Wild Orissa

Brahmagiri (Puri)

KEONJHAR REGIONAL CHAPTER OF WILD ORISSA INAUGURATED

The Keonjhar Regional Chapter of Wild Orissa was inaugurated today in Harichandanpur by eminent wildlife conservationist and 2011 Earth Hero Awardee Shri Nanda Kishore Bhujabal. Ms. Suchitra Sahoo from Wild Orissa and many wildlife lovers were present during the event. Wild Orissa states that this new outfit of the organization will focus on wildlife conservation initiatives in the Keonjhar district. Keonjhar district is rich in biodiversity with approximately 3400 sq kms of area under forests including Reserved Forests. These forests are home to elephants and tigers apart from a variety of birds and reptiles. Tree species which are commonly noticed in the area are Shorea robusta, Pterocarpus marsupium, Gmelina arborea, Mitragyna parviflova, Tectona grandis, Dalbergia sisoo, Anogeissus latifolia, Syzygium cumini, Diospyros melanoxylon,Mangifera indica, Bridelia retusa, Terminalia tomentosa, Buchanania lanzan, Terminalia chebula, Terminalia belerica, Madhuca indica, Schleichiera oleosa and other misc. species etc. Sal (Shorea robusta) is the predominant species.

The region has significant biodiversity values and habitats for two of the critically endangered species viz. tiger and elephant. The forests of Keonjhar constitute an important corridor for elephants duly identified under Project Elephant connecting Hadgarh and Similipal on one side and the Keonjhar forests to the south. Because of extensive mining in the region, elephants and tigers may not be using the corridors regularly, but with restorative management initiatives these corridors could be revived thereby contributing positively to wildlife conservation in the country.

The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NCTA) has proposed that jurisdiction of the Similipal landscape should be expanded to include parts of Keonjhar so as to improve the wildlife corridor connecting State’s two tiger reserves – Similipal and Satkosia. If this is done then it will enhance the tiger population and their genetic health.

The Similipal-Kuldiha-Hadgarh forest belt which consists parts of Keonjhar district harbours around 500 elephants. Further the South-Keonjhar plateau and adjacent forest areas consisting of Deogaon, Ghatgaon and Telkoi and nearby forests of Kamakhsyanagar spreading around 2000 sq kms are another critical elephant habitat. Unfortunately considerable deterioration of these forests have been witnessed due to construction of Rengali Irrigation and many other medium sized irrigation projects, and coupled with illegal encroachments has severely fragmented the once healthy wildlife movement corridor.

Keonjhar is rich in birdlife and Wild Orissa has initiated some bird conservation programs in these parts, including the My School My Bird- wild birds conservation program.

Shri Amar Kuanr has been appointed as the Governor of Keonjhar Regional Chapter. The main actions to be initiated by the Regional Chapter will be:-
1. Undertake surveys and documentation for presence of endangered and threatened wildlife
2. Undertake wildlife conservation programs in association with local communities, traditional dwellers, schools, etc.
3. Engage with government departments in an effort to mainstream wildlife issues in developmental programs

Sundargarh District Launch My School My Bird (a wild birds conservation initiative by Wild Orissa)

Divisional Forest Officer Shri Sanjeet Kumar launched the My School My Bird program for Sundargarh district recently. Ms. Kshama Sarangi ACF, Bira Kishore Bhujabal & Akash Ranjan Rath from Wild Orissa were present.

My School My Bird launched in Mayurbhanj district
The Mayurbhanj district launch for My School My Bird Program was done by the Deputy Director Similipal Tiger Reserve Shri Ajit Kumar Satpathy recently in the Similipal Tiger Reserve Office at Baripada (Mayurbhanj). Central Bank of India Branch Manager Shri Ratikanta Sarangi, Assistant Conservators of Forests Shri Upendra Mahanta (UBK), Shri Arun Kumar Biswal (NP) and Shri Kirti Ranjan Parida (UBK) were present.
Shri Akash Ranjan Rath, District Coordinator MSMB for Mayurbhanj District briefed the forest officials regarding the program and the manner of implementation. The gathering was briefed regarding the progress made in the MSMB so far. Shri Dilip Kumar Nayak Program Coordinator MSMB Odisha and Ms. Sanghamitra Das from Bhubaneswar were also present.

Wild Orissa during 2015 Chilka Mid Winter Status Survey at Balugaon. With Bikash Ranjan Dash (DFO Chilka Wildlife Division), Dr. S. Balachandran Sr. Scientist Bombay Natural History Society, ACF Rambha and members of Wild Orissa (Shri N.K.Bhujabal, Shri Chinmaya Bhujabal, Shri Akash Ranjan Rath, Shri Dilip Kumar Nayak, Shri Pramod Dhal and Ms. Sanghamitra Das).

Puri District (Odisha) Waterfowl Count 2015
A 2 member Wild Orissa team is participating in the waterfowl count 2015, on 5th & 6th January 2015, in wetlands located in Puri District (Odisha).

GIVING FLIGHT TO YOUNG MINDS- MY SCHOOL MY BIRD
Wild Orissa is launching another ambitious bird conservation initiative 'GIVING FLIGHT TO YOUNG MINDS- MY SCHOOL MY BIRD' this year under its Wild Birds Conservation Program. The state of Odisha has in excess of 540 species of birds. This initiative will involve identifying one species of a bird with one school, organizing interactive sessions with students on the said species, its natural habitat, its conservation status and requirements, etc. Our focus will be on forest fringe areas and rural areas of Odisha. We will be sourcing high resolution photographs from willing photographers who will like to share their images for this conservation initiative. Each of these schools will be evaluated as to what initiatives they would have taken during the course of a 6 months period, upon which Wild Orissa will be organizing an interactive session for selected schools from a district. By doing this we will endeavour to link birds with their ecology and their habitats, enabling children to appreciate the need for natural habitat conservation and all that goes with it. Special emphasis will be laid upon rare and endangered bird species in Odisha. We are considering to engage with schools located in the districts of Khurda, Nayagarh, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Puri, Dhenkanal, Angul, Cuttack, Bhadrak, Jajpur, and Ganjam in Odisha spread over a period of one year. The program is being launched in Bhubaneswar on the 17th October 2014.

WILD ORISSA SUBMITS MEMORANDUM TO HIGH LEVEL COMMITTEE FOR REVIEW OF ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS UNDER GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
The following issues were submitted today by Wild Orissa before the HLC during meeting at Bhubaneswar (Odisha).

Wildlife Protection Act 1972 (as amended)
1. ‘Wildlife Corridor’ or ‘Wildlife Movement Habitat’ be given statutory status
2. Establishment of ‘National Elephant Conservation Authority’
3. Incorporate ‘Elephant Reserve’, ‘Core, Buffer’, ‘Elephant Conservation Foundation’, etc.
4. ‘Biosphere Reserve’ given statutory status
5. Enhanced rates for voluntary relocations under all category of protected areas
6. Legislate Wildlife (Amendment) Protection Bill 2013

Forest Conservation Act 1980 (as amended)
1. Establishment of ‘National Regulatory Authority For Forest Conservation’ to be empowered to examine all proposals for diversion of any forest land for all proposals. ‘National Regulatory Authority For Forest Conservation’ to have Regional Offices across the country to meet the requirements of various regions.
2. Ecological valuation be carried out while considering any diversion of natural habitats for developmental purposes and which necessarily need to be elaborated in detail in any environmental impact assessment report.

Wild Orissa mourns the demise of veteran journalist Shri Amarendra Lal Bose from Baripada (Mayurbhanj). Conservation of natural flora and fauna of Similipal and adjoining areas had been a sustained focus of Shri Bose. A former Honorary Wildlife Warden he was a widely respected individual in the wildlife circles. May his soul rest in peace.

News item in The New Indian Express-08072014

International Biodiversity Day 2014
Wild Orissa participated in the Conference on Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Development in Odisha. Dilip Nayak from this organisation presented a paper on Conservation of Eastern Ghats in Odisha- An Approach.

BATTLE READY- PROTECTION ASSISTANT FORCE (SIMILIPAL) & WILD ORISSA
In providing focus for tackling poaching/hunting in the Similipal forests in Odisha (India), the Protection Assistance (PA) is in thick of action. Members of Wild Orissa with PA recently. There is a need for interfacing the local community with the PA, which will generate a truly robust anti-poaching formation not only safeguarding the tiger but all of Similipal's rich biodiversity.