Shadow over a sanctuary

Phases of excessive rainfall and drought are characteristic of the region8217;s climatic regime. Conflict issues between the local community and the Park came to the fore during successive phases of climate change through the 8217;70s and 8217;80s. The drought in 1979 brought out the contentious issue of water sharing between the conservation needs of the Park and the irrigation requirements of the local farming communities.

When India became a Contracting Party to the Ramsar Convention in 1980, Keoladeo became one of the first wetlands to be listed as Ramsar sites. The Year 1982 was critical for the Park8217;s history. In an effort to raise its conservation status, Keoladeo was declared a National Park. Rules of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, became applicable, and the Forest Department was required to end all forms of exploitation of flora and fauna.

Grazing of livestock inside th Keoladeo National Park was, in accordance with the provisions of the Act, banned. Violence erupted inopposition to the ban. Seven villagers lost their lives in an episode that still evokes an emotional response. Access to the Park was stopped and access gates along the boundary wall closed. This dealt a blow to the livelihood of the people who depended on the Park for their sustenance and survival. A perennial rift between the authorities and the local community came about.

The conflict between the need to protect bio-diversity and the demands of the local communities for their traditionally assured access to the natural resources in the area, has given rise to serious management problems which are yet to be resolved. The three main issues in this connection are: water, vegetation; and increase in the population of domestic cows inside the Park.

The water required for flooding the Park comes from Ajan Bund and is controlled by the Irrigation Department. The full requirement is met only during the years of copious rain. In normal rainfall years, about 350 million cubic feet is supplied. Increasing humandemand for water, aggravated by increasing population pressure, has made uncertain adequate supply for the Parks in years of scanty rainfall or drought. The 80s have witnessed an increase in droughts and a decrease in floods.

While traditionally, both the Banganga and Gambhir rivers were sources of water for Ajan Bund, during the 1980s, the Gambhir remained the only source.

The construction of a dam for irrigation and drinking water at Pachna upstream on the Gambhir river in Sawai Madhopur district, reduced water supply. After the rains, water was held p in the dam, checking its natural flow into the Bharatpur depression, affecting the subsoil and ground water in the area. The quantum of water received by the Park went down steadily, a minimum being supplied during the drought of 1986. The following year, the wetland dried out completely and dead and dying animals were observed that winter. Rainfall has been good in the 1990s, and the issue of water supply to the Park has remained dormant8230;..

Anothercritical issue has been vegetation. Emergent vegetation, mainly Paspalum distichum, which used to be consumed by grazing buffaloes before 1982, began to grow in profusion following the ban. This diminished the open water expanses, with or without sparse vegetation, which is the preferred habitat of many waterfowl. All possible techniques such as cutting, scraping, bulldozing, burning could not contain the unchecked growth of grasses within the wetland.

An intensive ecological study of the Park during 1980-90 led to the recommendation that the only 8220;ecologically viable alternative is to get the primary consumers buffaloes back into the system8221;. The recommendation proved controversial and no attempt was made to implement it8230;For the benefit of both the Park vegetation control and the local community fodder needs, permits were issued to the villagers to harvest grasses for four months in the year.

The permit system applied also to grasses for thatch, especially Vetiveria, which when allowed toaccumulate becomes a fire hazard. Though the permit system provided some respite to the local community, their fodder requirements are round the year, so they resort to illicit, clandestine removal, compelling the Park management to intensify policing measures.

A third issue has been the increase in the population of domestic cows inside the Park. Owing to the ban on grazing inside, the villagers release the unproductive and disabled cows in Keoladeo by pushing them over the wall or breaking it to provide passage. These cows may be retrieved by the owners when they regain strength and become productive8230;.This problem is a persistent one and requires a permanent solution8230;..

However well resources are managed, it is nevertheless true that increasing population pressure will exacerbate each of the main sources of conflict between human needs and the needs of the wildlife in the future. Competition for scarcer and scarcer water resources, increased need for fodder and the inevitable increase of illicitdomestic animals in the Park will inexorably take their toll. The disappearance of the majestic Siberian Crane is almost inevitable and many other species are equally balanced precariously on the verge of extinction from growing demands of a burgeoning population.

With India8217;s population forecast to reach 1.7 billion by 2050, and Rajasthan8217;s population growing faster than the national average, the long-term prognosis for the unique and extraordinary sanctuary of Bharatpur is decidedly uncertain.

Excerpted from Population Pressure and Biodiversity8217;, UNFPA