Holocene year 1 issue 4

Year – 1/Issue – 4/Dec’15 – Jan’16

World after 5th Extinction Featured Topic : We are at ….

WAR RISK (Part – 2) Editorial : Are We Serious Enough!!!

Story Room : Ranganathettu – “The Pakshi Kashi˝ Coming Next : Interview with Legendary Forest Ranger Mr. K. M. Chinappa.

Camp in Corbett.

Arnab Basu

The environmental legacy of warfare and mass violence has recently emerged as a recognized dimension of environmental history. Military historians have routinely written about the significance of terrain and weather for the planning and management of campaigns. Moreover, they have frequently traced military planners' concern for manipulation of the natural resources that are essential (or at least valuable) for their strategic purposes, and even the use of natural processes (such as fire) as weapons. But their interest lies almost exclusively with the human drama; they almost never go beyond that to consider the resulting transformations of ecosystems. They see Nature as context, but not as consequence, of mass violence.

From reading a variety of war and environment case studies as well as recent writing in military history, we have noticed characteristic periods in the interaction of environment and war, as follows: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

The Run Up to War The War Itself The Immediate Aftermath Five to Ten Years after the War The Long Term, a Century or more after the War

To assess and understand the impact of war on environment, we would focus

on period of run up to war and more specifically discuss Environmental Costs of Preparations for Warfare - in this edition of Holocene.

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Theme Poster – Smooth and Fast

This thumbnail discussion will rely on what is still the most thorough study of English oak and English shipbuilding, Robert G. Albion, Forests and Sea Power: The Timber Problem of the Royal Navy 1652-1862 (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1926).

“Oak, Forests and English Preparations for the Napoleonic War˝ In the 1790’s Great Britain’s Naval Board rightly worried that there would not be enough English oak to build the needed ships for the coming war with France.

The limitations were environmental and historical. Oak of a size and strength for shipbuilding grew only in a very small portion of England consisting of the southeast counties (Hampshire, Surrey, Sussex and Kent),

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Year – 1/Issue – 4/Dec’15 – Jan’16

smaller pockets on a north-south line through the centre of the island (such as Winwood, Whittelwood, and Sherwood) and the Forest of Dean on the western coast. None of these stands were in any sense “natural˝ forests. The vast majority of the once-dominant oak forests had been cleared for agriculture. What remained had been managed for centuries and consisted of century-old giants that formed an over story with younger oaks growing below. The ground level was kept cleared by pigs; these forests were meant for royal and noble hunting.

The Naval Board and English shipbuilders considered English oak superior to any continentally grown alternative.

When naval demand was limited, nobles could profitably harvest some of the big oaks without damage to the basic system. The rapid increase in demand for oak in the run-up to the Napoleonic wars could, however, not be met by these managed forests. Some large oaks were cut, but neither the king nor his nobles were willing to see their estates denuded and the end of an ecological system that had provided profit, building material and game for the table for generations.

Interview with Mr. K. M. Chinappa: Legendary Forest Ranger Nature Conservationist Gunned down notorious Ivory Poacher Parai Thimma Interviewer : Arnab Basu Interview on : 27th December 2015

The Naval Board pursued probably the only viable strategy: export the problem and import the solution. They turned to the vast oak forests in the Baltic countries for structural timber and planking. Whole forests were felled for the dozens and dozens of ships built. Masts of strong, supple white pine came from the uncut forests of the North American coasts and rivers draining to the coasts.

The run-up to the Napoleonic Wars thus had a variety of environmental effects, such as the wholesale logging of portions of the Baltic region and the eastern littoral of North America. There were also environmental effects within England.

Many nobles began to grow larch, which was the equal of oak for shipbuilding but maturing in half the time of oak.

This shift, for example, bears comparison to the spread of pine plantations in the American south. Further afield broad questions might include the following: How was the environment stressed by military preparations? Was there wholesale cutting down forests for ships, masts or gun carriages? Was there increased iron or gold mining? Did the Run Up include stockpiling of cloth, minerals or food? Was there enforced shifting of crops or opening of new land for crops? What about the taking of birds for fletching arrows? What about the taking of ceremonially powerful animals for their skins or feathers?

