BOWING TO THE TAKIN

Following a string of BT stories last year about the Gasa Tshachhu Development Plan to construct buildings across the migratory route of the Takin, the government constituted a team to study the impact of the construction plan.

BT’s Tshering Chuki Gyamtsho talked to the fact finding team comprising of officials from the Nature Conservation Division, Gasa dzongkhag, Jigme Dorji National Park and National Environment Commission.



A brief background on the reason to comprise the fact finding team?

Gasa dzongkhag had proposed to expand the existing camp site at the Gasa Tshachhu by developing additional facilities on the other side of the existing camp site. However, it generated controversies mainly because the proposed site was the only migratory route for the national animal, Takin.

The local people too held their reservations of the proposed site, believing that any disturbances in the area would provoke the local deity. So, in May 2008, the team visited the site and submitted a comprehensive fact finding report.

How did the team study the proposed site?

The team used two methods to study the site.

Biological Studies

The total study area amounted to about 2.17 acres and covers about 48% of the entire area.

Vegetation characteristics like tree species, diameter at breast height, number of species, undergrowth or ground cover were collected from each plot.

We collected wildlife signs such as animal tracks, scratch marks, rubbings, beddings, wallows, scent marks, diggings, carcasses, bones and feathers from the plots.

The team could not estimate the number of takins using the proposed site due to lack of time and appropriate equipments.

However, the intensity use of area by the takins and other wildlife species were computed which directly indicated that the area was frequented by takins and other wild animals.

The area was not just the critical migration route for takins but also a prime habitat of many wild animals.

Coinciding with the migration time of the takins, camera traps were set up in strategic entry and exit point for two weeks.

Socio-economic studies

In the socio-economic studies the team carried out a survey using a structured questionnaire to collect socio-cultural information on the site.

Designed by the team, the questionnaire consisted of 24 questions related to the proposed site, the cultural and historical significance, geology and conservation significance, people’s views on the issue and other related information on the site.

The team interviewed 19 households out of 76 in Khatey geog over a period of two days.

What did the team find out from the two different studies?

The team found that there was a homogenous cover of broad-leaved forest type characteristics in the proposed site. There were about 18 forest tree species and five species of mammals were recorded.

Among the wild animals, we found out that the site is frequently used by sambar although takin succeeded sambar in use intensity.

Several takins were captured by camera 1 which was placed at the proposed site. Two cameras which were placed as control to see if takins moved up toward the cliff captured no takins. This proves that takins do not cross the rocky areas.

All the respondents were aware of the proposed Gasa Tshachhu development plan, nine respondents did not support the plan at all and the reason was that it would disturb the local deity.

Seven respondents were supportive of the need for such a plan but had concerns as the site was prone to floods and landslides. Two respondents didn’t give any views and only one respondent who is the Khatey gup seemed to support the plan.

The team found activities of takins and its migration trails at the proposed site and also found that there was no alternative migration route for the Takin, limited by the steep rocky cliff above the proposed site.

Further, the impact of noise and disturbances from large number of visitors and construction activities in the proposed site if considered, and harm from stray dogs on takins are indisputably high such that the lives of the Takins would ultimately be endangered.

What did the team recommend to the government?

Based on the findings, the team recommended an Environmental Impact Assessment be conducted of the proposed plan in the particular site, the already constructed suspension bridge to be removed to avoid access to the area by people and stray dogs.

The team also recommended other potential alternative site to be identified. The consideration of the capacity of the pools was recommended and restrictions to be made on the number of tourists and visitors and improve the existing facilities.

A suspension bridge has been constructed over the Mochhu leading it to the proposed site, what impact has the bridge bought to the community?

On the impact of the suspension bridge that was constructed in 2006, six respondents said that the bridge was useful to them when they go to offer Bumter once in three years to the local deity.

Earlier they had to construct makeshift bridge every time they cross the river.

Another seven respondents also said the bridge was useful but they raised concerns on the spread of illegal activities as well as pollution and disturbance in the area if opened to public.

Three respondents did not mention about the benefit of the bridge to the local people but raised concerns about giving access to poachers, disturbance to local deity and also the risk of the bridge from floods.

One respondent said the bridge would be useful to develop infrastructure across the river and two respondents did not respond.