Title - Nagzira-Navegaon corridor degrading: Study

NAGPUR: At a time when the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) has in-principle agreed to declare Navegaon-Nagzira in Gondia district a tiger reserve, a latest study warns overall forest cover and water bodies are decreasing continuously in this vital corridor that connects nine tiger reserves in Central India.

"If the present scenario of deforestation and degradation of water bodies were to continue, the corridor existence between Navegaon National Park and Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary would be severely threatened. It can affect species such as water birds which are related to the wetlands and movement of wild animals through this corridor," the study says.

The forest connectivity and corridors are critical for biodiversity conservation.

A wildlife corridor is a narrow strip of forest cover, connecting two larger forest areas. These corridors help in dispersal and movement of individual animals between different habitats for food, folder, shelter, breeding and other activities.

The study - 'Land use land cover mapping, change detection and conflict analysis of Nagzira-Navegaon corridor' - using geospatial technology, was conducted in 2008 by PK Yadav, Mohnish Kapoor and Kiranmay Sarma of University School of Environment Management, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, New Delhi.

The study has also been published in the International Journal of Remote Sensing and GIS. Earlier, a similar corridor study in 2005 by the Wildlife Trust India (WTI) had stated that forest cover in the corridor is shrinking due to forest land diversion for dams, other projects and huge biotic pressure.

The latest study states that these corridors are suffering from diversion of forest land for proposed expansion of national and state highway projects. Although there is potential for establishing a forested corridor between the two PAs, it is also recorded that at several locations, connectivity exists through narrow forest strips. A sustainable phase-wise management is needed in these forest areas, it says.

It was found that in 10 years between 1990-99, 6.22% (340.86 sq km) dense forest was converted to open forest and 6.66% (365.11 sq km) open forest to non-forest between 1990 to 1999. Similarly, water bodies to non-forest showed a change of 1.04% (56.47 sq km).

After observation of change analysis, it is found that maximum deforestation occurred in the corridors. In the following decade ie 1999 to 2009, 1.81% (99.22 sq km) dense forest was converted to open forest and 2.21% (121.33 sq km) of the open forest to non-forest. Besides, water bodies showed a change of 1.10% (60.05 sq km).

The study states that water bodies have decreased continuously in these two decades. Forest loss and degradation have also occurred due to human interference, urbanization, cattle grazing and projects.

Earlier, the WTI had also said that there are 89 villages in the 45-km corridor, which comes to two villages per km. These villages put huge pressure on forest.

As per field surveys on conflict analysis in the corridor, it was found that at most of the sites along the NH-6 and state highways and railway tracks, there were encroachments in terms of agriculture land and build-up area. Due to high traffic frequency on roads and railway, wild animals often divert from their original dispersal route and enter these hamlets causing conflict.

The Nagzira-Navegaon corridor is one of the most biodiversity rich zones of Central India. Gondia district provides suitable and healthy corridors for transfer of energy resources, wildlife movements and genetic exchange of wildlife between different PAs.

"The NH-6 and South East Central Railway's ( SECR) Gondia-Chanda rail link passes through heart of the corridor and study area," the study said.

Gondia's most of the land is covered with forest. Wainganga is the largest and most important river and water bodies like Itiadoh, Navegaon, Chulband, Bagh, Karbanda, Bodalakas etc are situated in the district. Therefore, there is enormous potential for change detection study to be carried out.