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Index

Basic Concepts: .................................................................................................................................. 0

Environment Impact Assessment ....................................................................................................... 6

Environment Governance ................................................................................................................. 10

Important Acts & Rules .................................................................................................................... 15

Rajasthan Environment Policy 2010 .................................................................................................. 18

Environment Conservation ............................................................................................................... 22

Eco-Tourism in Rajasthan ................................................................................................................. 28

Rajasthan Eco-Tourism Policy 2010 .................................................................................................. 30

Forests in Rajasthan

Forests: Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 33

Administrative Classification ............................................................................................................ 35

Types of Forests ............................................................................................................................... 40

State Forest Policy 2010 ................................................................................................................... 43

Sacred Groves in Rajasthan .............................................................................................................. 45

Wildlife of Rajasthan

Wildlife: Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 47

Endangered Species ......................................................................................................................... 49

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 Index

Great Indian Bustard ........................................................................................................................ 51

Tigers in Rajasthan ........................................................................................................................... 54

Leopard ............................................................................................................................................ 58

Sloth Bear ........................................................................................................................................ 62

District Mascots of Rajasthan ........................................................................................................... 64

Wildlife Protected Areas of Rajasthan .............................................................................................. 65

National Parks in Rajasthan .............................................................................................................. 66

Wildlife Sanctuaries in Rajasthan ..................................................................................................... 69

Conservation Reserves in Rajasthan ................................................................................................. 71

Wetlands in Rajasthan...................................................................................................................... 72

Environmental Concerns in Rajasthan

Climate Change in Rajasthan ............................................................................................................ 73

Desertification & Land Degradation .................................................................................................. 77

Air-Pollution in Rajasthan ................................................................................................................. 82

Uranium Contamination in Ground Water ........................................................................................ 86

Famines and droughts ...................................................................................................................... 88

Floods in Rajasthan .......................................................................................................................... 90

Forest Fires in Rajasthan .................................................................................................................. 93

Human Wildlife Conflict in Rajasthan ............................................................................................... 98

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 Basic Concepts:

Basic Concepts:

The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 defines environment as “environment includes water,
air and land and the interrelationship which exists among and between air, water and land and
human beings, other living creatures, plants, micro-organism and property”.

Environment in Constitution of India

Our constitution, originally, did not contain any direct provision regarding the protection of natural
environment. However, after the United Nations Conference on Human Environment, held in
Stockholm in 1972. Indian constitution was amended to include protection of the environment as a
constitutional mandate.

In 1976, the 42nd amendment of Constitution, incorporated protection of wildlife and forests in
the Directive Principles. It also included forests and protection of wild animals in the
Concurrent List – Seventh Schedule (Article 256) of the Constitution.

The chapter on fundamental duties of the Indian Constitution clearly imposes duty on every citizen to
protect environment. Article 51-A (g), says that “It shall be duty of every citizen of India to protect and
improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life and to have compassion
for living creatures.”

The Directive principles under the Indian constitution directed towards ideals of building welfare
state. Healthy environment is also one of the elements of welfare state. In particular, Article 48 -A of
the constitution says that “the state shall endeavor to protect and improve the environment and to
safeguard the forests and wild life of the country”.

The Constitution of India under part III guarantees fundamental rights, Articles 21, 14 and 19 of this
part have been used for environmental protection. The right to live in a healthy environment, as part of

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 Basic Concepts:

Article 21 of the Constitution was first recognized in the case of Rural Litigation and Entitlement
Kendra vs. State, AIR 1988 SC 2187 (Popularly known as Dehradun Quarrying Case).

Components of Environment

Environment can be defined as the sum total of living and non-living components, influences and
events surrounding an organism. The living components are called the biotic components while the
non-living are called abiotic or physical components.

• Biotic Components: Microbes, Plants, Animals (including human beings)

• Abiotic Components: Light (Energy, Radiation), Atmospheric gases and wind, Temperature and
heat flow, Water, Gravity, Topography, Geological Substratum, Soil.

Alternatively, Environment can also be defined as consisting of four fundamental components:

• Lithosphere,
• Hydrosphere,
• Atmosphere,
• Biosphere.

Ecology:

Ecology may be defined as the scientific study of the relationship of living organisms with each other
and with their environment.

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 Basic Concepts:

Levels of Ecological Organizations

There are 6 major levels of organization in ecology. These are:

1. Individual
• Organism is an individual living being that has the ability to act or function independently.

2. Population
• A group of organisms usually of same species, occupying a defined area during a specific
time.

3. Community
• Group of organisms consisting of a number of different species that live in an area and
interact with each other.

4. Ecosystem
• Communities of organisms and their physical environment, interacting as an ecological unit.
• Ecotone: An area that acts as a boundary or a transition between two ecosystems.
• Niche: A niche is aunique functional role or place of species in an ecosystem. There are
different types of niche like habitat niche (where it leaves), food niche (what it eats),
reproductive niche etc.

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 Basic Concepts:

5. Biomes
• A large community unit, characterized by a major vegetation type and associated fauna,
found in a specific climatic region is a biome
• Biomes refer basically to terrestrial areas. The aquatic systems like the seas, rivers etc. are
also divided into distinct life zones on basis of salinity.
• No two biomes are alike.

6. Biosphere
• Part of Earth where life exists.
• The relatively thin zone of air, soil and water where life exists is known as the biosphere.
• Biosphere is absent at north & south poles, highest mountains & deepest oceans.

Functions of ecosystem

Ecosystems are complex dynamic system. They perform certain functions. These are:-

(1) Energy flow through food chain

(2) Nutrient cycling (biogeochemical cycles)
(3) Ecological succession or ecosystem development
(4) Homeostasis (or cybernetic) or feedback control mechanisms

Types of Ecosystem:

Ecosystems are classified as follows:

(1) Natural ecosystems

(2) Man made ecosystems

Components of ecosystem:

Components of ecosystem are broadly grouped into:-

• Abiotic components
• Biotic components

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 Basic Concepts:

Ecological Succession

Biotic communities are dynamic in nature and change over a period of time. The process by which
communities of plant and animal species in an area are replaced or changed into another over a period
of time is known as ecological succession. Both the biotic and abiotic components are involved in this
change. There are two types of successions:

Primary Succession:

• Primary succession takes place an over a bare or unoccupied areas such as rocks outcrop, newly
formed deltas and sand dunes, emerging volcano islands, lava flows and glacial moraines
where no community has existed previously.
• The community that initially inhabits a bare area is called pioneer community.
• The community that inhabits the terminal (final) stage of succession forms the climax
community.
• The entire sequence of communities in a given area, succeeding each other, during the course of
succession is termed sere.

Secondary succession
• Secondary succession is the development of a community which forms after the existing natural
vegetation that constitutes a community is removed, disturbed or destroyed by a natural event
like hurricane or forest fire or by human related events like tilling or harvesting land.

Habitat

Habitat is the physical environment in which an organism lives. The features of the habitat can be
represented by its structural components namely:

• Space
• Food
• Water
• Cover or shelter

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 Basic Concepts:

Species:

A species is defined as; “a group of similar populations of organisms whose members are capable of
interbreeding, and to produce fertile offspring (children)”. Example: all populations of humans living
in any part of the world constitute the species Homo sapiens.

Speciation is the process by which new species are formed and evolution is the mechanism by which
speciation is brought about.

Bio magnification:

Biomagnification refers to the tendency of pollutants to concentrate as they move from one tropic level
to the next. Thus there is increase in concentration of pollutants as we move up the food chain.

Types of Biotic Interactions

• Mutualism: Both species benefit

• Commensalism: One species benefits, the other is unaffected
• Competition: Both species are harmed by interaction
• Predation & Parasitism: One species benefit, the other is harmed.
• Amensalism: One species in harmed the other is unaffected.

Eutrophication:

Eutrophication is an enrichment of water by nutrient salts (such as nitrates, phosphates) that causes
structural changes to the ecosystem such as: increased production of algae and aquatic plants,
depletion of fish species and general deterioration of water quality. The growth of green algae on
surface of lakes is example of eutrophication.

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 Environment Impact Assessment

Environment Impact Assessment

In view of the colossal damage to environment by developmental activities people are now concerned
about the environmental impact of developmental projects. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
enables the decision makers to analyse the effect of developmental activities on the environment, if any
well before the developmental project is implement. The goal of EIA is to ensure environmentally safe
and sustainable development.

What is EIA?

EIA is a tool to evaluate environmental impact of proposed developmental projects or programs and
through which clearance is accorded after mitigation strategies are included in the plan. It is a study to
evaluate and identify the predictable environmental consequences and the best combination of
economic and environmental costs and benefits of the proposed project.

On the basis of EIA, an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) is prepared, which is a description of
the means by which the environmental consequences as pointed out in the EIA will be mitigated.
Together the whole draft is termed as EIA-EMP report.

The important aspects of EIA are:

• Risk assessment,
• Environmental management and
• Post product monitoring.

EIA was introduced in India in 1978, with respect to river valley projects. Later the EIA legislation was
enhanced to include other developmental sections.

The Environmental Impact Assessment Notification of 2006

The Environmental Impact Assessment Notification was issued on 14 September 2006 and mandated
th

all developmental projects to abide by the country’s environmental laws. In furtherance of this goal, a
clear demarcation was made between various categories of project and the authorizing agencies.

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 Environment Impact Assessment

Category of Projects:

All projects and activities are broadly categorized in to two categories - Category A and Category B,
based on the spatial extent of potential impacts and potential impacts on human health and natural and
man made resources.

Category A Projects:

• Mandatorily requires EIA

Category B Projects:

• Category B1, projects (Mandatorily requires EIA).

• Category B2 projects (Do not require EIA).

Appraisal & EIA Clearance of Projects

Environment Impact Assessment Notification of 2006 has decentralized the process of environmental
clearance in following manner:

• All projects or activities included as Category ‘A’ require prior environmental clearance from
the Central Government in the MOEFCC on the recommendations of an Expert Appraisal
Committee (EAC).
• All projects or activities included as Category ‘B’ require clearance by State Level Environment
Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA).
• The SEIAA shall base its decision on the recommendations of a State or Union territory level
Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC).
• The EAC and SEAC shall be reconstituted after every three years. However, in absence of a
duly constituted SEIAA or SEAC, a Category ‘B’ project shall be treated as a Category ‘A’
project;

The Environmental Impact Assessment Notification of 2006 stipulates “A State Level

Environment Impact Assessment Authority hereinafter referred to as the SEIAA shall be
constituted by the Central Government under sub-section (3) of section 3 of the
Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 comprising of three Members including a Chairman
and a Member – Secretary to be nominated by the State Government or the Union territory
Administration concerned.”

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 Environment Impact Assessment

Hence, the same notification also directed the Central Government to establish State Level
Environment Impact Assessment Authority in states for EIA clearance of Category B projects.

Rajasthan State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA)

• All Category B projects, which include projects with lesser size or capacity and smaller impacts
than Category A, came under the purview of the State Level Environment Impact Assessment
Authority (SEIAA).
• The SEIAA was further directed to base its decision, recommending or denying the
environmental clearance, on the recommendations of a State or Union Territory Level Expert
Appraisal Committee (SEAC).

Process of EIA

The process of Environmental Clearance has four stages, namely:

• Screening
• Scoping
• Public Hearing
• Appraisal

Screening:

• This is only for category B projects, as all category A projects are required to undergo EIA
process.
• For category B projects, the State or Union Territory Level Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC)
decides if project belongs to category B1 or B2.
• B1 Category project require EIA while B2 category projects are exempted from EIA

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 Environment Impact Assessment

Scoping:

• Meant for projects belonging to category A & B1.

• The Central Level Expert Appraisal Committee for category A & State Level Expert Appraisal
Committee (SEAC) for category B1 determines comprehensive terms of reference for
preparation of EIA report.

Public Hearing:

• It is the process by which the concerns of local affected persons and others who have plausible
stake in the environmental impacts of the project or activity are ascertained with a view to
taking into account all the material concerns in the project or activity design as appropriate.
• A public hearing committee conducts public hearing.
• The committee has district collector as chairman, members including officials of pollution
control board, representatives of Taluka, gram sabha.

Appraisal

• Appraisal means the detailed scrutiny by the Expert Appraisal Committee or State Level Expert
Appraisal Committee.
• On conclusion of this proceeding, the EAC or SEAC concerned makes categorical
recommendations to the regulatory authority concerned either for grant of prior environmental
clearance on stipulated terms and conditions, or rejection of the application for prior
environmental clearance, together with reasons for the same.

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 Environment Governance

Environment Governance

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) is the nodal agency in the
administrative structure of the Central Government for the planning, promotion, co-ordination and
overseeing the implementation of India's environmental and forestry policies and programmes.

The primary concerns of the Ministry are implementation of policies and programmes relating to
conservation of the country's natural resources including its lakes and rivers, its biodiversity, forests
and wildlife, ensuring the welfare of animals, and the prevention and abatement of pollution.

The Ministry also serves as the nodal agency in the country for the United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP), South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP), International Centre
for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and for the follow-up of the United Nations
Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). The Ministry is also entrusted with issues
relating to multilateral bodies such as the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD), Global
Environment Facility (GEF) and of regional bodies like Economic and Social Council for Asia and
Pacific (ESCAP) and South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC) on matters
pertaining to the environment.

Forest Department, Rajasthan

The Forest Department is responsible for the management of forests and wildlife in the state. The
department is organized into different departmental wings like rest protection, forest development,
wildlife management, soil and moisture conservation, Eco-tourism, research, training, etc. is given.
Users can get details related to forest resource, wildlife, Forest Conservation Act, Right to Information
Act (RTI), etc. These wings look after specific activities.

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 Environment Governance

Organisation Structure of Forest Department at Division Level:

• DFO: Divisional Forest Officer

• DCF: Deputy Conservator of Forests
• ACF: Assistant Conservator of
Forests
• SCA: Soil Conservation Assistant.

Environment Department, Government of Rajasthan

Environment Department was established in the year 1983 to function as a nodal Department in the
matters of Environment and Ecology, to deal with matters related to Rajasthan state Pollution control
Board (RsPcB), to solve and control all matters relating to pollution with the help of RsPcB, District
Administration and other related departments and organizations.

In 2019, to address the onerous work of Environmental Conservation & Biodiversity conservation, the
department of environment has been reconstituted and a distinct Directorate of Environment and
Climate Change (DOECC) has been established.

The DOECC will have three cells: environment, administrative and IEC.

