MEE TR Web Portal

Introduction

Nawegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve (NNTR), Gondia was notified as the 44th tiger reserve of India and the fifth tiger reserve in the state of Maharashtra on 12 December 2013. Geographically, NNTR is situated between latitudes 79° 42′ E and 21° 21′ N and between longitudes 80° 10′ E and 21° 06′ N. Administratively, it is located in the central part of Gondia and Bhandara districts in the north-eastern corner of Maharashtra. NNTR encompasses five protected areas: (1) Nawegaon National Park, (2) Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary, (3) New Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary, (4) Nawegaon Wildlife Sanctuary and (5) Koka Wildlife Sanctuary. The total area of NNTR is 1894.90 km², out of which 656.36 km² forms the core area and the remaining 1241.24 km² is part of the buffer region. NNTR has also declared the eco-sensitive zone under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, with a total area of 2333.39 km². Strategically, the tiger reserve is located in the heart of the Central Indian Landscape and provides corridors to other tiger reserves located in the southern and northern parts of India. The region comes under Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest 5A/C3, as per Champion and Seth’s classification of Indian forest types. This area provides an excellent habitat for almost all the major floral and faunal species found in Central India.

For administration, NNTR has a comparatively young frontline staff (field staff and STPF), with few vacancies in the frontline staff. NNTR has a total of 187 sanctioned posts, out of which 157 are filled and 30 are vacant. Key positions, viz., DFO, ACF and Forest Guard cadre, are vacant. Apart from the field staff, NNTR has 112 sanctioned posts of the Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF), out of which 105 have been filled (around 42% of them are women). NNTR also has one Rapid Response Team (RRT) with supporting logistics, veterinary facilities and a dedicated vehicle and one sniffer dog unit dedicated to all types of field operations. The Phase-IV data show an increasing trend in the tiger numbers of NNTR: 8 (3:5) with 2 sub-adults and 9 cubs in 2022 as against 6 (3:2:1) in 2013, 3 (1:2) with 3 cubs in 2014, 7 (3:4) in 2015, and 8 (5:3) with 5 cubs in 2018.

The MEE was conducted from 20 to 23 September 2022 by the team, comprising Sh. Bishan Singh Bonal, IFS, Rtd. PCCF & HOFF Assam and former MS NTCA ADG PT, Dr. Sandeep Tripathi, IFS, Rtd. PCCF & CWLW Odissa and Sh. Shailesh Prasad, IFS Rtd. Sh. Pawan Kumar, IFS Rtd. and Dr. Gautam Talukdar, WII could not join the team.

The MEE team was accompanied by the following officers: (1) Sh. Jayarame Gowda R., Dy. CF and Field Director, NNTR, (2) Pawan Jeph, Dy. Director, NNTR, (3) R. Rathod, ACF, (4) V. Bhosale, RFO, Nagzira, (5) S. Awagan, RFO Pitezari, (6) B. Chiwande, RFO Umarzari, (7) M. Makade, RFO Koka, (8) S. Dongarwar, RFO Nawegaon Park, (9) N. Sawant, RFO Dongargaon, (10) S. Madavi, RFO Bonde,(11) S. Narad, RFO STPF Koka, (12) D. Kaushik, RFO STPF Wadegaon and (13) Pavan Tikhile, GIS Expert

Management Strengths:

The landscape of Nawegaon Nagzira Tiger Reserve is connectivity with six TRs (Achanakmar, Kanha, Satpura, Melghat and the twin Pench TRs) in the north and three TRs (Tadoba Andhari, Indravati and Kawal TRs) in the south.
NNTR has a rich biodiversity and is an excellent habitat for wildlife, with a good number of water sources, both natural and artificial. The NNTR landscape acts as a critical catchment area for the Vainganga, Chulbandh and Gadvi rivers.
NNTR has an effective protection strategy, with 69 anti-poaching camps and 16 check posts in place for the protection of the area.
The core of NNTR has no human settlements as all five villages have been successfully relocated outside the Critical Tiger Habitat.
Adequate and comparatively young staff (Field staff and STPF) with few vacancies in the frontline staff.
In 2016, NNTR notified a 1241.27 km² buffer area under the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972 and a 2333.39 km² eco-sensitive zone under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
NNTR has total of of 105 STPF staff members (112 sanctioned posts, with around 40% women) with a Rapid Response Team (RRT) having a sniffer dog unit with supporting logistics such as a drone, a well equipped vehicle, essential veterinary facilities, etc.
NNTR has taken good advantage of Dr. Shyama Prasad Jan Van Vikas Yojana through comprehensive eco-development of villages in buffer area of NNTR providing livelihood opportunities which has led to reduction in biotic pressure on the forest area. Out of a total of 185 villages in the buffer of NNTR, 140 have EDCs. There are ample opportunities of generating livelihoods and good revenues for local people through eco-tourism activities at the 10 entry gates.
NNTR has actively pursued the involvement of various stakeholders right from the planning phase to the execution phase. Also, the management has involved other departments in the districts such as the revenue department, police and MSEB for augmenting the conservation efforts by organising proper coordination meetings from time to time.
NNTR is easily accessible by road and rail from cities like Nagpur and Gondia in Maharashtra, Balaghat in Madhya Pradesh and Rajnandgaon, Bhilai and Raipur in Chhattisgarh. There is immense potential for eco-tourism and allied livelihood opportunities for local communities. Also, such connectivity gives enormous opportunities for wildlife and biodiversity studies and research in the landscape.
NNTR has put excellent efforts aimed at regulating traffic at night on the roads passing through the CTH of the NNTR landscape.

