People's Participation to Manas

The participation of the fringe village peoples and other was very low in the last century. Reason behind this may be the following. The Bodo community who are the majority in fringe villages are traditionally are either linked or dependent on the forest of immediate vicinity. Due to their traditions and ethnospecific practices they are heavily dependent on various kinds of forest products from neighbouring forests. It includes cattle grazing, timber, firewood thatch, wild vegetables and fruits, fish and occasional wild animals hunting for meat. Such biological pressure had been a part and parcel of Manas due to the existence of these villages since time immemorable.

But all the deteriorating factors towards the conservation of Biodiversity of Manas has been fade up by the shining ideas of local youth of fringe villages. Bodo youth in the “Koklabari” in the eastern boundary of the park formed Manas Mauzigendri Eco-tourism Society (MMES). They are the first and sole motivator of the fringe villager other than the Forest department for not to go for hunting, tree feeling, collecting NTFP from the Manas National Park. Due their initiative a large portion of the poachers surrendered in their neighbouring areas. Now, the surrendered poachers are working for conservation of Manas under MMES.

They may not be the first is hatch wild bird’s eggs incubated by domestic hens; but is the first to hatch schedule-I species, Bengal florican’s eggs incubated by domestic hens.They are presently offering excellent eco-tourism facilities to the nature lovers across the globe.

Coming of BTAD Area

The Park is a part of the Manas Tiger Reserve. In addition to the Park area, the Reserve also includes 18 reserved forests dotted with revenue villages. Besides the tiger, the Park contains several other species of terrestrial and aquatic mammals, reptiles and birds.

"Besides Manas, Chakrashila, Orang and Barnadi are the other forest areas coming under the BTAD" pointed out Abhijit Rabha, Manas National Park director and Head of the Wildlife Department of BTAD, talking to The Sentinel. "We are focusing on the tourism potential of these areas, besides beginning conservation measures, in order to generate revenue" he added.

This is important a present context through ABSU and Certain social workers.

The Kokilabari unit of the student body recently handed over to the Park authorities 50 fire-arms it had collected from poachers in the area, which falls under the BTAD. Illegal trade in timber has also been curbed, whereas sale in deer meat has gone down.

As a result, the deer population has gone up visibly in the Park. ABSU members have reportedly taken to patrolling portions of the Park themselves, and protecting a major part of Bhuyanpara within the Park area.
The Park had been declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO in 1985. However, the Bodo Agitation from 1989 had led to breakdown of infrastructure and looting of weapons from Park rangers. Many of the Park staff had been killed. UNESCO had then declared the Park World Heritage Site in danger in 1992.
After the BTAD agreement, ABSU has now begun taking measures to conserve soil and water of the neighbouring areas, while the Park authorities have begun efforts to develop the eco-tourism potential of the non-forest areas of the Park.


 

Site Designed, Developed & Maintained by WebX