ww.wti.org.in on Twitter

VISION A secure natural heritage of India Mission To conserve wildlife and its habitat and to work for the welfare of individual wild animals in partnership with communities and government

Our Work Emergency Relief and Rehabilitation Habitat Recovery & Securement Human - Wildlife Conflict Policy, Enforcement & Legal action Conservation surveys & species recovery Social & Community Development Awareness Campaigns for Conservation

Sandeep et al (Ecol Evol January; 3(1): 48–60) in their study on tiger DNA found the highest rates of contemporary gene flow in populations that are connected by forest corridors thus underlining the importance of tiger connectivity

The 45,000 km 2 Satpuda Maikal landscape contains 17% of India's tiger population and 12% of tiger habitat

WTI initiatives for conservation of tiger landscape in Central India Biological studies - Japan Tiger and Elephant Fund (JTEF) International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). Working with communities - Ecosystem Alliance & JTEF Policy advocacy - IFAW Legal assistance - JTEF & IFAW Training and Equipping (Forest department staff ) – IFAW & EA

In Nagzira Nawegaon Corridor, Gondia Central India Tiger Landscape Conservation Programme Working with communities to conserve wildlife

Nagzira Nawegaon Corridor Project Objectives Prioritization of 89 villages for corridor securement. Reduce fragmentation & degradation in critical areas of Nagzira Nawegaon connectivity corridor. Improve quality of life of the communities. Capacity building of local villagers.

Objective-1 Prioritization of 89 villages Villages classified into three categories - Priority I, II and III to reduce their dependence on the forest. Priority I – 15 Priority II - 13 Priority III – 26 Total – 54 villages

Objective-1 Participatory Situational Analysis (PSA) and Natural Resource Mapping (NRM)

The priority I villages of corridor are distributed in three tehsils of dist Gondia. Sadak Arjuni – 7 Deori – 5 Goregaon - 3 The dominant community in the Priority I villages are the Gond’s, Halbi, Mahar (ST) followed by Puwar, Teli (OBC) and Demar’s (NT). EA JTEF

Land holdings are not large, usually between acres (2.5 acres = 1 hectare). Average land holding in Maharashtra is 1.46 acre ( ) Small & Marginal farmers – 80%

Livestock grazing and fuel wood - mostly from the forests. Existing Forest Management bodies – seven Joint Forest Management (JFM) Committees ( under FD ) four Van Sanrakshan Samiti ( Forest Conservation Committee under village Panchayat ) three Van Haq Samiti ( Forest Rights Committee under village Panchayat ) three villages don’t have a body.

NTFP’s Most Common- Mahua Madhuca Indica and Tendu Diospyrus melanoxylon Collection of Mahua is controlled by the state excise department.

Making of leaf plates. The Burad communities - livelihood by making bamboo mats

NTFP market survey Demand and supply gap. MNREGA and its affect Tribal Development Corporation (TDC) - Managing natural resources, not in their agenda.

Objective-1 Management needs of PA Interaction with the PA managers and management plans of the PA’s. Capacity building Sustainable collection methods Livelihood Awareness and education Community support in conservation Actions initiated aligned with the management requirements of the PA’s.

PSA + NRM (15 villages) PA Management Plans Interview- PA Managers Sustainable Harvesting Practices Reducing extraction Pressure NTFP Mkt survey Demand & Supply gap Dependency on Single crop- Paddy Mahua – most common resource Small Landholdings Livelihood- agriculture and casual labor Unsustainable Harvesting methods Lac- highest economical value Followed by Chironji & Mahua Conservation Action Plan

Fuelwood & Grazing Poaching & Smuggling of Resources Corridor fragmentation & Degradation Unsustainable practices Infrastructure Planning Conservation Action Plan

Objectives- 2 & 3 Reduce fragmentation & degradation of corridor and increase quality of living of the communities Activity Providing Improved Cook Stoves Biogas – Deenbandhu model

Capacity building of 16 villagers of Jhambalapani for making cook stoves (5 -12 th Oct.12).

Comparison of fuel wood consumption in traditional and improved cook stoves. 30% decrease in fuel wood consumption.

To popularize the impact of improved cook stoves twenty schools and aanganbadi are also being provided these cook stoves. Of these four are community cook stove models, for students above 40 and upto 300.

