| S.No. |
Project Activity |
PA Local Benefits |
Impact |
Mitigation Measures/ Recommendations |
| 1 |
Alternative income generating activities for Vayana (Cinamom) bark collectors |
- Greater effort in PA protection by their involvement
- Improved social status of community previously haunted by social stigma as ‘thieves smugglers’
- Increased motivation for conservation support
|
- Socio political groups influence the affairs and discourage people from supporting conservation initiatives
- May lead to reversal in trend of bark collection
|
- The assessed low collection sale of Vayana is an indicator of positive benefits.
- Stronger commitment of EDC for continuity of positive trend
|
| 2 |
Digging ponds (Chelikuzhy, Azhuthkkadavu, Kallidamkunnu, Mukkuzhy and Vellaramchetta) |
- Improved water availability for people livestock
- Gainful employment opportunity
|
- Tampering with soil surface could lead to rapid drainage of water from the system
- Needs to be further investigated
|
- Maintenance for avoiding rapid fill back
- Frequent desilting through community support under reciprocal commitments
|
| 3 |
Renewal of check posts |
- Improvement in PA infrastructure for ensuring better protection
|
- No perceived impacts from a renewal
|
- Ensure quality construction for avoiding future investments in frequent renovation
- Assess locational effectiveness and review alternative site
|
| 4 |
Construction of boundary wall |
- Better protection of wildlife
- Reduced conflict with villages in surrounds
- Assurances of crop protection
|
- Temporary disturbance during construction
- Impacts of likely material extraction from within PA
- Tampering may occur for forced entries
|
- Future repair and maintenance to be agreed as per contractual clause for job
- Frequent inspection will deter tampering
|
| 5 |
Construction of a trench dismantled by wild elephants near information center, guard stations, entrance gate |
- Well being of staff, residents and visitors
- Prevent risks of accidents
- Employment opportunities for landless
|
- No impacts anticipates as it involves restorative work in sites where trench existed
|
- Ensure maintenance for effectiveness
|
| 6 |
Interest free loan disbursement for agriculture |
- Incentives for reducing encroachment and increasing agricultural productivity, self sufficiency and improving socio economic status
|
- With the unprecedented fall in agriculture prices over last two years, the cushion of remunerative prices has fallen
- May result in resurfacing of exploitation by money lender
- Pressure on PA may increase as an outcome of reduced income
|
- Market stability extremely critical
- Support to EDC critical for preventing the reversal of increasing trends of dependence on PA for resources
- Inability to pay 25% share of income to be traded for reciprocal commitments to prevent economic crisis
|
| 7 |
Involvement of local people for support in management of Sabrimala pilgrimage (patrolling, assistance in conducting of camps and serving as tourist guides) |
- Inculcates a sense of ownership in the project
- Income generating enterprises for sustenance not linked to PA
|
- Differential benefits may lead to conflicts
- Lack of training may limit opportunities to few trained persons in the group
- Lack of local knowledge may hamper role as tourist guides and camp organizer
|
- Training initiatives to benefit local people in different jobs (patrolling activities, guide trekkers) may facilitate better opportunities for employment
- PA management along with research staff should take this initiative
- Nature education and awareness camps may be organized to improve knowledge of local biodiversity values
- Encourage schemes of awards for good work performances to motivate and encourage people to take up supportive conservation oriented jobs
|
| 8 |
Involvement in trade business during during Sabrimala pilgrimage |
- Enterprising alternatives
- Improved economic benefits
|
- Increase disturbance along pilgrimage routes within PA
- Increase waste generation by pilgrims
- Only ensures seasonal gains
|
- Develops a strategy to promote environment friendly, low waste generating and least damaging options for running the business
- Involve larger force for protection work
|
| 9 |
Developing basic infrastructure for pilgrims (Tarpolene sheds, drinking water facility) |
- Indirect support to conservation by reduction of threats through alternative source of sustenance
- Better pilgrimage management
- Improved economic status
- Better relations between PA management local people
|
- Minimal impact during the setting up of infrastructure
|
- Assure engagement of these people in patrolling, protection and maintenance and construction work to ensure year round livelihood means
|
| 10 |
Removal of exploitative agencies by directly organizing the vendors into EDCs |
- The project has reduced the exploitative role of money lender and ensured better financial security
|
- Trends may reverse with forces of markets and dissociation of cohesive forces within EDCs
- Markets may also influence the trend
|
- Already evident due to fall in agricultural prices and lowering of income
|
| 11 |
Community farming (Paliyakuddy and Sathram EDC) |
- Reduced land requirement for sustenance
- Reduction in threats from illegal encroachment
|
- Lack of ownership may dissuade community approach
- Severe competition from other units and inferior quality of products resulted in low market
|
- Difficult to revive because of lost interest due to failure
|
| 12 |
Sale of products like vermicompost and pepper seeds |
- Non PA dependent activity with no implications on PA resources
- Very enterprising initiatives already successfully implemented through support from EDC
|
- Better markets needed for larger gains
|
- Already a very large market for such products exist to support the initiative
|
