Context: Recently, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change notified the eco-sensitive zone of the Deepor Beel Wildlife Sanctuary on the south-western edge of Guwahati.

• Among activities prohibited in the eco-sensitive zone are hydroelectric projects, brick kilns, commercial use of firewood and discharge of untreated effluents in natural water bodies or land areas.
• Deepor Beel is the Assam’s only Ramsar site and an Important Bird Area.

The Notification

• Specified an area to an extent varying from 294 metres to 16.32 km as the eco-sensitive zone, with the total area being 148.9767 sq. km.
• No new commercial hotels and resorts shall be permitted within 1 km of the boundary of the protected area, except for small temporary structures for eco-tourism activities.
• New wood-based industry will be set up in the eco-sensitive zone using 100% imported wood stock.
• Activities prohibited in the eco-sensitive zone are hydroelectric projects, commercial use of firewood and discharge of untreated effluents in natural water bodies or land areas.

Key concerns

• City wastes as well as industrial effluents causing serious problem to the ecological and environmental values of the rich wetland.
• It is causing a threat to all life forms and ecosystems in the Deepor Beel.

Deepor Beel wildlife sanctuary

• Deepor Beel is located to the south-west of Guwahati city in Kamrup, Assam.
• It is also called a wetland under the Ramsar Convention.

Flora

• Aquatic vegetation: Giant Water Lily, water hyacinth, aquatic grasses, water lilies and other submerged, emergent, and floating vegetation are found during the summer season.
• In deep open water area, marshy lands, mud flat, emergent vegetation, water net-grass land patches are reported

Avifauna

• It is a natural habitat to many varieties of birds. 219 species of birds including more than 70 migratory species are reported in the area.
• The Siberian crane regularly migrates to this habitat.

Aquafauna

• 20 amphibians, 12 lizards, 18 snakes and 6 turtle and tortoise species in the habitat. Over 50 commercially viable species of fish.

Land fauna
Wild Asian elephants’ leopard, jungle cat and Chinese porcupine and sambar.

Eco sensitive Zones

• Eco-Sensitive Zones or Ecologically Fragile Areas are areas within 10 kms around Protected Areas, National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries.
• ESZs are notified by MoEFCC, Government of India under Environment Protection Act 1986.

Activities allowed in the zone

• Prohibited activities: Commercial mining, saw mills, industries causing pollution, establishment of major hydroelectric projects (HEP), commercial use of wood.
• Regulated activities: Felling of trees, establishment of hotels and resorts, commercial use of natural water, erection of electrical cables.

Significance

• To minimise the impact of urbanisation and other developmental activities to protected areas that have been declared as Eco-Sensitive Zones.
• The purpose of declaring eco-sensitive zones around protected areas is for creating a 'Shock Absorber' for the protected area.
• They also act as a transition zone from areas of high protection to areas involving lesser protection.

Challenges

• Developmental activities: Activities such as construction of dams, roads, urban and rural infrastructures create interference, negatively impact upon the environment and imbalance the ecological system.
• Tourism: As the pressure of tourism is rising, the government is developing new sites and gateways to the ESZ.
• Introduction of exotic species: Exotic species create a competing demand on naturally occurring forests.