Management Weaknesses:

NNTR has a fragmented habitat with two separate administrative blocks connected with a highly fragmented landscape, along with a high boundary-to-area ratio, which puts pressure on the management and protection efforts.
Fragmentation of the corridor and buffer area due to linear development activities such as the Mumbai–Howrah and Gondia–Chandapur railway lines, NH-53 (old NH-6) and the Tumsar–Sakoli and Sakoli–Tirora state highways, posing long-term threats to the tiger reserve.
Although the initiative to bring the buffer area under the unified control of the NNTR authorities has been started, it is yet to materialize. As of today, the buffer zone is under the control of the FDCM, Bhandara, Territorial Bhandara and Territorial Gondia forest divisions.
The area under grasslands (meadows) is very small as the landscape has dense vegetation cover with a profuse under-storey, leaving little scope for the growth of fodder species. This is affecting the prey base, which is very low at present. Further, Koka Wildlife Sanctuary and New Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary, transferred from FDCM division, have a teak plantation that spreads over 50% of both sanctuaries, with limited scope for providing fodder.
A community forest rights (CFR) area still exists inside the Critical Tiger Habitat up to an extent of 3.25%, which is around 2000 ha.
Presence of left-wing extremism reportedly inside Nawegaon Block of NNTR, affecting the regular wildlife management and protection works.
Buffer area having human–wildlife conflict issues due to the high density of villages (185 villages) in the buffer zone, exerting high anthropogenic pressure along the periphery of the core and in the buffer zone.
NNTR is having inadequate infrastructure, with 263 out of 398 offices/residential buildings required for FD/DD/ACF/RFOs and the frontline staff. Particularly, 96 residential quarters are required for the STPF salary (total strength 108). Also, the number of vehicles that have become unserviceable and are putting a strain on the smooth management and surveillance in the tiger reserve.
There are vacancies in key positions (one DFO, five ACFs and 35 Forest Guards/STPF), which are affecting the smooth management and anti-poaching/conflict-mitigation/rescue operations.
Overall, signage and gates of appropriate standards are visibly lacking. Interpretation centres and basic amenities for visitors are lacking.
The existing manpower in NNTR lacks specialized wildlife trained officers and field staff members.
The release of funds from the state government is generally delayed. It is observed that NNTR is yet to receive the full amount under CSS-PT from the state. Consequently, the salary payment for the STPF staff has been delayed and is pending since October 2021. Further, funds from the state scheme are not released in a timely manner. NNTR is heavily dependent on district funds and the meagre foundation funds available for priority activities and maintenance of the civil infrastructure.
FDCM is still operating tourism activities at the centre of the core area at Nagzira Sankul in Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary, which is putting anthropogenic pressure on the habitat.
The barbed wire and concrete fencing of the plantation area observed adjacent to the core area is affecting the movement of wildlife from the core area.
There is no sanctioned post of veterinary doctor in NNTR.

