Goa Tiger Reserve Recommendations by CEC

Summary Notes on Goa Tiger Reserve Development

Judicial Directives:

• Supreme Court Recommendation: The Central Empowered Committee (CEC) suggested establishing a tiger reserve in Goa in a phased manner.
• July 2023 Bombay High Court Directive:
  • Goa government ordered to notify five protected areas as a "tiger reserve" within three months.
  • Areas include:
    • Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary
    • Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary
    • Bhagwan Mahavir National Park
    • Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary
    • Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary
  • The government must prepare a Tiger Conservation Plan and settle rights of Scheduled Tribes and forest dwellers.

Background:

• Petition Origin: The court’s order stemmed from a case filed by the Goa Foundation due to the poisoning deaths of a female tiger and her three cubs in 2020.
• National Tiger Conservation Authority (2016 Recommendation): Suggested declaration of the above areas as a tiger reserve.

Government Position:

• Special Leave Petition: The Goa government filed against the High Court order, arguing that nearly 100,000 people would be affected.
• Affidavit Correction: Later clarified that around 1,274 households (approx. 5,000-6,000 individuals) reside in the designated areas.

Environmental Context:

• Tigers' Status: The state claimed no resident tigers; rather, these were transient. Contradictory earlier statements indicated recognized resident populations in Goa's contiguous forests connecting to conservation areas in neighboring states.

Key Recommendations from CEC Report:

• Phased Approach Proposal:
  • Core part: Parks and sanctuaries contiguous to the Kali Tiger Reserve (Karnataka) will form the core of the Goa reserve.
  • Buffer Zone: Areas adjacent to the Kali Tiger Reserve with minimal human habitation proposed for the buffer zone.
• Initial Phase Inclusion Areas Include:
  • Core Zone: Netravali (50 households), Cotigao (41 households) – totaling 296.7 sq km.
  • Buffer Zone: Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary (9 households) and Bhagwan Mahavir National Park (2 households).

Conservation and Environmental Management:

• Declaring areas as tiger reserves ensures enhanced funding and research for wildlife conservation.
• Definition of Zones:
  • Core Zones: Must be maintained as inviolate; residents incentivized to relocate but not forced.
  • Buffer Zones: Allow more human activities compared to core zones while still focusing on ecological integrity.

Community Concerns:

• The report highlighted the apprehension of local dwellers regarding potential displacement, urging the government to address these fears effectively.

This information encapsulates the legal, environmental, and community dynamics surrounding the establishment of a tiger reserve in Goa, emphasizing the ongoing reforms in wildlife conservation as influenced by judicial mandates and ecological strategies.