Assessment, Conservation and Sustainable Use of Forest Biodiversity

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Institutional and socio-economic aspects 38 CONSERVATION HOLIC (CONSHOLIC) EDUCATION FOR BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION K. Thulsi Rao*, M. Prudhvi Raju Project Tiger, Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh, India - 518102 E-mail: thulsirao@yahoo.co.in Keywords: Nallamalais, Non-wood Forest Produce (NWFP), Eco-development committee (EDC), Conservationholic (Consholic), Protected Area (P.A) BACKGROUND Introduction Nestling in the verdant hill ranges of Nallamalais, Nagarjuna Sagar – Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR) is one of the biggest Protected Areas of India. Spreads over an area of 4531.69 Sq. Km. this sanctuary is an abode for rich bio-diversity, especially many endangered flora and its associated fauna. Human settlements Bordering the reserve: A total of 190,000 people in 200 villages live in and around N.S.T.R. The people depend on the forests for there, food requirements, day to day needs NWFP, fodder for cattle and land for Agriculture. The degree of dependency of these people for their sustenance on Tiger land is substantial which affects habitat of the Tiger considerably. The inter censual growth rate at 1.3% further alarms the possible encroachment of the habitat for the agricultural expansion. Unscientific tapping and irrational utilization of natural resources especially economic species led the species to the threshold limits of extinction resulting total collapse of tribal economy (Fig-1) “Forests precede civilization and Deserts succeed it”. The Biodiversity of Nallamalais is getting eroded because of increase in the population of the dependent class of people and no sufficient awareness about protecting or rational utilization of resource base around that they are living. In order to mitigate the dependence of the villagers; a strategy known as Eco-Development has been evolved. “Eco-Development in the Protected Area context is: a strategy with a site specific package of measures evolved through people’s participation with the objective of balancing socio- economic development of the people and also ecological sustenance. Existing programmes have identified many conservation needs and constraints but have so far failed to appreciably slow the loss of biodiversity. This loss is causing irreparable damage to the P.A and its basic biological life systems and the resources upon which the rural poor depend. Immediate action is required to slow the rate of loss of biodiversity and to develop a strategy, which allows sustainable utilization of natural resources while conserving biodiversity and the resource base. Despite many efforts with all developmental programmes that implemented, could not yield desired results initially till we launch Conservation Holic Education coupled with site-specific developmental activities. Conservation Holic (Consholic) Education In the beginning we have organized village level meetings and identified the most resource dependent villages and prioritized into High Impact (HIV), Medium Impact (MIV) and low Impact (LIV) villages and stake holders from the villages. 1. Process of influencing (Boosting up of Morale) : The first and fore most task was to boost up the morale of the staff from the state of despair and despondency of the frown situation. Innumerable number of motivationcum- sensitization classes has been conducted to the staff to energize their power of positive thinking. Classes 111
Assessment, Conservation and Sustainable Use of Forest Biodiversity were conducted to build up the courage. Infusion of the positive mental attitude towards emotional well-being was taken-up during their interactive classes. Forest staff was sensitized about positive mental attitude towards people by sterilizing their negative attitudes. Programme planning: Human Resource Development (HRD) : Even for planning a management strategy, a huge human resource is necessary for a sanctuary of this size. In this regard volunteers and N.G.Os were trained to motivate the local communities. Initially, the recruitment was one to one and gradually, the motivated trainees started bringing different NGO organization for further training. External help from various institutions was also sought to conduct a combined sensitization-cum-conservation classes for the staff, NGO’s and the local communities. Conducted several training sessions and workshops that aimed at motivating the staff, NGOs, EDC members, villagers, and other important stakeholders. In total, 1,140 such training workshops were organized involving 689 staff people of all levels, 434 representatives of NGO’s, 130 representatives from other governmental departments, 7,580 villagers, and 4,826 EDC members. The trainings in Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) Techniques and Participatory Mutual Interaction Assessment (PAMIA) were held both within the classrooms and in the villages. This has given a broad prioritized. As a base of trained personnel to conduct PRA simultaneously in all the villages that were result, information started flowing and it was systematically analyzed to draw inputs for P.A.Management strategies.. Special Inputs of trainings Identified villagers who used to impact the habitat are taken into the forest where they used to cut the trees and given equipment such as binoculars, telescopes to describe the complex activities that can be seen all along the tree. Laid 0.1 Hectare plots to enumerate and to make the inventory and the diversity of organism that live in the plot. Also made them to realize how loss of each organism leads to collapse the whole balance through ecological games. Also made them to document the benefits of each of these organisms in their day-to-day life. Special posters have been designed to sensitize and educate them through capturing the certain human sentiments of local importance. One special Mobile environment exhibition van has been designed and sent to the remote parts of the villages. The models and theme are so designed to articulate to make them realize the need to respect and protect the biodiversity Key Results:1. Once degraded habitat is restored, 2. Animal Population increased 3.Smuggling routes in the villages have been plugged 4. Village tanks are improved to support irrigation facility that increased crop yield besides providing agricultural employment to local villagers 5. The most important factor is the population of tigers in the habitat increase from 34 to 58 from 1995 to 2000 The poverty alleviation activities along with the “Conservation-holic” education changed the previous hostile attitude the extremist-backed stakeholders to strong pro conservationists. The help in improved practices of agriculture and animal husbandry programs uplifted them above the poverty line besides reducing the pressure on the P.A. 112
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