Conserving Indias Wildlife Through Integrative and Holistic Approaches Mayukh Chatterjee Wildlife Trust of India

India Wildlife And People Over 350 species of Mammals, 1224 species of Birds and nearly 3151 species of Reptiles, Amphibians and Fishes

India Wildlife And People Over 650 Protected Areas (Tiger and Elephant Reserves, National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries and Reserve Forests) ~ 4.9 % of geographical area Over 1.2 billion people! Consumers and protectors

India - Why People Are Important 17% of world population Nearly one thirds directly depend on natural resources and critical ecosystems for survival Nature can be only preserved by the commons

India - Why People Are Important Traditional preservationists Need vs. Greed ~ changing fast! Wildlife and Nature ~ back seat

Holistic Conservation What and Why? Holism ~ look at the larger picture Complex Issues ~ multifaceted inclusive problems Sustainability ~ complete conservation

Integrated Conservation What and Why? Integrated Conservation? Communities are major stakeholders Unethical ~ ones fancy are anothers predicament Exclusion is a failure No sustainability without integrated conservation

Wildlife Trust of India Only NGO with 8 distinct skill sets ~ founded in 1998 Rescue and rehabilitation Habitat securement Species recovery H-W conflict mitigation Legal and Policy Mass awareness Community work Capacity enhancement All skill sets work together in projects to provide a holistic, integrative approach

Two Case Studies

Greater Manas, Assam Case Study 1 (2635-2650N, 9045-9015E) Abode for wildlife ~ Over 1000 km2 of pristine forests and grasslands

Greater Manas A Vision Home of the Bodo people, the Tiger, the Indian one horned rhinoceros, the Asian elephant and a myriad of other beings. A National Park, a Tiger and Elephant Reserve and a World Heritage Site.

Greater Manas The Crisis 1980s Bodo uprising ~ decimation

Greater Manas The Crisis 1980s Bodo uprising ~ decimation At least two large mammals ~ locally extinct Other wildlife and habitats lost 1992 ~ WHS in danger 2003 ~ Bodoland Accord

Habitat Securement 2003 ~ Priority areas mapped for restoration and reclamation 2011 ~ 340 Ha of vital habitats reclaimed and added 2012 ~ Patch restoration ongoing

Rescue and Rehabilitation 2003-2010 ~ 7 Rhinos, 10 Elephants, 7 Black bears, 4 Clouded Leopards and 1 Tiger rehabilitated

Human-Wildlife Conflict Mitigation 2006 ~ Establishment of Kokrajhar Wildlife Transit Home 2006 ~ Establishment of a Rescue MVS and team 2008 ~ Elephant Proof Fencing (18 Km) and 4 Ex-Gratias

Legal and Policy 2010 ~ BTC declares Greater Manas as Protected Area 2011 ~ UNESCO removes Greater Manas from Danger List

Mass Awareness 2010 ~ Campaigns ~ 2 small campaigns; full fledged Manas Pride campaign 2010 ~ Animal Action Education ~ over 20 schools/1200 students 2008 ~ Over 40 villages targeted for mass awareness

Community Work 2010 ~ Adoption of green livelihoods Firewood dependence reduction (182 cookstoves) Weaving training and support for 35 women (70 handlooms/1 center) Support for horticulture (1 horticulture shed and cash crop plantations; mustard, ginger, chilly and turmeric) Small businesses (4 families; tailoring and grocery shops) 8 CBOs constituted and supported

Capacity Enhancement 2006, Supporting Frontline Forest Staff ~ over 50 staff 2007-2013, Training CBOs ~ over 450 staff in 8 CBOs

Species Recovery Bringing back the Eastern Swamp Deer (Rucervus d. ranjitsinhii) 2011-2014: Studies in Kaziranga initiated on the subspecies Preparation underway to translocate individuals to Manas

Nagzira-Nawegaon, Maharashtra Case Study 2

Nagzira-Nawegaon The Landscape Two small and disjunct areas ~ connects 3 main tiger habitats Home to tigers, leopards, Gaur and several other fauna ~ but neglected Not under stringent protection ~ Wildlife Sanctuaries

Nagzira-Nawegaon The Crisis Large parts are of connective patches under FDCM Surrounded by over 200 villages ~ over 4000 households Severe degradation and increasing human-wildlife conflict Habitat degradation and fragmentation 2 major highways

Habitat Securement 2010 2012 ~ Attention is focused on connective corridor, surveys and mapping begin Species occupancy and usage Threats Legal background

Legal and Policy 2011 ~ Declaration as Tiger Reserve ~ success in 2013 2012 ~ Proposal for protection of corridor ~ ESZ, 2012 Expansion of NH7 halted

Mass Awareness 2011 ~ Local schools targeted for Animal Action Education (over 1000 school children) Consultative meetings with nine villages 3 BMCs formed A large scale campaign is being planned

Community Work 2010 ~ Two villages prioritized (Jambulpani and Sodalagondi) 2011 ~ Intensive community work planned and initiated

Community Work Intensive Community work initiated Over 300 fuel efficient cookstoves distributed 5 Biogas plants installed 8 Community orchards developed Backyard grazing promoted

Capacity Enhancement Over 230 Frontline Forest Staff have been trained, including reserve forest staff Over 120 staff have been equipped with patrolling equipment Anti-Poaching and Conflict Mitigation Training ~ June 2014

Conflict Mitigation 2012 ~ 2 km long electric fence bordering Jambulpani, setup A Protection camp was built and handed over to FD Water holes on forest fringes are replenished every summer

Rescue and Rehabilitation A proposal has been submitted to MoEFCC for Establishment of a Rescue Centre, that will cater to not just Nagzira and Nawegaon, but also to Kanha NP, Pench TR and Tadoba- Andhari TR

Other Projects Western Himalayas Mountain Ungulates Valmiki Tiger and Gharial Recovery U.P. Big Cat Conflict Mitigation Southern Western Ghats Elephant Corridors West Coast Marine Project Garo Green Spine

Other Projects A total of 42 projects spread across 13 states across India Employ integrative and holistic approaches over long periods of time.

The Road Ahead Intensify integrated and holistic approaches Linking initiatives to sustainability ~ pull out in gradual phases Include family planning as a key exercise Increase focus on children ~ our future torchbearers

THANK YOU! www.wti.org.in