Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary in bad shape

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Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary in bad shape

 

From Biman Hazarika

DHING, June 18 – India today boasts of 441 wildlife sanctuaries and

80 national parks with protected area notching 4.5 per cent of the

total land mass, yet it ranks high on the list of the countries with

the highest threat to species.

 

Minimum forest coverage required for a healthy environment is 33 per

cent. But in Asom the total forest cover is only 22 per cent.

Sources revealed that 34 per cent of the total land area of the

State is under the Forest department which includes reserve forest

and unclassed forests namely evergreen deciduous, digraded and under

plantation. Depletion of forest cover in a State like Asom means a

great loss of the environmental wealth so essential for ecological

balance. It is found that the insatiable hunger of mankind to

exploit national resources has been increasing leaps and bounds. In

this context naturalists have pointed out towards wanton destruction

of forests and wildlife sanctuaries of the last one decade. In one

such wild life sanctuary of the State namely Laokhowa under Nagaon

Wildlife Division heavy illegal felling of trees, killing of animals

is going on since last 10 years. In Nagaon district out of 4435.3 sq

km of total land area, forests cover about 350 sq km of land as per

the 1991 census report, but with the publication of latest census

result it has been revealed that the district forest cover and total

forest area has been reduced to mere 223.54 sq km as on March 2001.

Mentionably, Nagaon district alone is enriched with nine reserve

forests but excepting two or three all have turned into barren land

due to wanton felling of trees and virtual disappearance of flora

and fauna.

 

Surprisingly in the entire district, 60 big and small odd saw mills

have been functioning with timber brought from different reserve

forest areas. Although Laokhowa was declared as a wild life

sanctuary in 1989, till today no satisfactory measures have been

made to make it a fully protected forest. In 1905 the British

recommended protection for Laokhowa along with Kaziranga and Manas

which were declared as game sanctuaries. The forest map covers an

area of 7015.79 hectares with one range office and 21 number of

forest camps.

 

According to sources, Laokhowa is the habitat of 226 wild birds, 53

mamals, 9 reptiles, 29 varieties of fishes and rhinoceros. It is

worth mentioning here that during last couple of years encroachment

in Laokhowa is a glaring example wherein hundreds of encroachers

entered the forest cutting valuable trees and various types of reeds

and grasses.

 

It is evident that due to large-scale encroachment, wild animals

have to run away from their natural habitat area to neighbouring

villages, which has caused great concern among department officials

and naturalists. It is noticeable that in comparison with poachers

equipped with sophisticated weapons, lower ranked forest guards and

AFTP personnel are equipped with conventional and outdated weapons.

Activities of wrongdoers are increasing unabatedly inside the forest

area since the last one decade.

 

Laokhowa WLS is enriched with 200 varieties of migratory and local

birds where water bodies like Khalihamari, Sarulani, Leteri, Moamari

and Udmari are located. But due to lacklustre attitude of the

departmental officials some new settlers threaten these wetland. The

existing forest laws of colonial era are not only outdated but these

laws can inflict punishment to the wrong doers which are not

commiserate with the offences like poaching.

 

A mere paper ban on felling of trees is not enough to check the

activities of the illegal woodcutters who are reportedly still

active in Gorajan, Sutirpar, Moishalkur, Bolkata, Dandua and other

places inside the interiors of the forest. Most of the green

activities and even government officials are not aware of certain

important legislations enforced to protect forest, wildlife and

environment. The Forest Act of 1980, which is primary legislation

for the conservation of forests places restriction on the power of

the State government concerning preservation of forest or use of

forestland for non-forest function.

 

The Wild Life Protection Act 1972 which has been amended by the Wild

Life Protection (Amendment) Act 2002 also provides for the creation

of two types of reserves – conserve reserve and community reserve.

These two new types of reserves are to be managed on principles of

sustainable utilisation of the forest produce. Another important

legislation on environment protection is Environment Protection Act

1986 (EPA) which came into force under article 253 of the Indian

Constitution. The main objectives of the act is to implement the

decisions of UN conferences on the human environment and prevention

of hazards to human beings other than living creatures, plants and

property.

 

Jayanta Kr Sarma, an environmental researcher of Nagaon has

suggested that the degraded forest could be restored by involving

the communities living in fringe areas who are dependent on forest

wealth. Stress has to be laid on alternative livelihood for the

fringe villagers and encroachers and livelihood security should be

ensured for them. Home gardening and cooperative approaches of

protection of forest and wildlife involving both government and non-

government agencies in a phased manner would help in solving this

burning problem, he reiterated. The most sustainable and important

measures are regenerating the depleting forests areas and to

alleviate poverty in the fringe forest villages through various

income generating