EDITORIAL
We need a professional approach beyond political statements
Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane on Tuesday said that a detailed study of major wild animals such as leopards and Indian gaurs would be conducted in the state, and that it would also include a comprehensive survey of the crocodile population. This, he said, would be part of a series of measures aimed at enhancing forest protection and wildlife conservation in the state.
Rane also stated that the department will launch a ‘Save the Frog’ campaign to raise public awareness about the importance of protecting frogs. This will give a boost to the campaign run by some wildlife enthusiasts every monsoon. For many years, frog meat was served at some eateries under the name ‘jumping chicken’. Over time, due to pressure from environmentalists, the Forest Department began creating awareness about frog conservation. However, their efforts have been lacklustre in curbing the poaching of frogs, especially bullfrogs, which are a protected species.
Rane added that the meeting also focussed on human-wildlife coexistence and local conservation efforts, stating that initiatives such as mapping forest fragmentation and creating wildlife corridors will be undertaken.
For quite some time, there have been regular media reports of man-animal conflicts in many talukas of Goa. Wild animals such as leopards and gaur (Indian bison), which is the state animal, as well as monkeys, are entering settlement areas, wreaking havoc on crops and domesticated animals. Recently, a black panther became a victim of roadkill. Activists say that these wild animals are entering human habitations due to disturbances in forests and other wildlife habitats caused by human activity. Innovative ideas of “development” in remote areas have reverberated through the thick jungles.
Incidentally, the announcement regarding wildlife protection comes less than two months after the High Court of Bombay at Goa struck down the rules and guidelines that enabled the operation of the controversial Section 17(2) of the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Act, 1974. The court stated that Section 17(2) completely diluted the mandate of the TCP Act. The government was initially planning to challenge this in the apex court, but better sense prevailed.
Over the last two years, huge tracts of land have been converted, all under the guise of “corrections” to the Regional Plan. According to activists, these lands included even hills and paddy fields. Thanks to the court and the petitioner NGOs, the further “shaving” of Goa’s green areas has been halted – at least temporarily. After the controversial bill was passed, green activists, along with politicians, had appealed that consent not be given to the amendment. However, the nod was granted. The preservation of age-old trees and the protection of our ecology should not remain confined to books!
The same government that was unwilling to follow the Regional Plan and made decisions for massive zone changes is now suddenly talking about the protection of forests and wildlife. Now that the damage has been done and the court’s order is clear, the government probably thinks it’s a good time to return to forest and wildlife conservation. On the face of it, this is a welcome development – provided the government is serious about the matter. The State Forest Department must work closely with the Department of Environment & Climate Change for better results. The Wildlife Institute of India must also be consulted. Let’s wait and see when the promised conservation efforts will actually be seen on
the ground.
