Eco-Sensitive Zones

11 Nov 2024 10:53:15 am

Tags : Eco-Sensitive Zones

Topic: Conservation

Why in the news?

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has declared Arunachal Pradesh\'s Namdapha National Park & Tiger Reserve and Kamlang Wildlife Sanctuary & Tiger Reserve as Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ).
The Namdapha National Park & Tiger Reserve is in Changlang district, while the Kamlang Wildlife Sanctuary & Tiger Reserve falls in Lohit district.

Source: India Today

About Eco-Sensitive Zones:

As per the National Wildlife Action Plan (2002-2016), issued by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, land within 10 km of the boundaries of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries is to be notified as eco-fragile zones or Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZ).
While the 10-km rule is implemented as a general principle, the extent of its application can vary. Areas beyond 10-km can also be notified by the Union government as ESZs, if they hold larger ecologically important “sensitive corridors”.
According to the guidelines issued by the Environment Ministry in 2011, Eco-Sensitive Zones are created as “shock absorbers” for the protected areas, to minimize the negative impact on the “fragile ecosystems” by certain human activities taking place nearby.
- These areas are meant to act as a transition zone from areas requiring higher protection to those requiring lesser protection.
- They are not meant to hamper the daily activities of people living in the vicinity, but are meant to guard the protected areas and refine the environment around them.
Activities prohibited in Eco-Sensitive Zones include commercial mining, saw mills, commercial use of wood, etc., apart from regulated activities like felling of trees.
On the other hand, ongoing agricultural or horticultural practices, rainwater harvesting, organic farming, etc. are permitted in Eco-Sensitive Zones.
India has more than 600 Ecologically Sensitive Zones declared across different states.

Namdapha National Park & Tiger Reserve:

It is located in Arunachal Pradesh, surrounded by Myanmar in the Southeast.
It is located at the junction of the Indian Sub-Continent Biogeographic Region and the Indo-China Biogeographic Region. As a result of this, extensive diversity of flora and fauna is observed in this belt.
It is wedged between the Dapha Bum ridge of Mishmi Hills, of North Eastern Himalayas and the Patkai Ranges.
It has a common boundary with Kamlang Wildlife Sanctuary and Nampong Forest Division on the south-western side of Arunachal Pradesh.
The park spans a wide altitudinal range from 200 m to 4,571 m at Dapha Bum, the highest point in the park.
It encompasses evergreen Forests, Moist deciduous forests, subtropical forests, temperate and alpine forests.
Flora:
- As many as 150 timber species are found here, with species like Pinus Merkusi and Abies Delavavi being exclusive to the park.
- Blue Vanda, a rare and endangered orchard, is also found here.
- Mishimi Teeta, a medicinal plant used by local tribes to treat different types of diseases, is also found here.
Fauna:
- It is the only park in the World to have the four Feline species of big cat namely the Tiger, Leopard, Snow Leopard, and Clouded Leopard, and numbers of Lesser cats.
- It is home to Hoolock Gibbons, highly endangered and only ‘ape’ species found in India.
- Other animals found here include elephants, black bear, Indian Bison, pig-tailed macaque, several species of deers, reptiles and a variety of arboreal animals.

Kamlang Wildlife Sanctuary & Tiger Reserve:

It is located in the southeastern part of Arunachal Pradesh near the border with Myanmar.
It is named after Kamlang River, which flows through the reserve and joins Brahmaputra.
It is spread between Namdapha National Park on its south and Lang River on its north.
The local inhabitants are Hishmi, Digaru and Mizo.
It encompasses a diverse range of landscapes, including dense tropical forests, grasslands, rivers, and hills.
It enjoys a sub-tropical climate as it falls within the sub-tropical zone.
The lower reaches and foothills of the region are covered with tropical wet evergreen forests, while the alpine vegetation dominates the higher altitudes.
Flora:
- Common species of trees include Amari, Gamari, Hillika, Dhuna etc.
Fauna:
- All four big cats, including the Snow Leopard, Clouded Leopard, Leopard and Tiger, are the common inhabitants.
- Himalayan Palm Civets, Leopard Cat, Slow Lories, Hoolock Gibbon Giant and Flying Squirrels, Hornbills, Deer, Civets, Boar, Capped Langur, Stump Tailed Macaque etc. can be spotted here.