Compliance of various Acts and Rules:

Environment Department is tasked with ensuring compliance of various Acts and Rules related to
Environment through various Departments, Boards and Agencies. Environment Department mainly
deals with compliance of the following Acts and Rules:

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 Environment Governance

• Environment Protection Act and Rules

• Water Act and Rules.
• Air Act and Rules.
• Environment impact assessment (EIA) notification, 1986
• Aravali notification, 1992
• Fly Ash Rules
• Wetland Rules 8. Biordiversity Act and Rules.

Communication and Extension (Publicity):

• Environment Department organizes educational and awareness programmes from time to time.
• Information about different activities of the Department, decisions of the State Government,
various ongoing schemes, facts related to Environment were disseminated to public from time
to time.
• Messages on the occasions of three International Days viz. World Earth Day, World
Environment Protection Day and World Ozone Layer Conservation Day were published and
communicated through electronic & print media

Rajasthan State Biodiversity Board:

After becoming a party to the Convention on Biological Diversity in 1994, the Government of India has
taken many important steps to further strengthen the existing framework. The Biological Diversity Act,
2002 has been enacted which provides a legal mechanism for establishing sovereign rights over
biological resources, their conservation, regulation of access and sustainable use of biodiversity and
associated knowledge. It is being implemented through Biodiversity management committees (BMCs),
State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) and National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) each with well-defined
functions within their respective jurisdiction. Accordingly, it is being operated at National, State and
Local level as a three tier system.

Government of Rajasthan notified the Rajasthan Biological Diversity Rules, 2010 under section 63(1) of
Biological Diversity Act, 2002 and has established Rajasthan State Biodiversity Board for the purpose of
this Act.

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 Environment Governance

Rajasthan State Wetland Authority

On 10th April 2018, Rajasthan Government had issued notification for State Wetland Authority to be
setup under the Central Government Wetlands (Conservation & Management) Rules 2019. However,
there has been no information on working of the authority.

In November 2019, after the recent deaths of more than 18000 birds in Sambhar Lake in Rajasthan, the
notification has been released.

State Wetland Authority

• Chairperson - state environment minister.

• Vice-Chairperson – Chief Secretary, GoR

• Would comprise chief secretary, additional chief secretary (ACS), urban development and
housing (UDH), ACS (revenue) and principal secretary (tourism), principal secretary (local self-
government) and senior officials and experts from 12 departments.

• Will also include one expert each in the field of wetland ecology, hydrology, fisheries,
landscape planning and socio-economics to be nominated by the state government.

Once functional, the authority will develop a comprehensive list of activities to be regulated and
permitted within the notified wetlands and their zone of influence, recommend additional prohibited
activities for specific wetlands, define strategies for conservation and wise use of wetlands, and
undertake measures for enhancing awareness within stakeholders and local communities on values
and functions of wetlands.

Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board

The Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board was constituted under section 4 of the Water (Prevention
and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 on 7th February 1975, with the objectives of prevention, and control
of water pollution and maintaining or restoring of wholesomeness of water.

Later, it was also entrusted with the responsibilities of prevention, control and abatement of Air
Pollution under the provisions of Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.

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 Environment Governance

Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977 has been enacted to make the State Board
financially independent. Under this act the State Board has been given powers to collect Cess on the
basis of water consumed by the industries etc.

Enactment of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 has further widened the scope of the activities of
the Board. This Act being umbrella legislation, different rules for addressing the problems of various
sectors have been enacted under this Act. The State Board is engaged in implementation of the rules
made under the Environment Protection Act, 1986.

Climate Change

The State Government established a ‘Climate Change and CDM Cell’ in the State Pollution Control
Board to act as a nodal agency to deal with all the issues related with Climate Change in the State. The
Cell had been constituted in April 2010 and had been involved in the drafting of the CCA

In 2019, to address the onerous work of Environmental Conservation & Biodiversity conservation, the
department of environment has been reconstituted and a distinct Directorate of Environment and
Climate Change (DOECC) has been established.

The DOECC will have three cells: environment, administrative and IEC.

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 Important Acts & Rules

Important Acts & Rules

The constitutional provisions are backed by a number of legislations – Acts and rules. Important acts
include:

The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1974 and Amendment, 1988

• The main objective of this act is to provide prevention and control of water pollution and
maintaining or restoring of wholesomeness and purity of water (in the streams or wells or on land).
• The Act vests regulatory authority in State Pollution Control Boards and empowers these Boards to
establish and enforce effluent standards for factories discharging pollutants into water bodies.
• A Central Pollution Control Board performs the same functions for Union Territories and
formulates policies and coordinates activities of different State Boards.
• The State Pollution Control Boards control sewage and industrial effluent discharges by approving,
rejecting or impose conditions while granting consent to discharge.
• In 1977, the Water Cess Act was passed to generate financial resources to meet expenses of the
Central and State Pollution Boards. The Act creates economic incentives for pollution control and
requires local authorities and certain designated industries to pay a cess (tax) for water effluent
discharge.

The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1981

• The main objectives of this Act are to improve the quality of air and to prevent, control and abate
air pollution in the country.
• Under the Air Act, all industries operating within designated air pollution control areas must
obtain a “consent” (permit) from the State Boards.
• The states are required to prescribe emission standards for industry and automobiles after
consulting the central board and noting its ambient air quality standards.

The Environment (Protection) Act of 1986:

• In the wake of the Bhopal tragedy, the Government of India enacted the Environment (Protection)
Act of 1986.

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 Important Acts & Rules

• In this Act, main emphasis is given to “Environment”, defined to include water, air and land and
the inter-relationships which exist among water, air and land and human beings and other living
creatures, plants, micro-organisms and property
• The Environment (Protection) Act 1986 contains significant innovations for its enforcement, not
contained in any other pollution control legislation at the time of the Act’s adoption. Section (19)
provides that any person, in addition to authorized government officials, may file a complaint with
a court alleging an offence under the Act. This “Citizens’ Suit” provision requires that the person
has to give notice of not less than 60 days of the alleged offence of pollution to the Central
Government or the competent authority.
• Under the Act, the Central Government may, by notification in the office Gazette, make rules for
the enforcement of the Act.

The Wild Life (Protection) Act of 1972 and Amendment, 1982

• The Wild Life Act provides for state wildlife advisory boards, regulations for hunting wild animals
and birds, establishment of sanctuaries and national parks, regulations for trade in wild animals,
animal products and trophies, and judicially imposed penalties for violating the Act.
• An amendment to the Act in 1982, introduced a provision permitting the capture and
transportation of wild animals for the scientific management of animal population.
• Indian government has also started some conservation projects for individual endangered species
like Hungal (1970), Lion (1972), Tiger (1973), Crocodiles (1974), Brown-antlered Deer (1981) and
Elephant (1991-92) Ganges Dolphin (1997).

The Forest (Conservation) Act of 1980

• The First Forest Act was enacted in 1927. This is one of the many surviving colonial legislations.
It was enacted to consolidate the law related to forest, the transit of forest produce and the duty
livable on timber and other forest produce.
• Subsequently, the Forest (Conservation) Act was promulgated in 1980 to make certain reforms
over the preceding Act of 1927. The 1927 Act deals with the 4 categories of the forests, namely
reserved forests, village forests, protected forests and private forests.
• A state may declare forest-lands or waste lands as reserved forest and may sell the produce
from these forests.

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 Important Acts & Rules

• The preservation of protected forests is enforced through rules, licenses and criminal
prosecutions. Forest officers and their staff administer the Forest Act.

Biodiversity Act 2002

• The main intent of this legislation is to protect India’s rich biodiversity and associated knowledge
against their use by foreign individuals and organizations without sharing the benefits arising out
of such use, and to check bio-piracy.
• The Act provides for setting up of a National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), State Biodiversity
Boards (SBBs) and Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) in local bodies.
• NBA and SBB are required to consult BMCs in decisions relating to use of biological resources or
related knowledge within their jurisdiction and BMCs are to promote conservation, sustainable use
and documentation of biodiversity.
• All foreign nationals or organizations require prior approval of NBA for obtaining biological
resources and associated knowledge for any use.
• Indian individuals /entities require approval of NBA for transferring results of research with
respect to any biological resources to foreign nationals/organizations.
• Collaborative research projects and exchange of knowledge and resources under these projects are
exempted provided they are drawn as per the policy guidelines of the Central Government and
have its approval the objectives of conservation, sustainable use and benefit sharing. However,
Indian citizens/entities/local people including (vaids and hakims) to have free access to use
biological resources within the country for their own use, medicinal as well as Research purposes.

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 Rajasthan Environment Policy 2010

Rajasthan Environment Policy 2010

Rajasthan Environment Policy 2010 identifies the key environmental challenges and outlines strategies
and actions to address them. The document is based on an analysis of the state-specific issues, the
natural resource constraints from which these emerge, and their overall implications for the
environment.

Above all, it is intended to be a guide to action, and accordingly provides inputs for a State
Environment Mission, supported by Task Forces with specific agenda and action plan, and institutional
arrangements for implementation of the proposed measures.

Key Environmental Challenges in Rajasthan

Rajasthan faces several environmental challenges that it must address to ensure continued economic
growth that is sustainable and equitable. These include:

• Increasing demand for water.

• Mineral reserves in forest areas which the forest policy has restricted from being exploited.

• Abatement of pollution in the face of industrialization and rapid urban growth.

• Population growth and the continual flow of migrants to the cities.

• Strike a balance between the exploitation of forests for products of economic value (such as
food, medicines, timber), and conservation efforts which seek to maintain the natural processes
that sustain biodiversity.

• Strategy for providing cooking and lighting energy for the rural population.

• Development of the tourism industry also poses a challenge, as it exerts considerable pressure
on civic amenities (including water and sanitation and transport), land use, wildlife and forests,
and the socio-economic fabric of the State.

• Climate change is of increasing concern not only at the national level but for the State
governments as well.

• The nexus between poverty and environment.

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 Rajasthan Environment Policy 2010

• The environment policy must support research and development activities that promote
innovation and provide technological alternatives, as well as insights for policy making and
regulation.

Objectives of Rajasthan Environment Policy 2010

The objectives and principles of the State Environment Policy are the same as those on which the
National Environment Policy, 2006 is founded. Broadly, the SEP aims to:

1. Conserve and Enhance Environmental Resources by protecting critical ecosystems and natural
and man-made heritage, ensuring equitable access to environmental resources for all sections of
society, ensuring judicious use of these resources to assure inter-generational equity, and
ensuring their efficient use to maximize productivity and minimize environmental degradation.

2. Assure Environmental Sustainability of Key Economic Sectors by integrating environmental

concerns into policies, plans, programs, and projects for economic and social development, so
that these do not erode the very resource base on which they are dependent

3. Improve Environmental Governance and Build Capacity by assuring transparency, rationality,

accountability, time and cost effectiveness, participation, and regulatory independence in the
process of environmental management and regulation. The policy should also ensure higher
resource flow for environmental conservation and promote beneficial multi stakeholders
partnership.

Principles of Rajasthan Environment Policy 2010

The basic principles guiding the strategic interventions of Rajasthan Environment Policy 2010 are the
same as those documented in the National Environment Policy, 2006, that is:

1. Human beings are at the center of concerns for sustainable development and are entitled to a
healthy and productive life in harmony with nature.

2. The right to development must be fulfilled with equity for present and future generations
across all sections of society.

3. Environmental protection is an integral part of the development process and cannot be

considered in isolation from it.

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 Rajasthan Environment Policy 2010

4. Where there are credible threats to key environmental resources, the ‘precautionary approach’
shall be followed and lack of full scientific certainty will not be used as a reason for not taking
mitigatory action.

5. Production and consumption activities will aim for economic efficiency by assigning economic
value to the cost of environmental services, ensuring that polluters pay for the cost of pollution,
minimizing wasteful use and consumption of natural resources, and minimizing institutional
costs and delays in environmental management.

6. Entities with ‘Incomparable’ value (such as unique historical monuments, charismatic species of
fauna and flora, unique landscapes) must be preserved at any cost as damage to these cannot be
compensated in terms of money or conventional goods and services.

7. The environmental policy must be guided by the principles of equity in all its facets, i.e.
‘procedural equity’ relating to fair rules for allocation of entitlements and obligations, ‘end-
result equity’ relating to fair distribution of outcomes, ‘intra-generational equity’ within
societies, and ‘inter-generational’ equity relating to justice between generations.

8. Civil liability may be used in addition to criminal liability as a deterrent to environmentally

harmful actions, and for compensation to the victims of environmental damage.

9. The State is the trustee of all natural resources, and must enable their public use while
protecting the legitimate interest of a large number of people.

10. Decentralization of powers from a Central Authority to State and Local Authorities could
empower the public authorities to more effectively address local environmental concerns.

11. Environmental concerns must be integrated into sectoral policy making and policy research,
and linkages must be strengthened among the various agencies charged with implementation of
environmental policies at the central, State, and Local Self-Government levels.

12. Environmental standards must reflect the economic and social development situation in which
they are to be applied, and must be based on considerations of risk to human health, risks to
other environmental entities, technical feasibility, costs of compliance, and other strategic
considerations.

13. It is preferable (and often cheaper) to prevent environmental damage from occurring, rather
than attempting to restore after degradation. (xiv) If endangered species and natural
ecosystems of special importance to sustaining life, providing livelihoods, and general well
being are threatened by a developmental activity, environmental offsetting measures must be

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 Rajasthan Environment Policy 2010

undertaken to restore as nearly as feasible the lost environmental services to the affected
populations.

Strategies and Actions

The set of strategies and actions to redress the key environmental problems of the State are covered
under three broad areas:

1. Conserving and enhancing environmental resources;

2. Assuring sustainability of key economic sectors; and

3. Improving environmental governance and building capacity.

Water, land, air, forests and biodiversity are key resources that must be conserved and enhanced. At
the same time, vulnerability assessment and adaptation measures should be undertaken in the
vulnerable sectors to mitigate the impacts of climate change, especially on the poor sections of society.

Policy Review and Implementation

As development imperatives in the State and their environmental implications change, new
environmental priorities will emerge over time. Changes in national and global environmental regimes
will also affect state level environmental issues. Therefore, the State Environmental Policy needs to be a
dynamic document, which is subjected to periodic review and aligned with new knowledge and
developments in the forthcoming years.

To assure implementation of this SEP, a State Environment Mission has been constituted, which will be
supported by Task Forces with specific agenda and action plan, and institutional arrangements and
resources for implementation of the proposed measures. Details with respect to the State Environment
Mission are provided in a separate document.

21
 Environment Conservation

Environment Conservation

The Central & State Government has created various organizations that function to conserve the
environment and promote sustainable development. In addition to the wildlife protected area
programs, there are various programs/ schemes being implemented by these agencies to conserve
environment.