In the next edition of Holocene, we would focus on Environmental Stress during Wartime based on work of Lisa M. Brady, “The Wilderness of War: Nature and Strategy in the American Civil War,˝ Environmental History 10:3 (July 2005), pp. 421-47 and the fuller treatment in her recent book War upon the Land: Military Strategy and the Transformation of Southern Landscapes during the American Civil War (Athens: University of Georgia Press, 2012).

Till then keep reading Holocene.

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Year – 1/Issue – 4/Dec’15 – Jan’16

Wildcraft:

Editors’ Desk :

Preparation of miniature model of Polar Biodiversity.

Tentative start Date : 31st December 2015.

Are We Serious Enough!!!

“2 States˝. No, we are not talking about any renowned novel by a recent days’ Indian writer. We are talking about two neighbouring provincial authorities.

How they deal with their protected wildlife areas and tourism in their respective territory. The era, when the ecotourism or sustainable tourism growing like anything especially in developing countries, how the approaches of two neighbouring states of India with magnificent biodiversity differs.

Karnataka has a protected and unprotected forest area of about 3.83 million ha, which is 20% of its total area ranging from majestic evergreen forest of Western Ghats to scrub jungles of plain. The Western Ghats of Karnataka is one of the 25 global priority hotspots for conservation. The state is the refuge of 25% of Indian Elephant population and as well as 10% of that of tiger in 5 National Parks and 21 Sanctuary areas. Karnataka ranks 4th among all states and union territories of Indian in respect of area under tree. With these wonderful natural resources Karnataka has always been the land of renowned Wildlife Conservationists, Enthusiasts as well as Wildlife photographers and columnists.

These facts certainly say that it must be one of the best place for ecotourism or sustainable tourism and obviously it is.

But, where there is a lamp, there is always darkness under it. Unlike parks of Northern and Western India, forest department in Karnataka has a very sluggish approach towards ecotourism or sustainable tourism in its parks. In Nagarhole Tiger Reserve, one of the best nature and wildlife tourism zones of Karnataka, forest department neither has any Jeep with them for safari nor do they allow private vehicles in park. Not to allow private vehicles in park may be justifiable on the ground of security of park and its wildlife. But, the fallacy lies elsewhere. Forest department there uses their only patrolling jeep for tourism in park. This aggravates the disorganization. When their patrolling jeep is engaged in safari, forest guards practically have no vehicle with them and if any crisis arises, they have to wait till the jeep returns from its trip. On the other hand if the jeep is on official duty, tourists don’t get a chance of safari.

It hampers the ecotourism opportunity as well as the security of the park. In Bandipur Tiger Reserve, situation is definitely better. There the same forest department allows a group of resorts to conduct jeep safari in the park. Unlike Nagarahole, here you can have a jeep with trained drivers. But the ecotourism facility is monopolized within a syndicate here. This market monopoly sometimes results a situation that doesn’t support the spirit of sustainable ecotourism and ethical wildlife photography. This syndicate ran jeep safari very often breaks even primary rules to satisfy its customers. We can refer, what happened early this month in Bandipur in this context. The news of a Gaur got killed in Bandipur by a Tiger was spread like anything in the beginning of this month.

Photographers from all corners of the country took this opportunity to shoot a tiger. Even we got information from Kolkata regarding this while sitting in Bandipur. Things were more or less alright till that point. But what happened on 2nd December afternoon was not at all acceptable. All the Jeeps of syndicate ran safari programmes enterd into the park 30 minutes later than the scheduled time and spent 3 hours on circling around that Gaur carcass until it was dark in the forest. Even forest officials’ intervention couldn’t stop them from doing that. Such type of act not only breaks all rule and ethics of wildlife tourism and photography but also put tourists’ life on risk being within the forest after permissible time.

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Project Lead : Arnab Basu.

Place : Bengaluru, India.

These projects are interactive and fun to learn about terrestrial biodiversity. Kids may find them interesting and while playing with my models and toy animal replicas they may get lot of information on biodiversity.

