Report of the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel - Part II : Human Pressure and Ecological Impacts : 2. Endangered species :

Opinion
       05/11/2018
                 1521.

SUB : Report of the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel - Part II : Human Pressure and Ecological Impacts : 2. Endangered species :

REF : 2. Endangered species -

I.Endangered species :-

DEFINITION :-
A species facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future.

AREA :-
The area containing an endangered species needs to be protected in its entirety. In case of fragmented areas of occurrence of an endangered species, all fragments having high population density and habitat integrity should be of prime concern.

Application to Western Ghats :-
The internationally accepted designation of Western Ghats as a biodiversity hot spot is related to a substantial number of endangered species in this region. These are distributed throughout the region; for instance a large number of frog species and herbaceous species of the hill plateaus of the northern Western Ghats and grasslands adjoining sholas in the southern Western Ghats are endangered. It can, therefore, be stated with complete confidence that the entire Western Ghats region needs to be protected as containing several endangered species.

*WGEEP could access the following relevant data sets : -

**. IUCN_max: Number of IUCN Red listed mammal species :-

This, of course, is very incomplete information that WGEEP has been able to use in quantifying the levels of ecological sensitivity over the Western Ghats.
Rarity

DEFINITION :-
A species with a small world population that is not at present endangered or vulnerable, but is at risk.

AREA :-
The area of occupancy of a rare species needs to be protected in its entirety. The precise demarcation of the area will be based on the population density of the rare species, quality of habitat, level of exploitation and the effect of introduced species, pathogens, competitors, parasites and/or pollutants.

Application to Western Ghats :-
The situation with respect to rare species is very similar to that with respect to endangered species. It can, therefore, be stated with complete confidence that the entire Western Ghats region needs to be protected as containing several endangered species.

WGEEP could access the following relevant data sets : -

1. IUCN_max: Number of IUCN Red listed mammal species :-

This, of course, is very incomplete information that WGEEP has been able to use in quantifying the levels of ecological sensitivity over the Western Ghats.
Centres of evolution of domesticated species

DEFINITION :-
Areas associated with the origin of domesticated species which continue to harbour their wild relatives and/or progenitors.

AREA :-
The scope of this criterion should not be limited to areas containing domesticated crop plants alone, though it is most critical in that area. Animal breeds and aquatic stock in their wild state are also important sources providing a wide base of genetic variability which can be used and exploited for purposes of improvement of domestic livestock or aqua-culture species. Areas in which such populations are located, therefore, are also to be considered ecologically sensitive.

Application to Western Ghats :-
Western Ghats are a particularly notable centre of evolution of domesticated plant species including pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, mango and jackfruit. Indeed the Uttara Kannada district has the world’s highest concentration of wild relatives of domesticated plants. The Western Ghats is also the centre of evolution of a number of now domesticated ornamental fish species such as those belonging to genus Puntius, distributed throughout the region. The entire Western Ghats, therefore, deserves to be considered ecologically sensitive.

II.Wildlife corridors :-

DEFINITION :-
(a) A linear two dimensional landscape element that connects two or more patches of wildlife habitats that have been connected in historical time and is meant to function as a conduit for designated animal species. Even isolated strips, but usually attached to a patch of somewhat similar vegetation, could serve as a corridor.

(b) Streams, rivulets, rivers and their flood plains are natural corridors as they facilitate movement and dispersal of designated aquatic species.

(c) Riparian zones, along with intermittent and permanent streams and rivers, provide migration routes for certain designated species, such as butterflies, birds, bats, squirrels and monkeys.

(d) Wetland habitats along the migration route of designated migratory waterfowls that provide passage for large scale movement and food. Such a series of wetland habitats or network of staging sites along the migratory highways so as to reach wintering areas is crucial for the conservation of birds

AREA :-
Identification of the area constituting wildlife corridors is not easy since it not only varies from species to species, but also between any pair of sub-populations of a given species. Consideration also has to be given to the nature and purpose of migration, since the characteristics of the corridors which are critical may vary depending upon the purpose. Detailed observations over an adequate period of time is, therefore, usually necessary for delineating the geographical boundaries of such corridors. The problem is further complicated by the fact that since this parameter is being applied only to‚ "designated" species - i.e. those which are already known to be suffering from ecological stress – the possibility exists that habitat fragmentation may already have occurred through excessive human interference in the‚ "historical" corridors. Therefore, observation of existing migration patterns and the corridors involved may not be sufficient to provide full information on the requisite degree of inter-connectivity of habitats that is necessary to ensure survival and growth of the species. There may be situations where ‚historical? corridors would have to be identified and rehabilitated by deliberate and planned reduction of existing human activity.

Application to Western Ghats :-
The Western Ghats are very rich in what is referred to here as ‚designated? species, namely, rare, endangered and threatened species, and the continuity of habitat for such species is a matter of considerable concern. Fragmentation of forests, as also disruption of continuity of freshwater habitats therefore need to be considered. This is happening so widely that the entire Western Ghats deserves to be considered ecologically sensitive. WGEEP has been able to access the following databases that are pertinent in this context: Percentage of area covered by relatively undisturbed forest with low edge Riparian Forests/Vegetation Elephant corridors. Admittedly, this is quite incomplete information.

