State may soon have four conservation zones
TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Goa may soon have four turtle conservation zones, if a proposal submitted by the Forest Department to the chief minister is finally accepted.
The zones located, two in north Goa at Morjim and Mandrem and two in the south at Galgibaga and Agonda, would be designated as protected zones on the lines of wildlife sanctuaries and tourism activities in these two areas are likely to be severely restricted.
Speaking to Herald, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Richard D’Souza said the proposal has been sent to the chief minister and could be approved when he returns from his foreign trip on July 3.
“We are likely to have four new protection zones ~ Morjim and Mandrem in the north, and Agonda and Galgibaga in the south. The proposal was sent to the chief minister, who returned it with some comments and now it has been sent back to him,” D’Souza told Herald.
These areas already officially have makeshift protection especially the nests once they are identified. The Tourism Department has also been asked to reduce the number of shacks in these areas.
The move could signal bad news for the tourism industry, but good news for turtle lovers and conservationists. Already a petition filed by the Goa Foundation before the National Green Tribunal against unregulated tourism activity in Morjim and Mandrem in the North is expected to come up for hearing on July 10. The petition calls for shutting down of shacks in the beach belt area as well as other curbs on activities in the area.
The number of turtles that arrive on beaches in the State ~ mainly in Morjim, Galgibaga, Agonda and Mandrem ~ have been dwindling over the years ever since turtle conservation began in 1996.
While in 2001, there were 33 turtle nesting sites at Morjim beach, the year 2011 reported only 11, the worst, since the turtle conservation movement formally started in Morjim in 1996. The trends are similar on marked beaches too.
Olive Ridley sea turtles are an endangered species and they are afforded the highest degree of protection under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, such that even stealing the turtle’s eggs or disturbing the turtles or their habitat is a punishable offence.
Conservationists say that given the kind of activities on the beach including loud music, lights and movement of people on beaches even at late nights, mother olive ridley turtles instead of laying their eggs on the shore in safe areas are forced to lay them close to where the waves lash the shore, out of fear of people who frequent the beaches, thus leading to destruction of eggs.
D’Souza said that it was imperative that there should be restrictions on tourism activity in these zones for the sake of the turtles. Tourism industry as well as locals and activists are now closely watching developments on the conservation front.
