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Introduction

Satpura Tiger Reserve (STR) is located in Hoshangabad District Madhya Pradesh, , which has recently been renamed as Narmadapuram District. The Satpura Range inspired the name of the region. It has an extent of 524 km² (202 square miles). Together with the neighbouring Bori and Pachmarhi wildlife sanctuaries, Satpura National Park offers 2200 km² (850 square miles) of a rare central Indian highland habitat. The national park's landscape is made up of sandstone peaks, deep ravines, little gorges and exceptionally rough terrain. There are between 300 m and 1352 m of elevation (984–4436 feet). It has the nearly level plains of Churna and the 1350 m high Dhoopgarh hill (4430 feet). There is a large and diverse wildlife population in Satpura National Park and the area surrounding it.
The list of wildlife species that are now present demonstrates the unique environment and lengthy history of wildlife conservation in this woodland area. For enthusiasts of wildlife, Satpura National Park's fauna is a breathtaking jungle feast. The park is home to 30 species of reptile, 50 species of butterfly, 254 species of bird and 50 species of mammal. Along with the important species, the tiger, the wildlife in this area also includes the leopard, sambar, chital, barasingha, Indian muntjac, nilgai, four-horned antelope, chinkara, wild dog (dhole), wild boar, bear, Indian fox, porcupine, flying squirrel, mouse deer, and Indian giant squirrel. There are numerous kinds of birds. Peafowl and hornbills are frequently seen bird species here. Sal, teak, tendu, Phyllanthus emblica, mahua, bel, bamboo, grasses and medicinal plants make up the majority of the flora. 10% of Satpura Tiger Reserve is designated as grassland, including the naturally occurring empty stretches on the Pachmarhi plateau, anthropogenically created grasslands produced after the evacuation of settlements and the Tawa reservoir's drawdown regions. Neemghan, Madai, Keria, Dhain, and Geetkheda are the names of these grasslands. The relocation of 29 villages from the reserve's central area has also resulted in the creation of some additional grasslands. Most of the existing grasslands are anthropogenically created and are used for grazing and cultivation. These grasslands will soon vanish if nothing is done to prevent the invasion of woody plants. The Satpura Tiger Reserve administration provides these grasslands with a high level of protection and upkeep in order to support the sizeable population of animals that rely on them.

Management Strengths:

