MEE TR Web Portal

Introduction

Sahyadri Tiger Reserve (STR), the fourth tiger reserve of Maharashtra, is the northernmost tiger habitat in the Western Ghats. It was notified on 5 January 2010with a total area of 741.22 km², comprising Chandoli National Park (317.67 km²) and Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary (423.55 km²). It is one of the World Natural Heritage Sites declared from the Western Ghats, declared by UNESCO in 2012. It is one of the biodiversity hotspots, with endemic plant and animal species. Koyna WLS is an Important Bird Area declared by Birdlife International. The Maharashtra State Government (vide notification no. WLP-2012/CR.NO.240/F-1, dated 21 August 2012) notified an area of 600.12 km² as the critical tiger habitat or core area and 565.45 km² as the buffer or peripheral area of the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve, with a total area of 1165.57 km².

STR has two wildlife divisions headed by the respective Divisional Forest Officer/Deputy Directors of Karad, Satara District, namely Sahyadri Wildlife Sanctuary Division and Chandoli National Park Division, under the administrative control of the Conservator of Forests and Field Director, Kolhapur. The TR has four sub-divisions, five ranges, 15 rounds and 56 beats. STR also has one mobile squad unit headed by an RFO. The TR has solar fencing at different locations, but this is not sufficient.

The source population of tigers is far away from STR, and only transient tigers visit the reserve. There is no resident population so far. The STR has an inadequate prey base. A project to augment the cheetal is being implemented. This needs to be expedited, with more sites, so that transiting tigers may return.

MEE was conducted from 1 to 5 November 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 Odisha, Sh. Shailesh Prasad, IFS, Rtd. and Dr. Gautam Talukdar, WII. Sh. Pawan Kumar, IFS, Rtd. could not join the team.

The MEE team was accompanied by officers, namely Sh. Nanasaheb Ladkat, IFS, CF and FD, Sahyadri TR, Kolhapur, Sh. Uttam Sawant, IFS, DD, Sahyadri TR, Karad, Sh. Vishal Mali, DFO, Chandoli NP, Karad, Sh. Subhash Bagadi, ACF, Bamnoli, Sh. Suresh Salunkhe, ACF, Koyna, Sh. Ganesh Patole, ACF, Chandoli, Sh. Tushar Dhamdhere, ACF, Helwak, Sh. Nandkishor Nalawade, RFO, Chandoli, Sh. Dnyaneshwar Rakshe, RFO, Dhebewadi, Sh. Sandip Jopale, RFO, Helwak, Sh. Sandip Kumbhar, RFO, Koyna, Sh. Balkrishna Hasabnis, RFO, Bamnoli, Sh. Shishupal Pawar, RFO, Karad (Wildlife) and Mr. Sangram Godase, RFO, Mobile Squad, Karad.

Management Strengths:

Sahyadri Tiger Reserve’s (STR) laterite plateaus are unique in nature and are a key element of the water security of the many villages surrounding the lateritic plateau of Satara, Kolhapur, Sangli and Ratnagiri.
STR forms the catchment for about 14 rivers including the Koyna and Warna rivers, and it has one of the largest reservoirs in the country. All these features ensure the long-term preservation of this area.
STR is a very important link between the northern part and the southern part of the Western Ghats Tiger Landscape. It is also a part of Western Ghats World Heritage Site, inscribed by UNESCO in 2012. It harbours rich biodiversity, including some rare and endemic species.
Eco-development committees are doing good work in terms of preserving the gene pool of the wild edible fruits. For example, a very large number of wild jackfruit and mango species have been collected and are being planted at various places.
Livelihood improvement training programmes such as paper bag-making and cloth bag-making are organized for the women of the villages who are dependent on the tiger reserve. Training programmes to impart skills in organic farming, hospitality and guiding, beekeeping and honey collection and cultivation of bamboo, spices and medicinal plants are being organised for the people of the local villages. Milch cattle are also distributed for additional income.
Out of 64 villages in the core of STR, 56 has been relocated and only eight villages remain to be relocated. The relocation may happen as early as next year subject to the support of state government. The proposal for the relocation of five villages is in the final stage. Three villages in the corridor have also been relocated.
The TCF of STR is well managed and has substantial funds which earn an interest approximate of Rs.3 crores per annum.
STR has identified 40 research management priorities and initiated six conservation fellowships for researchers who work on management problems of STR to the tune of Rs.50,000 per fellowship.
The source population of tigers in the adjoining area is increasing. Efforts are made to protect corridors by declaring conservation reserves.
The buffer areas of STR are under unified control with the STR management.

