Signature campaign underway to preserve ecological balance in Tharparkar, stop people from cutting trees

NGO planning to have the Karoonjhar hills of Nagarparkar declared a ‘national park’.

MITHI:

SCOPE, a non-government organisation (NGO) dedicated to environmental issues, has launched a signature campaign in Tharparkar to preserve the wildlife and forests of the area.

The campaign is aimed at stopping people from cutting trees, excessive hunting, preparing a management plan for the Rann of Kutch wildlife sanctuary and to have the Karoonjhar hills of Nagarparkar declared a ‘national park’.

To obtain signatures from the public and raise awareness, the NGO has placed a sheet in front of the Mithi press club. Folk singer Sadik Faqir, Prof Noor Ahmed Janjhi, Obhaja Junejo, environment activist Bharu Mal Amrani, Ghulam Allah Jarwar, social activist Mama Vishan Thari, Shahab-ul-Din, human rights activist Pardeep Kalani and others signed it on the first day.

SCOPE district coordinator Bharumal Amrani said that Thar is among the five ecologically diverse regions of the country. However, unchecked deforestation and excess hunting of rare wildlife species is harming the ecological balance of the area and ruining the natural beauty of Thar. The indigenous people of Thar are also under threat as they are dependent on its natural resources for their survival.

The rate of environmental degradation can be ascertained from figures provided by IUCN, UNDP and the ministry of environment. In 1996, the IUCN declared 25 species of wildlife on the ‘red list’ of threatened animals. The number has now increased drastically.

Similarly, in 2010, the ministry of environment and UNDP declared seven arid zone plants as ‘rare species’, out of which five are native to Tharparkar.

The future of endangered species of plants and animals can be secured if the Karoonjhar hills in Nagarparkar are declared a national park. A 1997 survey by the wildlife department indicated that the area fulfils the criteria for a national park, but so far nothing has been done.

There are 154 rare species of plants, 26 species of rare mammals and 400 various types of flowers found in Karoonjhar.

Experts have said that there is considerable scope for further research as there are many species of flora and fauna that remain undiscovered. The area in and around Karoonjhar hills is also home to the Bhodesar mosque, sacred Hindu sites and Jain temples.

A vast number of people visit the area, specially during the monsoon season. If the area is declared a national park, and thereby given the requisite funds and protection, there exists potential for tourism and sustainable development of the area.

The preparation of a management plan for the Rann of Kutch wildlife sanctuary has been pending since 2002, when the area was first declared a ‘Ramsar’ site. Bahrumal Amrani demanded that a management plan should be implemented without any further delay to protect the endangered wildlife of the area. The forestry department has earmarked 239,000 acres as grazing land for animals and has also set up game sanctuaries and reserves.

However, there has been no change in the frequency of hunting activities, as both locals and foreigners come to trap falcons and hunt the endangered Houbara Bustard.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 21^st, 2011.