Though not directly connected i would like to draw attention to an another discussion on the forum recently. The importance of Local participation and sensitivity to conservation and protection cannot be over emphasized.

http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/sho...6411#post16411

Without that balance which Ramesh is referring to while we will be dishing out our whims and fancies on protection measures the villagers who live right next to these protected areas will turn hostile to everything which is even remotely connected to conservation and animal rights. We have to understand that these people have been living here in harmony with nature for thousands of years, long before people like us started pontificating borrowed (scientific ????) conservation theories and opinions. This is but a natural reaction. It is the ground support from the sons of the soil that is most critical to the future sustenance of any conservation measure. Any body with even little field experience in areas where the local population is hostile to a protection measure will vouch how badly this can backfire on the very purpose of the ban.

But on the other hand we should also look at a workable solutions as one would agree that normal traffic through the Reserve should be banned and it will be very difficult to pick and choose on the grounds of domicile on the fringes of the park. This again is very susceptible to misuse by poachers.

On the good news front the Karnataka HC hads upheld the ban through bandipur

http://www.hindu.com/2010/03/10/stor...1051050100.htm

Regards
Roopak