Jim Corbett National Park - Case Study (Ecology)

Case Study for Ecology (B. Arch)

1. JIM CORBETT NATIONAL PARK Location – Nainital, Uttarakhand Area – 1318 km Established – 1936 Presented by- Aaditya Verma Ankita Raikwar Bhagyashree Dongre Saloni Kelkar Shashwati Chatterjee Simran Sarin

2. About Jim Corbett National park is the first national park in India during the British Raj. It was named Hailey National Park  after  William Malcolm Hailey , a governor of the United Provinces. after India's independence, it was renamed  Corbett National Park  after the hunter and naturalist  Jim Corbett The park was the first to come under the  Project Tiger  initiative.  the park contains 488 different species of plants and a diverse variety of fauna.

3. Climate The weather in the park is temperate compared to most other protected areas of India. The temperature may vary from 5 °C (41 °F) to 30 °C (86 °F) during the winter and some mornings are foggy. Summer temperatures normally do not rise above 40 °C (104 °F).  Rainfall ranges from light during the winter to heavy during the  monsoonal  summer.

4. Flora A total of 488 different species of plants have been recorded in the park. Dense moist deciduous forest mainly consists of Sal, haldu, peepal, Rohini and mango trees. Chir Pine is the only conifer found in the park. Some part of Corbett is dominated by Bamboo forests. Some species are artificially planted such as Teak, Silver Oak, Eucalyptus, Jacaranda, and Bottlebrush.

5. Endangered Flora Kansi Themeda arundinacea Baib or Bhabar Narkul Tiger Grass Spear Grass Wallachia densiflora 

6. Fauna A total of 600 different species of fauna have been recorded in the park. The Park is an ideal home for many majestic animals like the Royal Bengal Tiger, Asiatic Elephant, and many other wild animals. It is the best-preserved parks with 164 numbers of tigers and over 600 elephants. Other known mammal species include Asiatic Black Bear, Hog Deer, Walking Deer, Sambar, Sloth Beer, Yellow-throated marten and Otters. There are 33 species of reptiles,  seven species of amphibians, seven species of fish and 36 species of dragonflies.

7. Endangered Fauna Royal Bengal Tiger Asiatic Elephant Ghariyal Jungle cat Fishing cat Leopard cat

8. Wildlife Conservation Projects Practiced in Corbett National Park 1. Project Tiger 2. Crocodile Conservation Project 3. Project Elephant

9. WILDLIFE PROTECTION ACT, 1972 SECTION 35 The State Government can declare an area whether a sanctuary or not to a National Park for the purpose of protecting, propagating or developing wild life therein or its environment. Whenever an area is being declared as a National park, the provisions of sections 1 [19 to 26A (both inclusive except cause (c) of sub-section (2) of section 24)] are considered while investigating, determination of claims and extinguishment of rights. If the period for preferring claims has elapsed , the State Government shall publish a notification and declare that the said area shall be a National Park on and from such date as may be specified in the notification. No alteration of the boundaries of a National Park by the State Government shall be made except on a recommendation of the National Board. No person shall destroy, exploit or remove any Wild Life including forest produce from a National Park No grazing of live-stock shall be permitted in a National Park

10. Project Tiger It was established in 1973 by the Government of India. The decrease in the tiger population was the reason behind the establishment of the initiative. In the 20th century, the tiger population in India was around 20, 000-40,000; however in 1972 the count was reduced to 1800 tigers. Moreover, the tiger population was reduced to 268 in 1973.

11. Objectives of Project Tiger To limit the reasons behind the certain reduction of tiger habitat and to mitigate them by suitable management. To reduce the dependency of local people on tiger reserve resources for eco-development To ensure a viable population of tigers for economic, scientific and cultural values.

12. Steps Taken by the Government Tiger Protection Force comeback was initiated to combat poachers and funds were given to villagers who leave in the wildlife reserve to avoid animal-human conflict. The project was administered by the National Tiger Conservation Authority. Overall it was administered by steering committee headed by a director. Wireless communication systems and outstation patrol camp were implanted within the tiger reserve. Each and every tiger reserve is managed by a Field director (rank of conservator of Festival)

13. Result More wildlife reserves were brought under the canopy of Project Tiger. As a result, the tiger population was increased to over 4,000 in 1989 census. However, in 1983, there was a significant dip in Tiger population due to increasing in poaching cases. The 2006 census had estimated that there were 1,411 tigers, without including any from the Sundarbans. In 2010, there was a 12% rise in the tiger population. Presently in 2015 there are 43 Tiger reserves in India, and as per the census report of January 20, 2015 the tiger population is 2226.

