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Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary
Context:
The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) has approved oil and gas exploratory drilling in the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) of Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam.
- This decision was made during the 81st meeting of the committee, raising concerns about balancing energy development with wildlife conservation.
Background:
- In November 2024, a site inspection was conducted by representatives from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), and Assam’s Forest Department.
- The inspection found that exploratory drilling would cause minimal damage to the environment but stated that commercial drilling would not be permitted.
- The inspection team recommended no oil or gas extraction within the ESZ, even if hydrocarbon reserves were discovered.
The Project Details:
- Objective: The project aims to conduct exploratory drilling based on seismic mapping results to identify potential hydrocarbon reserves.
- The proposed drilling project, led by an oil exploration company, covers an area of 4.4998 hectares.
- This includes a 1.44-hectare well pad and a 3.0598-hectare access road in the AA-ONHP-2017/4 block. The site is located approximately 13 kilometres from the sanctuary.
- The sanctuary’s ESZ extends over 264.92 square kilometres, linking it with adjacent forest areas in Assam and Nagaland to preserve crucial biodiversity corridors.
About Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary:
- Location and Size: The Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Jorhat district of Assam, covering an area of 20.98 square kilometres.
- Historical Background: The sanctuary was known as Hoollongapar Forest during the British period in 1881 before being designated as a wildlife sanctuary.
- Ecological Significance: The sanctuary is home to the Hoolock gibbon, India’s only ape species, and six other primate species. It acts as a critical biodiversity refuge and provides forest corridors to the Dissoi Valley Reserve Forest and habitats in Nagaland.
- The sanctuary’s fragile ecosystem is at risk, especially if the exploratory activities are followed by commercial drilling or extraction in the future.
Environmental Safeguards and Conditions:
- The NBWL has imposed stringent conditions to minimise environmental impact:
- Real-time digital surveillance to monitor operations.
- Submission of detailed operational plans to regulatory bodies before work begins.
- Minimal tree felling during the exploration process.
- Strict pollution control measures to safeguard the environment.
- Prohibition on oil and gas extraction within the ESZ, even if reserves are found.
Ecological and Conservation Implications:
- The sanctuary’s ecological importance lies in its unique role as a biodiversity hotspot, particularly for the endangered Hoolock gibbon.
- The ESZ serves as a crucial buffer zone and ensures connectivity with surrounding forests, making any intrusion into this space a subject of concern.
- Conservationists have highlighted the need for vigilance to ensure exploratory activities do not disturb the fragile ecosystem.