III. Specialised ecosystems :-

DEFINITION:-
Specialized ecosystems are complex and highly diversified. They exhibit delicate interdependence between biotic and abiotic variables and are characterized by their biological productivity, specialized adaptations in the native or inhabiting organisms resulting in unique biodiversity and giving rise to complex ecological processes.

AREA :-
Specialized ecosystems are usually extremely sensitive to changes in the abiotic characteristics of the habitat concerned. Since such abiotic characteristics can be seriously affected by perturbations taking place even beyond the immediate vicinity, the area of protection will need to be defined with respect to the critical abiotic characteristics of each identified ecosystem and the manner in which they can possibly be disturbed. Restrictions in activity may, therefore, have to be placed on locations which are relatively distant from the actual location of the ecosystems which would depend upon factors like water currents, wind directions, and other geo-morphological features which may affect soil or chemical characteristics of the habitat.

IV. Fresh Water Swamps : -

Fresh water swamps are slow moving streams, rivers or isolated depressions, which are dominated by herbaceous vegetation. They are also extremely rich in their faunal diversity, including migratory waterfowl. In addition to their richness in terms of specialized flora and fauna, they also regulate hydrological cycle through recharging of the ground water and seasonally controlling the release of excess water.

V. Some of the main examples are as follows :-

(i) Myristica swamp forests : -

These are distributed only in Travancore (Kerala) along streams (below 300 m altitude) on sandy alluvium rich in humus and inundated during the latter half of the year. The dominant tree is Myristica sp.

(ii) Tropical hill valley swamp forests : -

They cover along streams on gravelly and sandy beds in submontane tracts of the Himalayas (in states of Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Assam) and at few places in the Western Ghats in particular Wynaad forest division in Nilgiris (Kerala).

Application to Western Ghats :-
Western Ghats harbor many significant specialized ecosystems such as Myristica swamps, high elevation shola-grasslands and hill plateaus of northern Western Ghats. All of these are severely disturbed and in consequence large tracts of Western Ghats deserve to be considered ecologically sensitive.

VI. Special breeding sites/areas :-

DEFINITION :-
An area associated with any stage of the reproductive behaviour of a designated species.

AREA :-
Sites associated with the reproductive, breeding or nurturing behaviour of designated species and their associated ecosystems.

Application to Western Ghats :-
Spawning migrations of endemic, endangered freshwater fishes are severely disrupted throughout the Western Ghats. Hence, the entire Western Ghats region needs to be considered as being ecologically sensitive.

In this context, WGEEP could access pertinent data on Riparian Forests/Vegetation.

VII. Areas with intrinsically low resilience :-

DEFINITION :-
Ecosystems which are susceptible to irreparable damage from an even low level of disturbance.

AREA :-
The extent of occurrence of such ecosystems, including sufficient areas for their protection and potential expansion depending upon the abiotic characteristics of the ecosystems.
Application to Western Ghats.

Resilience is a difficult concept, and RJR Daniels has made a careful attempt to apply it to the Western Ghats. He suggests that the Western Ghats of Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra are particularly low in resilience, and therefore need special protection.

VIII. Sacred groves :-

DEFINITION :-
Forest areas or patches of natural vegetation preserved over generations on religious grounds.

AREA :-
The entire area that is demarcated by tradition as being part of a “sacred grove”.

Application to Western Ghats :-

Western Ghats are a rich repository of sacred groves, and there have been many initiatives as in Kodagu to conserve them. These sacred groves need special consideration throughout the Western Ghats tract.

IX. Frontier forests :-

DEFINITION :-
Remnants of primeval natural forests that have remained on the whole relatively undisturbed and big enough to maintain their biological diversity including viable populations of species associated with the specific forest-type.

AREA :-
The extent of occurrence of such natural forest ecosystems, including sufficient areas for their protection and potential expansion.

Application to Western Ghats :-
Some examples of these are to be found on the western escarpments of the Western Ghats. WGEEP could access a database on ‚Percentage of area covered by relatively undisturbed forest with low edge‛ pertinent in this context.

DEFINITION :-
A natural slope of 20 degrees or greater.

AREA :-
The slope of a land area is generally defined as its upward or downward inclination to horizontal plane and it is usually measured as an angle in relation to the horizontal plane.
In the Indian context, the gradient nomenclature, which is usually used in engineering designs and the image processing techniques (GIS), classify slopes.

It may be seen that the 20 o cut-off recommended by the Committee represents the upper half of the ‚Steep‛ classification and higher gradients. Since a mountain or a hill slope may contain segments having different degrees of inclination, the criterion should be applied to the totality of the slope from the base to the apex.

Also, since the angle of a slope is related to the distance from which it is measured, measurements need to be taken from different points along the slope and, if at any point the angle exceeds 20 o, the area above that point should be treated as a steep slope. The relevant area for protection would need to take into account certain destructive features which are commonly present including various combinations of steep slopes, seismicity, residual soil, high pore water pressure, thick and deeply weathered soil cover, undercutting of the base of the slope, and weak material outcropping below stronger material.

Since the horizontal planes near the top and base of a slope are prone to landslides and receive boulders /debris of a slide respectively, suitable buffer zones are designated. In general, a minimum horizontal distance of 500 m at both ends of a slope is recommended as a buffer zone. In mountainous ecosystems, buffer zones may need to be extended further in landslide-prone slopes.

To be continued ..

JAIHIND
VANDEMATHARAM