MEE TR Web Portal

Introduction

Udanti–Sitanadi Tiger Reserve, situated in District Gariyaband, Chhattisgarh, was notified in the year 2009 with two notified core areas, namely Core 1 (Udanti) and Core 2 (Sitanadi). The total area of the TR is 1842.54 km², out of which 851.09 km² is the core area and 991.45 km² is the buffer area. The TR derives its names from the Udanti and Sitanadi, perennial rivers flowing through Core 1 and Core 2, respectively. The rivers are the only permanent water sources for the wildlife in the core of the tiger reserve. Apart from this, the location of the reserve is strategic since it also connects with Kanker and North Kondagaon forest divisions, forming a contiguous forest corridor to Indravati Tiger Reserve in the Bastar region. The reserve has corridor values which require a focused study and survey, which can help in future planning of conservation of free-ranging species, especially the tiger, wild buffalo and gaur, in the area. Many of the important actionable points suggested by the previous MEE are yet to be addressed by the TR management due to the presence of left-wing extremism in the region.

Management Strengths:

The forests of USTR are part of a very large landscape in central India having a variety of habitats suitable for many threatened species of wild animal and contributing to the tiger population of the country. The Udanti–Sitanadi and Sonabeda WLS (proposed tiger reserve) landscape is a single compact forest of about 3000 km² that represents a large, rich and diverse habitat.
The WII report “Connecting Tiger Populations for Long-Term Conservation” has identified Indravati–Udanti–Sitanadi–Sunebeda as important landscapes connected through identified corridors. A similar study showing further details was conducted by Space Application Centre Ahmedabad and authorities form Kanha National Park. The report is titled "Study of Network of Wildlife Reserves in Eastern Madhya Pradesh Using Remote Sensing Data”.
USTR has approved the Tiger Conservation Plan, and the entire reserve (core and buffer) is under the unified control of the Field Director and his team.
Though control of the area is difficult for the TR management due to left-wing extremism, the forests and habitats of many threatened species are intact and well preserved.
USTR has the last surviving population of the Asiatic wild buffalo in the Central India Landscape and there is scope for maintaining a viable population of the species in this tiger reserve.
The officers and staff have good orientation and are passionate towards wildlife conservation.
The extensive unexplored area of the TR provides immense scope for research in the field of biodiversity values of the TR.
There is potential for tourism in the buffer and peripheral areas of the core and in Udanti Wildlife Sanctuary.
The EDCs are cooperative in providing protection to the area because of eco-development works carried out by the tiger reserve in collaboration with WTI (NGO).
The Asian Wild Buffalo Centre in the Udanti area (Core 1) was established under a recovery plan in collaboration between the tiger reserve and WTI. The centre is working on the revival of the buffalo as well as on community awareness and development works.

Management Weaknesses:

USTR has been affected by left-wing extremism (LWE) during the last few decades and is not accessible freely for the TR management.
It is difficult for the tiger reserve management to control the TR landscape fully and implement approved planned activities of management effectively.
The participation of important stakeholders other than the forest department is severely restricted due to the LWE.
The presence of a large number of villages in the TR adversely affects the habitat of the wild animals in the TR.
The local tribes, mainly the Gond, Madia, Halba, Muria and Telenga people of the villages, indulge in their traditional hunting practice of pardas, extension of agriculture by encroachment, illicit felling, cattle grazing, firewood collection and collection of mahua and other MFP.
Although the river and various streams flow through the tiger reserve, the area faces a scarcity of water during the dry season.
Assessment and monitoring of the floral and faunal diversity on a regular basis cannot be done due to LWE.
The management infrastructure (protection and communication) in the core area of TR is poor.
The tourist inflow and tourism infrastructure are negligible due to LWE.
Trained human resources are not commensurate with the size and threats in the TR.
The highly skewed tiger population and the population of the prey cannot be subjected to intensive management due to non-implementation of planned activities as per the TCP.

Immediate Actionable Points:

Though free and unhindered access to the major portion of the TR is restricted due to the LWE, the following actionable points are suggested:

Although a security plan has not been detailed in the TCP, an immediate security audit as per the standard protocol needs to be done to identify gaps and take appropriate measures to minimize threats to the tiger reserve.
Annual land use land cover mapping based on high resolution digital data procured from NRSA or any other agency will help in monitoring the forest cover and other attributes remotely.
Actionable points of the previous MEE, mainly relocation of villages, training of officers and the staff in wildlife management, conducting community awareness programmes, implementing M-STrIPES, providing interpretation facilities, managing human–wildlife conflict, developing grasslands, maintaining roads and carrying out rescue and rehabilitation with the development of veterinary facilities, wireless communication, etc. may be pursued sincerely.
Small research projects/inventories/surveys may be undertaken by local college and university students in addition to the major projects proposed by research institutes, departments and universities. The state biodiversity board may take appropriate initiatives in this regard.
More focused conservation initiatives are required for establishing a healthy population of the Asiatic wild buffalo in USTR.
Pending the creation of an inviolate space, the TR management has no option but to bring in an inclusive approach involving local communities for effective execution of planned activities of the TCP. The local officials may incorporate innovative methods in addition to the present approach of participation through EDCs and the schemes of the forest department.
Actionable Point 2 of the previous MEE regarding introduction of tigers will depend on the conditions when all other action points are acted upon. It is therefore suggested that no such introduction plan be initiated till a proper security assessment and habitat assessment is done and the TR management is ready with full control over the area as required for intensive management of the tiger population.
Local communities were seen to be very supportive of eco-tourism activities at Mechka Eco Park. The activities can be further supported and the possibility of establishing similar activities in other areas may be explored.
Water conservation works initiated by the TR may be extended to other areas in the core and buffer of the TR.
The lack of infrastructure and the inadequate numbers of camera traps need to be addressed effectively to get the true picture of tigers and prey species in the reserve.

Download Section:

File Description	Download

Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve

Introduction

Management Strengths:

Management Weaknesses:

Immediate Actionable Points:

Download Section: