WTI starts consulation for wildlife management plan

The New Indian Express , Sunday, August 21, 2016
Correspondent :
BHUBANESWAR: The State Government on Saturday requested the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) to prepare a comprehensive wildlife management plan by next year. Senior officers of the Government and WTI discussed about the proposed plan at an inter-sectoral meeting chaired by Chief Secretary A P Padhi at the State Secretariat here.

This is the first consultation meeting of WTI after signing an memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the State Government in December last year for preparation of a comprehensive wildlife management plan for Odisha witnessing increasing number of human-wildlife conflicts.

A comprehensive wildlife management plan for the entire Odisha is going to be the first of its kind anywhere in the country, said M K Ranjitsinh, emeritus member of the board, WTI.

"The meeting discussed about preparation of micro-level plans for 51 wildlife and territorial divisions of the State. The WTI has been requested to prepare the comprehensive plan within 15 months," Forest and Environment Secretary S C Mohapatra told reporters after the meeting.

WTI will hold wide consultation with various stakeholders at different levels. Technical experts and field-level executives will also be consulted. Inputs will be collected from local knowledge sources. Each Government department will nominate one nodal officer to give necessary data and input to the WTI for preparation of the plan, Mohapatra added. "We expect the plan to be completed within 10 months time," he said.

The Chief Secretary advised WTI to do a balancing act between forest and wildlife conservation on one side and the mining and developmental activities on the other while preparing the plan. He further advised to adopt appropriate technological solutions and innovative approaches to resolve the difference between wildlife conservation and developmental interventions.

Management plans will be prepared for protected areas as well as areas outside it along with a State-level overarching thematic plan, sources said.

Given the rising man-animal conflict in the State, movement of wildlife outside sanctuary areas, destruction of habitats and corridors outside the protected areas and poaching have necessitated the management plan.

Issues relating to diversity and conservation of mammalians, tigers, avian species, herpetofaunal species, fish, plants, aquatic life, marine resources and sacred groves were discussed. Topics like people's participation on conservation, awareness about nature, wildlife health, human and animal conflict management, eco-system restoration and habitat management also figured in the discussions.

 
SOURCE : http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/WTI-starts-consulation-for-wildlife-management-plan/2016/08/20/article3589155.ece
 


Back to pevious page



The NetworkAbout Us  |  Our Partners  |  Concepts   
Resources :  Databases  |  Publications  |  Media Guide  |  Suggested Links
Happenings :  News  |  Events  |  Opinion Polls  |  Case Studies
Contact :  Guest Book  |  FAQs |  Email Us