Eco-sensitive zone, Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary

Subject: Environment

Context:

An illegal road coming up within the eco-sensitive zone of Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary, without any permission from the Forest Department could pose a threat to the movement of wildlife

Concept:

ESZ:

• The basic aim of ESZ is to regulate certain activities around National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries so as to minimise the negative impacts of such activities on the fragile ecosystem encompassing the protected areas
• ESZs are notified by MoEFCC, Government of India under Environment Protection Act 1986
• The guidelines include a broad list of activities that could be allowed, promoted, regulated or promoted. This is an important checklist for conservationists to keep in mind while identifying threats in ESZs.
• For this purpose, the ministry has asked all states to constitute a committee comprising the wildlife warden, an ecologist and a revenue department official of the area concerned to suggest the requirement of an eco-sensitive zone and its extent.
• The width of the ESZ and type of regulation may vary from protected area to area. However, as a general principle, the width of the ESZ could go up to 10 kms around the protected area.

Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary

• Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1988 to protect the Near threatened grizzled giant squirrel.
• Occupying an area of 485.2 km2, it is bordered on the southwest by the Periyar Tiger Reserve and is one of the best preserved forests south of the Palghat Gap.
• In addition to grizzled giant squirrels, other animals seen here are Bengal tiger, bonnet macaque, common langur, elephants, flying squirrels, gaur, Indian giant squirrel, leopard, lion-tailed macaques, mouse deer, Nilgiri langur, NilgiriTahrs.
• Mainly dry deciduous with patches of tropical evergreen forests, Semi-evergreen forests, moist mixed deciduous forests and grassland.