Landscape Conservation Initiatives in India: Challenges and Opportunities

Protected Areas (PAs) in India are small in size and are surrounded by an ocean of human population. Exclusive approach of management of these areas has often led to conflicts between the Park Managements and local... [ view full abstract ]

Protected Areas (PAs) in India are small in size and are surrounded by an ocean of human population. Exclusive approach of management of these areas has often led to conflicts between the Park Managements and local communities. In response to these conflicts, inclusive management initiatives in the form of Integrated Conservation Development Programmes (ICDPs), known as ecodevelopment in India, have been implemented in and around PAs of India for the last three decades. In the light of growing recognition of this approach, some PAs have successfully evolved as models of conservation and development. However, it is now increasingly realized that PAs alone cannot achieve the larger objectives of biodiversity conservation and human well being and such initiatives have to be addressed at the level of large landscapes, PAs being a part of overall land-use planning. The major challenges for landscape conservation lie in securing of corridors and connectivities outside the boundaries of PAs, integration of conservation and development programmes through continuous engagement of stakeholders and enabling institutional mechanisms for mainstreaming conservation into developmental processes.

The present study is based on previous research work of the authors and on-going action research programme for Agasthyamalai landscape of Southern Western Ghats of Kerala, India. Studies on ecodevelopment programme of Periyar Tiger Reserve, which is one of the important PA of the landscape, reveals that there has been evolution of new paradigms of conservation and development in this area where the dependence of consumptive forest resources of the local communities have come down due to development of alternative livelihoods, protection of the PA has improved and new institutional framework have been put in place for supporting the PA and surrounding communities. Expansion of these programmes to Agasthyamalai landscape has been initiated in the form of engagement with the communities and prominent stakeholders. The process of ecological mapping has been completed and the microplanning for village level institutions has been initiated. The results from the current action research project reveal that there is need to rationalize the landuse planning process within the forested areas. This requires a planned approach of eco-restoration of the landscape by management of areas with failed plantation and invasive species. Simultaneously, the microplanning for village communities through technical support teams will be necessary for initiating livelihood programmes of the communities so as to provide them socio-economic and ecologically empowerment and also to equip them adapt to the impacts of climate change. The study also reveals that major challenges for landscape approach are continuous engagement of the stakeholders and to put in place dynamic governance mechanism for anchoring these long term initiatives.