Satkosia Tiger Reserve (Ecology, Environment and Climate Change)
Satkosia Tiger Reserve (Ecology, Environment and Climate Change)
Why In News:
Odisha has decided to form a panel to examine the process of relocating villages from the Satkosia Tiger Reserve, amid concerns over procedural lapses and human rights violations flagged during the relocation exercise.
About Satkosia Tiger Reserve
Location: Satkosia Tiger Reserve is situated in Odisha and encompasses the spectacular Mahanadi River gorge, making it significant for both terrestrial and riverine ecosystems.
Topography: The landscape consists of undulating hills, steep slopes, valleys, cliffs, ravines and riverine plains, creating varied habitats for wildlife.
Vegetation: The reserve is predominantly covered by tropical moist and dry deciduous forests, with sal (Shorea robusta) being an important tree species. Bamboo, teak, tendu, mahua and other deciduous species are also found.
Flora: The diverse vegetation includes sal, bamboo, mahua, tendu, amla, harida and bahada, along with several grasses and medicinal plants.
Fauna: Besides tigers, the reserve supports leopards, elephants, gaur, sambar, chital, wild boar, sloth bears, dhole and four-horned antelopes.
Tiger Reserve Status: It was notified as a tiger reserve in 2007 under Project Tiger, and covers approximately 964 sq km, including about 524 sq km of core/critical tiger habitat.
Tiger Conservation: In 2018, Satkosia became the site of India's first inter-State tiger translocation programme, with tigers brought from Kanha and Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserves in Madhya Pradesh.
Legal Framework for Village Relocation
1. Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
Section 38V of the Wildlife (Protection) Act provides the statutory framework for Tiger Conservation Plans, including the identification of core or critical tiger habitats and measures required for their protection.
Relocation from critical tiger habitats is intended to create inviolate areas for wildlife, but it must be undertaken in accordance with the safeguards prescribed under law and National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) guidelines.
The NTCA, constituted through the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2006, is India's apex statutory body for tiger conservation and plays a key role in approving and monitoring relocation and rehabilitation measures.
2. Forest Rights Act, 2006
The Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006 recognises the individual and community forest rights of forest-dwelling Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers.
Where relocation is proposed from a Critical Wildlife Habitat, the rights of eligible communities must first be recognised and settled, and the statutory conditions for relocation, including free and informed consent of the Gram Sabha, must be fulfilled.
Therefore, relocation cannot be treated merely as an administrative exercise; it must account for land rights, community forest rights, livelihood dependence and due process.