Syllabus :GS 3/Environment
In News
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) proposed a 3,328 sq km Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) around the Gir forest.
- Later, the area was reduced to 2,061 sq km to accommodate local community needs.
Eco-Sensitive Zones
- They are areas identified for their unique environmental resources that require special conservation efforts, as defined by the National Environment Policy (2006).
- The concept was established during the XXI meeting of the Indian Board for Wildlife in January 2002, leading to the Wildlife Conservation Strategy.
- Legal Framework: The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 provides the basis for declaring lands within 10 km of protected areas as eco-fragile zones.
- National Environment Policy 2006 established guidelines for ESZs to protect areas outside national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.
- State forest departments prepare ESZ proposals, which are submitted to the MoEFCC for scrutiny.
- After a draft notification is issued, public suggestions and objections are invited for 60 days.
- Based on public input and expert recommendations, the MoEFCC issues a final ESZ notification.
| Prohibited Activities | Permitted Activities |
| Commercial mining and stone quarrying.Major hydroelectric projects.Handling of hazardous substances.Discharge of untreated effluents.Setting up brick kilns.Establishing polluting industries with high environmental risks. | Local communities are allowed to continue ongoing practices such as:Agriculture and horticulture.Dairy farming.Aquaculture and fisheries.Poultry and goat farming.Food-related enterprises. |
Objectives
- To protect the environment from degradation caused by human activities.
- To create a buffer for specialized ecosystems (Protected Areas).
- To serve as transition zones between areas of higher and lower protection.
- To maintain ecological balance within permissible limits regarding environmental parameters.
- To notify areas as ESZs while regulating sustainable developmental activities, considering local needs and aspirations.
Protests
- Previous proposals for Gir’s ESZ have faced public protests due to concerns about wildlife protection versus human activities.
- Politicians argue that farmers need the right to protect themselves from wild animals while working.
- Leaders have requested exemptions for certain villages to protect non-agricultural activities and local businesses.
Conclusion
- The proposed ESZ around the Gir forest has sparked significant debate about the balance between wildlife conservation and local development needs, highlighting the complexities involved in managing protected areas.
- Conservation efforts should not hinder local development.
- ESZs serve as crucial zones for protecting biodiversity and maintaining ecological balance while allowing sustainable development that considers the needs of local communities.
| Gir Forest – Gir Protected Areas include the Gir National Park, Gir Wildlife Sanctuary, Paniya Wildlife Sanctuary, and Mitiyala Wildlife Sanctuary. – The Gir Forests is the largest compact tract of dry deciduous forests in semi-arid western India and covers an area of 1,153.42 sq. km, with 258.71 sq. km declared as a National Park. – Significance : It is the last natural habitat of the Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica), an endangered species that was saved from extinction through conservation efforts. The Maldharis, a pastoral community living in Gir, have a historical symbiotic relationship with the lions. Their settlements are known as “nesses.” |
Source:IE
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