Buffer Zones are a critical part of any protected area around the world. A buffer zone is often referred to as an area between two or more other areas and functions to reduce interactions between them. Applying this concept in conservation biology, many researchers, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and government agencies have advocated the creation of a “buffer zone” between well-protected core habitats and areas of intensive human land use.
This definition of a buffer zone according to Wild and Mutebi(1996): “Any area, often peripheral to a protected area, inside or outside, in which activities are implemented or the area managed with the aim of enhancing the positive and reducing the negative impacts of conservation on neighboring communities and neighboring communities on conservation”.
What is a buffer zone in a forest?
Generally, each biosphere reserve is divided into three protected and managed areas. The first is the core zone, an area which is heavily protected area where human activity is restricted. The second is the buffer zone. This is the area around a major area where low impact activities such as sustainable use of natural resources, research, development, environmental education and regulated tourism are carried out. The last is transition zone. This zone is outside the buffer zone. There is intense human activity and sustainable use of resources by local communities.
Evolution of a ‘buffer zone’ model in conservation
At first, buffer areas were mainly defined as a means to protect people and their crops from animals leaving the conservation areas and forests. Since last twenty years, the buffer zone principle was applied to protect conservation areas and forests from negative human influences. Now it is used to simultaneously minimize human impact on conservation and address socio-economic needs of the affected population.
Buffer zones are beneficial for both environmental and economical reasons. Here are some of the benefits offered
Ecological
- Provides a filter or barrier against human access and unwanted use of key areas or protected areas.
- Protects key areas from invasions by exotic plant and animal species.
- Provides additional protection against storm damage, drought, erosion and other forms of damage.
- Enables habitat expansion and subsequent growth of populations of large dominant species in protected areas
- Enables the safe passage and movement of flagship species such as tigers, lions, leopards, wild buffaloes and elephants.
- Buffer zones can also operate as dispersal corridors connecting Protected Areas with other vegetation remnants, thereby increasing the flux of individuals and preventing demographic and genetic isolation of resident populations (Pulsford et al., 2015).
- It also aims to restore species, populations and ecological processes in degraded areas.
- Riparian buffers along streams, lakes and wetlands can help to lessen the impacts of nearby development. Riparian areas also provide habitat for a variety of plant and animal species and protect water quality and aquatic habitats.
Socio-economic
- It provides a flexible mechanism for resolving conflicts between conservation interests and the local communities inhabiting adjacent lands.
- It provides alternative income to the local communities in form of ecotourism in form of homestays and employment of local youth in hospitality department.
- Helps income generation from transit movements to and from park (roadside stalls, resting places, hotels and lodges)
- Protects traditional land rights and local cultures and opens new market opportunities to sell handicrafts and local cuisine.
Developmental
- Developmental activities such as construction of roads, tourist lodges, public sanitation can be undertaken in limited capacity in buffer zones.
- Ecotourism and homestay help in sustaining alternate income to those living in nearby villages or in buffer zones.
- In India many government agencies and NGO’S are providing skill development activities to local youth wherein they can work in local hospitality industry or migrate to big cities after attaining necessary skills.
- Furthermore local communities are imparted with environmental education and incorporated as forest guards, task forces, anti- poaching squads, which increases the conservation efforts.
Source: WILDCRU
Although the design of buffer zones appear straight forward, the actual management has many challenges from managing human settlements to preventing threats to the free movement of wildlife.
Supreme Court Judgment on Buffer Zone
According to a verdict passed by the Supreme Court of India, dated June 3, 2022, “All protected forests, national parks and nature reserves in the country must have mandatory buffer zones or ecologically sensitive zones (ESZs) at least 1 km from their designated boundaries.” The idea was to create a transition space between areas of high protection and those of low protection.
However, this decision was not welcomed by people living around Protected Areas. For example, farmers as well as builders and developers who had built residential complexes within inches of bio reserves especially in megacities like Mumbai. A special investigating committee found around 70158 structures in eco-sensitive zones, more than half being residential complexes.
