(IN): Shrinking wildlife habitat ( An Editorial in The Assam Tribune )

[Guest guest]

Link: http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=oct0407\edit2

 

*Shrinking wildlife habitat

**— KC Patar*

 

Before discussing details of various kinds of habitats, it is necessary to

understand what do we mean by the term 'habitat'. It is an area of an

ecosystem in which an organism lives or where it is generally found and to

which, it has become adapted. If an organism is able to cope with the

conditions of the habitat or environment, it can live and breed more

successfully. Organism which is not adapted to the habitat, finds hard to

survive. As species evolve, most of them adapt to a specific habitat or

environment that provides their basic ecological requirements such as food,

shelter and water for survival. Examples are forest, wetland, grassland etc.

 

Suitability of the habitat depends upon the availability of the basic

ecological requirements such as food, shelter and water. Rhinos are found in

Kaziranga National Park and to this, rhinos have become adapted. So we can

say Kaziranga is a suitable habitat for rhino. Kaziranga National Park

offers a greater combination of habitats such as tree forests, tall grass,

short grass and water area and also better distribution of food, cover and

water. Pigmy hogs are found only in the reserve forests situated in the

foothills of Bhutan and they are not adapted to the conditions of Kaziranga.

Different animals have different habitat requirements. However, all need

food, cover and water for living. The characteristics of good habitat are

good cover closed to availability of food and ample open water. These are

necessary ingredients of good habitat where animals feed, breed, nurse their

young and take rest.

 

Destruction of natural habitat is a serious threat to wildlife. As a result,

wild animals are deprived of their food, shelter and water and their very

survival is affected. Deforestration reduces free movement of wild animals.

This retards the reproductive capacity of wild animals like rhino, tiger

etc. When the roads and railway routes pass through the forest, they reduce

the area of movement of wild animal. Because of sudden noise of vehicles and

rails, many animals leave the original habitat and run away and take shelter

elsewhere sometimes outside the protected area.

 

Cutting and clearing of forest for agriculture, settlement and other

purposes damage the habitat of wildlife to a great extent and make it

unsuitable for supporting any plant and animal life. Due to construction of

roads, railway lines and dams etc. inside the forest, available habitats are

fragmented into smaller divisions. The resultant effect is that wild animals

in the remaining habitat lose contact with other population of their own

kind. This restriction of losing contact reduces their genetic diversity and

makes them less adaptable to environmental or climatic changes. For some

species, fragmented habitat become too small to support a sustainable

population and therefore they are highly vulnerable to extinction.

 

Because of much food requirements, elephant needs large habitat i.e. big

home range. Due to shrinkage of habitat, elephants do not get adequate food

and water in the existing habitat. Apart from this, they are very much

mobile and as a result, they move a considerable distance in search of food

and water. Therefore, fragmented habitat can not support sustainable

population. Under the circumstances, they are bound to come out of their

habitat and depredate crops in nearby places, destroy habitation and even

kill human beings. Eventually poor villagers bear the brunt of such

depredations. This is the point at which, man and animal conflict occurs and

survival of the fittest begins. Unless original habitat is restored and

fragmented habitats are connected by corridors in the places used by the

wild animals, man-animal conflict is bound to continue for all time to come.

In view of this large numbers of wildlife corridors are to be created

linking the fragmented habitats so as to enable animals to move to alternate

habitat in times of need. It is also considered necessary to connect forest

areas with corridors to make a continuous belt of forests wherever possible

for ease of movement and healthy interactions.

 

Destruction of forest habitat is mainly caused by human activities. One of

such activities is shifting cultivation. Shifting cultivation is a form of

agricultural practice. This is a primitive method of cultivation which has

been practised by tribals since time immemorial in the hill areas of Assam

and other States of north eastern region. This has also been practised in

Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh. In this cultivation, some

part of forest is cleared of trees and most vegetation to be cultivated for

a few years until the fertility is reduced. The site is then abandoned and a

new site is cleared elsewhere. Cleared vegetation is usually kept for a few

days to be dried and then burnt. This is called slash and burn. Crops are

planted in the fertile ash. In India, this cultivation is practised over an

estimated area of about 54 lakh hectares and about 20 lakh hectares are

cleared of forest every year by slash and burn method. It is known as jhum

in Assam, podu in Orissa and Andhra Pradesh, ponam in Kerala and hewar,

masha, plenda and bera in Madhya Pradesh. In the process, lots of soil

erosion take place as a result of which fertile portion of top soil is

completely washed away making the area unfit for supporting any plant

growth. In fact, too much soil erosion is one of the causes of

eco-imbalance. All the areas under jhum cultivation are suffering from the

problem of soil erosion. After a few years the areas are covered with

shallow rooted crop like bamboos. The old jhum areas are now found covered

with bamboos only depriving other plant species to grow. In the meanwhile,

original forest cover containing different species of trees, shrubs and

under growths of ecological, economical and medicinal values, have already

been replaced by bamboos. Some of the species have already been extinct and

some are on the verge of extinction. Similarly wildlife population also

declines. Forests of Assam are mostly tropical. In tropical forests, soil

must be maintained in a productive stage without any disturbances and only

then it may support plant and wildlife.

 

Wetland is a suitable habitat for wildlife. Because it provides primary

productivity upon which, a large number of plant and animal species depend

for survival. Detritus which is enriched organic material is formed by the

decay of plant and animal material in water. It is a food for insects. In

turn, fish, mammals, reptiles and amphibians feed off insects. Therefore,

they support large number of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish etc.

Now wetlands are among the most threatened ecosystems. Wetlands are

confronting many problems in India like encroachment, siltation, pollution,

aquaculture etc. Wetlands are drained for agricultural expansion, for

commercial and residential uses particularly in the places adjacent to

cities or towns. In the past, innumerable flood plain wetlands, both big and

small which are locally known as 'beels', existed in the rural areas of

Assam. These wetlands were used for a variety of purposes such as

navigation, aquaculture, cattle washing, duck rearing etc. Therefore

wetlands were life lines of rural areas of Assam. Now this rural scenario is

not to be seen and enjoyed and whatever wetlands are left, these are over

exploited. The marginal areas are gradually encroached upon and cultivated

with paddy locally known as 'Bao' and fibre crop like jute. Jute stems are

cut, bundled and then retted and then jute fibres are removed. In the

process, the entire water is polluted. Converting marginal areas of wetlands

into paddy fields is a common practice. The wetlands consequently shrink.

 

Preservation and maintenance of forests, wetlands in-situ in natural state

is the only viable proposition. Because we need large tract of forests,

wetlands for our ecological sustainability. These may be maintained as

nature reserve, national park, sanctuaries, biosphere reserve etc. In India,

there are 89 national parks and 497 wildlife sanctuaries covering an area of

1.56 lakh sq. km.

 

Destruction of habitat is one of the main causes of loss of bio-diversity.

Loss of natural habitat leads to drought, flood and more erratic rainfall.

The prevailing situation is like a ship losing one nut each time. One should

keep in mind that earth has enough for every one's need, but not for any

one's greed.

(*Published on the occasion of Wildlife Week-2007*)

 

--

Fight captive Jumbo abuse, end Elephant Polo

http://www.stopelephantpolo.com