At the same time these handmade models may make them interested in crafts and drawings and awake the hidden creativity and innovation within them.

The fun of discovery, learning and creation together can be found in this project.

The situation is not like that all over the Nilgiri Range. The neighbouring state of Kerala shows much more professionalism in this regard. Like Karnataka, Kerala is also at summit of Indian Biodiversity regions. It has 1.03 million ha of forest area that is about 27% of its total area. It’s the refuge of King Cobra along with Great Indian Hornbills, Srilankan frogmouth, Asian Elephant, Tiger, Indian Rock Python, Nilgiri Tahr etc. Kerala is always a famous place for eco and health tourism. Authorities here are always to promote and facilitate tourism internationally. One of the primary condition of sustainable tourism, welfare of local people and involving them in ecotourism, is being well executed here. In parks and sanctuaries, you can find ex-poachers turned eco-guides and very passionate forest officials. Programmes are far more managed and designed to facilitate nature and adventure tourism in true sense and seldom break the primary laws of nature. The Public – Private Partnership in sustainable

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Year – 1/Issue – 4/Dec’15 – Jan’16

tourism is well defined here involving more and more local people in this. That also helps the local economy to grow.

Though the tourism facilities are much more professionally managed in Kerala, but the control over protected areas has some loopholes. Here also you find less surveillance in protected area and that encourages poachers. That is the area to improve. A better approach can make these places a better place for cohabitation and sustainable tourism. If Gir can then why can’t others. Cohabit, protect nature, promote sustainable tourism and make the world a better place to live.

As one continues down the path, there comes a pond with water lilies and lotus on one side and a patch of green water with fish on the other. There’s also a hanging bridge. The activity just below the surface in this small pond is mesmerising – weeds, water insects, fish and the water current sway in a merry, unending motion (that’s ˛occasionally random-mostly synchronised’) that to them is the game of life.

Story Room :

Pranav Sinha

Photographs : Arnab Basu

As the car drives past Dariya Daulat in Srirangapatnam, one is aware of the grand past of this land and the legacy of history that pervades every bit of this beautiful land. This sense is further heightened as one drives by the Gumbaz where the Tiger of Mysore, Tipu Sultan and his family are buried.

And yet, a shimmering past and rich heritage is not all that is precious and to be revered in this land. At a stone’s throw spread over 0.67 sq. km, lies a secluded haven of biodiversity, home to myriad migratory birds, mammals and reptiles.

Spread across six islets created by a small dam on the River Kaveri, the Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary one of the most active nesting grounds for migratory birds in India and an oasis of calm. Here, time stands still; there are no rules apart from the timeless laws of nature; there is no race to be the first, highest, brightest, biggest… for here, life is governed not by the unending buzz of emails and iPhones but by the calm, content rhythm of nature that need prove nothing to anyone.

This sanctuary of peace is home to a wide species of migratory birds including Cormorants, Darters, Egrets, Herons, Kingfishers, Sandpipers, Spoon Billed Storks, Open Billed Storks, Painted Storks, White Necked Storks, River Terns, Swallows, White Ibis and Sandpipers. Mammals that add life to the sanctuary are Bonnet Macaques, Fruit Bats, Palm Civets, Common Mongoose and Otters.

Marsh Crocodiles and Monitor Lizards make up the reptile population.

Upon entering, one finds oneself walking through meandering forest-like paths, with an unbroken canopy of tall bamboo, eucalyptus and other deciduous trees 4 | Page

providing shade.

Starting imperceptibly, very quietly, bit by bit, as if on muffled and padded feet, a breeze moves gently through the thick vegetation. As it reaches one, you’d feel as though the breeze laden with the fragrance of the woods was caressing you like a lover.

Further on, one reaches the water front that this is the heart of this sanctuary.

From the bank of the reservoir are visible a cluster of islets, each laden with vegetation and home to different groups of birds. If one was to step back and take in the scene, the explorer would note that this is a place where the blue of the water and that of the sky are in perfect communion. The brown and green of the earth adds further colour. Where water meets earth and earth meets sky is not always clear – they seem to merge into each other. The tall trees with shoots reaching ever higher and branches spread out would appeal to the poet within that sees in them the outstretched arms of the earth and the water, locking the sky in an eternal embrace.