State Symbols

The state government has identified certain state symbols to highlight the importance of these flora &
fauna in the state.

State Animal of Rajasthan (Wildlife): Chinkara

• Chinkara was declared as State Animal in 1981

State Animal of Rajasthan (Livestock): Camel

• Camel was declared as State Animal is 19 September, 2014

• With this Rajasthan has two State Animals, Camel was declared as State Animal in Livestock
Category.

State Bird of Rajasthan: Godawan

• Godawan is Great Indian Bustard (GIB)

• Godawan was declared as State bird in 1981.

State Flower of Rajasthan: Rohida

• Rohida (Tecomella undulata) is the official state Flower of Rajasthan.

• It was declared as State flower in 1983.
• It is found mainly in Thar Desert, it is also known as Marwar Teak.

22
 Environment Conservation

State Tree of Rajasthan

• Khejri (Prosopis Cineraria) is the official tree of Rajasthan State.

• Khejri was declared as State tree in 1981.

• It is also known as Kalp tree Shami, Janti (शमी, जांटी) in Rajasthan,

• Its flower is called minjhar (मींझर) and fruit is called Sangiri (सांगरी).

Other State Symbols:

• Ghoomar is the official dance of Rajasthan State.

• In 1948, Basketball was declared as the official Game of Rajasthan State.

National Lake Conservation Plan (NLCP)

Ministry of Environment and Forests has been implementing the National Lake Conservation Plan
(NLCP) since 2001 for conservation and management of polluted and degraded lakes in urban and
semi-urban areas. The major objectives of NLCP include encouraging and assisting state Governments
for sustainable management and conservation of lakes.

National Lake Conservation Plan (NLCP) in Rajasthan

Under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National Lake Conservation Programme, five lakes of
Rajasthan:

• Fateh Sagar, Udaipur

• Pichhola, Udaipur

• Ana Sagar, Ajmer

• Pushkar, Ajmer

• Nakki, Mount Abu, Sirohi

have been taken up.

23
 Environment Conservation

Updates:

• Sharing pattern between Central Government and State Government is 60:40 w.e.f. 1st April
2016.

• Implementing agency of this plan is Local Self Government (LSG) Department.

National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Eco-systems (NPCA)

For conservation of lakes and wetlands, Ministry of Environment and Forests has been implementing
two separate Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS), namely

• The National Wetlands Conservation Programme (NWCP) and

• The National Lake Conservation Plan (NLCP).

To avoid overlap, promote better synergies and to ensure that conservation/ management works, an
integrated scheme NPCA was proposed with the objective of conserving aquatic ecosystems (lakes and
wetlands) through implementation of sustainable Conservation Plans, and governed with application
of uniform policy and guidelines.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) in their meeting held on 7th February, 2013, has
approved the proposal for merger of National Lake Conservation Plan and National Wetlands
Conservation Programme into a new scheme ‘National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Eco-systems’
(NPCA). The merged scheme to be operational during XII Plan Period at an estimated cost of Rs.900
crore shall have a funding pattern of 70:30 cost sharing between Central Government and respective
State Governments (90:10 for NE States).

The principal objectives of the new scheme is holistic conservation and restoration of lakes and
wetlands for achieving desired water quality enhancement besides improvement in biodiversity and
ecosystem through an integrated and multidisciplinary approach with a common regulatory
framework. The scheme would contribute to reduction of pollution loads and improvement in
biodiversity as also the goods and services provided by these water bodies to the stakeholders.

Besides the implementation of comprehensive Management Action Plans, the new scheme on
conservation and management of lakes and wetlands in the country shall also cover in its scope, the
inventorization and information system on lakes and wetlands, National level directive on criteria for

24
 Environment Conservation

lakes and wetlands, Regulatory Framework (Revisiting the Wetlands Rules, 2010), Capacity building at
State Government and local body levels, Evaluation etc.

Rajeev Gandhi Paryavaran Sanrakshan Puraskar:

There is a provision for bestowing Rajeev Gandhi Paryavaran Sanrakshan Puraskars under three
categories viz.

• Individual,
• Institution/organization,
• Nagar Palika/Nagar Parishad

for significant contributions in the field of environment.

Celebration of Environmentally Important Days

February 2 World Wetlands Day

February 27 International Polar Bear Day

February 28 National Science Day

March 3 World Wildlife Day

March 14 International Day of Action for Rivers

March 20 World Sparrow Day

March 21 World Forestry Day, World Planting Day, World Wood Day

March 22 World Water & Sanitation Day

March 23 World Meteorological Day, World Resources Day

April 7 World Health Day

April 10 World Atmosphere Day

April 18 World Heritage Day

25
 Environment Conservation

April 22 World Earth Day

May 3 International Energy Day

May 8 World Migratory Bird Day

May 11 National Technology Day

May 14 Endemic Bird Day

May 22 World Biodiversity Day

May 23 World Turtle Day

June 5 World Environment Day

June 8 World Ocean Day

June 9 Coral Triangle Day

June 15 Global Wind Day

June 17 World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought

July 1 – July 7 Van Mahotsav Saptah

July 3 World Seabird Day

July 11 World Population Day

July 26 International Mangrove Day

July 29 International Tiger Day

August 10 World Lion Day

August 12 World Elephant Day

August 22 Honey Bee Day

26
 Environment Conservation

September 8 World Cleanup Day

September 16 World Ozone Day

September 18 World Water Monitoring Day

September 21 Zero Emissions Day

September 26 World Environmental Health Day

October 1 – Oct 7 Wildlife Week

October 3 World Nature Day, World Habitat Day

October 4 World Animal Day

October 6 World Wildlife Day

October 24 International Day of Climate Action

November International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed
6 Conflict

November World Birds Day

12

November World Energy Conservation Day

14

December 5 World Soil Day

December 11 International Mountain Day

December 14 National Energy Conservation Day

27
 Eco-Tourism in Rajasthan

Eco-Tourism in Rajasthan

Rajasthan has established itself as a significant tourist destination on the domestic as well as
international tourist map. The state is known for its diversity in terms of natural resources, cultural
heritage, historical as well as archaeological wonders and rare wild life. Consequently, there is
tremendous potential for eco-tourism in Rajasthan.

What is Eco-Tourism ?

Eco-Tourism has been broadly defined as tourism which is ecologically sustainable. As per
international ecotourism society, Ecotourism is now defined as “responsible travel to natural areas that
conserves the environment, sustains the well-being of the local people, and involves interpretation and education”
(TIES, 2015)

Government Support

Rajasthan Government's emphasis has been on community-based ecotourism, encouraging public–

private sector participation, and infrastructural development.

The state government has also identified potential Eco-Tourism Sites in Rajasthan including Sunda
Mata temple in Jalore district, Bassi in Chittorgarh district, Kumbhalgarh in Rajsamand district,
Hamirgarh and Menal, both in Bhilwara district have been developed as per guidelines of eco-tourism.

Eco-Tourism Policy

The Government of Rajasthan notified Rajasthan's Eco-tourism policy in 2010. This policy has been
framed with a view to sensitize the public , government departments, NGOs and others about eco-
tourism and for laying down the framework for its growth in the State in a sustainable manner.

Covered in detail in next chapter

28
 Eco-Tourism in Rajasthan

Eco-Tourism Circuit

In 2018, department of tourism has submitted the proposal to include

• Sariska (Alwar),

• Kaila Devi wildlife sanctuary (Karauli),

• Kumbhalgarh wildlife sanctuary &

• Todgarh Raoli wildlife sanctuary (Rajsamand),

• Mount Abu wildlife sanctuary (Sirohi) and

• Jhalana Safari Park (Jaipur)

for development under the centre’s eco-circuit theme.

29
 Rajasthan Eco-Tourism Policy 2010

Rajasthan Eco-Tourism Policy 2010

As number of tourist arrivals in Rajasthan increases year on year, it exerts increasing pressure on
constrained resources. Consequently, eco-tourism in Rajasthan gains importance and it has become
necessary to formulate a policy to encourage, guide and regulate in such a manner that it grows in
desirable way and benefits the people in general and help achievement of conservation goal. The
Rajasthan Ecotourism policy 2010 has been framed with a view to attract more and more ecotourists in
the State, sensitize the general masses, government departments, NGO's etc about eco-tourism and
laying down the framework for its growth in the State in a sustainable manner.

Objectives of Rajasthan Ecotourism Policy 2010

The main objectives of the Eco-Tourism Policy are as follows:

• To promote Eco-tourism in specified area of the National Parks /Sanctuaries/ forests and other
areas as a conservation and educational tool.

• To encourage Eco-tourists to visit, enjoy and appreciate the nature on sustainable basis.

• To enhance the awareness about the need for nature conservation among the masses.

• To preserve the existing forts, palaces and other heritage buildings by providing access to Eco-
tourists for educational and recreational purposes.

• To empower local communities to manage Eco-Tourism and generate incentives for

conservation through alternate and additional basis.

• To enhance the awareness about the need for nature conservation among the masses.

• To preserve the existing forts, palaces and other heritage buildings by providing access to Eco-
tourists for educational and recreational purposes.

• To empower local communities to manage Eco-Tourism and generate incentives for

conservation through alternate and additional livelihood options.

30
 Rajasthan Eco-Tourism Policy 2010

Guiding Principles

The development and management of eco-tourism in the State will he governed hs the following
guiding principles:

• The provisions of various Acts related to Forests and Environment like Rajasthan Forest Act,
1953. Wildlife Protection Act 1972. Forest Conservation Act, 1980, Environment Protection Act,
1986. etc and the directives and guidelines issued by the Central State Government from time to
time shall he strictly followed

• The state shall endeavour to follow international quality standards in develop and operating the
ecotourism facilities and programmes.

• The quality of experience shall be given preference over the number of visitors

• The ecotourism activities will be carried out on sustainable basis.

Strategies

• The emphasis shall be given to provide maximum possible benefit to the local communities, like
village forest protection and management committees (VFPMCs)/eco-development committees
(EDCs), engaged in conservation and development of forests and wildlife areas.

• Multi stakeholder partnership in developing and operating facilities and activities to be

encouraged. Development and operation to be undertaken either solely by the government
agency concerned or in partnership with the local community and private enterprises,
depending upon the specific requirements and the category under which the destination area
falls.

• Capacity building of government staff, local community, tourism entrepreneurs and other
stakeholders through regular training programmes exposure visits seminars and workshops
etc. shall be done on priority basis.

Activities Permissible under Eco-tourism

The following activities are permissible:

• Safari in vehicles or animal back to observe wildlife and nature along designated paths.

• Trekking /nature walk through designated paths

31
 Rajasthan Eco-Tourism Policy 2010

• Boating/River cruising to view wildlife and nature

• Overnight camping in designated sites / forts/palaces:

• Bird watching and study of flora & fauna

• Nature camps for students to create awareness

• Angling

Policy Implementation

• Rajasthan Eco-tourism Development Society to be created for implementation of Rajasthan

Ecotourism Policy 2010.

Rajasthan Eco-tourism Development Society: Salient Features

• Chairmanship of Forest Minister of Rajasthan.

• The society shall consist of following:

o GENERAL BODY with state forest minister as president for overall policy guidance and
direction

o EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: with principal secretary/secretary forest department,

Rajasthan as chairman

32
 Forests: Introduction

Forests: Introduction

The forests of Rajasthan cover approximately an area of 32,737 sq km which is 9.57% of the total
geographical area of the state. The state has teak forests, which is northern most limit of teak zone in
India. Apart from meeting the fuel-wood and fodder demand, forest resources of Rajasthan contribute
Rs.7160 million to the state domestic product (SDP).

The forests of Rajasthan are spread unequally in Northern, Southern, Eastern and South Eastern parts,
and the western region of Rajasthan is devoid of any forest cover. Most of the forests are in hilly
regions of Udaipur, Rajasamand, Kota, Baran Sawai Madhopur, Chittorgarh, Sirohi, Bundi, Alwar,
Jhalawar and Banswara districts.

However, The extent of Natural Forests in Rajasthan is not only one of the lowest in the country but
also in terms of productivity of forest, it is the lowest. On the contrary The State is endowed with the
largest chunk of wasteland, which is about 20% of the total wastelands of the country.

Land Utilization in Rajasthan

33
S.NO Land Use Area (in Lakh Hectare) Percentage

1 Net Sown Area 181.69 53

2 Area under Forests 27.53 8.03

3 Non Agricultural Uses 19.69 5.74

4 Permanent Pastures & other grazing land 16.70 4.87

5 Land under Misc. trees & grooves 0.22 0.06

6 Culturable Wasteland 38.31 11.18

7 Fallow Lands (other than current fallow) 19.83 5.79

8 Current Fallows 14.91 4.35

Reporting Area for Land Utilization 3,42,7900 100

** Based on Rajasthan Economic Review 2018 by GOR, published in 2019

34
 Administrative Classification

Administrative Classification

As per Forest Survey of India, State of Forest report 2019, (ISFR 2019 ) Rajasthan has recorded forest area
of about 32,737 square kms. This forest area forms 9.57% of state's geographical area and about 4.28%
of India's forest area.

On Basis of Legal Status:

On the basis of Legal status, the Government has classified this forest area into three types:

• Reserved Forests - 12,475 Sq. Kms

• Protected Forests - 18,217 Sq. Kms

• Unclassified Forests - 2,045 Sq. Kms

Reserved Forest:

• These forests are under the direct supervision of the government.

• No public entry is allowed for collection of timber or grazing of cattle.

• Rajasthan has 12,475 sq kms or 38% of forest as Reserved Forest.

Protected Forest:

• These forests are looked after by the government, but the local people are allowed to collect
fuel-wood/timber and graze their cattle without causing serious damage to the forests.

• Rajasthan has 18,217 sq kms or 55% of forest area under Protected Forests.

Unclassified Forest:

• The unclassified forests are those in which there is no restriction on the cutting of trees and
grazing of cattle.

• Rajasthan has 2045 sq kms or 7% of area has Unclassified forests.

35
 Administrative Classification

ISFR 2019 Rajasthan: Classification based on Canopy Density

The Forest Survey of India (FSI), brings out bi-annual state of forests report. The ISFR 2019 Rajasthan
report, the FSI classifies forest as:

• Very Dense Forests ( VDF) - 0.02%

• Moderately Dense Forests (MDF) - 1.27%

• Open Forests (OF) - 3.57%

• Scrubs - 1.39%

• Non-Forest Area- 93.75%

36
 Administrative Classification

Very Dense Forests (VDF):

• The Lands with forest cover having a canopy density of 70% and more are called Very Dense
Forests (VDF).

