1,600 acres of forest cut in key south Konkan wildlife corridor

MUMBAI: Sixteen hundred acres of dense forest have been cut in the Sawantwadi-Dodamarg wildlife corridor in four years since 2014, says a report submitted by an NGO to the government.
Shockingly, the deforestation happened after the 2013 Bombay high court order banning tree-felling in the sensitive 30-km corridor that connects the Bhimagad wildlife sanctuary in Karnataka to the Radhanagari sanctuary in Maharashtra.It is used not only by tigers but also other wild animals like elephants and bisons.
The destruction, at 103 locations within the proposed Western Ghats Eco Sensitive Area, has been mapped by NGO Vanashakti using Google Maps since 2013. The maps clearly show how lush green areas, indicating dense forest, have turned brown and bare or have been replaced with plantations (patchy green cover), industry or are being mined. Brown patches spread over acres have come up in the middle of dense forest.
"It is very difficult to do a physical survey, so we compared Google Maps of the area in 2014 to subsequent ones," said D Stalin of Vanashakti.
Stalin said deforestation is visible in approximately 103 locations across 48 villages within the proposed eco-sensitive area (ESA). "Additionally, mining and industrial activities continue in the area even after 2013," he said.
Ben Clement, chief conservator of forests, Kolhapur Circle, said last week he had personally witnessed a clearing of about 1-2 acres in a village. It was done for shift (Kumri) cultivation. "We have ordered an enquiry. It is a highly sensitive issue because villagers insist it is about their beliefs and we have to tackle it delicately," he said. Clement said an entire village, Wadeli, had been purchased in 2006-07 (before the court order) and a cashew plantation came up there.
The forest department has not granted any permission for mining or industrial activity in the core area and not even in the proposed eco-sensitive areas. "The draft of the Western Ghats Eco Sensitive Area is under consideration of the government. Once it is finalised, we will be able to ensure there's no tree-felling. In the 25 villages identified in the court order, the ban is being fully implemented," said Clement.
Stalin said the felling is more in private forest land, but trees in government forests are also being felled. "This is one of the most dense forests in the state. We have repeatedly complained to the collector and the forest department to stop the felling, especially on private forest land," he said.
S B Chavan, deputy chief conservator of forests (Sawantwadi), said the forest department can do little on private forest land. "We do everything necessary to ensure there is no tree-felling. Last year, we paid Rs 1 crore in compensation as wild animals damaged crops in 1,127 cases. There were 23 different fast-unto-death protests by villagers which we had to sort out," he said. The Sawantwadi-Dodamarg forest has elephants, monkeys, bisons, which pose a threat to crops, he explained.
Forest officials said it is for the collector to take action on private forest land as it comes under his jurisdiction. D D Pandharpatti, collector, Sindhudurg, refused comment, saying he needs to look at documents and understand the issue first.
Clement said the department has proposed a wildlife sanctuary at Tillari, which lies between Bhimagad and Radhanagari. "Once it is approved, we can declare it as an Integrated Tiger Sanctuary which will further help in ensuring that even private forests are better protected," he said.