Ethnic Minorities and Indigenous Peoples in Southeast Asia

Globe Environmental Forum

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No GEF 9212/wl/sgr                                       Dt 6^th November 008                    

Minutes of the meeting of Globe Environmental Forum executive committee

 held under  the chairman of the forum on  6^th November 008

Agenda

Preservation and protection of the wild life in the state in general and the protection of Hanglu the heritage of J&K in particular.

Sub:      Moments of concern

Our State is blessed with rich diversity of plants, animals, forests, and historic places.. Unsustainable environmental practices pose increasing threats to our climate, biodiversity, forests, food and energy resources. We all share a concern for protecting and preserving this Heritage  

The Kashmir Stag (Cervus elaphus hanglu Wagner, 1884), locally known in Kashmir as Hangul or Hanglu is virtually confined to temperate forests of the vale of Kashmir. According to the Schaller (1969) the Hangul, was once distributed widely in the mountains of Kashmir. Holloway (1970) states, that earlier in this century, its distribution was confined to an area of some 65 km. in width to the north and east of Jehlum and lower Chenab, from Zalurah in the north to

 Because of its ruthless poaching the status of the species was reduced to the level of highly endangered one .To save it from extinction Dachigam game reserve was declared as a national park.

The present population position of the Hangul is alarming therefore it was decided to arrange for the continuous monitoring of the hanglu herds. This can only be achieved by the use of the Radio collars. A study project for this purpose was undertaken in 2004 by WLP department in collaboration with the IIWL Dehradun.  4 Radio collars were purchased under the provisions of this project by the IIWL from America. Two collars have been provided free of cost by a philanthropic agency of Briton. 4 Nos of PTT collars with 2 Nos GPS collars is the best combination to know the location of the individuals and the herds 

The collars were received by the IIWL for this purpose in 2005.As per information a team of experts visited Dachigam in 2006 to mount the collars on Hanglu The operation failed and the collars were taken back by the IIWL personal

The population dynamics is an essential parameter for the management of the species and the habitat it inhabits. The population dynamics forms the only important precursor for undertaking drastic and extra ordinary management decisions especially in the cases where the species is on the endangered list, where the numbers are lower than the safe threshold for the continuance of the specie, which may otherwise get extinct; a total loss in the Biodiversity treasure of the state / country.

In reference to this alarming situation the GLOBE ENVIRONMENTAL FORUM requests all the concerned agencies to act fast get the collars fixed on hanglu immediately. The GEF members and the volunteers will participate in all the programmes   to be designed   for this purpose. December to February is of course the ideal season for tranquilization and fixing of collars as the hanglu herds descend to the lower elevations of Dachigam National park during this period.

Secretary General

                                                Globe Environmental forum

CC  to

Chief Wildlife Warden

Deptt of Wild Life protection J&K

For information and necessary action. He is requested to intervene personally to get the collars fixed on Hanglu at top priority.

Director

Indian Institute of wild life  Dehradun

With the request to arrange for the operation at top priority by sending their experts and the resource personal to Kashmir at his earliest. The best time for this operation is in fact December to February

Coordinator wild life chapter GEF for information and necessary action

Convener Wild life chapter GEF for information and