Natural Heritage

Natural Heritage includes all components of our surroundings which have not been created by man and which are of cultural, aesthetic, spiritual, biotic or ecological value and which could also be of directly usable resource value. It is important to understand the implication of die term "Natural Heritage". It should have one or all of the following attributes:

1. Ecological and Biological Significance implying inter alia:
   • Important areas of biodiversity consisting of diverse species of both fauna and flora
   • Natural vegetation
   • Important breeding and nesting sites
   • Habitats of gravely endangered species of both fauna and flora including fish fauna
   • Habitats of species of fauna and flora which are endemic and restricted in their range to a particular area
   • Important migration routes and corridors between habitats of gravely endangered species
   • Fossils
   • Unique geological and rock formations of geomorphologic significance, rock shelters
   • Headwaters of important watersheds
   • Shola forests
   • Important natural grasslands
   • Wetlands, marshes, seasonal wetlands used by migratory avifauna or by local farmers, natural lakes, lagoons, creeks, streams, water channels, etc.
   • Uncultivated riverine islands, natural riverine stretches
   • Unique desert patches
   • Unique coastal landforms
   • Stretches having mangrove vegetation
   • Offshore coral reefs
2. Areas having natural vegetation of cultural significance, such as sacred groves, water bodies, hill tops, etc. and similar areas associated with cultural and religious beliefs and practices.
3. Natural landscapes of aesthetic and recreational value.

Format (Proforma) for Listing

A Format for preparing the inventory (Listing) of Natural Heritage Sites is enclosed. In deciding whether to include a site for listing, the lister(s) has to keep in view the following guidelines:

• Listing should be restricted to only such areas and sites that are not statutorily protected under the Central or State laws. It should also include areas notified under the Forest Act, the Wildlife (Protection) Act, Ancient Monuments, Archaeological Sites and Remains Act and similar laws. Nor should they be sites that are already designated sites under international treaties or conventions such as the World Heritage Convention or the Ramsar Convention.
• The listing should list areas where nature has not been very significantly modified by man.
• The Chapter should do the listing in two parts, one for the urban area (city, town, etc), and the other for the rest. This will also facilitate protection and conservation by the concerned local authorities.
• The listing should specifically highlight the areas which arc considered to be of national or regional importance.

Legal

Role of Statutory Authorities

Listing of heritage is the essential first step towards protection and conservation. Yet, unless it is followed up by action for protection and conservation it has limited value. The concerned local authorities should be lobbied to take follow-up action as mandated by the Constitution of India and laws governing land use to protect the ecology, environment and cultural assets within their jurisdiction. Protection and conservation of natural heritage can be (and, in quite a few cases is) also ensured by the community acting in concert. Village Forest Committees, Users’ Groups and Self-Help Groups formed under Watershed Development Programme or similar programmes can also play an important role in protecting and conserving natural heritage assets. Thirdly, individual citizens can also ensure conservation through their sense of concern and knowledge and expertise.

The 73rd and the 74th Amendments to the Constitution of India contain the Twelfth Schedule applicable to urban authorities and the Eleventh Schedule applicable to the other (rural) areas. Entry No. 13 of the Twelfth Schedule refers to 'Promotion of cultural, educational and aesthetic aspects'.

Entry No. 21 of the Eleventh Schedule refers to 'Cultural Activities' and Entry No. 29 of the same to 'maintenance of community assets'. The land use planning in most states is regulated by the relevant town and country planning law. While making development (master) plans for the city/ town or the region under it, the planning authority has to take into account the sites of natural heritage. The Chapters can facilitate this process by listing the natural heritage. The implementation of the development (master) plan is generally the responsibility of the local authority (the municipal/, cantonment body in the case of urban areas and the Panchayati Raj Institution in the case of the other areas). Advocacy and facilitation by the Chapters can ensure proper implementation.

Role of Local Communities

It has become increasingly evident that long-term conservation efforts can be best assured with the involvement of local communities. A number of communities, large and small, have been involved in nature conservation for various reasons and have succeeded in protecting flora and fauna and natural heritage sites such as sacred groves or water bodies. Among such communities the Vishnois of Rajasthan and Haryana are perhaps the best known.

But there are many others that need to be recognized and helped in carrying their mission of conservation further. In this context, a community means a group of local people sharing a common interest and a sense of responsibility towards a specified ecosystem and natural resource in their neighborhood. Such a community need not necessarily be a homogenous body and could be divided by class, caste, gender and other factors.

The uniting factor of the community, however, is the dedication to the cause of protecting/conserving a species or an area, which may also include water bodies. The motivation for protection/conservation could be religion, tradition or realization of economic and ecological needs. It could be the realization that if certain species are not protected or if certain natural resources are not rationally managed, they themselves would face greater deprivation and hardship and that through conservation they would have greater and more sustained access to biological resources like fodder, fuel wood and grass, as well as water retention. The motivation could come from some leadership, both from within and outside the community, as well as by a threat posed by certain projects and overuse by other communities, or by the community itself. It is only communities that practice positive and pro-active protection and conservation of species and areas that can ensure long term sustainability. Thus, for sustainability in the long term the Chapters should identify those communities which have been making efforts for protection and conservation on their own accord and which have stood the test of time. Such efforts could be in respect of sacred groves, ponds, lakes, grasslands, wetlands, coastal and marine areas and watersheds.

In certain water bodies fishing may be prohibited and enforced for religious or other reasons. There may be nesting sites that are sustained by community feeding and conservation of the habitat.

Enclosed is a Questionnaire for Listing the Status and Extent of Community Conservation of areas and Species which should enable a Chapter to determine which communities need to be encouraged and helped in their efforts.

Role of the Citizen

The Constitution of India has a separate chapter, Part IV-A, on the Fundamental Duties of a Citizen. Clause (g) of Article 51-A of the Constitution states, "It shall be the duty of every citizen of India to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life and to have compassion for living creatures". The Chapter can help the citizen to discharge this duty and responsibility in the following ways:

• Identifying knowledgeable and committed individuals who can help the Chapter in identifying, listing and documenting natural heritage sites.
• Involving such persons in drawing up advocacy plans to create awareness about the need to protect and conserve the listed natural heritage sites.
• Using the expertise of such persons to draw up nature trails and nature walks in the identified natural heritage sites and motivating them to volunteer their services for such activities. School teachers could be trained by them to enrich class room teaching by taking their students for such outdoor activities.