Sanctuary status for Silent Valley buffer zone

Dear All,
Hindu has reported that the Kerala Government is planning to declare the buffer zone of Silent Valley National Park as a wildlife sanctuary. This 148 sq. km buffer zone is going to be named as Bhavani-Kadalundi Wildlife Sanctuary.

I am happy the buffer zone will now get more protection. Sharing the full report first published in Hindu.
Sabyasachi


Silent Valley Buffer zone to be made Wildlife Sanctuary

The State government is planning to declare the 148 sq. km. buffer zone of Silent Valley National Park as the new Bhavani-Kadalundi Wildlife Sanctuary “for ensuring long-term protection of the entire bio-diversity of the area” that include the unique rain forests of Silent Valley.

The draft notification on constituting a new wildlife sanctuary in the State sent by the Forest Department underlined the ecological, faunal, floral, geomorphologic, natural and zoological significance of the area.

The State Board for Wildlife, the authority to recommend wildlife sanctuaries, in its meeting held on November 30, 2010 had given approval for declaring the buffer zone of Silent Valley National Park as a wildlife sanctuary.

The National Park organised a workshop of the stake holders of the adjoining areas of the proposed Sanctuary including all the 20 Grama Panchayat Presidents on January 12, 2011.

The Wildlife Warden of Silent Valley S. Sivadas has said that the workshop passed a resolution supporting the constitution of the new wildlife sanctuary in the Silent Valley buffer zone.

The Panchayat Presidents only wanted to get protection from wild life attack and destruction of their crop, he said.

He said that the notification for the new sanctuary to be issued in supersession of the notification of June 11, 2007 in which 148 sq. km was notified as buffer zone of Silent Valley National Park.

The Sanctuary could be declared by the State government under the powers conferred by Sub Section (1) (b) of Section 26A of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (Central Act 53 of 1972) the Kerala Government.

The Sanctuary is constituted by 109 sq. kms of Mannarkkad Forest Division in Palakkad district and 39 sq. kms of Nilambur South Forest Division in Malappuram district.

The North East border of the new Sanctuary is Anginda (2885 meters above sea level) – it runs along inter-state boundary up to Bhavani River.

The South border is from Mandampottithodu towards West along Southern boundary of Attappady forest range up to North Eastern Boundary of Thatengalam Vested Forests of Mannarkkad range.

The Western boundary is from the above point in Palakkad-Malappuram district boundary towards the North.

The Northern boundary thence towards East along the left bank of Kotapuzha River till it reaches the surveyed boundary of Kozhipara Malavaram, the proposal of the Sanctuary sent by the Forest Department to the Government said.
Source: http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/...cle4040872.ece