Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZ)

The Karnataka Cabinet Sub-Committee has approved the declaration of four forest areas as Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs): Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary, Bankapura Wolf Sanctuary, Uttaragudda Wildlife Sanctuary, and Arsikere Bear Sanctuary.

• ESZs are areas with unique environmental resources that require special conservation, as per the National Environment Policy (2006).
• ESZs are proposed by states based on MoEFCC 2011 guidelines.
• ESZs regulate local activities like agriculture and construction but do not prohibit them unless specifically stated.
• ESZs act as “shock absorbers” for ecosystems and serve as transition zones from high protection areas to areas with lesser protection.