Email
Print
ShareNew Delhi: There is yet another reason for environmentalists to oppose proposed bauxite mining in the belt of Araku valley in Andhra Pradesh.
A government study conducted recently has suggested that Blewitt's Owl, a little-known critically endangered and endemic bird species besides other 11 owl species will lose their home if bauxite mining is undertaken in the region rich in flora and fauna.
The study spanning over an year was done by the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON) in the three sites in Aarku valley-- Rakthakonda, Galikonda and Chittamgondi where the government plans to mine bauxite.
Funded by Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corporation Ltd (APMDC) which proposes to execute mining in the area the study was started in October 2006 till December 2007.
The research team comprised of PA Azeez, S Bhupathy and SN Prasaders also documented valleys and other areas that fall within approximately 10 km radial distance around the mine sites exploring the ecological/habitat characteristics of the endemic species.
The study which aims to find status of highly endemic Blewitt's Owl in Araku Valley to investigate into an unconfirmed report of a carcass of the species, found none of the target species which is classed as a Schedule I species under India's Wildlife Protection Act (1972) and listed in Appendix I of CITES.
During the course of study, which is published in Sacon's annual report 2007-08, the researchers recorded 151 species of birds, 414 species of plants, 12 species of mammals, 70 species of butterflies and eight species of spiders showcasing the rich bio-diversity of the area.
The study also confirmed the presence of 142 species of birds, including three vulnerable and globally threatened species and two near-threatened species.
Eleven species of owls and owlets were found on the slopes of the hillocks and valleys. Brown Wood Owl (Strix leptogrammica), Mottled Wood Owl (Strix ocellata), Eurasian Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo) (nest) and Jungle Owlet (Glaucidium radiatum) were reported at higher altitudes along the slopes of the hills.
Brown Hawk Owl (Ninox scutulata), Spotted Owlet (Athene brama) and Collard Scops Owl (Otus bakkamoena), Oriental Scops Owl (Otus sunia) were reported at lower altitudes.
Brown Fish Owl (Ketupa zeylonessis) and Short Eared Owl (Asia flameus) were reported in the mid-altitude of the hills.
The team encountered a total of ten species of reptiles, five taxa of amphibians and 56 species of butterflies, according to the report.
A number of medicinal plant species among 142 species of plants, including a tree fern, Cyathea nilgiriensis, which is endemic to South India were also found.
"These areas are believed to be potential sites for the endemic Blewitt's Owl habitat which needs immediate conservation," the study said.
Warning that "the mine activities were likely to have impact on the local environment,especially on the biodiversity and wildlife," the researchers have sought safeguarding the slopes and valleys from the spill over impacts due to mining to mitigate the catastrophe, the researchers suggested.
"Utmost care should be taken to eliminate stress on the slopes and valleys, and hence a general environmental management plan is proposed."
A conservation awareness programme would help make the villagers, local forest guards and NGOs participating in conservation efforts understand the importance of endangered, threatened flora and fauna as well as forests surrounding them.
"There is an immediate need to declare the area as a protected area system or the species to be protected through community participatory management," the study said.
Andhra Pradesh has an estimated reserve of 550 million tonnes of bauxite. In the district of Visakhapatnam the whole belt of Araku valley, which extends up to Orissa, has considerable deposits of bauxite.
