Govt to increase sanctuaries, reserves in State: Limaye

 

 

 

 

SUNIL Limaye, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), who has two species named after him, the jumping spider ‘Jerzego Sunillimaye’ and a lizard named ‘Cnemaspis Limayei’, feels the question of man-animal conflict has arisen because humans have occupied the space of animals. Talking to ‘The Hitavada’ on the occasion of World Biodiversity Day, Limaye touched a variety of issues including wildlife conservation, translocation, man-animal conflict, wildlife protection, its conservation and new plans of Forest Department. “Increasing man-animal conflict in Maharashtra is a question of occupying the space of animals by human. State government has formulated two committees to check the issue why it is happening,” said Limaye, who is an IFS officer of 1988 batch. “We are entering in their space and time for collection of tendu leaves and mahua. If the locals follow the dos and don’ts issued by the Forest Department then the situation would improve automatically,” said the PCCF. Limaye advocated involvement of more government departments apart from Forest Department while dealing with man-animal conflict issues.

 

“During the situation of natural disasters, entire government mechanism comes in action mode to handle it. But when a wild animal enters residential area, only the Forest Department gets the first call. Both of our review committees have recommended inclusion of Revenue and Police Departments in such situations along with the Forest Department,” he said. Talking about wildlife crime like poaching, the PCCF said, “The Forest Department is working on developing informers like Police Department who will help in curbing poaching in the State. We are taking help of the Police Department in poaching cases along with State Tiger Protection Force (STPF) and NGOs to reduce the wildlife crime.” The Forest Department has its own Crime Cell which is operating to manage crime data and to review all cases that are under way in different courts. Asked about the new plans of the Forest Department for wildlife conservation and protection, Limaye said, “Maharashtra has a total of 71 protected areas -- 50 Sanctuaries, 6 National Parks, and 15 Conservation Reserves.

 

The department has come up with a plan to increase the number of sanctuaries and conservation reserves in the State which is going to be tabled in the next meeting of the State Wildlife Board”. The main agenda of the next meeting is to declare more conservation areas because we want to connect all protected areas with areas of more importance with added legal protection, he added. Similarly, the board will also declare some areas of protected areas as critical wildlife areas which is going to happen for the first time in the country, said the PCCF. The forest department is also planning to translocate excess tigers of Brahmapuri to Nagzira. “We are planning this conservation translocation of tigers first in Nagzira and then in Navegaon. People in Nagzira are skeptical about this translocation but we are working on making them aware of the benefits of translocation of tigers. It would help to create job opportunities for the locals through tourism,” Limaye said. Maharashtra Government is going to establish Transit Treatment Centres (TTC) in all 11 circles initially and then the number will increase by 2-3 TTCs in all circles, said the PCCF.

 

He also said that the department has established crocodile rescue teams in Solapur, Pune and Sangli. The recent crocodile rescue in Nagpur’s Nag river was initiated by a team from Solapur. “Forest conservation will prosper when proper and controlled tourism is there. Eco-tourism gives chance to connect people with the nature and also the sustainable livelihood to the locals. Due to eco-tourism, people become our eyes and ears inside the forest. If they observe or notice any abnormal activity inside forest they inform the department,” Limaye concluded.