Senior district and forest officials of Sonitpur recently inspected large tracts of land earmarked for compensatory afforestation at Bura Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary, where nearly 6,200 bighas of government land were found under illegal encroachment, despite eviction notices having been issued earlier.

About Bura Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary

• Location: Sonitpur district, Assam, on the south bank of the Brahmaputra River
• Year of notification: It was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1995
• Ecological status:
  • Forms part of the Laokhowa–Bura Chapori ecosystem
  • Notified as a buffer area of Kaziranga Tiger Reserve
• Habitat type: Riverine grasslands and wetlands
• Flagship species: Bengal Florican (critically endangered)
  • Bura Chapori’s bird list also  includes Black-necked Stork, Mallard, Open billed Stork, Teal, and Whistling Duck among others.
• It is home to the Great Indian one-horned rhinoceros, tiger, leopard, wild buffalo, hog deer, wild pig, and elephants.

Why Bura Chapori is ecologically important

• The sanctuary supports grassland-dependent species, especially the Bengal Florican, whose population has declined sharply due to habitat loss.
• It acts as a wildlife corridor within the Brahmaputra floodplain ecosystem.
• As a buffer of Kaziranga, it helps reduce human–wildlife conflict and supports landscape-level conservation.

What is compensatory afforestation?

• Compensatory afforestation refers to planting forests on non-forest land to compensate for forest land diverted for non-forest purposes.
• It is mandated under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 and monitored through CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority).
• The encroached land at Bura Chapori was specifically allotted for such afforestation activities.

Key concerns highlighted

• Illegal occupation through residential structures and farming threatens habitat restoration.
• Delay in eviction despite notices weakens the credibility of forest governance.
• Encroachment undermines India’s commitments to biodiversity conservation and grassland restoration.

Administrative response

• The District Commissioner personally interacted with encroachers and issued fresh warnings.
• Authorities indicated that legal action would follow if land is not vacated.
• Coordination between revenue, forest, and police departments has been emphasised.

Exam Hook – Prelims

Q. With reference to Bura Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary, consider the following statements:

1. It is located on the north bank of the Brahmaputra River.
2. It is part of the buffer zone of Kaziranga Tiger Reserve.
3. It is an important habitat for the Bengal Florican.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only

One-line wrap:

Bura Chapori’s encroachment crisis underscores that protecting grassland ecosystems is as critical—and contested—as conserving forests in India’s biodiversity landscape.

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