Future of Conservation network
Team: Ashish Kothari, Neema Pathak, Erica Taraporewala, Arshiya Urveeja Bose
Contact: ashishkothari@vsnl.com

'Future of Conservation in India (FoC)' is a network of ecological and social organizations and individuals committed to effective and equitable conservation of biodiversity. FoC's objective is to foster dialogue and engagement in complex conservation issues, and help tackle the increasing threats that both biodiversity and people's livelihoods face. This includes joint action on areas of agreement, and attempts at evolving common understanding on issues where there are differences.

Given below are some of FoC's involvements:

1. PROPOSED GUIDELINES ON IDENTIFICATION OF CRITICAL TIGER HABITATS, CO-EXISTENCE, AND RELOCATION RELATED TO TIGER RESERVES (IN PURSUANCE OF THE WLPA AS AMENDED IN 2006)

The passing of two recent laws, the Wild Life Amendment Act 2006 and the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act 2006, has profound implications for both conservation of wildlife and the livelihoods of people living in wildlife conservation areas. In particular, three issues are critical to how these Acts will affect the situation on the ground: the identification of critical tiger and other wildlife habitats (which can then be made inviolate and out of bounds of any non-forest or destructive use), the co-existence of wildlife and people in these and other wildlife habitats, and the relocation of people from within areas to be made inviolate if so necessary and if people consent. Each of these issues is complex, and there is need for guidance on how to interpret and implement the relevant provisions. Kalpavriksh and several other organisations have put together such guidance in the attached note. The current version of the note has been sent to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (in relation to the Wild Life Amendment Act for tiger resereves), and another version is being prepared to send to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and the Ministry of Environment and Forests (in relation to the Forest Rights Act for all other protected areas).  

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2. PROPOSED GUIDELINES FOR IDENTIFICATION OF CRITICAL WILDLIFE HABITATS IN NATIONAL PARKS AND WILDLIFE SANCTUARIES UNDER SCHEDULED TRIBES AND OTHER TRADITIONAL FOREST DWELLERS (RECOGNITION OF FOREST RIGHTS) ACT, 2006

The MoEF's issued its 'Guidelines on Critical Wildlife Habitats (CWH)' in November 2007. However, we feel that these do not adequately provide for a systematic, scientific and democratic process. The criteria for identification of CWH are ambiguous and scientifically questionable, and consultations with local communities in several aspects of the process are only optional. We are also seriously concerned that many state governments are rushing to identify and notify CWH without due scientific and democratic processes. Already there is information that this is causing conflict and tension amongst communities, leading to situations that will rebound on conservation. We have already sent detailed comments on this to MoEF.

In this regard, several of the organisations as part of the FoC Network, have prepared guidelines for the identification and establishment of CWH, through sound modern and traditional knowledge and a fully democratic process. Some key steps in these guidelines are:

a). When identifying CWH, it is important to note that a mix of approaches is needed to secure wildlife and ecosystems in India, including areas of no-use, minimal-use and multiple-use.

b). The size of each part of the CWH, including inviolate areas if any, must be based on ecological, biological and landscape ecology principles. The decision should also consider what is feasible given various socioeconomic factors, including (but not only) if the number of bona fide rights holders affected is large or the human communities involved are particularly vulnerable.

c). The process for establishing a CWH at a state level should be participatory from the time of identification and planning to implementation. It should involve national/state/local experts, representatives of traditional long-resident and user communities, and government staff, and be fully transparent. Sanctuary Advisory Committees as mandated by Section 33b of the Wild Life Protection Act 1972 could be used as a platform to achieve this successfully.

We urge the government to adopt these guidelines in place of or additional to the MoEF Guidelines. This could go a long way in achieving a systematic process to assess which are the most critical areas for conservation, and move towards ways for people to either coexist or consent to be relocated.

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Download a Press Statement on this issue

Download FoC's Comments on the MoEF Guidelines

Download a Letter to all Chief Minister's of States on this issue