DELINEATING ECO-SENSITIVE ZONES USING GEOSPATIAL METHODS – A TEST CASE OF JHILMIL JHEEL CONSERVATION RESERVE

V Prakash,S Saran,G Talukdar

doi:10.5194/isprs-annals-iv-5-459-2018

Abstract

Abstract. Most of the protected areas (PAs) in India have a hard boundary; very rarely having a transition zone to minimise the negative human wildlife interface. With increasing anthropogenic pressures, areas surrounding PAs are becoming integral for conservation. Government of India introduced a concept of Eco-sensitive Zones (ESZ) around PAs to minimise anthropogenic pressures and regulate rapid development in these areas. However, delineation of ESZs is a complex process and may take a long time. In this paper, a novel geospatial approach has been presented to delineate ESZ using a species centric approach. A case study using Swamp deer (Rucervus duvaucelli duvaucelli) as focal species was explored for its potential to delineate ESZ around protected area Jhilmil Jheel Conservation Reserve (JJCR) located in Uttarakhand India. Maximum entropy or Maxent model was used to identify habitat suitability. Normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI), altitude, land cover and distance to roads were used as co-variates. Seasonal variations for habitat suitability were also considered. In this study habitat suitability map of swamp deer was further rationalised based on habitat fragmentation and management limitations and proposed as ESZ of JJCR. This approach for delineation of ESZ can be very useful for PAs in India which have focal species and are yet to declare their ESZ.

Highlights

1.1 Protected Areas (PAs) and Eco-sensitive Zones (ESZs)In India Protected Areas (PAs) are constituted and governed under the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
Honourable Supreme Court of India ordered that in case of non- declaration of ESZ around a PA, a minimum of 10 km buffer around a PA would be declared as ESZ
Jhilmil Jheel Conservation Reserve (JJCR) is a PA located in the North Indian state of Uttarakhand

Summary

Introduction

1.1 Protected Areas (PAs) and Eco-sensitive Zones (ESZs). In India Protected Areas (PAs) are constituted and governed under the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Land and water use policies will need to accept the imperative of strictly protecting ecologically fragile habitats and regulating use elsewhere”.* Increased pollution, use of pesticides and insecticides, degradation of forest biodiversity, weed infestation, encroachment of forest land due to unplanned development in the areas peripheral to the forests, make ESZ delineation even more significant. ESZ are described as "Shock Absorber" for the PAs by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India (Annonymous, 2011). Honourable Supreme Court of India ordered that in case of non- declaration of ESZ around a PA, a minimum of 10 km buffer around a PA would be declared as ESZ

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