On the boat ride around the reservoir, as the explorer gets close to each different islet a different scene awaits.

On one islet one spies a colony of Fruit Bats suspended upside down. The bats are silent, probably resting. The only sound here is the swishing of the water against the hull of the boat and the shore of the reservoir.

On other islets are families of nesting birds. At one islet one spots a crowd of Common Spoonbills flying repeatedly from the water front to the crown of the trees. Closer observation reveals that the birds are returning each time

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Year – 1/Issue – 4/Dec’15 – Jan’16

with a new fish to feed to the young ones in the nests. If one stops to peer, one can spot a glimpse of parental care and love that is universal and not restricted by species - the young birds shouting out to their mothers as the adults return to the grove, the adults patiently, lovingly apportioning the meal to all young ones, making sure that none is left hungry.

As the boat drifts towards another isle, one spots a marsh crocodile sunning itself on a rocky shore. Despite the vegetation in the foreground, notwithstanding the near-perfect camouflage achieved by a skin colour that blends well with dried wood, the jagged tail is impossible to miss. As one takes in the flat snout and the powerful canines, one can only imagine how much force they could generate in an attack. The knowledge of being in such close proximity to a crocodile makes one breathe more slowly, sit more rigidly and watch ever more closely, alert for the slightest sign of movement. Yet, when the beast does move after about 12 minutes, there is also the allure of watching it in the wild. The crocodile, possibly used to pesky humans sneaking around its lair, treats one with the utmost disdain – sparing not a glance for the boat. Instead, it heads out into the water where it lies still, still as a log… For several minutes it stays there, immobile, immersed, with nothing but its nostrils visible above the brown waters. Is it waiting for unsuspecting prey to come by, with its guard down?

Maybe, but it’s time to move on.

Amongst the last scenes to stay in one’s memory is that of a flock of White Herons – complete with their black feet, white plumes, beady yellow eyes and yellow beak – flying overhead and then deciding to land on an islet. They make a memorable sight as one watches them come in with outstretched wings, feet down and an eye on ground. One by one, the entire group lands.

The boat ride ends heralding the end of the visit. The experience leaves one wishing inwardly ˛Encore!!’ - hoping to re-live these moments again and again.

For team Exploring Nature Logo Credit : Arijit Das Majumder Title Design : Arijit Das Majumder Saikat Chakraborty Editors Desk : Dwaipayan Ghosh Arnab Basu

On another side of the water, one spots half a dozen Painted Storks prancing around on a rocky ledge. Their yellow bills, and pink, black and white plumes lighting up the scene, they seem to be taking turns strutting across the ledge in the most majestic of saunters. And then, suddenly, after a few minutes they take flight together and fly off towards the distant isle.

Just as the gaze moves from the flight of departing storks towards more placid waters near the boat, there’s a burst of activity. Something has dived into the water vertically from a great height!

It’s a Kingfisher! This is followed by another Kingfisher hovering overhead making a straight dive into the water.

As they hit the water, one must watch how well they are positioned for the dive. The dive continues underwater, the bird gets its intended prey and then returns to the surface before flying away with its trophy wedged in its beak. Attracted by the activity of their friends, two other Kingfishers come over to this patch of water. After hovering a while to set their sights on their intended meals, make similar dives.

This majestic moment is surely the highlight of the entire trip – what more fabulous than a bird that can swim and dive as adeptly as it flies; one that can outrun fish in water!

As the boat turns to return to shore, on a low hanging branch one sees a crowd of Great Stone-Curlews, each shouting out banter to the rest in the group. These grey-coloured birds, with black stripes around their green and yellow eyes are a joy to watch.

Shortly thereafter, one spots a River Tern diving into the water, presumably for prey. He comes out empty handed, circles above and dives again. After a couple of tries, the Tern is rewarded and flies away with its meal.

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Year – 1/Issue – 4/Dec’15 – Jan’16

Theme Poster :

:: Smooth and Fast – Photography by Dwaipayan Ghosh ::

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