• In Rajasthan, there are only 77.81 Sq kms of very dense forests.

• Percentage VDF: 0.02% of Geographical Area.

Moderately Dense Forests (MDF):

• The Land with forest cover having a canopy density of 40-70% is called the Moderately Dense
Forest (MDF).

• In Rajasthan, there are only 4341.90 Sq kms of moderately dense forests.

• Percentage MDF: 1.27% of Geographical Area.

Open Forests (OF):

• The Lands with forest cover having canopy density of 10-40% are called Open Forests.

• In Rajasthan, there are only 12,209.80 Sq kms of open forests.

• Percentage OF: 3.57% of Geographical Area.

Scrubs:

• The degraded forest lands which have a Canopy density of less than 10% are called Scrubs.

• In Rajasthan, there are about 4760.04 Sq kms of scrubs.

• Percentage Scrubs: 1.39% of Geographical Area.

Non-Forest Area:

• Rest of the area, included all other lands except forest area.

• Percentage Non-Forest: 93.75%

37
 Administrative Classification

ISFR 2019 Rajasthan: Altitude-wise Forest Cover in Rajasthan

The report also identifies, variation of forests with altitude:

38
 Administrative Classification

Important Terms to understand:

Forest Cover:

• Forest Cover All lands which are more than 1 hectare in area and with a Canopy density of
more than 10% irrespective of the ownership and legal status is called Forest Cover.

Recorded Forest Area:

• The area recorded as “forests” in the Government records is called Forest Area or Recorded
Forest Area.

Canopy and Canopy Density

• The cover of branches and Foliage formed by the crown of trees is called Canopy. The
percentage area of land covered by the canopy of trees is called Canopy density.

District-wise Forest Cover of Rajasthan

Top 5 Districts with Forest Cover:

1. Udaipur (Most)
2. Alwar
3. Pratapgarh
4. Baran
5. Chittaurgarh

Last 5 Districts with Forest Cover:

• 33 - Churu (Least)
rd

• 32 - Hanumangarh
nd

• 31 - Jodhpur
st

• 30 - Dausa
th

• 29 – Nagaur
th

* Based on ISFR – 2019: Rajasthan released in December 2019

39
 Types of Forests

Types of Forests

The forests of Rajasthan can be divided into below broad forest types.

• Tropical Thorn Forests,

• Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests,

• Bamboo-Forests

• Central India Sub-tropical hill forests.

• Mixed Miscellaneous Forests

Tropical Thorn Forests of Rajasthan

• Tropical thorn forests are found in arid and semi-arid regions of western Rajasthan, namely
Jodhpur, Pali, Jalore, Barmer, Nagaur, Churu, Bikaner etc.

• These extend from western Indo -Park border and gradually merge with the dry deciduous
mixed forests of the Aravalli hills and the south-eastern plateau.

• The main species found in this kind of forests are Acacia nilotica , Acacia leucophloea,
Prosopis cineraria, Capparis aphylla, Zizyphus spp., Flacourtia spp. etc.

Tropical Dry Deciduous (Dhol) Forests

• These forests are mostly found in small patches in few parts of the state. the northern and
eastern slopes of aravalli ranges, mostly in Alwar, Bharatpur and Dholpur districts, are covered
with this type of forests.

• Sporadic growth of certain species of dry deciduous forests is found along the dry river beds of
Jalore, Nagaur, Ganaganagar and Bikaner, districts.

• The main species found in this kind of forests are Babul

40
 Types of Forests

Bamboo Forests

• Bamboo covers about 2.5% of the area occurring mostly in Chittorgarh, Udaipur, Kota & Abu
hills.

Central Indian Sub - tropical Hill Forests

• These forests which are most abundant in central India, as in Madhya Pradesh, parts of Gujarat
and Maharashtra, are found in Sirohi district of Rajasthan also, mostly on the hills girding Mt.
Abu.

• These forests have semi-evergreen and some evergreen species of trees.

• The vegetation of Mt. Abu consists of many plants which are similar to the sub - tropical region
of Himalayas. Around Mt. Abu, they are well represented between 700 to 800 m altitudes.

Mixed Miscellaneous Forests

• These forests are mostly found in south-eastern and eastern part of Rajasthan
including Chittorgarh, Kota, Udaipur, Sirohi, Banswara, Dungarpur, Baran and Jhalawar
distrists.

• Average rainfall in these forest is more than 60cm and cover approximately 20% of the forest
cover.

• These Forests mainly have Anogeissus pendula, Anogeissus latifolia, Terminalia tomentosa,
Terminalia arjuna , Terminalia chebula, Albizia lebbeck, Dalbergia paniculata etc. and its
associates.

41
 Types of Forests

Champion & Seth classification (1968)

The Indian State of Forest Report 2019 classifies forests of India, based on Champion & Seth
classification (1968). According to this forests of Rajasthan can be classified into following types:

42
 State Forest Policy 2010

State Forest Policy 2010

In February 2010, the State Government notified The Rajasthan State Forest Policy 2010 mainly with the
objectives of protecting, conserving and developing natural forest. While committing to achieve the
National Policy mandate of 33% forest cover, the state policy envisages a realistic target of 20% forest
cover. However, the grassland ecosystem of desert plains besides orans and gauchars together with the
tree cover of agro ecosystem can make it closer to the national goal.

The 5% geographical area of existing forests of the state is required to be set apart for conservation of
biodiversity including wildlife resources in the state as per this policy.

Objectives:

The basic objectives of state forest policy of Rajasthan are as follows:

• Protecting, conserving and developing natural forest in Rajasthan with active participation of
local community.
• Increasing the productivity of forests through appropriate management interventions and use
of modern technology to meet the needs of present as well as future generations.
• Combating desertification and preventing all kinds of land degradation.
• Conservating floral and natural diversity and gene pool reserve through a network of protected
areas.
• Empowering the village communities for sustainable management of forest under join forest
management system.
• The principal aim of forest policy is environmental stability and ecological security through
increasing vegetate cover, which will lead to reduction in stratospheric temperature, is likely to
increase the possibility of rains.

Principles of Forest Management

The objectives of state forest policy will be achieved by adoption following broad principles:

• Protecting existing forests

• Participation of local communities in forest management.
• Following people centric approach for declaration of wildlife protected areas.

43
 State Forest Policy 2010

• Drought proofing through afforestation & Pasture development.

• State forest department is custodian of forest resources that belong to people but at the same
time has obligation to protect ecosystem.
• Co-ordination with different government departments and institutions.
• Transparent, responsive and accountable forest administration.

44
 Sacred Groves in Rajasthan

Sacred Groves in Rajasthan

It is estimated that about 25,000 sacred groves and other sanctified ecosystems, varying in size between
0.1 ha. To 500 ha., are in existence in Rajasthan. Of these, nearly 5,370 sq. kilometers are orans lie in the
Thar Desert. Some big 'orans' are Bhadriyaji in Jaisalmer district that covers about 15000 hectares area
and Kundla's Oran in Barmer district that covers about 7500 hectares.

Sacred groves are known under various names in Rajasthan as:

• Banis of Mewar,
• Kenkris of Ajmer,
• Orans of Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Bikaner,
• Shamlat Dehs and Devbanis of Alwar
• Baag in south-eastern Rajasthan regions.

Sacred groves or Orans shade, fuel wood, fodder and even food and livelihood for humans and
animals. Local communities control them in a complex management system and they have played an
important role in the ecology, politics and history of Rajasthan.

The Orans of the Bishnois in Jodhpur are famous for the protection accorded to the Blackbuck and the
Khejri (Indian Mesquite/Prosopis cineraria) tree, which are sacred to the Bishnois.

Delineation of an Oran is conducted during a ceremony called Doodh Jal or Kesar Chaanta, when
boundaries of the sacred grove is marked by pouring Ganga water or saffron milk around a specific
area within the forest, which is thereafter declared as an Oran or Dev bani (God’s forest).

Types of Sacred groves in Rajasthan

Deep N.Pandey and his team in their paper “Sacred Forestry: The Case of Rajasthan, India”, have classified
the sacred areas into:

• Sacred groves
• Sacred corridors
o Locally protected riverbanks by villagers in the name of Lord Shiva
• Temple forests

45
 Sacred Groves in Rajasthan

o Temple forests are managed and maintained to serve the temple. This may include
economic, ecological, social and religious functions.
• Sacred gardens
o Baugs or garden planted near settlements for fruit, fodder, fuelwood, medicine, NTFPs
and shade.
• Inhabited groves

Protection of Sacred grooves:

In 1730, King of Jodhpur ordered his soldiers to cut the 'Khezri' (Prosospis cineraria) tree in village
Khezadali in 1730 AD. The villagers from the Bishnoi community, led by Amrita Devi, had protested
the move. Amrita Devi embraced a tree, followed by her three daughters. In all, 363 people were
martyred in order to save these trees.

Gujjar community of Rajasthan use to plant 'Neem' (Azadirachta indica) and worship it as Neem-god.
A Gujjar settlement normally starts near a water source or along a stream or river. Initially few houses
are constructed and neem saplings procured from varying sources are planted in the enclosure around
the hut, and worshiped it as the abode of God Deonarayan (Gold and Gujar, 1989)

46
 Wildlife: Introduction

Wildlife: Introduction

Though a large percentage of the total area of Rajasthan is desert and there is little forest cover,
Rajasthan has a rich and variety of animal and plant species. The state has over 2000 plant species, 87
species of mammals, 114 species of fish, over 500 species of birds and about 81 species of reptiles.

Due to vast size and latitudinal variations above the sea level of 1,700m there is a varied vegetation.
From semi green forests which are witnessed in the region of Mount Abu to dry grasslands of the
desert near Jaisalmer and Jodhpur, from dry deciduous thorn forest of Aravali to wetlands of
Bharatpur; the varied topography constructs such different natural habitats for many endangered
species and attracts many migratory birds.

The Big Cats of India

Felidae is the biological family of cats and member of this family is called Felid. There are five species
of big cats found in India. The big cats of India are:

• Asiatic lion
• Bengal tiger
• Snow Leopard (found in Himalayas)
• Clouded Leopard (found in Himalayan foothills, China)
• Indian Leopard

Species Taxonomy

In 1816, Lorenz Oken named Panthera genus with the Felidae family and placed all the spotted cats in
this group. The Panthera genus includes:

• Tiger - Panthera Tigris

o There are 6 sub-species of Tiger.
o Out of them, Bengal Tiger is found in India
• Lion - Panther Leo
• Jaguar - Panthera Onca
• Leopard - Panthera Pardus
• Snow Leopard - Panthera Unca

47
 Wildlife: Introduction

Other Species:

Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) are found only in Africa, and in Iran (only about 50 asiatic Cheetah left in
Iran). Asiatic cheetah became extinct in India in the 1950s. Three of the last Asiatic cheetahs recorded
from India were shot down in 1947, by Maharaja Ramanuj Pratap Singh Deo of Koriya. Government of
India is working towards reintroduction of Cheetah in India.

Leaf Nosed bats

A species of the bats identified as leaf-nosed bat (Hipposideros Fulvus), aboriginal to the Thar desert, has
been re-sighted by a group of zoological researchers roosting in ancient caves at Daijar near Jodhpur. The
bat specie has been re-sighted after 37 years, last being not reported since 1979 in the Thar. There are 25
species of bats are reported in Rajasthan, of which 17 are found in the Thar desert.

Mahseer

A double bench of Justice Vinit Mathur and Justice Govind Mathur of the High Court, has issued
directions to Rajasthan government to take necessary steps towards conservation of endangered
'Mahaseer' fish in Udaipur Lakes and all other places in Rajasthan.

There was abundance of Mahaseer in reservoirs connected with Chambal and Mahi river system. In
southern Rajasthan, waters connected with Bedach river basin had abundance of Mahseer some three-
four decades ago, but now, there is little trace of them. Presently, Mahaseer fish is found only in the
lake Badi of Udaipur.

48
 Endangered Species

Endangered Species

S.NO Species Name Districts

1 Tiger Sawai Madhopur, Alwar

2 Leopard All Rajasthan

3 Sloth Bear Sawai Madhopur, Dholpur, Jalore

4 Common Giant Flying Squirrel Sita Mata WLS, Pratapgarh | Fulwari ki Naal WLS, Udaipur

5 Three Striped Palm Squirrel Fulwari ki Naal WLS, Udaipur

6 Smooth Indian Otter Ghana (Bharatpur), Chambal River

Chousingha or Four Horned

7 Kumbhalgarh WLS
Antelope

8 Mouse Deer Fulwari ki Naal WLS, Udaipur

9 Gangetic Dolphin Chambal River

10 Caracal Sariska NP,Alwar | Ranthambore NP, Sawai madhopur

Sariska NP,Alwar | Ranthambore NP, Sawai madhopur |

11 Ratel
Pratapgarh

12 Fishing Cat Ghana (Bharatpur)

13 Rusty Spotted Cat Sariska NP, Alwar | Sajjangarh WLS, Udaipur

14 Amur Falcon Mount Abu

15 Brown Cheeked fulvetta Mount Abu

16 Malabar Whistling Thrush Mount Abu

17 Indian Yellow Tit South Rajasthan

18 White Naped Tit Mid & South Rajasthan

49
 Endangered Species

19 Orange Headed Thrush South Rajasthan

20 Indian Blackbird South Rajasthan

21 Indian Purple Rumped Sunbird Udaipur, Banswara

22 Black headed Munia Ghana(Bharatpur), Udaipur

23 Green Avadavat Kumbhalgarh, Mount Abu

24 Grey Jungle Fowl Kumbhalgarh, Todagrah-Raoli, Phulwari & Mount Abu WLS

25 Painted Spurfowl Vindhyanchal hills & Sariska

26 Aravalli Red Spurfowl South Rajasthan

27 Siberian Crane Ghana (Bharatpur)

28 Red Whiskered Bulbul Mount Abu

29 Great Indian Bustard National Desert Park, Jaisalmer

30 White Rumped Vulture All Rajasthan

31 Indian Vulture South Rajasthan

32 Red-headed Vulture South-East Rajasthan

33 Slender Racer Snake Udaipur

34 Dumeril's Black-headed Snake Khumbhalgarh |Udaipur

35 Green Keelback Snake South Rajasthan

36 Isaballine South Rajasthan

37 Ghariyal Chambal River WLS

38 Common Tree Frog Bansi, Sita Mata WLS Pratapgarh

39 Giant Wood Spider Sita Mata WLS, Pratapgarh | Fulwari ki Naal WLS, Udaipur

50
 Great Indian Bustard

Great Indian Bustard

Great Indian Bustard (GIB) is a large bird with a horizontal body and long bare legs, giving it an ostrich
like appearance, this bird is among the heaviest of the flying birds. The GIB lost to the peacock in the
race to become national bird of India. Now it is on the verge of extinction due to modernization of
agriculture practises and rapid infrastructural developments. Rajasthan government in collaboration
with the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), is formulating a long-term plan to save its state bird, The Great
Indian Bustard (GIB) from extinction.