Management Weaknesses:

At present there are no resident tigers in the reserve. Evidence of tiger presence came from genetic analysis of scats and sporadic capture in camera traps. According to this evidence there are about eight tigers between Radhanagari WLS and Vishalgad CR which occasionally visit STR.
Traditional hunting and poaching for meat could be the factor for the low prey density in the area as there was no direct sighting of wild animals by the MEE team.
The terrain and location of the park make it inaccessible for proper surveillance. The undulating terrain and huge water body make the Koyna part of Sahyadri Tiger Reserve very difficult in terms of access to the interior. There are comparatively few internal roads in Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary and a survey is being conducted to make the old village roads functional.
Two separate distinct units of the Critical Tiger Habitat are connected by a 10 km wide forested buffer in the middle. Though the forests afford connectivity, they are on private lands and hence are open to incompatible land-use. The stretch from village Rasati to Kemse-Ghatmatha is part of the critical corridor and is frequently used by wild animals.
The national highway from Karad to Chiplun passing through the buffer is being upgraded to a four-lane highway. Also, there is a proposal to widen the Kolhapur–Ratnagiri highway, which passes through a corridor of STR.
The tiger movement corridor has become fragmented probably because of previous bauxite mining in the area.
Large-scale plantation of exotic species such as Eucalyptus, Australian Acacia, Casuarina, etc was carried out in the past on most of the edge habitats (primarily grassy blanks) in the Koyna part of the tiger reserve.
The source population of tigers is far away from STR; only transient tigers visit, with no settled population so far.
Commercial developments in corridor/connectivity areas need to regulated and monitored.
The tiger reserve is spread over four districts. Hence, it is very difficult to have good coordination with other departments and administrative control.
Existence of windmills on the ecologically unique and sensitive lateritic plateau (Sada) threatens the unique biodiversity and heritage values.

Immediate Actionable Points:

