PANAJI
The State forest department’s proposed “Goa Green Shield” initiative is expected to bring an additional 177.84 sq km – equivalent to 17.784 crore square metres of ecologically significant land outside the existing government forest areas under conservation protection.
“The initiative seeks to expand the scope of environmental protection beyond notified forests to cover an interconnected landscape comprising mangroves, river corridors, private forests, wetlands, khazan lands, agricultural landscapes, hill ecosystems and coastal and marine habitats,” a senior official said.
Goa has a total geographical area of 3,706 sq km, of which the recorded forest area is 1,225.12 sq km, or around 33.06 per cent of the State’s geographical area. The Green Shield concept is aimed at protecting the wider ecological landscape that supports these forests and wildlife, the official explained. Among the major areas identified are 50.68 sq km of mangroves spread across more than 13,000 survey numbers, which are provisionally notified as no development zones.
The plan also identifies 25.46 sq km along the Mandovi and Zuari rivers, covering a 75-metre buffer on either bank, for conservation. Ecological corridors linked to the Galgibag, Talpona, Sal, Chapora, Terekhol and Cumbarjua river systems are also proposed to be protected at the landscape and watershed level.
Private forests constitute another significant component. Around 46.11 sq km covering 624 survey numbers has been notified as private forest by Review Committee-I and referred for No Development Area protection. Review Committee-II has identified another 41.53 sq km as private forest, with the notification process underway. In addition, 8.65 sq km within notified private forests, covering more than 550 survey numbers and 855 subdivisions, has been delineated as NDA.
The Green Shield also includes Goa’s khazan lands, paddy fields and salt pans, which the government describes as important for flood regulation, groundwater recharge, biodiversity and climate resilience.
The proposed Vagheri Hill Conservation Area, covering 6.53 sq km, has been identified for enhanced conservation and proposed for declaration as a wildlife sanctuary. At Galgibag, 0.16 sq km of turtle nesting habitat has been proposed for declaration as a Marine Wildlife Sanctuary, along with 3 sq km of marine area.