GIB Habitat:

• GIB was formerly widespread in India and Pakistan. Presently, 75% of GIB are found in Thar
region of Rajasthan, and remaining in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pardesh.

Conservation Status:

• GIB is listed in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection)Act, 1972.

• GIB is also in the CMS Convention and in Appendix I of CITES.
• GIB has been classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
• GIB also forms part of the National Wildlife Action Plan (2002-2016).
• It has also been identified as one of the species for the recovery programme under the
Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats of the Ministry of Environment and Forests,
Government of India.

Protected Areas dedicated to conservation of GIB:

• Rajasthan:

o Desert National Park, Jaisalmer

• Gujarat

o Coastal grasslands of the Abdasa and Mandvi

o Naliya Sanctuary in Kutch (Only six Great Indian Bustards left )

51
 Great Indian Bustard

• Madhya Pradesh

o Karera Wildlife Sanctuary - The species disappeared from Madhya Pardesh in early 90s'.

• Maharashtra

o Nannaj Grasslands, Solapur

Threats to GIB

• The biggest threat to this species is hunting, which is still prevalent in Pakistan.
• Habitat loss and alteration as a result of widespread agricultural expansion.
• Occasional poaching outside Protected Areas.
• Collisions with high tension electric wires.
• Fast moving vehicles.
• Free-ranging dogs in villages.
• Wind-Mills

Conservation of GIB in Rajasthan

Rajasthan Government initiated "Project Great Indian Bustard", on World Environment Day 2013,
identifying and fencing off bustard breeding grounds in existing protected areas as well as provide
secure breeding enclosures in areas outside protected areas.

Humane Society International (India), Wildlife Institute of India and Rajasthan forest department are
conducting a dog population survey on the outskirts of Jaisalmer as controlling the population of stray
dogs is critical to the survival of the Great Indian Bustard. The dog census is being carried out in the
critical GIB habitat in the Thar region of Rajasthan.

In 2015, Dr. Pramod Patil won green Oscar for efforts in conservation of GIB.

Issues in Conservation:

The GIB habitat improvement and conservation breeding programme, to be implemented by the Wildlife
Institute of India (WII) in collaboration with the Gujarat, Rajasthan and Maharashtra forest

52
 Great Indian Bustard

departments, proposes to collect eggs from the wild, transport these to Kutch to build a breeding
population and subsequently release captive-bred birds. The Union Government has sanctioned Rs 35
crore for five years under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority
(CAMPA) for the project.

Now, Rajasthan Government had decided not to send eggs to Kutch. Instead, the state forest
department has been asked to request the Centre for a breeding and research centre for Rajasthan’s
state bird near Jaisalmer in the Desert National Park (DNP). Rajasthan considers that conservation
efforts in Gujarat are not efficient as it has lost 90% of its population of GIB in last decade, further
Rajasthan has the maximum number of GIB's and so breeding center should come in Rajasthan only.

The experts consider that being close to the coast, the site chosen in Mandvi, Kutch, provides the ideal
moisture, temperature and vegetation throughout the year to maximise egg laying in GIB. Jaisalmer
might not be the optimal location for a breeding centre because it is too dry and hot to ensure
productivity.

A similar tussle between Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh appeared to have resolved in April 2013 when
the Supreme Court ordered relocation of a few lion prides from the Gir forest to the Kuno wildlife
sanctuary to ensure that the endangered species is not confined to a single location. But no action has
been taken so far.

Installation of Windmills in Desert National Park

National Green Tribunal (NGT) in September 2016 banned installation of windmills near Desert
National Park (DNP) to protect the Great Indian Bustard. NGT had ordered ban on installation of
windmills until the notification of the Eco Sensitive Zone (ESZ) around the park was finalized.
Hence, NGT had asked the state government to declare 3,162 sq km around DNP as an eco-sensitive
zone. However, the ESZ has still not been notified and installation of windmills continue endangered
the population of bustard.

What is to be done?

In between all the politics, rights of states, it the GIB that is losing its count everyday. The project
requires an agreement between the three states and WII and they need to work together as time is
running out for the GIB.

53
 Tigers in Rajasthan

Tigers in Rajasthan

The Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) is a native tiger species of the Indian subcontinent. Tigers are at
the top of the food chain, often referred to as “umbrella species" and play a vital role in regulating and
perpetuating ecological processes.

Monitoring the status of tigers, along with associated biodiversity of the encompassing ecosystem, is
important to assess our success at meeting the commitment of conserving our natural heritage.

Number of Tigers in Rajasthan

As per the Tigers in India 2018 Report, Rajasthan has witnessed an increase of tiger population by 115%
in the last 12 years. As per the Report there are at present 69 tigers in the State, compared to 45 in 2014,
36 in 2010 and 32 in the 2006 estimation. Rajasthan stands at 9th position in India, in terms of Tiger
Population.

In order to avoid human-wildlife conflict, relocating excess tigers and increasing the carrying capacity
of reserves, the Rajasthan forest department is mulling to develop more habitats for big cats. The
department is planning to introduce tigers in forest areas, such as Ramgarh Vishdhari, Shergarh,
Kumbhalgarh, Rawli Toadgarh, Jhiri in Dholpur, Khetri Bansiyal in Jhunjhunu, Sultanpur in Bundi and
Shahbad in Baran.

Tiger Reserves in Rajasthan

Rajasthan has 3 Tiger Reserves under Project Tiger. These are:

• Sariska Tiger Reserve

• Ranthambore Tiger Reserve

• Mukundara Hills Tiger Reserve

Out of the three, Ranthambore Tiger Reserve has the maximum big cats.

54
 Tigers in Rajasthan

Ranthambore Tiger Reserve

Ranthambhore was established as the Sawai Madhopur Game Sanctuary in 1955 by the Government of
India and was declared one of the Project Tiger reserves in 1973. Ranthambhore became a national park
on 1 November 1980. In 1984, the adjacent forests were declared the Sawai Man Singh
Sanctuary and Kailadevi Wildlife Sanctuary, and in 1991 the tiger reserve was enlarged to include the
Sawai Man Singh and Kailadevi sanctuaries.

• Core Zone or ‘Critical Tiger Habitat’:

o Ranthambore National Park

• Buffer Zone:

o Kailadevi Wildlife Sanctuary

o Sawai Mansingh Wildlife Sanctuary

During the last few years the tiger population has grown significantly and the management is
experiencing the problem of territorial fights among male tiger as main habitat area is not sufficient for
growing populations of male tigers. Currently, Ranthambore has the highest population of tigers,
among the 3 tiger reserves in Rajasthan.

55
 Tigers in Rajasthan

Mukundhara Hills Tiger Reserve:

After Ranthambhore and Sariska, Mukundara Hills Tiger Reserve is a third big cat habitat in Rajasthan.
The Mukundara Hills Tiger Reserve is spread across four districts-Kota, Bundi, Chittorgarh and
Jhalawar-covering an area of 759 square kms. It boasts of a core area of 417 square kms and a buffer
zone covering 342.82 square kms. The reserve is a combination of three wildlife sanctuaries namely:

• Darrah wildlife sanctuary,

• National Chambal wildlife sanctuary
• Jawahar Sagar wildlife sanctuary.

In 2017, after approvals, the department started reintroduction of Tigers in Mukundhara hills tiger
reserve from Ranthambore.

Tiger Corridors in Rajasthan

Tiger corridors have been mandated under section 38V of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. In such
tiger corridors there are no restrictions on people’s activities, except illegal mining.

In February 2019, there was news that the straying T-98 tiger of Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve (RTR) in
Sawai Madhopur district of Rajasthan has wandered into the Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve (MHTR) of
Kota through the natural tiger corridor existing between the two reserves. After arrival of T-98, now
there are 3 Tigers at the MHTR including a tiger named MT-1 and a tigress, MT-2.

There are two tiger corridors between RTR and MHTR, but they do not have legal status as
conservation reserves.

• Corridor 1: Extends from Lesoda village in Sawai Madhopur to Bagli village in Kota and ends
in Gagron region of Jhalawar district along the Kali Sindh river.

• Corrdidor 2: Spreads to Lakheri, Ramgarh Vishdhari Sanctuary and Jawahar Sagar Sanctuary in
Bundi district, and meets MHTR.

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 Tigers in Rajasthan

Rajasthan Madhya Pradesh Tiger Corridor

Ranthambhore-Kuno-Madhav tiger corridor has been identified as one of the 32 major tiger corridors in
the country by NTCA.

Upcoming Tiger Reserves in Rajasthan (in Plan Stage only)

Kumbhalgarh Tiger Reserve

Rajasthan forest department has initiated the process to upgrade Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary in
Rajsamand district into another tiger reserve. Tiger Reserve will include Kumbhalgarh Wildlife
Sanctuary, Todgarh-Raoli Wildlife Sanctuary and adjoining forest areas. The area of the proposed
reserve is 1280.49 square km, out of which 355.25 square km will be the core area and 925 square km as
buffer area in phase I.

Ramgarh Vishdhari

Rajasthan is poised to get its fourth tiger reserve with the forest department deliberating on upgrading
the Ramgarh Vishdhari wildlife sanctuary. The total area of 1017 sqkm that has been identified as the
reserve area comprising two forest blocks of Bhilwara, territorial forest block of Bundi and Indargarh,
which falls under buffer zone of Ranthambore Tiger Reserve (RTR). The state government has been
advised to send proposal by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).

57
 Leopard

Leopard

The Indian Leopard, locally referred to as Baghera, is the only sub-species of Leopards in Rajasthan. In
2017, Rajasthan became the first state in the country to launch a project to conserve leopards. The
leopards of Bera in Rajasthan, have been living in harmony with humans for decades and is often
presented as an example story of mutual love and respect between leopards and human beings.

Taxonomy of Leopard

Leopard (Panthera pardus) is one of the five extant species in the genus Panthera, a member of the
Felidae family. Addtionally, Nine sub-species of the leopard have been recognized, and they are
distributed across Africa and Asia. Out of them, Rajasthan has the prominent presence of The Indian
Leopard (Panthera pardus fusca) sub-species.

Sub-Species of Leopards found in India:

• Snow Leopard - found in Himalayas

• Clouded Leopard - found in Himalayan foothills, China.

• Indian Leopard - found across Indian sub-continent.

Population of Leopards in Rajasthan

According to 2015 wildlife census, there are 434 leopards in the state. However, according to the
wildlife census 2018 (by waterhole method of estimation) conducted by the Forest Department of
Rajasthan, the number of leopards in Rajasthan has been estimated at 635 with 420 being residing
inside protected areas & 215 being outside protected areas.

Leopard population in Protected Areas:

• Jawai Bandh Conservation Reserve - 30

• Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary - 131
• Mount Abu - 48
• Sitamata Wildlife Sanctuary - 42
• Todgarh Raoli Wildlife Sanctuary - 47

58
 Leopard

• Panther Conservation Reserve: Sumerpur – 30

Decline in Population

As per a NEWS in HT, around 20 leopards have been killed between 2014 and 2016 in accidents or by
humans when they strayed into human habitations or agricultural fields. According to the data
provided by the Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI), 45 leopards died in 2019, nine less than the
2018 figure.

Conservation Efforts for Leopards in Rajasthan

The Indian Leopard is an endangered animal under schedule one of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
It is also listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List because populations have declined following
habitat loss and fragmentation, poaching for the illegal trade of skins and body parts, and persecution
due to conflict situations.

Project Leopard in Rajasthan

In 2017, Rajasthan has become the first state in India to launch a project to conserve leopards by
improving their prey base, mitigating conflicts with humans and controlling poaching. Initially, the
project was planned to implement in 8 wildlife sanctuaries. These were:

• Jaisamand Sanctuary in Udaipur,

• Shergarh Sanctuary in Baran,
• Bassi Sanctuary in Chittorgarh,
• Kumbhalgarh Sanctuary-Raoli Todgarh Sanctuary ,
• Mount Abu Sanctuary
• Sundamata Conservation Reserve (Sirohi and Jalore),
• Jhalana Aamagarh Conservation Reserve in Jaipur,
• Jawai Conservation Reserve in Pali and
• Khetri Bansyal Conservation Reserve in Jhunjhunu.

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 Leopard

However, later it was decided to implement the Project Leopard on pilot basis on three protected areas
only. These are:

• Jaisamand Sanctuary in Udaipur,

• Kumbhalgarh Sanctuary-Raoli Todgarh Sanctuary ,
• Jhalana Aamagarh Conservation Reserve in Jaipur,

Eventually, Project Leopard started in 2018 with the inauguration of the ‘Leopard Reserve’ at Jhalana
forest. Now, it is being planned to extend to other protected areas. Proposal of seven more leopard
projects in the state including Kumbhalgarh, Jaisamnad, Shergarh, Mount Abu, Khetri, Jawai Baandh
Conservation Reserve and Bassi are under consideration.

The project aims to mitigate man-leopard conflict, conserve leopard population by countering the
threats the predator’s faces and create goodwill between local communities and leopards. Additionally,
in conserving leopards, the project will also boost conservation of bears, lesser cats, other smaller
mammals and prey species, and support leopard conservation through capacity building, research and
monitoring.

Steering Committee on Project Leopard:

The steering committee of Project Leopard will be chaired by forest minister; principal chief
conservator of the forest will be the vice-chairman, chief wildlife warden, and member secretary.
Directors of eight leopard sanctuaries, chief conservator of forest of those areas and wildlife experts
will be members of the committee. This committee will report to the state board of wildlife.

Central conflict management command center

There will also be a central conflict management command center which will work as call center to
register, monitor calls and use mobile app to implement rescue missions.

Conservation Issues of Leopards:

• The biggest threats facing the common leopard in India are increasing conflict with
humans. Pressure is exerted on protected areas by grazing livestock, extraction of fodder,

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 Leopard

timber and non-timber forest products and illegal occupation. These lead to human-animal
conflict inside forests.

• Leopards also die due to accidents on roads passing through and around protected areas.

• Poaching for illegal trade in body parts and loss of habitat.