14. Crocodile Conservation Project In India, crocodiles are both revered and loathed as some consider them religious and others consider them a menace. In 1970, only 100 Gharial crocodiles survived in the wildlife sanctuary in India. The project was first initiated in 1976 in of Jim Corbett National Park with an aim to protect the crocodiles of the nation, namely, freshwater crocodile, gharial crocodile, and saltwater crocodiles. The project aims to ensure the increase, the increase in the numbers through breeding.

15. Objectives of Crocodile Conservation Project Eco logical development Captive breeding of the species Collecting the eggs of crocodile from regular haunts, ensuring crosshatching and nurturing of crocodiles in captivity to lessen mortality because of the natural predators and lastly released into the wild.

16. Steps Taken by the Government Veterinary care Various studies and literature were introduced to create awareness amongst the masses. The Gharial Rehabilitation Project formed a subunit of the umbrella Crocodile Conservation Project. Sixteen crocodile rehabilitation centers and 11 crocodile centuries were established. To locate, establish and manage a series of crocodile rehabilitation centers and sanctuaries in suitable habitats. Result By the time project ended, around 250 gharial crocodiles were released in Ramnagar River in the Corbett region between the years 1982 to 1994.

17. Project Elephant Project elephant was launched with an aim to increase the elephant population by providing financial and technical aid to major elephant bearing states in the country. The project was launched in the year 1991-1992. The Project elephants were further launches in 13 states and Union Territories, i.e. Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal with an aim to protect the decline in number of elephant population.

18. Objectives of Project Elephant Eco development of elephant habitat’s To provide more veterinary care to elephants Research on management issues related to elephants Strengthening of initiatives related to protection of wild elephants- poaching and unnatural cause of death. To Increase the population of tusked elephants. Moderating impact of human and domestic stock activities in crucial elephant habitats To prevent human actions in the elephant haunts for their protection.

19. Steps Taken by the Government 25 elephant reserves were made in India – West Bengal, Jharkhand, Orissa, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerela, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka . Current Status 10 elephant reserve in India are finally implementing MIKE (Monitoring of Illegal killing of Elephants)

20. Threats I ncrease in tourist activities, among other problems, continues to present a serious challenge to the park's ecological balance. As early as 1991, the Corbett National Park played host to 3237 tourist vehicles carrying 45,215 visitors during the main tourist seasons between 15 November and 15 June. This heavy influx of tourists has led to visible stress signs on the natural ecosystem. Excessive trampling of soil due to tourist pressure has led to reduction in plant species and has also resulted in reduced soil moisture. The tourists have increasingly used fuel wood for cooking. This is a cause of concern as this fuel wood is obtained from the nearby forests, resulting in greater pressure on the forest ecosystem of the park. Additionally, tourists have also caused problems by making noise, littering and causing disturbances in general. The habitat of the reserve faces threats from invasive species such as the exotic weeds - Lantana ,  Parthenium and  Cassia . Natural resources like trees and grasses are exploited by the local population while encroachment of at least 13.62 ha (0.05 sq mi) by 74 families has been recorded.

21. Conservation measures WILD LIFE PROTECTION ACT(1972) It has six schedules which give varying degrees of protection.  Schedule I and part II of Schedule II provide absolute protection - offences under these are prescribed the highest penalties.  Species listed in Schedule III and Schedule IV are also protected, but the penalties are much lower.  Animals under Schedule V, e.g. common crows, fruit bats, rats and mice, are legally considered vermin and may be hunted freely. The specified endemic plants in Schedule VI are prohibited from cultivation and planting. Hunting in a National Park or Sanctuary or alteration of boundaries- Minimum 3 years of imprisonment up to 7 yrs. and fine not less than 10,000/- On second and subsequent offence, minimum 3 years imprisonment up to 7 years and fine 25,000. Specifically for Tiger Reserves Minimum 3 years term which may extend to 7 years and fine not less than 50 extend to 7 years and fine not less than 50 thousand which may extend to thousand which may extend to Rs. 2 lakh Second or subsequent conviction: Not less than 7 yrs. term and fine not less than 5 lakh which may which may extend to Rs. 50 lakh.