Eco-Sensitive Zones in Assam

Syllabus: GS III & V: Biodiversity 

Why in the news?

The debate over the proposed Eco-Sensitive Zone around Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve has intensified, particularly over the reported reduction of the proposed southern buffer from 10 km to 1 km. The issue is important because Kaziranga’s wildlife regularly moves towards the Karbi Anglong hills, making the surrounding landscape crucial for long-term conservation.

Understanding Eco-Sensitive Zones

Eco-Sensitive Zones are areas around protected areas where potentially harmful human activities are prohibited, regulated or promoted with safeguards. They act as “shock absorbers” between highly protected ecosystems and areas of human habitation.

• The concept gained importance following the Wildlife Conservation Strategy, 2002, and the National Wildlife Action Plan 2002–2016, which envisaged special protection for areas around national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.
• The National Environment Policy, 2006 recognised the need for special conservation attention in ecologically fragile areas.
• The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change issued comprehensive Eco-Sensitive Zone guidelines in 2011, providing the framework for identifying and regulating activities around protected areas.
• Eco-Sensitive Zones are notified by the Central Government under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, particularly through powers under Sections 3(2)(v) and 5 read with Rule 5 of the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986.

What activities are regulated?

The framework broadly classifies activities into:

• Prohibited activities, such as commercial mining and quarrying, polluting industries, certain major infrastructure projects and hazardous waste-related activities.
• Regulated activities, such as construction of hotels and resorts, tree felling, major road expansion, intensive agricultural changes and commercial use of natural water sources.
• Permitted activities, such as traditional agriculture, horticulture, rainwater harvesting, organic farming and renewable-energy-based activities, subject to applicable rules.

Note: The often-mentioned 10-km distance is not an automatic legal rule applicable to every protected area. The actual boundary of an Eco-Sensitive Zone is determined through a site-specific notification based on ecological and socio-economic considerations.

Why is Kaziranga’s southern landscape important?

Kaziranga is not an isolated island of wildlife. Its ecological functioning is closely connected with the Karbi Anglong hills.

During the annual floods, animals move towards higher ground in Karbi Anglong. Evidence also indicates that this movement is not restricted to the flood season.

• The landscape contains nine identified wildlife corridors connecting Kaziranga with surrounding areas.
• The Panbari, Haldhibari, Amguri and Kanchanjhuri corridors are particularly important for wildlife movement.
• The southern highlands also function as an important refuge and extended habitat for species moving out of Kaziranga.
• Human activities such as stone quarrying, construction and industrial development can fragment these corridors and affect both wildlife movement and the ecological health of Kaziranga.

Why is habitat connectivity important?

Habitat connectivity means maintaining ecological links between different habitats so that animals can move freely for food, breeding, seasonal migration and refuge. Fragmentation can isolate animal populations and increase human-wildlife conflict.

Status of Eco-Sensitive Zones in Assam

According to the information provided in the article:

• Nameri National Park and Sonai-Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary were notified as Eco-Sensitive Zones through a Gazette notification dated 27 October 2020.
• An integrated draft Eco-Sensitive Zone proposal for Kaziranga, Lawkhowa and Burachapori was submitted by Assam to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in 2021.
• The proposal was subsequently withdrawn by the Assam Government in 2025, leading to renewed debate over the appropriate extent of protection.

The central conservation dilemma

• The debate is not simply “development versus conservation.” The real challenge is to create a system where local livelihoods, infrastructure development and wildlife conservation can coexist.
• A wider Eco-Sensitive Zone does not automatically mean displacement or acquisition of private land. Rather, its principal purpose is to regulate activities that may damage the ecological character of the landscape.

Way Forward

• The boundary should be determined through scientific assessment of wildlife movement, habitat use and ecological connectivity, rather than political or purely administrative considerations.
• The nine wildlife corridors connecting Kaziranga with Karbi Anglong should receive effective protection.
• Local communities should be made partners in conservation through alternative livelihoods, skill development and community-based forest management.
• Infrastructure projects should follow wildlife-sensitive planning, including appropriate mitigation measures at critical animal crossings.
• Conservation decisions should maintain a balance between ecological security and legitimate livelihood concerns of communities living around protected areas.

 

Exam Hook — Mains

1. “Protected areas cannot be conserved as ecological islands.” Discuss with reference to Eco-Sensitive Zones and wildlife corridors in the Kaziranga–Karbi Anglong landscape.

Prelims Corner

Consider the following statements:

1. Eco-Sensitive Zones are notified by the Central Government under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
2. All Eco-Sensitive Zones must necessarily extend exactly 10 km from the boundary of a protected area.
3. Eco-Sensitive Zones may classify activities into prohibited, regulated and permitted categories.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Answer: 1 and 3 only.

One-line takeaway

For Kaziranga, conservation must extend beyond the park boundary to protect the wildlife corridors and Karbi Anglong highlands that function as one interconnected ecological landscape.