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 Sloth Bear

Sloth Bear

There are actually three types of bear found mostly in India:

• Himalayan Black bear

• Brown Bear

• Sloth Bear

Out of these, Sloth Bear, is a nocturnal (activity during the night and sleeping during the day), insectivorous
bear species native to the Indian subcontinent. In Gujarati it is called as Reechh & in Hindi as Bhalu.
Identified as vulnerable species by IUCN, Sloth bears are the most widespread bear species in
India. They like honey too. They are visible on the roads near the forest area at night. They are usually
harmless and do not attack those even two metres away, but they can get ferocious if there are young
cubs.
The major bear sanctuaries in India for conservation of sloth bears are:

1. Daroji bear sanctuary, Karnataka.

2. Gudekote bear sanctuary (created recently) in Karnataka.
3. Jessore bear sanctuary, Gujarat.

Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary:

Mount Abu wildlife sanctuary is located in Aravalli Ranges of Mount Abu. Declared a wildlife
sanctuary in 1980, presently it has leopard has apex predator and other animals including sambhar,
jungle cat, small Indian civet, wolf, hyaena, jackal, Indian fox, common langur, wild boar, pangolin,
common mongoose, Indian hare, porcupine and hedgehog. However, the location is also ideal for sloth
bear. After a census exercise this year, the forest department estimated that there are about 350 sloth bears in Mt
Abu. Even though the Jessore Sanctuary is named after the sloth bear, the numbers of these creatures are higher in
the Mt Abu area. (the recent news).

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 Sloth Bear

Jessore Widlife Sanctuary

Jessore Sanctuary is situated in the Banaskantha district in Gujarat at the Gujarat-Rajasthan

border. The complete area between Mount Abu and Jessore wildlife sanctuary is home to them. Apart
from sloth bear, other fauna reported in the sanctuary are leopard, sambar, blue bull, wild boar,
porcupine, and a variety of birds.

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 District Mascots of Rajasthan

District Mascots of Rajasthan

To create awareness about animals and birds, each of the 33 districts of Rajasthan has been represented
by an animal mascot. The forest department published news regarding district mascots of each district
of Rajasthan in March 2016: Below is the list:

DISTRICT Mascot DISTRICT Macot

Ajmer Kharmor bird Jhalore Bear

Alwar Sambar deer Jhalawar Gagroni Parrot

Banswara Bronze winged Jacana Jhunjhunu Kala teetar

Baran Indian Crocodile (Mugger) Jodhpur Demoiselle Cranes

Barmer Fox Karauli Ghariyal

Bharatpur Sarus Crane Kota Mongoose

Bikaner Sandgrouse Nagaur Rajhans

Bhilwara Peacock Pali Panther

Bundi Golden Pheasant Pratapgarh Flying Squirrel

Chittorgarh Gosingha Rajsamand Wolf

Churu Blackbuck Sawai Madhopur Tiger

Dausa Rabbit Sikar Shahen

Dholpur Indian Screamer Sirohi Jungli murgi

Dungarpur जांिघल (Painted Stork) Sri GangaNagar Chinkara

Hanumangarh Little KingFisher Tonk Hans

Jaipur Cheetal deer Udaipur kabr Bijju

Jaisalmer Great Indian Bustard- Godawan

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 Wildlife Protected Areas of Rajasthan

Wildlife Protected Areas of Rajasthan

Despite being a desert state, Rajasthan has good network of protected areas. Forests of Rajasthan are
also very rich in wildlife and contain a varied range of prey and predator animals. Some of the best
managed National Parks and Sanctuaries are located in the State. The State has two world heritage
wetlands, namely the Keoleodev National Park, Bharatpur and Sambhar lake.

In Desert belt of the State, large number of wildlife is generally sighted outside forest areas also.
Rajasthan also has the unique Desert National Park sanctuary.

This rich biodiversity thus attracts large number of tourists to Protected Areas of the State and has
become popular tourist destination with large number of historical forts, palaces and religious places
with heritage buildings.

Wildlife Protected Areas in Rajasthan

State of Rajasthan has following types of protected area:

• National Parks

• Wildlife Sanctuaries

• Conservation Reserves

• Community Reserves

• Tiger Reserves

• Ramsar Wetlands

Unfortunately, Rajasthan does not have any Biosphere Reserve (based on UNESCO’s Man and
Biosphere Program) and being land-locked does not have any marine protected area (MPA).

65
 National Parks in Rajasthan

National Parks in Rajasthan

Rajasthan is noted for its National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries. There are 5 National Parks in
Rajasthan, these are:

Summary Sheet:

S.N Year Est. National Park (NP) Main Wildlife Area Districts
(Sq.KM)

1 1980 Ranthambore NP 282 Sawai Madhopur

2 1981 Keoladeo Ghana NP 28.73 Bharatpur

3 1992 Sariska NP 273.8 Alwar

4 1992 Desert NP 3162 Jaisalmer, Barmer

5 2003 Mukundhara Hills (Darrah) NP 200.54 Kota, Chittorgarh

Ranthambore National Park

Ranthambore National Park is located in Sawai Madhopur, district of Rajasthan. It is situated at the
edge of a plateau and is bounded to the north by the Banas River and to the south by the Chambal
River. The park is spread over an area of 392 sq km.

Keoladeo Ghana National Park

Keoladeo Ghana National Park is recognised as one of the world’s most important breeding and
feeding grounds of birds. The area is home to about 353 species of birds. Keoladeo National Park is also
known as Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary or Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary.

Keoladeo Ghana was a royal hunting reserve during the 1850s and was a game reserve for Maharajas
and the British. The park was a hunting ground for the maharaja of Bharatpur, who turned his personal
hunting domain into a bird sanctuary in 1956. Apart from setting up the sanctuary Maharaja of
Bharatpur also built a dam and an artificial lake to store the water from monsoon rains.

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 National Parks in Rajasthan

The wetlands of Bharatpur were formed when Jat ruler Suraj Mal, who ruled the area between 1726
and 1763, flooded a natural depression by building the Ajan Bund. Water was fed into the marshes
twice a year from inundations of the Banganga (North) and Gambhir (South) rivers nearby. A well-
designed system of canals, sluices and dykes currently maintains the level of water in different blocks
of the park.

Timeline & International Importance:

• 1956 - Declared as Reserve Forest under Rajasthan Forest Act, 1953
• 1976- Declared as protected wildlife sanctuary.
• 1982 - National Park
• 1981 - Ramsar Wetland
• 1985 - UNESCO World heritage site
• 1990 - Came under Montreux Record.

Sariska National Park

Sariska is a wildlife refuge that was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1955. In 1978, it was included in
Project Tiger and given the status of a tiger reserve. In 1979 it was upgraded to National Park. Further,
16th-century Kankwadi fort, built by Jai Singh II, is also located near the centre of the park.

Sariska is famous for Bengal Tigers but other species such as such as the Indian leopard, striped hyena,
Indian jackal, chital, sambhar, nilgai, chinkara, four-horned antelope, wild boar, hare, hanuman
langur can also be found inside the park.

Desert National Park

Desert National Park displays the best of the Thar desert’s ecosystem and its varied wildlife. The Park
is formed of undulating sand dunes, jagged rocks, dense salt lake bottoms and inter-medial areas. The
highly endangered Great Indian Bustard, one of the world's heaviest flying birds, can also be seen here.
In winter, the park hosts an incredible variety of migratory raptors such Himalayan and Eurasian
Griffon Vultures, Eastern Imperial Eagle, and the Saker Falcon.

The Desert National Park (DNP) covers an area of 3162 km² of which 1900 km² is in Jaisalmer district
and remaining 1262 km² is in Barmer district of Rajasthan State.

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 National Parks in Rajasthan

The Desert National Park also has a collection of fossils of animals and plants of 180 million years old.
Some fossils of dinosaurs of 6 million years old have been found in the area.

Desert National Park (DNP) Timeline:

• 1980 - UNESCO World Heritage Site
• 1992 - National Park

Mukundhara Hills (Darrah) National Park

Mukundhara Hills (Darrah) National Park is situated between two parallel mountains viz. Mukundra
and Gagrola which run across a length of about 80 km (from Murlipura to Rawatbhata). After
Ranthambhore and Sariska, Mukundara Hills Tiger Reserve is a third big cat habitat in Rajasthan.

Timeline:
• 1955 - Darrah was declared a wildlife sanctuary ((Protected area)
• 2004 - Declared as Mukundra Hills National Park
• 2013 - Got approval from NTCA & declared as Tiger Reserve.

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 Wildlife Sanctuaries in Rajasthan

Wildlife Sanctuaries in Rajasthan

Wildlife Sanctuaries are areas within any reserve forest or the territorial waters, which is of adequate
ecological, faunal, floral, geomorphological, natural or zoological significance. The Sanctuary is
declared for the purpose of protecting, propagating or developing wildlife or its environment.
Rajasthan has 25 wildlife sanctuaries that are abode to its unique & diversified plant & animal life.

Wildlife Sanctuaries in Rajasthan: Summary

Year Wildlife Sanctuary Area

S.N Wildlife Districts
Est. (WLS) (Sq.KM)

1 1985 Band Baretha WLS 193 Bharatpur

2 1988 Bassi WLS 199.50 Chittorgarh

3 1983 Bhensrodgarh WLS 229.14 Chittorgarh

4 - Darrah WLS 80.75 Kota, Jhalawar

5 1955 Jaisamand WLS 52 Udaipur

6 1982 Jamwa Ramgarh WLS 300 Jaipur

7 1975 Jawahar Sagar WLS 153.41 Kota, Bundi, Chittorgarh

8 1983 Kailadevi WLS 676.38 Karauli, Sawai Madhopur

9 1955 Kesarbagh WLS 14.76 Dholpur

10 1988 Kumbhalgarh WLS 608.58 Pali, Rajsamand, Udaipur

11 1960 Mount Abu WLS 112 Sirohi

12 1980 Nahargarh WLS 50 Jaipur

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 Wildlife Sanctuaries in Rajasthan

Kota, Bundi, Sawai

13 1979 National Chambhal WLS 274.54 madhopur, Karoli,
Dholpur

14 1983 Phulwari ki Nal WLS 692.68 Udaipur, Pali

15 1982 Ramgarh Vishdhari WLS 252.79 Bundi

16 1955 Ramsagar WLS 34.40 Dholpur

17 1987 Sajjangarh WLS 5.19 Udaipur

18 1955 Sariska WLS 219 Alwar

19 - Sawai Madhopur WLS 131.3 Sawai Madhopur

20 1984 Sawai Mansingh WLS 103.30 Sawai Madhopur

21 1983 Shergarh WLS 98.71 Baran

22 1979 Sitamata WLS 422.94 Pratapgarh

23 1971 Tal Chappar WLS 17.19 Churu

24 1983 Todgarh Raoli WLS 495.27 Ajmer, Rajsamand, Pali

25 1955 Van Vihar WLS 25.6 Dholpur

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 Conservation Reserves in Rajasthan

Conservation Reserves in Rajasthan

Conservation Reserves can be declared by the State Governments in any area owned by the
Government, particularly the areas adjacent to National Parks and Sanctuaries and those areas which
link one Protected Area with another. Such declarations are made after having consultations with the
local communities.

Conservation Reserves in Rajasthan

Area
S.N Year Conservation Reserve (CR) Wildlife Districts
(Sq.KM)

1 2008 Bisalpur CR 48.31 Tonk

2 2008 Jodbeed Gadhwala Bikaner CR 56.4 Bikaner

3 2008 Sundhamata CR 117.4 Jalore, Sirohi

4 2011 Gudha Vishnoiyan CR 2.31 Jodhpur

5 2012 Shakambari CR 131 Sikar, Jhunjhunu

6 2012 Gogelav CR 3.58 Nagaur

7 2012 Rotu CR 0.72 Nagaur

8 2012 Ummed Ganj CR 2.78 Kota

9 2013 Jawai Bandh CR 19.78 Pali

10 2013 Beer Jhunjhunu CR 10.4 Jhunjhunu

11 2019 Khetri Bansyal CR 70.18 Jhunjhunu

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 Wetlands in Rajasthan

Wetlands in Rajasthan

Ramsar Wetlands are wetlands deemed to be of "international importance" under the Ramsar
Convention.

What is RAMSAR Convention?

The Convention on Wetlands, called the Ramsar Convention, is the intergovernmental treaty that
provides the framework for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. The
Convention was adopted in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971 and came into force in 1975.

The convention entered into force in India on 1 February 1982. India currently has 27 sites designated
as Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Sites), with a surface area of 1,056,871 hectares.

Ramsar Wetlands in Rajasthan

The State of Rajasthan has two wetlands that come under the Ramsar Convention, namely:

• Keoladeo Ghana, Bharatpur

• Sambhar Lake,

Keoladeo Ghana Wetland, Bharatpur, Rajasthan

Keoladeo Ghana wetland is a complex of ten artificial, seasonal lagoons, varying in size, situated in a
densely populated region. The area was earlier declared as a Wildlife Sanctuary and later upgraded as
a National Park. The wetland was also placed on the Montreux Record in 1990 due to "water shortage
and an unbalanced grazing regime".

Sambhar Lake Wetland, Jaipur, Rajasthan

Sambhar Lake Wetland is a shallow wetland, the depth of which ranges between 0.5 and 2.0 metres.
Four main streams feed the lake from a drainage area of about 2,688 sq. metres. The vegetation present
in the catchment area is mostly xerophytic type. Sambhar Salt Lake is India's largest inland salt lake. It
is famous for harbouring flamingos in large numbers, next only to Rann of Kutch in the country.

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 Climate Change in Rajasthan

Climate Change in Rajasthan

Climate change is the greatest global challenge, which through a multitude of impacts poses a risk to
our ecology, economy and society. Studies show that climate change in Rajasthan is over and above the
natural climate variability prevailing in the region. Experts say that Rajasthan falls in areas of greatest
climate sensitivity, maximum vulnerability and lowest adaptive capacity. According to State Action
Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC), it was found that Rajasthan has been identified as one of the four
most vulnerable states in India.

What is Climate Change?

The Earth's climate is not static. Over the billions of years of earth's existence, it has changed many
times in response to natural causes like sun spot, ice age glaciations, etc.

“Climate change” means a change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity
that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate
variability observed over comparable time periods (100 years).

Climate Change in Rajasthan

Being the largest state, Rajasthan has unique vulnerabilities in terms of exposure to climatic extremes
and varying capabilities for responding to the likely risks. Rajasthan has only about 1% of the country’s
water resources, and the average rainfall in the state is 574 mm as compared to the all-india average of
1,100mm.

Impact of Climate Change in Rajasthan

• Severe and frequent spells of famines & droughts.

