| Conservation
History Top
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The
Valmiki Tiger Reserve, the 18th Tiger Reserve of the country
and second in Bihar, is located in the northern most part
of the West Champaran district of the State. Core area was
declared as a National Park in 1989. Government of Bihar had
notified 464.60 sq. km. area as Valmiki Wildlife Sanctuary
in 1978. Later on, in 1990 an area of 419.18 sq. km. was added
to the Sanctuary. Thus Valmiki Wildlife Sanctuary embraces
a total area of 880.78 sq. km.
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| Census Top
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Archeology Top |
i) Lauriya Nanadan Garh: There is lion pillar of Ashoka,
which is a single block of polished sand stone, 32'-9.5"
in height with a diameter of 35.5" at base and
26.2" at the top. The pillar is over 2000 year
old and in excellent condition. Nandgarh is a huge
mound composed of bricks and is about 80 feet height.
According to a authoritative source, it is an Ashok
Stupa in which ashes of Buddha's funeral pyre were
enshrined.
ii) Bawan Garhi: A name meaning 52 forts. It is also known
as Tripan bazar. The remains of 52 forts and Tripan bazar
are at Darubari.
iii) Someshwer Fort: Someshwar Fort is situated in Narkatiagani
sub-division, near Nepal border, on top of the Someshwar
hill at 2884 ft above M.S.L. It is in ruined state but its
remains are well defined.
iv) Triveni: A holy place of Hindu. The name is derived
from the fact that three rivers (Gandak, Sonha and Pachanad)
merge here soon after they emerge from the hills. Triveni
is also believed to be the site at which the fight commenced
between Lords of Forest and Water (the Elephant and Crocodile).
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Forest Types Top |
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Bhabar
Dun Sal Forest ,Dry Siwalik Sal Forest ,West Gangetic Moist
Mixed Deciduous Forest ,Khair - Sisso Forest ,Cane brakes
,Eastern Wet Alluvial Grassland , Barringtonia Swamp Forest
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Major
Flora
Sal
(Shorea robusta), Asan, Karama, Semal, Khair, Cane(Calamus
tenuis), Jamun, Siccharrum, Mahulan, Piper, Lagun (Peepar)
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Main
Species
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Tiger, Leopard, Fishing Cat, Leopard Cat, Chital, Sambar,
Hog Deer, Black Buck, Gaur, Sloth Bear, Langur, Rhesus Monkey
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Management Top |
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Eco-development
The
Eco-development activities were initiated in the Reserve
in 1997-98.
Activities such as, distribution of fruit bearing
plants, installation of hand  pumps,
construction of ponds, shed, irrigation channel
were undertaken. Eco-awareness programme were conducted.
Response of the villagers has been overwhelming.
Inhabitants of some of the villages are coming forward
voluntarily to assist forest staff in the protection
of forest as well as in developmental activities.
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| Village Forest Protection Committees |
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Village Forest Protection Committees are
working effectively, particularly in Madanpur and Harnatand
forest ranges.
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Education and Awareness
Eco-awareness
programmes have been organised. Awareness material is being
distributed.
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Protection Squads / Patrolling
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Government of India has cleared the scheme of a patrolling
squad of B.M.P./Para-Military Force. Government of Bihar
has sanctioned and purchased arms and ammunition. The Force
would be deployed soon.
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Constraints
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| Human population |
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Nil in the core. At present, human population is around
81,000 people living in 142 villages situated on the fringe
of the Reserve. Growth rate is not alarming.
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| Livestock population |
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Nil in the core. At present, there are around
60,000 livestock heads in and around the Reserve causing
severe
damage to the flora. Most of them are unproductive. The growth
rate is very high..
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| Encroachment |
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| Nil |
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Grazing
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Grazing
is alarmingly high in the Reserve but less so in the core
area.
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Fire
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Fire
is rare in the core area. Buffer area is highly sensitive
to fire. The graziers create most of the incidents of fire.
There is no reported case of natural fire. Madanpur range
is the most sensitive zone because of huge grassland and
thickly populated village on the fringe of the forests.Fires
take place generally between mid-February to June end.
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Poaching of fauna and flora
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There
is no poaching in core area. Poaching is occasional in the
buffer area but as the northern and Western boundaries of
the Reserve lie along Nepal and Uttar Pradesh respectively.
There is serious problem of poaching and smuggling of teak
and cane from Madanpur block of the Reserve to different parts
of Nepal e.g. Susta, Ratanganj and Rani Nagar. Armed gangs
settled in Nepal are involved in illicit felling.
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| Criminals and Extremists |
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Since
Valmiki Tiger Reserve is contiguous with international
boundary and inter-state boundary, it is infested with
hundreds of armed dacoits. They are involved in felling
and smuggling of Khair and Cane. Role of police in  Bihar
has always been dubious in illicit felling of trees.
On numbers of occasion, their connivance with criminals
has been detected in felling of trees in the forest.
These cases have been brought to the notice of higher
officials including Home Secretary of Bihar. There is
a need of dedicated police force at the disposal of
the Field Director to meet the challenge.
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Diseases
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Herbivores are highly susceptible to iodine deficiency
disease, Goiter and Foot and Mouth diseases.
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Others
Boundary Demarcation
There
is no clear demarcation of boundary on the ground of Core
and Buffer zone.
Rights and Privileges
Altogether
there are 42 villages where rights in respect of Harsingha
(for plough) and Gharsingha (for construction of house),
collection of fuel wood and grazing have been admitted by
the Forest Settlement Officer at the time of notification
of forests as P.Fs. Besides theses, there are 91 villages
which avail the concessions though their claims were not
examined by the Forest Settlement Officer. Another group
of 52 villages also dot the forested tract in which Forest
Settlement Officer did not admit rights though in some cases
some privileges were allowed. These concessions, however,
are to be met from, the Jahrta-parta (fallen material lying
on the floor of the forest measuring up to 3' girth (over
bark). Green trees are not to be felled for meeting the
right holders' demand.
Rail-cum-Road Bridge
Due to construction of Baghva-Chitauni Rail-cum-Road Link
Bridge, natural flow of Rohua and Kotaraihya streams were
blocked and 1691 ha. forest land has been inundated that
lead to 15000 trees dying in Madanpur block in the buffer
of the Reserve.
Mining/Extraction of Bolder
Government
of India has given conditional clearance in three mining
leases after imposing seventeen conditions. The leaseholders
did not fulfill any of the imposed conditions. So Government
of India should reconsider cancellation of mining leases.
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Control of the Buffer
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Whole buffer area is under the control of the management.
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Conflicts
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Man-Animal
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There is no perceptible man and animal conflict
though occasionally Nilgai (Blue Bull) and other herbivore
raid crop but this problem is not very serious.
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Man-Forest
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People in the region earn enough to survive for about six
months in a year. Due to lack of employment opportunity,
they rely on forest resources for survival. There is need
to generate employment for 20000 people for six months every
year to minimise the pressure on the Reserve.
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Action
Points Top
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·
Declaration of permanent Project Circle and Divisions.
· Streamlining the fund
release.
· Sufficient funds for
protection and development.
· Deployment of Para-Military
Force.
· Employment opportunities
for people in and around the Reserve.
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