SHIKARI DEVI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

Aspect

Details

Location

Foothills of the Himalayas, Mandi district, Himachal Pradesh.

Sacred Site

Named after goddess Shikari Devi; the temple is surrounded by snow-covered mountains and dense pine trees.

Sanctuary Area

7,200 hectares around the temple, declared a sanctuary in 1962.

Flora

Seven forest types as per Champion and Seth (1968):

·         Alpine Meadows

·         Subalpine Forest

·         Moist Temperate Deciduous Forest

·         Western Himalayan Mountain Oak/Fir Forest

·         Kharsu Oak Forest

·         Western Mixed Coniferous Forest

·         Banský Oak Forest.

Fauna

Animal species: Goral, Himalayan black bear, barking deer, musk deer, leopard cat, snow leopard, Himalayan civet, marten, Indian porcupine, common langur, red squirrel.

Bird species: Monal, Kashmiri flycatcher.

Significance

A sacred site for Hindus and a biodiversity hotspot showcasing rich flora and fauna.

Aspect

Details

Policy Context

The National Wildlife Conservation Action Plan (2002-2016) by MoEFCC mandates declaring land within 10 km of national parks and wildlife reserves as Ecologically Sensitive Zones (ESZ) under the Environmental Protection Act, of 1986.

Scope of Application

General rule: 10 km radius around protected areas.

Extended scope: Areas beyond 10 km can also be notified as ESZs if they contain ecologically important 'sensitive corridors.'

Prohibited Activities

Commercial mining, sawmills, polluting industries (air, water, soil, noise, etc.), large hydroelectric power plants, and commercial use of timber.

Regulated Activities

Felling of trees, the establishment of hotels and resorts, commercial use of natural water, construction of electric cables, agricultural changes (e.g., heavy machinery, pesticides), and road widening.

Permitted Activities

Ongoing agricultural or horticultural practices, rainwater harvesting, organic farming, use of renewable energy sources, and adoption of green technologies for activities.

Purpose of ESZ

Minimize the impact of urbanization and development activities, promote in-situ conservation of endangered species, reduce forest depletion and human-animal conflict, and protect local communities through buffer models.

Role in Ecosystem Protection

Acts as a "shock absorber" for protected areas, transition zones from high-protection areas to low-protection areas, and minimizes the negative impact on fragile ecosystems.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Consider the following statements regarding the Shikari Devi Wildlife Sanctuary:

1. The sanctuary is located in the Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh, in the foothills of the Himalayas.
2. The sanctuary is named after the goddess Shikari Devi, and the area around the temple has been declared a sanctuary since 1962.
3. The sanctuary features six forest types, including Alpine Meadows and Moist Temperate Deciduous Forest.

How many of the above statements is/are correct?

1. A) Only one
2. B) Only two
3. C) All three
4. D) None

Answer: b

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: The Shikari Devi Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the foothills of the Himalayas in the Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh.

Statement 2 is correct: The sanctuary is named after the goddess Shikari Devi, and the area around the temple was declared a sanctuary in 1962. The sanctuary is home to various species, including the Himalayan black bear, musk deer, snow leopard, and bird species like the Kashmiri flycatcher.

Statement 3 is incorrect: However, the sanctuary features seven forest types (not six), including Alpine Meadows and Moist Temperate Deciduous Forest.