Grassland Management

1. The grassland in Manas National Park are found in the following forms:-

• As early colonizers in the riparian forest.

• As extensive Grassland plains in the Wet to Semi-wet Terai zones of the Park. The Grass species here are found in various associations amongst themselves.

• Admixture with Bombax ceiba and Dillenia pentagyan growths in the Bhabar zone.

2. The following blocks of Manas National Park are predominantly Grasslands:- 

3. Following species of Mammals are known to utilize the 241.37 sq. Km. Of GRASSLAND of the Park.

• The Tiger (Panthera tigris- tigris)

• The Asiatic Elephant (Elephas maximus)

• The one horned Rhino (Rhinoceros unicomis)

• The Wild Asiatic Water buffalo (Bubalus bubails)

• The hog deer (Axis porcinus)

• The Pygmy hog (Sus salvanius)

• The Hispid Hare (Caprolagus hispidus)

• The smooth Indian Otter (Lutra perpicillata)

AND ALSO FOLLOWING BIRDs:-

• Various types of Partridges.

• The Bengal Florican.

• The Indian Peacock.

Thus it is same that the GRASSLAND dwelling mammals are of global value in terms of Scientific, Educational, Recreational, Conceptual categories. Further seasonal changes, ie. Monsoon into the autumn brings physical attributes of landscape beauty.

4. The GRASSLAND also serves as migration corridor for elephants.

5. Multiplicity of rare and threatened and endemic fauna crowded in the GRASSLAND area are not safe from organized poaching. Invasion of Woody Tree species and various weedy growths have been replacing GRASSLANDS in some Blocks up to fifty percent of the area.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

• To ensure long-term survivality of Manas National Park’s GRASSSLANDS through Research and application of Scientific method, thereby, ensuring maintenance of a viable population of Panthera tigris.

• To effort physical protection to all GRASSLAND dwelling mammalian, avian, herpetofauna etc.

OBJECTIVES

• Scientific Research into GRASSLAND Eco-systems, its dynamics and floristic composition must be conducted.

• The GRASSLAND areas must be protected from illegal harvesting, grazing, setting fire etc. by constant monitoring and patrolling. Strategic beats in the GRASSLANDS must be built up all over again. Along with surface communications to afford maintenance of presence of field personnels.

STRATEGIES

The foremost action therefore would be to map the GRASSLAND area. Second action recommended is to hack off the semul saplings before there are four years old. Potential GRASSLANDS habitats of pygmy hog and the Bengal florican will be demarcated by cutting wide fire lines to form blocks of area not less than two hectares. They can be of any shapes. All the south bound Bhabar- Terai nalas/ rivers must be utilized as naturally available fire lines. From October burning can be commenced taking the disappearance of Saccharum spontaneum inflorescence as thumb rule for thorough burning. Alternate blocks must be burnt at no earlier and later than 11 A.M. Sixty percent of the blocks area may be burnt at a time of the year. In the rest of the blocks which have been demarcated as nesting site of birds, Pygmy hog etc. should be cleared of semul regeneration and other weeds. Compaction of soil of GRASSLAND floor by domestic ungulates can be unwanted and disagreeable nature. Grazing must be totally stopped. Not only it is illegal but also it can give a lot of undesirable invasion of weeds. This selective process of burning may be referred to as ‘Mosaic burning’. To speed up the fire line cutting, weed cum grass cutting machines from the Sharpex company may be utilized. The mosaic burning, when extended all over the grassland blocks, should be supervised by beat staff posted to look after those specified areas. Hence, here is the reemphasis again for the building up of the lost camps and beats in the grassland dominated areas. Later in this chapter, we have included the time frame, costing, budget etc. for this activity.

Time frame* : Grassland burning under controlled conditions as mentioned earlier must be continued to keep the succession arrested unless it is proved to be contrary by research into it.

Cost* : The weed cum grass cutting machines powered by petrol/ kerosene internal combustion engines cost about forty thousand rupees but are tremendous labor and time savers. They are light and can be carried by a single man.

Budget* : At least ten to a dozen machines as well as trained laborers and the staff are required for the mosaic burning. The needed beats and the camps are also a part of this budgetary requirement (See projected Budget)

Post Burning reconnaissance in the burnt blocks as well as in the unburned blocks are a must to figure out whether there has been good or bad burning or whether we have, in the process of burning lost the habitats of the other grassland fauna of importance. Currently research into the grassland ecosystem vis a vis the Pygmy Hog is going on. It is hopped that the inputs received from this research will be tremendous help in understanding the fire as a tool of management of the Grassland Ecosystem. It is to be borne in mind that if there are any unburned Bombax and any other woody herb in terms of weeds, they must be manually destroyed.

The Second Aspect of the monitoring is finding out how the growth of sprouts is taking place and how they are being consumed by various herbivores.
Application of the artificial salt licks can always attract herbivores and may be utilized imaginatively.

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