Buffer zones and Rights of Forest Dwellers
The Indian Forest Act of 1865 ,not only expanded British colonialism in India and eased their claim to Indian forests, but also maximized the control of the British government over the forests and literally took away a number of traditional rights of many communities.
Over the years there has always been a confusion when it comes to implementing the various acts associated with rights of forest dwelling people in India (recognized in the Forest Rights Act, (FRA) 2006).
Many Critics argue that the powers granted to Forest Authorities under Forest Conservation have been misused. The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act passed in 2016 provided for the spending of a fund of more than INR 50,000 crore on forestry-related activities that had a direct impact on forest dwellers. The Forest Right Act, 2006 was challenged in the Supreme Court by forest conservation groups who argued that the FRA facilitates deforestation and illegal encroachment.
The new Forest Conservation Rules were notified in 2022. The wording of the new rules means that it is not mandatory to seek permission from the Gram Sabha before converting a forest. It means the Government can clear a forest for any development activities without the consent of its inhabitants.
Mitigating Human-Wildlife Conflicts in Buffer Zones
Many studies have investigated the conservation effectiveness of protected areas, but far less attention has been given to the status of buffer zones around Protected areas.
Human- Wildlife conflict is more in buffer areas where big mammals such as tigers, lions, leopards, wild boars,elephants blue bull(Nilgai) roam freely and come in contact with humans often with negative interactions.
Although, the increased number of wildlife within protected areas shows the success of conservation, negative developments such as crop damage, livestock damage and injury or death of humans may occur in areas of human settlements which hamper the success of conservation.
Mitigating such conflicts demand the authorities to be empathetic, patient and good listeners. Many studies have shown the villagers are positive towards conservation, they only require good administration and timely compensation from the government.
Systematic review of current functioning buffer zone programs to understand existing problems and to design improved strategies and policies for compensation of crop damage and livestock depredation can help in mitigating this issue.
Significance of Wildlife Tourism development in Buffer Zones
Buffer zones form the mainstay of Wildlife tourism. These areas have potential to become more popular than the core areas due to easy access to study nature. Tourists can undertake nature trails to observe the wildlife more closely.
Ecotourism can be well developed in these areas which can provide a source of alternative income to local communities whose main income is marginal farming and rearing of livestock.
An example of this is seen at Tadoba- Andhari Tiger Reserve at Maharashtra, India where buffer tourism has been well implemented to reek benefits from tourism and protect wildlife as well.
The youth are employed as safari guides, drivers, gate operators and forest guards. Houses have been converted into homestay. Profits generated are controlled and distributed back to the village people.
Village relocations from Buffer zones
Relocation of villages has been attempted in several parts of the world for protecting endangered species. For instance entire villages were resettled from national parks in the United States in the nineteenth century. In Nepal, indigenous communities were relocated from the Royal Chitwan National Park prior to 1973. Cameroon , Tanzania, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Republic of Congo are some of the countries where villages were relocated for the benefit of wildlife. (Rithe et al 2021).
In India, villages were relocated from 28 wildlife reserves including 7 tiger reserves and 1 Asiatic Lion Sanctuary. Overall there was a positive response in terms of wildlife conservation since the prey density increased with a positive impact on the population of tigers.
However village relocations are not easy and require tactical handling of the situation. Evidence from a study conducted by Rithe K et al in 2020 at Melghat Tiger Reserve, India suggests that voluntary rural resettlement (even through negotiations) has the potential to provide a so-called ‘win-win’ situation where conservation goals are met while promoting development goals. However, this study also found that a significant number of families bear the burden of relocation.
Conclude
To conclude, Buffer Zones act as a ‘shock absorber’ between disturbed and undisturbed area of a biosphere reserve. These areas if managed properly can play an important role in conservation.
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Written by: Dr. Nupur Sawant