The breathtakingKonkan region is surrounded by dense forests of the Western Ghats. Besidesbeing home to different species of animals, these forests are famous fordifferent kinds of trees.
Unfortunately theregion has been experiencing large scale of deforestation. Of late large partsof the forests are being destroyed at a fast pace due to human activity. Thenumbers of wild animals have also come down significantly.
In the last 10 yearsnearly 46 leopards have died. A numberof cases of skin and nails smuggling has also been reported from the area.
Recently the WesternGhats have been included in the list of World Heritage Sites. It has beenrecognized as one of the best spots for its biological diversity.
Forest officials whoare responsible to protect the flora and fauna of the region are more concernedabout their promotions in the forest department. They have failed to protect therich heritage and ecology of the region.
Massive cutting of treeshas led wild animals to the villages and towns in search of food and water. Sometimesthese animals which come in search of water accidentally fall in village wells.And many times they get snared in the poacher’s nets. Unfortunately the forestdepartment officials have not been successful in saving the lives of theseanimals.
Leopard’s skin andnails fetch a fat price in the open market. Poachers have a field day smuggling leopard’s skinand nails and make a killing selling it off.
For the last eightyears the Save Environment Committee have been leading a campaign to stop poachingand deforestation in the region, but forest department has failed to impress.
An Americanorganization ‘Trees For The Future’ raised serious concern over large scaletree felling in forests. They have also carried out programmes on treeplantation to offset the decline of tree cover.
The organization hasbeen carrying out social work in more than 22 countries around the world.
