NCCJ: 5 Crucial Actions to Protect Aravali Ecosystem

National Coalition for Climate and Environmental Justice (NCCJ)

National Coalition for Climate and Environmental Justice (NCCJ), part of the first National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM), A memorandum has been presented to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change and the Haryana Chief Minister, requesting the cancellation of the contested Aravali Zoo Safari Park project. The organization was complaining about environmental harm, infringement of the rights of the communities, and disobedience of the environmental regulations.

Key Points:

• In the memorandum, it is emphasized that the Araval are an ecologically fragile area, and can be used as a natural barrier to the desertification of Delhi-NCR.
• The new safari park would disrupt wildlife corridors, decline in forestation and endanger biodiversity.
• It focuses on the Forest Rights Act where the local communities should be integrated in the decision making.
• Proposed options to help in fostering eco-tourism by avoiding the destruction of the ecosystem together with community led conservation and controlled tourism.
• Demanded the government to prioritize conservation policies and resilience to climate which will govern the country.

About Aravali Zoo Safari Park Project:

• Could be recommended for adoption in Haryana’s Gurugram and Nuh districts.
• Geographical extent: Some 10000 acres of Aravalli region.
• The goal is to be one of the biggest developed safari parks in the world, and it has sections that include:

• Big cats (lions, tigers, leopards)
• Exotic birds and animals
• Reptile zones
• Aquatic biodiversity zones

Concerns raised:

• May cause deforestation and breaking of wildlife habitats.
• Threat of man-wildlife interventions and business impropriety of woods.
• There might be a breach of environmental standards with the Forest Conservation Act,1980 and Wildlife Protection Act,1972.

National Alliance to Climate and Ecological Justice (NACEJ):

• An ecological coalition of grassroot social movements, climate scientists, environmental scientists, and law professors.
• Member of National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM); the group that deals with social and environmental justice.

Objectives:

• Strengthen environmentalism and environmental equality.
• Defend community rights against the legislation such as Forest Rights Act, 2006.
• Address illogical development initiatives that destroy the eco systems and livelihoods of people in that area.
• Punish environmentally harming ones such as community based conservation and equal resource distribution.