Immediate Actionable Points:

As the area under grasslands (meadows) is very low in NNTR due to the dense vegetation cover with a dense under-storey, there is little scope for the growth of fodder species. This is affecting the prey base, which is very low at present, except for the area retrieved after village relocation. Therefore, there is an urgent need for removal of the undergrowth, weed removal on a consistent basis and removal of unsuitable vegetation growth in the entire landscape of NNTR to facilitate the creation of meadows to address the issue of the low prey base.
The buffer area is still under the control of the FDCM and territorial divisions and has not yet been brought under the unified control of the Field Director, NNTR. The matter should be taken up with the appropriate authority for issuing an expeditious notification in this regard.
NNTR has identified 13 villages situated in the buffer area at very strategic locations regarding the core zone which have a high-impact disturbance factor. Relocation of these villages will reduce the boundary-to-area ratio of NNTR. Hence, NNTR may consider submitting a proposal to the government on the lines of TATR for considering the relocation of these buffer village as done in Madhya Pradesh and Odisha, where relocation of villages from PAs/RFs/corridors is also permissible.
Nawegaon Bandh, a historical, renowned place with an area of 1200 ha is located in Arjuni Morgaon Taluka, which is under the control of the irrigation department. NNTR may take steps to create livelihood opportunities through various eco-tourism activities in Nawegaon Bandh in collaboration with other line departments.
There is no sanctioned post of Veterinary Officer in NNTR, and presently one contractual veterinary officer is engaged through the Foundation. Efforts should be made to get the sanctioned post of Veterinary Officer from the government and to make the recruitment at the earliest.
NNTR had submitted a proposal titled “Capture, Translocation and Release of Sambar and Chital at Selected Sites in NNTR” in 2019 and had in 2022 requested the state government to implement the same. The matter may be pursued with the state government to address the issue of the low prey base in NNTR.
As the population of tigers in NNTR remains less than 10, well below the estimated carrying capacity of 20, the MoEF&CC, approved the proposal of the state government on 15 September 2022 for the radio collaring and conservation translocation of four or five female tigers from the Bharampuri landscape to NNTR. NNTR may expedite the implementation. However, it may ensure that the issue of the prey base and habitat development is addressed following appropriate security protocols.
Though the Steering Committee was constituted by the state government in 2008 and revised in 2013, no Steering Committee meeting has taken place since 5 December 2018. Action may be taken by the state government to convene Steering Committee meetings on a regular basis.
There are a number of vacancies in the management and the key frontline staff, with one at the DFO level, five out of six at the ACF level and 35 out of 247 at the Forest Guard/STPF level. The management may immediately appeal to the government to fill up these vacancies.
There is inadequate infrastructure, with a huge requirement of 263 out of 398 offices/residential buildings/APCs for FD/DD/ACF/RFOs and the frontline staff. Particularly, 96 residential quarters are required for the STPF staff (total strength 108). Also, the number of vehicles that are unserviceable is putting a stress on the smooth management and surveillance in the tiger reserve. Due to the meagre funds in the Foundation, urgent support from state funds/CAMPA/DPDC and CSS-PT is required. NNTR may pursue the matter to access funds from the above sources.
Overall, signage and gates of the appropriate standards are visibly lacking. Interpretation centres and basic amenities for the visitors are lacking. Therefore, upgrading the signage with information in two languages, establishment of tourist entry gates of appropriate standard along with basic amenities for visitors and establishment of an interpretation centre are urgently required to ensure effective information dissemination.
The FDCM is still conducting tourism activities at the centre of the core area at Nagzira Sankul in Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary, which is putting anthropogenic pressure on the habitat. Therefore, immediate action is to be taken for NNTR to take over the said facilities and notify the area as the core of NNTR.
Efforts should be made to depute officers and staff members for specialized wildlife training to the appropriate institutions as and when the opportunity arises.
The release of funds from the state government is generally delayed. It is observed that NNTR is yet to receive the full amount under CSS-PT from the state. Consequently, the salary payment for the STPF staff is delayed and is pending since October 2021. Appropriate immediate action may be taken to get the remaining CSS-PT grant from the state government.
As human–wildlife conflict is frequent in the buffer area and NNTR is divided into two separate blocks, there is a need to create an additional RRT unit to ensure smooth conflict management in both the blocks.
Research projects may be undertaken through various institutions, universities and colleges in NNTR: traffic flow studies to regulate the traffic on state highways, studies on the dhole/wild dog, size of dhole pack, behaviour and impact on the dispersal of the tiger population and status surveys of threatened species other than the tiger in NNTR.
The range offices do not have lock-up rooms. It is envisaged legally that there will be separate lock-ups for males and females. The state government needs to ensure this by suitably modifying the plans/estimates of the range offices being constructed in the state henceforth.

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Nawegaon Nagzira Tiger Reserve

Introduction

Management Strengths:

Management Weaknesses:

Immediate Actionable Points:

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