Boundaries of Thattekad Bird Sanctuary to be redrawn

Will exclude human habitation included during the notification of the sanctuary

July 12, 2014 10:51 am | Updated 10:51 am IST - KOCHI

A view of the Periyar from the Thattekkad Bridge. File Photo

A view of the Periyar from the Thattekkad Bridge. File Photo

: The contours of Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, Thattekad, will be redrawn by excluding the human habitation from its limits.

The Kerala Forest Department is actively considering a proposal to add 10.17 sq. km from the Neriyamangalam Forest areas to the sanctuary in lieu of the 9 sq km area that would be excluded. Over 12,000 people reside in the habitation that comes under the administrative jurisdiction of Kuttampuzha panchayat.

The 25.16 sq. km. of the sanctuary includes patta and revenue land. The human habitation was included during the notification of the sanctuary. However, it resulted in serious conflicts with local residents, pointed out a document that was placed before the Kerala Wildlife Advisory Committee.

The inclusion of the human habitation in the sanctuary had curtailed the construction of buildings, change of land use and cutting of trees for the residents. These acts were also treated as illegal acts.

These restrictions had also increased the conflicts in the area and any attempt to enforce law in the stretch invited public wrath, the document said.

According to the Forest officials, the area that is to be appended to the sanctuary too is rich in biodiversity. It’s contiguous to the evergreen forests of Urulanthanny section. The inclusion of the area to the sanctuary would ensure better conservation of the flora and fauna of the region, according to the document.

As the area of human habitation was not significant for conservation of wildlife and not notified as reserve forest, the management plan of the sanctuary too had recommended its exclusion from the sanctuary, it said.

The department had roped in the local residents for various forest protection measures by engaging some as forest guards and watchers. The locals were also involved in the works related to the sanctuary. However, the Wildlife Protection Act comes into conflict with the residents at times, pointed out R. Sugathan, noted ornithologist associated with the sanctuary.

The consent of the National Board for Wildlife is required for changing the contours of the sanctuary. It also needs to be approved by the State board, he said.

The next meeting of the State Wildlife Advisory Board would discuss the proposal as it could not be taken up during the last meeting, said G. Harikumar, Chief Wildlife Warden.

The presence of around 280 species of birds was reported from the bird sanctuary, which was came into existence in 1983.

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