06-bioresourcesstatu.. - M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation

the absence of Nypa fruitcans (locally known as
'Golpata' in Bengal) in Bhitarkanika and
Mahanadi delta and that of Heritiera littoralis
(Dhala Sundari) in the Sundarbans regions of West
Bengal is a surprising contrast in the distribution
pattern of the species between the two deltas
(Banerjee, 1987).
The wetland is a refuge to a diverse variety of
mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians. The
area is recognized for its natural and viable
population of the salt-water crocodiles and the
mass nesting beach of Olive Ridley Sea Turtles.
More than 100 bird species occur in the area, both
migratory and resident. The bar-headed goose,
grey pelicans, spoonbill and brahminy duck need
special mention. The coastal waters also contain
dolphins and little Indian porpoise. The creeks
and mudflats abound with small crustaceans and
invertebrates. The horseshoe crab is an important
species found in the area since it is believed that
its blood has potential medicinal properties. The
interior elevated regions support mammals such
as spotted deer, sambar and wild boars and
reptiles like the water monitor lizard.
Swaminathan et al (1994) describe this mangrove
forest as one of the best in biodiversity attributes
for India in an evaluation study of the Indo-Pacific
Region undertaken for the International Tropical
Timber Organization and recommended it as best
suitable as a Genetic Resource Conservation
Centre. In another study on prioritization of
coastal sites for conservation under the
Biodiversity Support Group-WWF-India project,
Bhitarkanika has been mentioned as a site that
needed conservation action for the survival of its
biodiversity (Kanvinde, 1997).
III, Population Profile
I. History
The area has been under the zamindary system in
the 18 th and 19 th century. In the study area the
land holdings are less than 5 acres per family, the
paddy is rain fed and a second crop is usually not
possible. Keeping this in mind the Kanika Raja,
the Zamindar constructed a set of canals that
brought sweet water of the rivers into mangrove
area, and hence encouraged people to settle in the
area. The settlers are from the Midnapore area of
west Bengal and have little knowledge of the.
forest. After the 1971 Bangladesh liberation war,
there was another massive influx into the area.
149.75
91.5
144.93
.14.00
. 9.12
Bhitarkanika
Shortly before the abolition of the Zamindari
system, the Kanika Raja leased out 10,765 ha of
forestland to local residents and to settlers from
Midnapore. Till the 1970s, mangroves were
considered unwanted plant communities and large
tracts of the Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary
were converted into agriculture lands under the
"Grow More Food" and the "Land to the landless"
programmes.
The original people of the area are a tribe of
honey gatherers and the hunters, who know the
forest intimately. There are more than hundred
villages in the six panchayat that are within the
sanctuary, with an population of 41,296 (2001
Census, Kendrapara Statistics Office) dependent
on the resources of the forest. Paddy cultivation
and snbsistence fisheries are the livelihood for the
people. Paddy yield is poor (0.8-1 ton/ha.), may be
due to the soil nature. Choudhury (1987) records
38 angiosperms as being used by the people of
Bhitarkanika.
179
Fishing has been a traditional livelihood for the
locals. It gained momentum after mechanized
trawlers from Digha (West Bengal) and Andhra
Pradesh started operating. Recently fishing has
been prohibited within 20 km of the Gahirmata
beach and authorized officers were appointed to
regulate fishing through a notification issued in
December 1993 under the Orissa Marine fishing
Regulation Act (1982).
Table2 :Landuse 01 the area
Double crop
Khari!
Mangrove
Degraded Forest
Marshy land
Source: la.vl.de a.d Da. (19951
The major part of the forest has been converted to
resettlements plots to rehabilitate cyclone victims
and is now under agriculture. There is a constant
construction of salt-water embankments and
dykes, which do not allow any free flow of water or
any spill over area times of flood. In the past
decade there was a spurt of aquaculture farms
constructed and now they are abandoned.
ii. Management History
The Bhitarkanika sanctuary area was part of the
zamindari of the Kanika Raja till 1952 when it was
vested by the Revenue department of Orissa. In
1957 it was transferred to the Athgarh forest