Sahyadri Tiger Reserve is doing preparatory work to reintroduce tigers. However, to ensure a viable tiger population, efforts should also be made to secure the corridors connecting this tiger reserve with other tiger-bearing forest areas and protected areas in the Western Ghats Landscape. Thus, it is important to maintain and restore connectivity between the Radhanagari–Tillari forests of Maharashtra; Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary and Kali Tiger Reserve of Karnataka; and Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary (tigers are present in these protected areas), Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary and Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary of Goa.
Vishalgad CR and Panhalgad CR should be handed over to the STR buffer area to ensure connectivity with Radhanagari and bottleneck area management. The remaining CRs, mainly Gaganbawda, CSMAB, Dodamarg and Chandgad, should be handed over to Kolhapur Wildlife Division. A detailed planning study of this corridor should be undertaken.
Radhanagari WLS is an important PA in the corridor that enables tiger movement naturally towards STR. Therefore it recomended that Radhanagari WLS be declared a satellite core and initiate CA/TS project.
A good network of internal roads should be created to facilitate protection and management in STR keep in mind environmental safeguards.
Data collection forms are primarily used to record the daily patrol data. Animal sightings/signs are not recorded in the data sheets. This needs to be attended to.
Training on the OUVs of the Sahyadri World Heritage Site should be provided to the frontline staff. WII or any other institute of repute might be approached for the training purpose.
The proposal to reorganize STR by making beat and range boundaries smaller, manageable beats as submitted by the STR should be expedited by obtaining approval from the competent authority at the earliest.
Habitat improvement interventions should be planned systematically with monitoring of the impacts of the interventions as an integral part of the programme. It is important to assess the effectiveness of the interventions. Mapping and monitoring unique and special habitats, wallows and salt licks, grasslands and lateritic plateaus should be an integral part of management.
The ongoing cheetal augmentation project should be expedited by augmenting the number of Wildlife Transport Vehicles. Also, more sites for augmentation should be established in a similar manner.
Separate lock-up facilities for males and females should be built and included within the Range Office.
Delayed release of funds affects development work. Therefore, the government may consider releasing funds on time.
The proposal to construct Phase V and VI hydroelectric power sites should be re-visited in the light of the fact that the WHS site may be put in “Danger List” by UNESCO due to its stringent reporting requirements.
The next TCP is from 2023–24 to 2032–33. Although the preparation of the new TCP is in the final stage, it should be sent to the competent authority for approval at the earliest.
Sahyadri Tiger Reserve should make efforts to tap the CSR funds mainly from Maharashtra State Power Generation Co. Ltd., Krishna Valley Development Corporation, the authorities of existing windmills in the buffer area, ICICI, etc.
Sahyadri Tiger Reserve consists of the intact forest patches of Chandoli NP and Koyna WLS, but in the buffer areas and outside the critical wildlife habitat, there are healthy forest patches of private owners. In order to maintain continuity and to secure the corridor, it is important to preserve such vulnerable areas of private owners. In Kemse village there is more than 250 ha area of privately owned forest, which is a good connecting link between the two PAs. The concerned owners are positive about handing over/selling this area to the forest department. The state government should accelerate/emphasize the process of acquisition of private lands/forests in Kemse village.
To reduce the poaching threat, there should be a good database regarding intelligence, weapons and licenses with villagers within 10 km of STR. The management should collect the data relating to existing weapons and licenses with the villagers as per the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
There are a good number of feral cattle in STR that will be a good prey base. For effective management, there should be a systematic monitoring of these feral cattle. Necropsy of such feral animals killed by wildlife should be done. If possible, forensic analysis should be carried out for any possible disease, along with immunization.
The eight villages are still to be relocated from the Critical Tiger Habitat, and the process of rehabilitation should be completed as early as possible. The state government should take efficient policy decisions to issue proper guidelines regarding the existing lacunas and problems associated with the pending rehabilitation.
The tiger reserve is inaccessible due to the hilly terrain and large water-bodies. For proper monitoring and control there should be use of modern technologies like LIDAR, drones, hot air balloons, e-surveillance, satellite mapping and the use of all-terrain vehicles, water scooters, etc.
There is good potential for eco-tourism as there are metropolitan cities close to to STR. The management authorities should try to promote eco-tourism to earn the maximum revenue for the Tiger Conservation Foundation and to have the necessary good infrastructure. It is also suggested that tiger safaris be conducted in the buffer area to attract more tourists, with due permission from CZA and NTCA.
As STR is a World Natural Heritage site and biodiversity hotspot, there should be a complete ban on laterite mining in the buffer, ESZ and corridor areas of STR.
To protect the buffer area of the TR and adjoining vulnerable areas like the lateritic plateau (Sadas) and corridors, the state town planning department should strictly implement the concerned state government’s resolutions and guidelines. The STR authorities and the forest department should have good coordination with the state town planning department.
Patel Colony of Navaja land, with the irrigation department, should be taken over by STR. This area is a critical part between two core areas and acts as a corridor.
The tiger recovery project phase II proposal as submitted to the PCCF (Wildlife) and PCCF (CAMPA) needs to be pursued. It is suggested that tigers be brought from within the state for easy cordination and speed.

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Sahyadri Tiger Reserve

Introduction

Management Strengths:

Management Weaknesses:

Immediate Actionable Points:

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