• According to a study recently undertaken by the state pollution control board, the state is likely
to suffer from further increased water shortage due to overall reduction in rainfall and
increased evapo-transpiration due to global warming.

• Rise in surface temperature (especially in desert districts), resulting in excessive loss of water
and migration of people, livestock and desertification of the cropped land.

• Increase in unpredictability of weather and rainfall.

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 Climate Change in Rajasthan

Measures to mitigate Climate Change

Rajasthan Government Action Plan on Climate Change (RAPCC)

To deal with the climate change related issues and find out the right strategy India had released a
National Action Plan on Climate Change in 2008. In 2010, Rajasthan released Rajasthan Environment
Policy (SEP) and formulated a Climate Change Agenda for Rajasthan (CCAR). Later, the Rajasthan
Environment Mission was constituted to bring into focus the high priority issues emerging from the
SEP and CCAR.

Under the Rajasthan Environment Mission, the CCAR listed a set of state priorities for adaptation and
mitigation policy and action during the time period 2010-2014. State-specific missions for Rajasthan
were developed highlighting research gaps and needs along with relevant policy measures, in light of
the state’s vulnerabilities and capacities. Thus 7 key areas were identified & task forces were
constituted on:

1. Water Resources

2. Agriculture and Animal Husbandry

3. Forestry and Biodiversity

4. Human Health

5. Enhanced Energy Efficiency and Solar Energy

6. Urban Governance and Sustainable Habitats

7. Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change

In 2012, the state government drafted the Rajasthan Action Plan on Climate Change (RAPCC 2010-
2014) in concurrence with the guiding principles of the Rajasthan Environment Policy 2010, Rajasthan
Environment Mission 2010 and the Climate Change Agenda for Rajasthan (2010-2014).

RAPCC Guiding Principles

• National priorities as identified in NAPCCC

• State- specific risks, impacts and opportunities under changing climate,

• Stakeholder consultation.

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 Climate Change in Rajasthan

Institutional Structure for Implementation

• Climate Change & Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Cell

o Rajasthan State Government established a Climate Change and Clean Development

Mechanism (CDM) Cell’ in the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board (RSPCB) to act as
a nodal agency for coordinating issues related to climate change in the State.

o The Cell was constituted in April 2010 and was involved in the drafting of the CCAR.

• Environment Mission

o To be headed by CM and Ministers Ministers of various various key departments

departments as members members.

• Steering Committee

o To be headed by Chief Secretary and Principal Secretaries of various key departments as

members.

• Task Forces

o In key thrust areas to be constituted under the concerned Principal Secretary/Secretary

However, RAPCC remained a draft – never circulated and never came into effect.

Recent Initiatives

The state government is renewing its focus on climate change and has announced to restructure the
directorate and make a new action plan. In budget speech 2019-20, Chief minister Ashok Gehlot
announced restructuring of the DOE as Directorate of Environment and Climate Change (DOECC).
He also announced drafting a new state action plan for climate change with Central government
funding.

Climate Change mitigation as part of Sustainable Development

On the lines of central Government, Rajasthan has also undertaken significant initiatives towards
achieving the target of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Two of SDG’s deal exclusively with
climate change and its impacts, these are:

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 Climate Change in Rajasthan

• Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
• Goal 15: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably
manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt
biodiversity loss

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 Desertification & Land Degradation

Desertification & Land Degradation

Rajasthan is the state with highest area under desertification ( land degradation) with respect to
country's total geographical area (TGA). The state has 62.90% of the TGA under desertification/ land
degradation for the period of 2011-13. The desertification/ land degradation area in Rajasthan has
decreased about 0.29% since 2003-05.

Definitions & Differences:

Soil Degradation

• Soil degradation is the decline in soil quality caused by its improper use, usually for
agricultural, pastoral, industrial or urban purposes.

• Soil degradation is a serious global environmental problem and may be exacerbated by climate
change. It encompasses physical (soil erosion), chemical (salinity and alkalinity, pollution) and
biological deterioration (pollution and deterioration of vegetal cover).

Soil Erosion

• Soil erosion is the removal of top soil by agents like wind and water.

• Top soil has most of the nutrients necessary for a plant’s growth. With depth, the fertility of the
soil decreases. Thus, erosion results in reduction of fertility of the soil by washing away the
fertile top layer.

Desertification

• UNCCD defines desertification as ‘land-degradation in arid, semi-arid and sub-humid areas

resulting from various factors including climatic variations and human activities’.

• Loss of soil cover, mainly due to rainfall and surface runoff, is one of the biggest reasons for
desertification.

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 Desertification & Land Degradation

Problems of Soils in Rajasthan

The degree of degradation and its severity are influenced by special variability and its niche with the
surrounding. The terrain factors like slope, aspect, topographic position are found to be dominant
factor while intensity and distribution of rainfall are climatic factors, determining the extent and
severity of degradation.

Wind Erosion & Shifting Sand Dunes:

• Wind Erosion is the most significant cause of land degradation/desertification in Rajasthan.

• The wind erosion is playing a prominent role, in the western flank of the state and is found
active with full force in the core of desert, causing sand blasting, sand drifting, which results
active dunes and interduneal plains.

Water Erosion

• Severity of water erosion is found at the peak in central highland, including Aravalli landscape
and Bundelkhand upland.

• This causes loss of top soils through sheet and rill erosion.

• It also causes terrain deformation through gully and ravine land. Example: Ravine Lands along
the Chambal River & its tributaries.

Water Logging:

• With the introduction of canal irrigation system water table of the area is rising at an average
rate of about 0.8 m per year.

• As a result of this large area has become water-logged and this area is increasing every year, it
is a serious problem particularly in deep black soils.

Sodicity of Soil:

• Sodality of the soil and high residual sodium carbonate content of irrigation water are the main
problems.

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 Desertification & Land Degradation

Salinity & Alkalinity:

• The Salinity & Alkalinity is found maximum in the Aravalli and Bundelkhand alluvial plains
where the quality of ground water and poor management practices about the secondary
salinization.

• Salinity is due to high permanent water table.

Steps for Soil Conservation in Rajasthan

Adequate Drainage:

• The solution for salinity & Alkalinity of soil is to provide of soil is to provide adequate
drainage.

Use of Gypsum:

• Use of gypsum which is abundantly and cheaply available in Rajasthan, is economical and long
term solution to the problem of Alkalinity.

Afforestation:

• Large scale planting of saplings which act as wind breaks & also prevents soil erosion through
water.

Shelter Belts:

• In dry regions rows of trees are planted to check wind movement to protect soil cover.

Contour Barriers:

• Stone, gross, soils are used to build barrier along contours. Trenches are made in front of the
boomers to collect water.

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 Desertification & Land Degradation

Grass Development:

• Plantation of trees & grasses on marginal and sub marginal land.

Wind strip cropping:

• Grass and crop strip at right angle to wind direction.

Stubble Mulching:

• Crop stubbles are left in the field and next crop planted with minimum tillage.

Contour Bonding:

• Ravine land can be made cultivable by leveling followed by contour bonding

• The medium and deep gullies can also be converted into productive wood lands.

Proper Drainage System in canal Project Area:

• The problem of water logging can be checked and overcome by introducing proper drainage
system in the canal project area.

Dry Farming:

• Dry Farming is a method of conserving soil moisture preventing soil erosion.

RockDam:

• Rock Dam is built to slow down its flow of water.

Mulching:

• A layer of organic matter is made on soil. It helps to retain soil moisture.

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 Desertification & Land Degradation

Intercropping:

• Different crops are grown in alternative rows to protect the soil form rain wash

Terrace Farming:

• Broad flat steps or terraces are made on the steep slopes so that flat surfaces are available to
grow crops.

• They reduce surface run off & soil erosion.

Contour Plugging:

• Plugging parallel to the contours of a hill slope to form a natural barrier for water to flow down
the slope

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 Air-Pollution in Rajasthan

Air-Pollution in Rajasthan

In 2018, a state-wise report released by Indian Council of Medical Research highlighted that the
average life expectancy in Rajasthan would have been 2.5 years higher, if the air pollution levels were
less than the minimal level. Kota along with Jaipur, Alwar and Jodhpur comes in the top 100 polluted
cities in the country.

What is Air Pollution?

When air is contaminated by unwanted substances which have a harmful effect on both the living and
the non-living, it is referred to as air pollution.

Air pollution occurs when harmful or excessive quantities of substances including gases (such
as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxides, methane and chlorofluorocarbons)
, particulates (both organic and inorganic), and biological molecules are introduced into Earth's
atmosphere.

Major Air Pollutants & Their Sources

The substances which contaminate the air are called air pollutants. Pollutants can be added to
atmosphere both by natural processes (volcanic eruptions, sand storms, forest fires etc) and man-made
processes like ( factories, power plants, automobile exhausts). Few major air-pollutants are:

• Carbon Monoxide (CO)

o Vehicle exhaust & burning of fossil fuels.

• Carbon Di-oxide (CO2)

o Principal greenhouse gas

o Burning of fossil fuels.

• Sulphur Oxides

o Petroleum refineries, thermal power plants

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 Air-Pollution in Rajasthan

• Nitrogen Oxides

o Vehicle exhausts, thermal power plants

• Chloroflorocarbons (CFC)

o Air-conditioning & refrigeration

• Ozone

o Occurs naturally in upper layers of atmosphere. Shields from harmful UV rays.

o However, vehicle exhaust & industries release Ozone near ground. Pollutant with high
toxic effects.

• Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM)

o Consists of solids in air in form of smoke, dust & vapour.

o Particulate matter 2.5 (PM ): tiny particles or droplets in the air that are 2.5 micrometers
2.5

or smaller in width.

o Particulate matter 10 (PM ): Inhalable particles, with diameters that are generally 10
10

micrometers and smaller.'

• Volatile organic compounds (VOC)

o VOCs are categorized as either methane (CH ) or non-methane (NMVOCs).

4

Indoor Air Pollution in Rajasthan

Indoor air-pollution refers to physical, chemical and biological characteristics of air in indoor
environment within a home, institution or commercial space.

• Rural Areas

o More indoor pollution as people reply on traditional fuels such as firewood, charcoal,
cowdung for cooking & heating.

• Urban Areas

o Sources of indoor air-pollution in urban areas include lack of ventilation, construction

activity etc.

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 Air-Pollution in Rajasthan

Impact of Air Pollution in Rajasthan

Deaths linked to Air Pollution

• As per a TOI report, over 90 thousand deaths in 2017 in Rajasthan were linked to air pollution.

• The highest death rate in India due to pollution was in Rajasthan.

• As many as 112.5 per lakh population died due to pollution in Rajasthan, while in Kerala, it was
79 per lakh. It is because Rajasthan has both indoor and outdoor pollution.

Control Measures Air Pollution in Rajasthan

Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board (RSPCB)

RSPCB is the nodal agency for controlling pollution in the state of Rajasthan. It is responsible for
implementation of:

• Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.

• Rajasthan Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Rules, 1983.

• Fly Ash Act, 1999.

• Ozone Depleting Substances (Regulation) Rules, 2000.

RajVayu

• In June 2016, Rajasthan Government had launched mobile application RajVayu for sharing
information about air quality index of Jaipur, Udaipur and Jodhpur.

National Air Quality Index (NAQI)

• On April 6, 2015, India had launched its first ever National Air Quality Index (NAQI).

• NAQI classifies pollution levels into 6 categories—good, satisfactory, moderate, poor, very poor
and severe—and denotes a color code on the basis of how harmful the pollution in a specific
area is.

• Pollutions measured include—PM2.5, PM10, NO2, NH3, SO2, CO and Ozone.

• In Rajasthan, NAQI is measured for Alwar, Ajmer, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Pali, Udaipur.

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 Air-Pollution in Rajasthan

85
 Uranium Contamination in Ground Water

Uranium Contamination in Ground Water

A recent news article published in the Hindu & Times of India, highlights a a study conducted by
researchers at the Duke University in North Carolina, United States, and the Central Groundwater Board of
India. The report raises concerns over presence of high uranium levels in their groundwater of State of
Rajasthan along with 16 other north-western states including Punjab, Haryana etc.

The Problem:

Uranium levels in 75 out of 226 wells in Rajasthan and five out of 98 wells tested in Gujarat exceeded
the WHO provisional health guidelines. According to WHO the safe drinking water standards are 30
micrograms of uranium per litre. As mentioned in the study India extracts more than a third of world
wide groundwater resources and more than 90% of this is being used for irrigation. Long term
exposure to uranium in drinking water can cause kidney deceases.

Causes of Uranium Contamination:

The main source of uranium contamination was “natural,” but human factors such as declining ground
water table and rising nitrate pollution contributes significantly to the rise in contamination.

It is demonstrated in the paper that the combination of different factors, like aquifer rocks containing
uranium (granitic rocks or sediments derived from weathering of granitic rocks), oxidizing conditions
that leach out uranium from the rocks and make it soluble, and the groundwater chemistry with high
bicarbonate in which uranium is attached and thus become mobile, all contribute to the high uranium
in groundwater in India.

Possible solution to Uranium Contamination:

• The first step towards solution could be first monitoring, than avoiding (using other water
source) or treatment (RO desalination).

• Including uranium in the list of contaminants monitored under the Bureau of Indian Standards’
Drinking Water Specifications.

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 Uranium Contamination in Ground Water

What is State Government doing ?

Principal secretary of PHED Rajasthan said that no such contamination has been found as of yet in the
drinking water of the state but they are keeping an eye on the issue and samples have been sent to their
lab in Hyderabad and if something comes up they will take action.

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 Famines and droughts

Famines and droughts

The state of Rajasthan is prone to famine and droughts, particularly the western-most districts
consisting of Thar desert which often experience successive years of scarcity and droughts.

Types of droughts:

Put simply, a drought is a failure of rain, leading to moisture stress, that in turn leads to agricultural
losses and other forms of social and economic hardship. There are many definitions and classifications
of drought, including that of the National Commission on Agriculture (quoted in Bokil 2000) which has
defined three types of drought:

• Agricultural drought:

o When crops are affected due to moisture stress and lack of rainfall.

• Meteorological drought:

o When there is more than 25 per cent decrease (from normal) in rainfall in any area.

• Hydrological drought:

o When recurring meteorological droughts result in decrease in surface water and

groundwater levels.

Under this classification. if drought occurs in 20 % of the years in any area, it is classified as drought
prone area and if the drought occurs in more than 40 % of the years. it is classified as chronically drought
prone area.

