The proposal to restrict the Eco-Sensitive Zone around Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve to 1 km has raised serious conservation concerns, particularly because the landscape is already facing pressure from mining, quarrying and stone-crushing activities.

Why is it significant?

• The National Tiger Conservation Authority, based on its field observations and official records, had warned that mining, quarrying and stone-crushing activities in the Kaziranga–Karbi Anglong landscape were damaging natural streams and rivulets flowing from the Karbi Anglong hills towards Kaziranga.
• These activities contribute to drying and siltation of water channels, thereby affecting the ecological health of the Kaziranga landscape.
• The National Tiger Conservation Authority had recommended that all mining, quarrying and stone-crushing activities in the Kaziranga–Karbi Anglong landscape be stopped immediately.
• It also warned that continued destructive activities could permanently weaken wildlife corridors and habitat connectivity between Kaziranga and the larger Karbi Anglong landscape.

Why is habitat connectivity important?

• Karbi Anglong acts as an important ecological extension of Kaziranga and provides wildlife with additional space for movement and dispersal.
• Loss of connectivity can seriously affect wide-ranging species such as the Indian rhinoceros, tiger and Indian elephant, particularly by restricting their movement between habitats.
• Maintaining corridors is also important during floods, when animals from Kaziranga require access to safer higher ground in the Karbi Anglong landscape.

National Tiger Conservation Authority’s recommendations

The 2018 observations recommended that:

• Mining, quarrying and stone-crushing activities in the Kaziranga–Karbi Anglong landscape should be stopped.
• The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change should constitute a committee to review permissions and environmental clearances granted to mining, quarrying and stone-crushing units.
• The Assam Forest Department should prepare a Tiger Conservation Plan covering the core, buffer and corridor areas.
• Appropriate steps should be taken for notifying the Eco-Sensitive Zone around Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve.

Why does reducing the Eco-Sensitive Zone matter?

A smaller Eco-Sensitive Zone could place several industrial units outside its regulatory boundary while leaving their ecological impacts on Kaziranga intact. It may also encourage further industrial activity in peripheral areas.

The central concern is therefore not merely the size of the buffer, but whether the entire Kaziranga–Karbi Anglong ecological landscape remains connected and protected.

About Kaziranga National Park

• The Kaziranga National Park is one of the oldest wildlife conservancy reserves of India, first notified in 1905 and constituted as Reserved Forest in 1908 with an area of 228.825 Sq. Km.
• It was specially established for conservation and protection of the Greater One Horned Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros Unicornis). 
• Kaziranga was declared a Game Sanctuary in 1916 and opened to visitors in 1938. 
• It was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1950, and notified as Kaziranga National Park in 1974 under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, with an area of 429.93 Sq. Km.
• It was declared as a World Heritage site in 1985 and Tiger reserve in 2006.
• The National Park is located in parts of Golaghat, Nagaon, Biswanath and Sonitpur districts of Assam. 
• The Park HQ is at Bokakhat, on the NH 37 (now NH 715) which is also the Sub Divisional HQ of Bokakhat Civil Sub Division in Golaghat District.
• Kaziranga has five ranges namely 
  • Eastern Range at Agaratoli (north east of Bokakhat), 
  • Central Range at Kohora (west of Bokakhat), 
  • Western Range at Bagori (further west of Kohora), 
  • Burapahar Range at Ghorakati (further west of Bagori on the NH 37) 
  • Northern Range at Biswanath (west of Bokakhat).
• The Park is located between the Brahmaputra River in the north and the Karbi Anglong Hills in the south. 
• Other rivers flowing through the park include Mora Diphlu, Mora Dhansiri, Diphlu.

Exam Hook: Prelims

Q. With reference to Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, consider the following statements:

1. The Karbi Anglong landscape is important for maintaining wildlife habitat connectivity with Kaziranga.
2. The National Tiger Conservation Authority has recommended stopping mining, quarrying and stone-crushing activities in the Kaziranga–Karbi Anglong landscape.
3. The National Tiger Conservation Authority recommended preparing a Tiger Conservation Plan covering core, buffer and corridor areas.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Answer: 1, 2 and 3.

One-line wrap

Conservation of Kaziranga requires protection of not only the park but the wider ecological corridors connecting it with the Karbi Anglong landscape.