Source: TOI
Context: The Supreme Court of India has reserved its verdict on the Jharkhand government’s plea to reduce the proposed Saranda Wildlife Sanctuary area from 310 sq km to 250 sq km, citing the need to protect tribal habitation and community rights.
About Saranda Wildlife Sanctuary:
What It Is?
- The Saranda Sanctuary is a proposed wildlife sanctuary in West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand, located within the Saranda Forest Division, known as one of Asia’s largest Sal (Shorea robusta) forests and a key biodiversity hotspot at the Jharkhand–Odisha border.
Location:
- Situated in southern Jharkhand, the Saranda region—meaning “land of seven hundred hills”—covers about 856 sq km, of which 816 sq km is reserved forest.
- It lies within the Singhbhum Elephant Reserve, forming a vital ecological corridor between Jharkhand, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh.
History:
- Declared a game reserve in 1968 under the Bihar Forest Act.
- The National Green Tribunal (2022) directed Jharkhand to notify it as a sanctuary under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
Key Features:
- Flora: Dense cover of Sal, Kusum, Mahua, and rare orchids.
- Fauna: Habitat for Asian elephants, four-horned antelope, sloth bears, flying lizards, and migratory birds.
- Communities: Home to Ho, Munda, Oraon, and PVTGs, reliant on forest produce like mahua and resin.
- Mineral Wealth: Contains nearly 26% of India’s iron ore reserves, making it a major mining zone for SAIL and private operators.
Significance:
- Ecological Hotspot: Forms a vital carbon sink and biodiversity reserve in eastern India.
- Elephant Corridors: Maintains wildlife connectivity between Saranda, Similipal, and Sundargarh forests.
- Tribal Livelihood & Rights: Balances conservation with protection of tribal forest rights under FRA, 2006.
