New Delhi: The big cat of the jungle has got a bit more space to roam freely with as many as seven states identifying an additional 8,927 square km of forest patch as buffer zones around their tiger reserves.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) in a
recent meeting ratified the proposals received from the
states.
West Bengal has identified 885 sq km as buffer area
around Sundarbans sanctuary while in Orissa Achankmar gets an
additional buffer area of 287.822 sq km, Indravati (1540.70 sq
km), Udanti-Sitanadi (991.45 sq km).
In Assam, Kaziranga gets 548 sq km, Manas 2310.88 sq
km and Nameri 144 sq km and in Karnataka, Bandipur will have
additional buffer zone of 118.27 sq km. In Uttarakhand, the
Corbett National Park will have 466.32 sq km more area in the
buffer zone.
Uttar Pradesh has proposed ratification of 80.60 sq km
of forest patch in Amangarh area as a buffer to adjacent
Corbett park.
The buffer zone would be in addition to the core tiger
habitat and would ensure protection of the wild cat as well
their free movement as no development activity will be allowed
in the region without approval from the NTCA.
The move follows amendment to Wildlife (Protection)
Act, 1972 in September 2006. The state governments have been
asked to identify the peripheral area critical to the tiger
habitat, designate it as buffer zone and prepare a tiger
conservation plan (TCP) for both core and buffer zones.
The NTCA has ratified the buffer zones and referred to
the state governments for notifying it, a senior official from
the Authority said.
People in buffer area will not face displacement nor
will they have to fight for funds for their development.
Government will have to work with villagers for their
economic-ecological sustainable development.
According to the Dehradun based Wildlife Institute of
India (WII) for every 20 breeding tigresses, an area of
800-1,000 sq km be maintained inviolate. This would help
maintain an overall population of 70-100 tigers that would be
maintainable in the patch around the buffer areas.
Bureau Report
