Kaziranga’s eco-sensitive zone: What changes with a smaller buffer? | In Focus Weekend
The Assam government is proposing to reduce the Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) around Kaziranga National Park from 10 km to a site-specific 1-3 km buffer. This change has sparked a debate regarding the balance between wildlife protection and local development needs.
Why it matters
Adjusting protected buffer zones directly impacts biodiversity conservation and the legal rights of communities living near critical wildlife habitats.
Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is at the centre of a debate over how much protection should extend beyond its boundaries. The Assam government has proposed a site-specific Eco-Sensitive Zone of around 1-3 km in different stretches, replacing the 10-km buffer currently applicable to Kaziranga.
In this episode, we unpack what an Eco-Sensitive Zone actually does, why these zones are created around protected areas, and what the Supreme Court has said about their minimum extent and site-specific nature. The conversation looks at the legal process for changing Kaziranga’s ESZ, the concerns of communities living around the park, and the importance of areas outside the national park that are used by wildlife.
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