Causes of droughts in Rajasthan:

Droughts in the Indian sub continent are mainly due to failure of rainfall from southwest monsoon.
The root cause for failure of monsoon rainfall is cued to the widespread, persistent atmospheric
subsidence, which results from the general circulation of the atmosphere. Recent studies on interactions
between global circulations and drought showed that the EI Nino phase of the Southern Oscillations
(EN SO) has the largest impact on India though drought.

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 Famines and droughts

Declaration of drought in Rajasthan:

The Scarcity Manual (formerly known as the Famine Code) for Rajasthan lays out the rules and
procedures to be followed in declaring a drought.

While the Scarcity Manual includes many criteria, in practice, the State government has come to rely
almost exclusively on the girdawari report and the losses in sowing and production reported
therein. The girdawari report is a land-use report and is prepared by the patwari (land records official) of
each panchayat. To calculate the losses, the current year’s figures are compared with area sown and
production in “normal” years (defined as the average production for the past few years). On the basis
of this, calculations of affected population are made. The other criteria in the Scarcity Manual include
distress migrations, increase in thefts, news of starvation deaths, etc.

Difference between droughts and famine

While, droughts and famine may seem referring to same thing. However, in actuality there is a huge
difference. Famine is a widespread scarcity of food, caused by several factors including war,
inflation, crop failure, population imbalance, or government policies. This phenomenon is usually
accompanied or followed by regional malnutrition, starvation, epidemic, and increased mortality.

Frequency of Droughts in Rajasthan

Low rainfall coupled with erratic behavior of the monsoon in the state make Rajasthan the most
vulnerable to drought. Based on historical data the frequency of occurrence of droughts in the state is
given in following table.

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 Floods in Rajasthan

Floods in Rajasthan

Popularly known as the desert state of India, Rajasthan is largely water deficit yet there are incidents of
flood and there are flood prone areas in the state. In last 30 years, there have been multiple instances of
floods in Rajasthan.

Flood Prone Areas of Rajasthan

The flood prone areas in Rajasthan include Ajmer, Barmer, Jodhpur, Pali, Jalore, Sirohi, Udaipur,
Chittorgarh, Bundi, Kota, Jaipur, Jhalawar, Baran, Bharatpur, Alwar, Sri Ganganganagar districts.
These regions spread across the Basins and Sub-Basins of the rivers Banas, Banganga, Chambal,
Ghaggar, Luni, Mahi, Sabi, Shekhawati, Sukli and West Banas.

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 Floods in Rajasthan

Categories of Floods

The categorization of floods is done on the basis of the average annual rainfall received at that centre as
compared to the average rainfall of the observed 30 years. Accordingly, floods are classified as:

• Moderate Floods: If the excess of rainfall is 25 to 50 percent above the average rainfall of a
specific region.

• Severe Floods: When the rainfall is more than 50 percent in a region.

Types of Floods in Rajasthan

Flooding of river and its catchment under the influence of excessive rainfall depending on the
topography of the regions through which the rivers flows. The floods in rivers mostly occur either due
to very heavy rainfall for a few days concentrated in a specific catchment or due to the obstructions that
are caused either because of human interference by bridges or embankments that restrict the flow of
the river or natural choking of river bed.

In Urban areas, flooding occurs usually because lack of proper planning, choking of damage systems
and unplanned growth of the settlements during monsoons.

In rare cases, flooding can also be result of cloudburst that might happen in a specific area.

Impact of Floods in Rajasthan:

• Floods deplete all the sources of clean or drinkable water in the area.

• Floods leads to submergence of crops and hence, destroys agricultural produce.

• A huge of livestock perishes because of floods.

• The biggest threat after flood is curbing the spread of diseases like Diarrhea, Dysentery,
Malaria, skin infections, Jaundice, Typhoid and Cholera.

• Infrastructure like roads, electricity distribution and communication network are also damaged
during floods.

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 Floods in Rajasthan

Flood Management in Rajasthan

The Disaster Management and Relief Department of Government of Rajasthan handle all the disasters
in the state. The department has published a Flood Manual that gives a complete description of the
flood response system of the state. Among other things, it streamlines department wise responsibilities
of each department in case of floods.

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 Forest Fires in Rajasthan

Forest Fires in Rajasthan

Forest is one of the most important renewable natural resources and plays a significant role in the
human life and environment. In 2017, the maximum number of forest fires were reported in Madhya
Pradesh (4,781) followed by Odisha (4,416) and Chhattisgarh (4,373). In the same year, there were 260
recorded incidents of forest fires in Rajasthan. The fire season in the state is from January to June. Peak
fire season in the month of May.

Types of Forest Fires:

Forest fires can be sub grouped into four types depending upon their nature and size:

• Surface Fires:

o Surface fire is the most common forest fires that burn undergrowth and dead material
along the floor of the forest.

• Underground Fire

o Fires of low intensity, consuming the organic matter beneath and the surface litter of
forest floors

• Ground Fires

o Fires in the sub surface organic fuels and organic soils of swamps or bogs.

• Crown Fires:

o Crown fire is the most unpredictable fires that burn the top of trees and spread rapidly
by wind.

Causes of Forest Fires in Rajasthan

More than 90% forest fires are caused either by negligence or unknowingly by the human being. The
rest of the fires are caused by natural reasons i. e. lightning, extreme rise in the temperature etc.

Climate Change

Studies suggest that climate change influences forest fire frequency and intensity which results in
forests becoming increasingly inflammable. The increasing duration of forest fire season, numbers of
large fires, frequency of severe fire years may be related to climate change.

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 Forest Fires in Rajasthan

Traditional Customs

As per tradition, local tribals go on a forest-burning spree after the Holi festival. Example, tribal
customs like 'Magra Snan' i.e offering fire to please 'Magra Bavji' or the Hill God upon accomplishment
of any wish.

Human negligence

Unwanted forest fires may also occur due to human negligence, for example, from casually discarded
cigarettes or from poor control of burning on adjacent croplands.

Weather

Fire intensity and behavior are intricately linked to weather and climate. For most of India, forest fires
peak during the dry months of March or April before the arrival of the monsoon (FSI 2012).

Impact of Forest Fires

Some forest fires are beneficial, but not all. Occasional fires can also keep down fuel loads, check
invasive weeds, and eliminate pathogens. However, majorly forest fires have a devastating or
degrading effects. Few of these are:

• Loss of natural vegetation and reduction of forest cover.

• Loss of wildlife habitat and depletion of wildlife.

• Repeated fires in short succession reduce species richness and hamper natural regeneration
ability.

• Monetary damages in terms of loss of timber resources.

• Forest fire also adversely affects livelihood resources, especially for tribals, who habitat within
or near the forest.

• Loss of environmental services.

• Fires alter the physical, chemical, and biological properties of forest soils. Higher-intensity fires
can severely deplete soils and strip them of organic matter and nutrients. Fires increase water
repellency of forest soils, reducing infiltration and increasing erosion.

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 Forest Fires in Rajasthan

• Forest fire release multiple gases back to atmosphere in a matter of hours. The burning of forest
also destroys an important sink for atmospheric carbon dioxide and aggravate global warming

• The smoke from forest fires cause air pollution and rise in the temperature which leads to
adverse impact on Health system.

• Forest fire that spreads outside the forest can consume buildings or infrastructure and cause
threat to Life and Property

• Forest Fires pose a risk to policy goals for enhancing India’s forest carbon sinks.

Forest fire prone area in Rajasthan

As per ISFR 2019-Rajasthan, geographical area under different classes of fire proneness in Rajasthan is:

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 Forest Fires in Rajasthan

S. No. Forest Fire Prone Classes Geographical % of Total

Area Forest Cover
(in sq. kms)

1 Extremely fire prone 0.00 0.00

2 Very highly fire prone 50.01 0.32

3 Highly fire prone 450.08 2.48

4 Moderately fire prone 803.51 3.62

5 Less fire prone 1,20,580.88 93.58

Total 1,21,884.48 100.00

Source: ISFR 2019 - Rajasthan

Measures to Control Forest Fires:

A joint study report of MoEF&CC and World Bank titled “Strengthening Forest Fire Management in
India” was released in June 2018. It synthesized information from various studies, analyzed the forest
fire situation in the country and suggested measures to improve them.

National Action Plan on Forest Fires, 2018

• Initiative of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Government
of India.

• Main objective is to reduce the incidences of fires by informing, enabling and empowering
forest fringe communities and incentivizing them to work in tandem with the State Forest
Departments (SFDs).

• Also aims to reduce the vulnerability of forests against fire hazards across the diverse forest
ecosystems in the country, enhancing the capabilities of institutions in fighting fires, and
accelerating the recovery after a fire incidence.

• The plan proposes nine strategies to address the issue, including establishment of a “Centre of
Excellence on Forest Fire Management”at FSI.

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 Forest Fires in Rajasthan

Forest Fire alert system of FSI

• Started in year 2004

• Ppgraded version of the Forest Fire Alert System version 3.0 (FAST 3.0) - released in 2019.

Fire Watchers:

• Rajasthan Forest department appoints fire watchers during the summer.

Fire Prevention Practises:

• In National Parks and Wild Life Sanctuaries various silvicultural practices i.e. clearance of fire
line, burning of litter, back fire are adopted to prevent fire.

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 Human Wildlife Conflict in Rajasthan

Human Wildlife Conflict in Rajasthan

The intensity and frequency of human-wildlife conflicts has escalated in recent decades due to the
exponential increase in the human population over the past century and the subsequent encroachment
of human activities on wilderness areas. In Rajasthan, the leopard is the most common carnivore
involved in conflicts with humans.

Human Wildlife Conflict

In simple terms, Human-Wildlife Conflict is any interaction between wildlife and humans which
causes harm, whether it is to the human, the wild animal, or property. (Property includes buildings,
equipment, livestock and pets, crops fields or fences.)

Human - Wildlife Conflict (HWC) is defined as 'interaction between humans and wildlife where
negative consequences, whether perceived or real, exists for one or both the parties when action of one
has an adverse effect on the other party'. Conover, 2001; Decker et al., 2002

It has been in existence for as long as wild animals and humans have co-existed and shared the same
resources. Historical records from Nile Delta revealed that hippopotamuses raided crops while
crocodiles attacked livestock in Egypt while elephants had been raiding crops all across Africa and
other parts of world (Barnes, 1996).

Some examples of human-wildlife Conflict:

• Predation on livestock or domestic animals by wildlife like leopards.

• Damage of crops & fences

• Birds nesting in undesirable residential locations

• Wild animals being killed in road, train accidents.

Reasons for rising Human-Wildlife Conflict in Rajasthan

• Development of roads, railway tracks within forest areas and accidents caused by speeding
vehicles.

• Grazing of livestock in forest areas.

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 Human Wildlife Conflict in Rajasthan

• Pressure is exerted on protected areas by extraction of fodder, timber and non-timber forest
products and illegal occupation.

• Increasing human population and ever expanding human settlements.

• Shrinking natural habitats for wild animals as more and more land is diverted towards human
requirements.

• Damage to crops and livestock by wild animals.

• Sometimes, natural factors like droughts, bush fires, climatic changes also contribute to human-
animal conflicts.

Ways to Mitigate Human Wildlife Conflict

• Physical Barriers: Barriers whether natural (rivers, mountains) or man-made (wire fencing,
walls) that separate adjacent wildlife & human settlements.

• Increasing Awareness: Engaging with affected communities and foster awareness about
conflict mitigation techniques, wild animal's social behaviour and ecological importance, and
government policies and legal frameworks that protect the species.

• Tans-location: Translocation of human communities or problem animal.

• Compensation Policy for damage caused by wild animals to agricultural crop and property,
killing of livestock and human beings.

Recent Initiatives

In July 2016, Wildlife Trust of India initiated Project Pardus Conservation, a Rapid Action Project (RAP)
conducted in partnership with Hope & Beyond and supported by the David Shepherd Wildlife
Foundation, to address issues of conflict and the attendant fall in leopard numbers in the Nahargarh
and Jhalana regions of Jaipur.

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Human-Wildlife Interactions: Something to learn from Rajasthan

• The unique co-existence of leopards and humans in Bera Village where man-animal conflict is
largely absent.

• Love & protection extended by Bishnoi villages to blackbucks and chinkaras.

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Unsustainable Mining in Rajasthan

Rajasthan is one of the richest states in terms of availability and variety of minerals in the country.
The state has deposits of 81 different types of major and minor minerals. Out of these, 57 minerals
are being currently mined.

Rajasthan is the sole producer of:

• Lead & Zinc ores,

• Selenite
• Wollastonite

Rajasthan is leading producer of:

• Silver
• Calcite
• Gypsum
• Ball Clay
• Feldspar
• Silver
• Rock Phospate
• Steatite
• Red Ochre
• Steel & Cement grade limestone

It also has prominent position in the country in the production of dimensional and decorative stones,
such as marble, sandstone, granite etc. and about 70% of Boone-China tableware is produced in
Rajasthan.

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Environmental Effects of Unsustainable Mining:

The undesirable effects of mining can be termed as mining pollution. Mining pollution can be defined
as an undesirable change in the physical or biological characteristics of the air, water or land that can
harmfully affect health, survival or activities of human or other living things. Few adverse impacts on
environment by mining include:

• Land degradation,
• Degradation of forest
• Loss of biodiversity,
• Soil contamination,
• Air pollution,
• Surface and ground water pollution,
• Noise and vibrations,
• Deterioration of natural drainage system

Marble slurry imposes serious threats to the ecosystem in the state. When dumped on land, it adversely
affects productivity due to decreased porosity, water absorption and water percolation.

Major issues of Mining in Rajasthan

The state government has failed to regulate illegal mining in forest areas. Udaipur, the most forested
district of Rajasthan is also the most mined. The government has issued leases for hundreds of mines in
Sariska National Park. Despite repeated Supreme Court orders to close them down, mining continues
unabated in Sariska and Jamwa Ramgarh sanctuary.

In 2018, Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report tabled in Vidhan Sabha highlighted that 98.87
lakh metric tonnes of minerals were illegally excavated in a period of five years in five Rajasthan
districts.

In Rajasthan, extensive mining of sandstone, marble and other minerals has converted the Aravallis
into a rocky wasteland. Soil erosion is rampant, natural recharging of groundwater has been affected,
and riverbeds have been flooded with coarse sand. This is despite they being notified as an ecologically
sensitive area (ESA) more than a decade ago in 1992. Mining in the catchments has also played its part

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in threatening the region’s water bodies. The limestone mines of Chittor have breached the region’s
water table.

Mining without a licence, mining outside lease area, raising of minerals without paying royalty are
illegal mining activities which not only put immense pressure on environment as they do not comply
with any regulations or environmental conditions but they also have serious consequences on natural
resources like forests, rivers, flora and fauna and public health.

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