Satpura Tiger Reserve (STR) is one of the largest tiger habitats of the Central Indian Highland ecosystem, with representative and diverse faunal and floral elements. Due to its geographical location, it harbours elements from both the Himalaya and the Western Ghats. The natural boundaries and terrain of the tiger reserve are a major strength for the management. Due to the steep gorges, vertical scarps and the large Tawa reservoir, the terrain is very difficult to negotiate. This contributes towards the natural protection of the tiger reserve against poachers.
STR has an excellent habitat of miscellaneous forests with an admixture of bamboo and teak. The presence of palatable grasses under the trees of the woodlands makes them ideal habitats for wild ungulates.
STR is home to a second population of the endangered hard ground barasingha. A total of 78 barasingha have been translocated to STR from Kanha by the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department. Special barasingha enclosures created at Bori, Dhain and Ratibandar are well managed and have contributed in the recovery of the species in the tiger reserve. A total of 67 barasingha are ranging freely at the Bori meadows and 25 in the Malini meadows of Churna Range as on June 2022, and the population is breeding naturally.
The tiger reserve has an excellent water regime with many perennial streams and water sources. STR constitutes a significant catchment of the Tawa and Denwa river systems together with their tributaries that drain into the Narmada River, which ensures the water security of the landscape. The 225 km² Tawa reservoir created by its namesake dam, besides representing the lifeline of the inhabitants of Narmadapuram, Chindwara and Harda districts, has made a most significant contribution within its command area to the economy in the agriculture sector. The sustenance of the reservoir, the river systems and the regional economy owes to the catchment capability of the forests in STR.
STR represents significant cultural values in its 55 prehistoric rock-shelters and pictographs, which are dated between 5000 and 10,000 years before the present. Besides there are monuments of other cultures of the past, historic and colonial buildings replete with anthropological, socio-cultural, historic and archeological importance. These together with the natural values, including the scenic points along the Pachmarhi plateau, and the reputation of the township as one of the few least disturbed hill resorts in the country constitute a repository of eco-tourism opportunities to the benefit of the local communities.
STR supports the natural linkage between Pench Tiger Reserve, on the eastern side, and Melghat Tiger Reserve, on the south-west, even though the forests are fragmented due to habitations, railway lines and coal mine operations outside the area.
From the year 2004–05 to 2021–22, STR relocated a total of 49 villages from the tiger reserve, out of which 30 villages consisting of 1485 units were forest villages and 19 villages consisting of 3645 units were of revenue villages. All the villages have been relocated from the core area. So all the immediate threat-causing factors like fire, grazing, fishing, encroachment and poaching have mostly been removed. Also, 13 villages have been relocated from the buffer area, which has reduced lot of biotic pressure on the buffer and corridor areas. The tiger reserve management has been able to declare relocated villages as revenue villages, which ensures better support from local communities.
STR has developed grasslands of palatable grass species on relocated villages sites. Manpower has been deployed for regularly weeding out undesired species in accordance with advice of a grass expert. The grasslands and drawdown areas were found to be free of weeds.
The eco-sensitive zone of the tiger reserve has been notified, and a Zonal Master Plan for STR has been prepared and approved by the Government of Madhya Pradesh, which is a welcome step as such an initiative is not seen in most of the tiger reserves in the country. In this Zonal Master Plan, all ecologically fragile areas have been identified and mapped, and all the developmental activities are listed. Provisions have been made to improve the landscape through identifying thematic areas and streamlining all developmental and eco-tourism activities.
The tiger reserve management has been extremely successful in mobilizing external funds and resources from different donors and conservation partners under Corporate Social Responsibility schemes. These permit the management to carry out essential operations such as grassland management, weed removal and soil moisture conservation works unhindered.
STR has an excellent protection regime represented by the presence of 184 patrolling camps, adequate vehicles and boats for patrolling, a dog squad, elephant teams, etc. In the year 2021–22, the total patrolling effort made by the tiger reserve using M-STrIPES was 540,785 km against the target of 316,800 km.
The tiger reserve is a stronghold for wildlife research, and it has deputed a field biologist. STR has active collaborations with institutes and universities of international and national repute to carry out research relevant for management.
The considerably long tenure and proactive leadership of the Field Director has boosted up the morale and motivation of the frontline staff, which has been reflected in the overall improvement of the park.

Management Weaknesses:

The tourist and pilgrim influx in Pachmarhi poses a considerable threat to the tiger reserve since it causes a lot of disturbances in the park and creates issues pertaining to plastic pollution and garbage disposal.
The delay in the procurement of wireless sets for the tiger reserve is a matter of concern.
The Betul–Bhopal highway (NH 46) passing through the Satpura–Melghat corridor near Kesla Ghat causes hindrances to wildlife movements.

Immediate Actionable Points:

The tiger reserve should initiate a scientific study on carbon credit and sequestration to understand its role in climate change mitigation.
Sample plots need to be laid in grasslands of STR for monitoring them scientifically. Efforts can be made to understand the impact of village relocations on abiotic factors (water, air, soil quality).
STR should establish a well-equipped, state-of-the-art training cum orientation centre for conducting regular training and refresher courses for the frontline staff of Satpura and other tiger reserves and protected areas of Madhya Pradesh.
Collaborations should be made with the Special Area Development Authority (SADA) and Cantonment Board in Pachmari by the STR management for waste management and garbage disposal.
As a part of the implementation of the Zonal Master Plan, land use patterns hostile to tiger conservation in the landscape should be regulated as per extant legal provisions. All road and railway infrastructure in and around STR should be appropriately mitigated with smart green technologies (animal passage structures, etc.) for maintaining the landscape permeability for uninterrupted dispersal of tigers and other wildlife.

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Satpura Tiger Reserve

Introduction

Management Strengths:

Management Weaknesses:

Immediate Actionable Points:

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