Over a hundred hectares of the remaining grasslands in the Upper Nilgiris at Wenlock Downs, the Shola-grasslands are being gradually wiped out by encroachments by the former tribal patrons – Toda and Kotas.
According to forest department officials, out of the total expanse of 1,500 hectares of land designated as “forest land” in the Udhagai North Range, 100 hectares have been encroached upon by Todd and Kotus, many of whom have leased their land for non Have given over – Money in exchange for a small fee.
Eucalyptus-based conservationist Ann. Mohanraj explained the importance of protecting the region, saying, “The Wenlock Downs Reserve Forest is an important wildlife corridor, allowing wildlife from the Sigur plateau to the upper Nilgiris. The landscape is one of the last remaining patches of shola and grasslands throughout Nilgiris besides Mukthri Park. ”
Forest Department officials told Hindu The first of the tracts that have been encroached upon were the tracts on which the toads had grazing rights, or the lands of the Toda, where the toads were allowed to cultivate small lands with express permission of the district administration was. However, since the early 2000s, tribals have stopped applying for permission and are farming without proper approval. Officials said that most of the encroachments occurred near the Tenth Mile, Samyaramattam and Pudumund areas.
“In the last 20 years, Todd and Kot have started claiming that all these lands are ancestral lands, and they have the right to cultivate crops here. The conservationists of the Nilgaias said that they have destroyed the pastures, as the old pattern of land use, destroyed the pastures, the land has changed and they have become farmers.
One of the Todas, who has been cultivating crops on their own small land of about two acres in the last five years at Wenlock Downs, said most tribals feel it is unfair that they are being targeted by the Forest Department . “It is not just Toda and Kotas who are doing farming. Violations are being carried out across the district, from illegal buildings to illegal tree-felling. When very little work is being done to stop construction and farming elsewhere, why should the tribals be held accountable if our farming activities are too low? ” He was amazed.
Siddharth Krishnan, convener of the ATREE (Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment) Academy for Conservation Science and Sustainable Studies, which has since the early 20th century, when it was administered by the British, and after independence, has Said Wenlock Downs Reserve Forest has dramatically changed from being a shola-grassland mosaic, largely populated by invasive species of wood, thorn and vegetation.
This issue is very complex, as the land has been sub-leased since colonial times. In addition, government policy in the past has also encouraged todas for systematic agriculture, while plantations of eucalyptus, cattle, and cedar, formerly raised by the Forest Department, have destroyed grasslands, some of which are named Toda. Were in patta land, ”said Mr. Krishnan.
While clarifying that he was not condemning the damage done to the landscape, Mr. Krishnan said that cooperation between forest department and tribals is needed to come up with a comprehensive landscape management plan.
“Grasslands are always designated as wastelands in policy discourse. There is also the question of the Forest Rights Act in the area, as to whether it will acquire the rights accepted under Toda Patta land, or whether it provides additional protection, ”he said, including targeted restoration projects to be done. While ensuring that farming does not spread further.
When contacted by District Forest Officer, Nilgiri Department, Guru Swami Dabbawala, he said that the Wenlock Down Reserve Forest provided immediate protection. “The problem is that tribals encroach on a small part of the forest for one year, and next they lease it to outsiders and move to another part of the meadow or forest. This will inevitably lead to more problematic human-animal relationships not only in Wenlock Down but also in other areas, ”he said.
Mr. Mohanraj said that the scenario was ideal for promoting eco-tourism as an alternative to destructive agricultural practices. “This is the only shola-pasture landscape that is easily accessible to the public, and if local communities can get involved in promoting eco-tourism, they will make more money than leasing the land to outsiders,” ” said.
N., founder of Wildlife and Nature Conservation Trust. Sadiq Ali said that efforts should be made to immediately identify the non-tribals farming in the area. “Their illegal farms should be immediately returned to the forest department so that they can be restored,” he said.
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