Experts say on Karnala

With the news of State Wildlife board had given approval to widen the highway passing through the Karnala Bird sanctuary, I wrote to few very good friends and experts in the filed of wildlife conservattion. Few among those friends responded and other remained silence. Thnaks to those who responded and also thanks to those who didn't. Pasted below are the word from few of these known  for thier contribution towards wildlife conservation.

Dr. Anish Andheria of Sanctuary Asia says:

Karnala Bird Sanctuary is a pocket sized jewel some 60 km. from Mumbai. Despite the small size it boasts of a high diversity of birds. Under the present circumstances, when uncontrolled development is bulldozing huge chunks of wildlife habitat, the current decision of widening the national highway at the expense of Karnala Bird Sanctuary is a atrocious and will be detrimental to the ecology of this fragile ecosystem. The ever increasing birdwatching community of Mumbai and Thane, which has been rising due to such treasure troves needs to object unanimously to such a blatant violation of the Forest Act, 1980. It indeed calls for a mass movement against the government. Staying silent is no different from accepting the governments move to destroy yet another wilderness.

Dr. Anish  Andheria
Director - Science, Natural History and Photography,
Sanctuary Asia

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Mr. Sunjoy Monga writer, naturalist and photographer says:

"With the extent of Protected Areas either not rising or in some cases actually diminishing, all options have to be weighed in before any developmental/infrastructure project is considered that might affect any PA. And this is especially urgent for small-size PAs which in any case form the majority of India's PAs. The endless developmental pressures are not merely of an acre gone here and another acre there, but threaten to cut into the very ecological fabric. Every alternative that can help save any form of additional intrusion and pressure into the PA site must be thoroughly explored and even if it is marginally more expensive at the beginning it will make a bigger difference in the long run, both, ecologically and economically. It really is unfortunate that more often than not, infrastructure enhancement projects are given a green signal without even a cursory study and assessment of alternatives. The present case of the highway cutting through pint-size Karnala Bird Sanctuary is a classic example of how we can rise to the occasion. I earnestly hope that Karnala does not get affected any more and if there is an alternative that calls for a slightly longer diversion so be it.”

 

Sunjoy Monga

Naturalist-writer-photographer

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Saurabh Sawant a frequent birder to Karnala says:

It was extremely disheartening to know this. As we all know it's already a small place which will not only lose the area for the road which will be a disturbance and a nuisance to flora and fauna; but will be completely destroyed in the process. If there is scope for realignment without being a problem for the sanctuary, as the sources have mentioned in the article; I hope that way will be really considered along with the thorough study of effects of widening on the sanctuary as the forest minister has said. They should not forget it's ecological, historic values, it's importance to birders, nature lovers as well as the fact that it's perennial source of revenue. Let's hope for the best.

Regards,
Saurabh