Forest boost to plains hill schemes later

Under the Biodiversity and Landscape Planning Project, an Eco-development Project has brought smiles on the faces of the people living in the remote villages of North Bengal. The project will help to perk up the socio-economic condition of the people.

Mr. M.A. Sultan, the Chief Conservator of Forests (wildlife) who has come from Rajabhatkhawa to attend the meeting, said that the World Bank would supply the total expenditure of the project of Rs. 50 crores through the Global Environment Facility. The project will cover the entire stretch between Naxalbari and Sankosh. The goal of the project is to look after biodiversity of the region along with the improvement the people living in the remote villages. The involvement of the departments like Agriculture and Animal Husbandry will help to make the initiative a success.

People within the circle of 2 kilometers will be included in this project. As the land structure is different in the hill areas so a separate plan will be drawn for the hills after the success of the project planned for the plains. The Buxa Tiger Reserve will also be taken on for the purpose of improving the quality of the cattle.

The five-year plan covers seven out of twenty seven tiger reserves in West Bengal started in 1997 but due to delays it is continuing till June 2004. According to Mr. Sultan one major reason for the degradation of forest is the dependence of the local villagers on the forest. A change in the pattern of livelihood of the local population is the only way to change this problem.

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