Abstract
The conservation history of Kaziranga National Park has traversed many a path since it was first recognised as a ‘game sanctuary’ in 1916. The unique aesthetics and richness of its biodiversity, severely afflicted by natural and anthropogenic interventions now and then, has necessitated conservation of this wildlife reserve. An outcome of the conservation process pertains to disruptions in livelihood of the local communities, that have for generations, used the park’s natural resources and therefore, had become a part of its natural evolution. Hundreds of people have lost their livelihoods and violent confrontations have become a typical scene, with the communities being utterly left out of the conservation process. In this light, the present essay envisages discussing the centrality of community participation in the conservation of Kaziranga National Park vis-à-vis a conjugation of the conservation process and livelihood aspirations of the local people.
Highlights
Biodiversity of Kaziranga National Park (KNP)An environment with a resounding species diversity reinforces economic stability and human livelihoods over time (Janishevski et al, 2008)
The strict conservation process has and devoid fringe communities of their livelihood as well as their traditional lands, subsequently resulting in clashes among park authorities and local people. This brings to the fore the question whether a conservation process will be successful on its own without acknowledging the livelihood aspirations and traditional wisdom of local communities
KNP earlier had a privilege of hosting the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red Listed critically endangered pygmy hog, which is no longer found here
Summary
An environment with a resounding species diversity reinforces economic stability and human livelihoods over time (Janishevski et al, 2008). With unabated destruction and desertification of forests and consequent species extinction, the potential of protected areas and national parks as proven mechanisms for conservation of biological diversity and associated livelihoods has gained traction globally. The Kaziranga National Park (KNP), considered an embodiment of biodiversity and ecosystem services, is one of the seven natural World Heritage Sites of India, inscribed for being the ‘world’s major stronghold of the Indian onehorned rhino’, currently with a species strength of two-thirds of the global rhino population. The strict conservation process has and devoid fringe communities of their livelihood as well as their traditional lands, subsequently resulting in clashes among park authorities and local people. KNP earlier had a privilege of hosting the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red Listed critically endangered pygmy hog, which is no longer found here. The Red-headed Vulture, Griffon Vulture, Himalayan Griffon and Eurasian Black Vulture could be seen in the wild but are near threatened, with others already extinct in the wilderness of KNP
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