Save Forest Save Ecosystem

Subject : Regarding Allegations Published In Various Media Reports Related

To Gir Forest And Asiatic Lion Landscape

We are the present / ex- Members of State Board of Wildlife of Gujarat.

1. It is proposed to divert 75 Hectare of land of Babarkot Reserve Forest near Rajula under FCA for mining purposes. This area is permanent habitat of more than 50 Lions and other Schedule 1 wildlife as per official records. It is also included as an IMPORTANT LION CORRIDOR in Management Plan of Gir, which is to be preserved and developed as such. It is mentioned that it is not a “corridor” in the land diversion proposal which is not the true fact. More than 5500 trees will be cut as per this proposal. Instead of increasing Protected Area of Gir for LIONS , which is dream project of Hon'ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the " PROJECT LION ", such important protected area is proposed to be decreased. This is against the Government Campaign of “Ek ped ma ke naam” too.

2. Diversion of Reserve Forest land to an illegal resort named Leonia in Khicha village of Dhari taluka, Amreli District. The permission was given for conversion of Agricultural Land into Non- Agricultural Land ONLY FOR RESIDENTIAL PURPOSES. However, the same is used for COMMERCIAL purposes as resort. They have no Licence to run Resort. Their illegal access from RESERVE FOREST was hitherto prohibited by earlier officers but it has now been allowed illegally and unauthorisedly and, forest land diversion proposal under FCA has been initiated by forest department. Diversion of forest land for this illegal resort will certainly set

• https://youtu.be/gn5yrhXjT6E

• https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/wildlife-experts-write-to-gujarat-govt-flag-threats-to-asiatic-lions-in-gir-101781099060576.html

This effort we are putting from our side but not enough we have to Orar like a lion 🦁