What is meant by Eco-Sensitive Zone?
Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) or Ecologically Fragile Areas (EFAs) are areas notified by the MoEFCC around Protected Areas, National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries. The purpose of declaring ESZs is to create some kind of “shock absorbers” to the protected areas by regulating and managing the activities around such areas.
What is ecologically fragile area?
Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) or Ecologically Fragile Areas (EFAs) are areas in India notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India around Protected Areas , National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries.
What is Eco-Sensitive Zone India?
Eco-Sensitive Zone means the fragile area that exists within 10 kilometres of protected areas like National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries. The purpose of marking an Eco-Sensitive Zone is to create a kind of shock-absorber around the protected areas.
What is prohibited in Eco-Sensitive Zone?
Prohibited activities: Commercial mining, saw mills, industries causing pollution (air, water, soil, noise etc), establishment of major hydroelectric projects (HEP), commercial use of wood, Tourism activities like hot-air balloons over the National Park, discharge of effluents or any solid waste or production of …
How many ESZ are there in India?
In the previous year, around 40 sanctuaries and national parks were declared as ‘eco-sensitive zones’. At present there are over 600 sanctuaries and national parks in the country, the official added.
Which activities are allowed in eco-sensitive zone?
Activities permitted in the areas include ongoing agriculture and horticulture practices by local communities, rainwater harvesting, organic farming, adoption of green technology and use of renewable energy sources. The width of the ESZ and type of regulation may vary from protected area to area.
WHO declared ESZ?
The guidelines for declaring ESZ was issued by the Central government on February 9, 2011, as per the direction of the Supreme Court. Later, it was decided to declare up to 10 km on the border of the protected area as default ESZ, if the zone would not be declared properly.
What is the meaning of eco-sensitive?
1 rare Of an organism or biological trait: influenced by a particular environment or habitat. 2Vulnerable to environmental damage or destruction; ecologically fragile. 3Characterized by awareness of environmental issues; environmentally friendly.
How many eco-sensitive zones are there in India?
What are sensitive areas?
Term. (1) Areas of a country where special measures may be given to protect the natural habitats which present a high level of vulnerability.
Which is the Eco Sensitive Zone in Kerala?
On January 28, the MoEFCC published a draft notification to declare an Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) of 118.59 sq km around the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala.
How big is Wayanad Eco Sensitive Zone in India?
State Government is of the view that densely populated areas should be excluded while measuring for Eco-sensitive zones, hence, it wants the measuring to be 88.2 sq km around the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary. The lives of thousands of farmers on the sanctuary fringes, spread over six villages, would be badly affected.
How big can an Eco Sensitive Zone be?
Thus, the government came up with the concept of Eco Sensitive Zones. The same criteria have been used by the government to declare No Development Zones (NDZs). An ESZ could go up to 10 kilometres around a protected area, as provided in the Wildlife Conservation Strategy, 2002.
Why are there eco sensitive zones around national parks?
The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has come out with new guidelines to create eco-sensitive zones (ESZs) around Protected Areas to prevent ecological damage caused due to developmental activities around National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries.