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Federal Register/Vol. 75, No. 2 / Tuesday, January 5, 2010/Proposed Rules
(Curcuma longa), and onion (Allium
cepa) being the major crops of the area
(Jeganathan et al. 2008, p. 77). From
1991 to 2000, scrub habitat in the
Cuddapah District and parts of the
Nellore District in Andhra Pradesh
decreased by 11-15 percent, while the
area occupied by agricultural land more
than doubled (109 percent increase)
during the same time period. Remaining
scrub patches were also found to be
smaller (38.4 percent decrease) and
further from human settlements
(Senapathi et al. 2007, pp. 1, 4;
Jeganathan et al. 2008, p. 76).
The main causes for the loss of scrub
habitat were human settlements and
subsequent conversions of scrub habitat
to agriculture and cleared areas
(Senapathi et al. 2007, p. 6). From 2001
to 2004, an estimated 480 ha (1,186 ac)
of scrub habitat were cleared within and
around the SLWS, 275 ha (680 ac) of
which were cleared to provide land for
agriculture to the people of India who
were displaced by floods and for
farming of lemons and forestry
plantations. These cleared areas fall
within 1 km (0.6 mi) of previously
known and newly discovered Jerdon's
courser areas (Jeganathan et al. 2008, p.
76). From 2000 to 2005, Jeganathan et
al. (2008, p. 77) noted that
approximately 215 ha (531 ac) of scrub
habitat outside of the SLWS were
cleared and most likely will become
lemon farms. The irrigation required to
sustain agricultural activities will likely
further fragment any remaining suitable
habitat (Senapathi et al. 2007, p. 7).
The Jerdon's courser inhabits open
patches within scrub-forest and prefers
areas with moderate densities of trees
and brush (Jeganathan et al. 2004a, p.
234). Researchers believe this open
habitat is maintained by grazing animals
and some woodcutting (Norris 2008,
pers. comm.). Known Jerdon's courser
sites are already being used for grazing
livestock and woodcutting, but at
moderate levels that maintain the
appropriate vegetation structure
(Jeganathan 2005, p. 15). Mechanical
clearing of bushes to create pasture,
orchards, and tilled land; high levels of
woodcutting; and high level of use by
domestic livestock are likely to cause
deterioration in scrub habitat by
creating a scrub forest that is too open
for the Jerdon's courser. However, low
levels of grazing by livestock or absence
of woodcutting may also lead to habitat
that is more closed and, therefore,
unsuitable (Jeganathan et al. 2004a, p.
234; Jeganathan et al. 2004b, p. 23;
Norris 2008, pers. comm.).
Land in SLWS and adjacent areas is
used by the people from villages indomestic buffalo (Bubalus bubalis),
sheep (Ovis aries), and goats (Capra
hircus), and for woodcutting
(Jeganathan et al. 2004b, p. 9).
Jeganathan (2008, pers. comm.) states
that most of the potentially suitable
habitat for Jerdon's courser is located on
the fringe of the forest and can be easily
accessed by locals for grazing and
woodcutting. Jeganathan et al. (2008, p.
77) notes three types of grazing within
and around the SLWS and SPNWS. The
first includes shepherds who bring
goats, sheep, and buffalo into the scrub
habitat in and around the sanctuaries
every morning, grazing 2-3 km (1-2 mi)
into the forest before returning to the
villages in the evening. The second
includes nomads with 200-300 cattle.
Although they are invited by farmers to
help fertilize the lemon farms, they stay
3 to 4 months and graze in the forested
areas in and around the sanctuaries. The
third includes sheep that graze inside
the sanctuaries throughout the year;
however, this type of grazing did not
occur in scrub habitat. Furthermore, a
common practice is to cut and bend the
branches of scrub and tree species to
facilitate better access for grazing
(Jeganathan et al. 2008, p. 78). In
addition, the people of the local villages
also use the sanctuaries for timber and
nontimber forest products; including
fuel wood, illegal wood collecting,
grass, and bamboo. From 2001 to 2003,
Jeganathan et al. (2008, pp. 77-78)
regularly observed wood loads being
removed by either head loads, bullock
cart, or tractor.
Development activities within the
SLWS, including the construction of
check dams, and percolation ponds, and
digging of trenches, have been observed
in known and newly recorded areas of
the Jerdon's courser (Jeganathan et al.
2004a, pp. 26, 28; Jeganathan et al.
2008, p. 76). Approximately 0.5 to 1 ha
(1-2 ac) of scrub forest was cleared for
each of five percolation ponds dug near
the main Jerdon's courser area and
exotic plant species planted on the
embankment. In addition, scrub habitat
was thinned (removal of all scrub
species except saplings), and pits for
collecting rainwater were dug
(Jeganathan et al. 2008, p. 76).
Furthermore, various sizes of stones
were collected from the scrub jungle
within and around the SLWS for road
construction every year. Collection
included digging of stones with
crowbars, collection of stones in heavy
vehicles, and the excavation of 15 large
pits (Jeganathan et al. 2008, p. 76).
Construction of dams and reservoirs
and river floods in the area has resulted
in the relocation of villages near thewere relocated closer to SLWS after the
construction of the Somasila dam.
Fifteen were displaced due to the
construction of the Sri Potuluri Veera
Brahmendraswamy (SPVB) Reservoir.
Currently, there are approximately 146
villages between the SLWS and SPNWS
(Jeganathan et al. 2008, pp. 76-77).
There are more villages in the area of
Somasila and SPVB Reservoir that could
be relocated near the sanctuaries in the
future, and there are plans to increase
the height of the Somasila dam, which
will cause the displacement of more
villages near the southeastern part of
SLWS (Jeganathan et al. 2008, p. 77).
With the relocation and expansion of
human settlements, there is concern
over additional land conversion for
agriculture, increased pressure for
grazing and woodcutting, and further
development.
At the time of the Jerdon's courser
rediscovery in 1986, the only known
site where the species was found was
under threat from a project to construct
the Telugu-Ganga canal through its
habitat. The Andhra Pradesh Forestry
Department (APFD) and the State
Government of Andhra Pradesh
responded by designating the site as the
SLWS to protect the species. The
proposed route of the canal was
adjusted to avoid the sanctuary
(Jeganathan et al. 2005, p. 6; Jeganathan
et al. 2008, p. 78). However, in 2005,
construction of the Telugu-Ganga canal
began, illegally, within the SLWS.
Construction was stopped immediately
once the APFD was notified (Jeganathan
et al. 2005, p. 6; Kohli 2006,
unpaginated). Illegal excavation was
reported even after construction was
stopped and the contracting company
fined (Kohli 2006, unpaginated). A
report by the Bombay National History
Society (BNHS) found that 80 to 100 m
(263 to 328 ft) were cleared for canals
that were 16 to 20 m (53 to 66 ft) wide.
It also found that approximately 22 ha
(54 ac) of potentially suitable habitat
were cleared and one of the three newly
recorded sites for the Jerdon's courser
was destroyed by the illegal
construction within the SLWS
(Jeganathan et al. 2005, p. 12; BNHS
2007, p. 1; Jeganathan et al. 2008, p. 73).
The report also assessed the potential
impacts of the proposed realignment
and determined that the construction of
the canal would still impact 650 ha
(1,606 ac) of suitable habitat around the
SLWS and would pass within 500 m
(1640 ft) of recent records of the Jerdon's
courser and pass very close to the only
place where the species has been
regularly sighted since 1986 (JeganathanSLWS and SPNWS. Fifty-seven villages
299
Sagileru valley for grazing herds of
et al. 2005, p. 12; Jeganathan et al. 2008,
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United States. Office of the Federal Register. Federal Register, Volume 75, Number 2, January 5, 2010, Pages 219-736, periodical, January 5, 2010; Washington D.C.. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc52585/m1/89/: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.