled?
  • The State Board for Wildlife discussed the proposal and the chief minister, who is the chairperson of the Board, asked for a study on the socio-economic impact on locals residing in fringe areas before finalising the proposal.
  • Some environmentalists contend that the process was abruptly halted due to “pressures and influence of a mining lobby”.
What has the Goa government contented?
  • Referring to the recommendations by NTCA, the state government argued before the court that the provisions of section 38-V (1) of the Wildlife Protection Act were only directory and not mandatory.
  • The government said it was not opposed to notifying the area as a tiger reserve, arguing that further studies were necessary and the rights of the forest dwellers needed to be settled entirely before such steps could be taken.
Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Located in the Northern part of Goa, Sanguem taluka, near Valpoi town.
  • Encompasses picturesque waterfalls, including Vazra Sakla Falls and Virdi Falls.
  • Known for its nesting grounds of critically endangered Long-billed vultures near Vazra Falls.
  • Diverse landscape with thick moist deciduous forests and some evergreen species.
  • Notable for sacred groves protecting rare and indigenous trees.
  • Home to the three highest peaks in Goa: Sonsogod (1027 mts), Talavche Sada (812 mts), and Vageri (725 mts).
  • Mhadei River, a lifeline of Goa, originates in Karnataka, passes through the sanctuary, and meets the Arabian Sea at Panaji.
  • The sanctuary acts as a catchment area for the Mhadei River.
Source- Indian Express

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