The ‘Forest Man of India’ has urged the Centre and Assam government to reconsider the proposal to reduce Kaziranga’s Eco-Sensitive Zone from 10 km to 1 km
Guwahati: Renowned environmentalist and ‘Forest Man of India’ Jadav Payeng has urged the Centre and Assam government to reconsider the proposal to reduce Kaziranga’s default Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) from 10 km to 1 km, warning of serious consequences for wildlife.
In a social media video, Payeng said a 1-km protection zone would not adequately account for the movement of animals, particularly during floods when wildlife from Kaziranga moves towards the higher ground of Karbi Anglong.
The environmentalist questioned how animals displaced by floods would be able to move safely if development and other activities intensify around the protected area.
The ‘Forest Man of India’ further called for a long-term conservation plan to preserve Kaziranga’s natural landscape and cautioned against infrastructure development that could interfere with wildlife movement and ecological systems.
Payeng also warned that increased human-wildlife interaction could create greater challenges for local communities and called for measures to address such conflicts. “Kaziranga is a national treasure,” he said, emphasising the park’s importance beyond Assam.
The Assam government has proposed reducing the default 10-km ESZ to 1 km, citing difficulties posed by the wider buffer for development and infrastructure. The proposal has sparked debate over its potential impact on wildlife corridors and human-wildlife conflict.
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