Objective- 4 Capacity building of local villagers for biodiversity conservation and strengthening of local bodies (SHG, FRA, BMC, JFM). Activities Manual in local language on sustainable harvesting of forest resources

Objective- 4. Sensitization of forest management bodies BMC formed in Murdholi Gram Panchayat (5 villages) Forest Rights Act (FRA) & Joint Forest Management (JFM) Committee.

Objective- 4. Training on sustainable use and value addition of forest resources Training on Sustainable collection of forest produce – 20 trainees (7 – 9 Feb.13) Training on value addition of forest produce - 17 trainees (14 – 16 March.13) Centre of Science for Villages (CSV), Wardha.

Objective- 4. Formation and support to SHG.

Objective- 4 Training and equipping Frontline forest Staff 160 frontline forest staff were trained and provided basic equipments for protection of the PA’s. ( 22 – 30 Sept.13)

Objective- 5 Fragmentation in critical areas of NN corridor retarded Activity Declaration of Tiger Reserve The Nagzira Nawegaon tiger reserve proposal was cleared in October 2013 by the state cabinet.

Objective- 5. Plantation of fruit and shelter trees We have included the childrens of all the fifteen Priority I villages and schools for planting local tree species.

524 tree saplings were planted this year, which are adopted by the children. Reward on plant survival to childrens and schools after one year.

Objective- 5. Awareness Programmes Film shows were held during the Durga Pooja festival in villages.

Other activities Training on Improved Agriculture Training on Improved Agriculture was done with Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Gondia. 12 th July 2012 and 2 nd May Two villagers did trial plots One new farmer joins with one previous farmer Demonstration area increases from 4 acres (2012) to 6 acre (2013)

Other activities Fodder plantation Plantation of 50 shoots of “Jaywant phule” a variety of Pennisetum purpureum (Napier) was done in one plot in Jhambalapani. After three months gives 10 kg of fodder. Ready for harvesting in 20 days. Per cattle daily feed required= 10 kg.

Other activities Solar fencing Proposed 5 km solar fencing of Jhamblapani Cost escalation Unwillingness of villagers for management Solution ?

Achievements Proposal for declaration of Tiger Reserve – Oct.13 Acceptance of cook stoves and word of mouth publicity on the benefits Formation of the first village BMC and initiation of PBR in the district Confidence that NTFP can be value added for livelihood option Above all It’s not government scheme No translocation Trust building

Comments from the visit by Keystone Foundation More advocacy work with the local and state government for this project can be done, to dovetail some of the activities into welfare schemes. Some of the programmes are welfare schemes but not seriously implemented and monitored. Building a good rapport and relationship is more important than the activities of the project. Acceptance of the new cook stoves by the villagers through its increasing use. Need to increase the sensitivity of implementation. People coming forward with their queries and guidance. Careful follow up is being done of the chulha in every family. To know the use patterns, effectiveness of new cook stoves

Cost and maintenance of solar fence is a big question. Incidences of crop raiding and their frequency need to be studied. We are dropping the activity (with due permission from EA). Alternate model is suggested Grain for Grain. Fodder and agricultural related activities may not be successful in this kind of area. Fodder activity to be stopped as not practical. Agriculture is seeing increasing participation. Possibilities to work through the FRA. Interaction meeting held with forest department, more possibilities are being explored. Softer approaches like knowledge, education, information/resource centres, interpretation centres for the PA, promotional material, etc. Awareness programmes held in Priority I villages and promotional materials under development on Sustainable harvesting and general awareness.

Future Plan Expanding the initiatives to other priority villages Cook stove Sustainable harvesting practices Value addition and market linkage of natural resources Exploring bee keeping and honey as viable livelihood option Exploring the possibility of improving skills of bamboo workers and economic viability to curb illegal bamboo extraction from forests. Supporting the livestock improvement programme with govt & other ngo’s. Increasing the Awareness Programmes to all the 89 corridor villages Developing documentaries in local language on sustainable harvesting practices and conservation. Exposure visits to nearby areas where communities are managing and protecting the natural resources.

Our sincere thanks to The Ecosystem Alliance especially Both Ends and Keystone Foundation And also Japan Tiger and Elephant Fund (JTEF) International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)