Madhya Pradesh will again top in the management of tiger conservation areas – Forest Minister Dr. Shah

Bhopal  : Madhya Pradesh is maintaining an edge over other states in the management and evaluation of wildlife conservation areas. Kanha, Satpura, Bandhavgarh and Panna have got international fame. Forest Minister Dr. Kunwar Vijay Shah while congratulating the staff related to wildlife management has said that just as Madhya Pradesh has been successful in many fields under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, in the same way, it will bring glory in wildlife conservation throughout the country.

Forest Minister Dr. Shah informed that this evaluation is done in four phases of assessment of the management level of tiger conservation areas on the basis of 17 main parameters and other related sub-components, jointly conducted by International Committee on Conservation Assured Tiger Standards and WWF is recognized after completion of this process.

It may be noted that three phases have been completed by this committee in Pench Tiger Reserve, Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve and Sanjay Tiger Reserve. Now the remaining tiger reserves of the state have to meet the international quality standards from the point of view of management according to CA / TS. With this, Madhya Pradesh will be on the top position among all other states. The Satpura and Panna Tiger Reserves have already got this international recognition. In this way all the 6 tiger reserves of the state will meet the international standards of quality.

In the past also, Pench Tiger Reserve has secured the highest rank in the country in the evaluation of effective management of Tiger Reserve. Bandhavgarh, Kanha, Sanjay, and Satpura Tiger Reserves have been considered as the best managed Tiger Reserves. Unique management plans and innovative methods have been adopted in these national parks.

This is the specialty of every tiger reserve

There is a need for data relating to assessment of effective management by national and international organizations for policy based decision making on wildlife conservation matters. These data are kept at the World Conservation Monitoring Center of the United Nations Environment Programme.

The management powers of tiger reserves are assessed on several parameters such as planning, monitoring, vigilance, monitoring staffing patterns, their training, human-wildlife conflict management, community participation, conservation, protection and methods to check poaching.

The management of Pench Tiger Reserve has been recognized as one of the best in the country. The frontline staff has been found to be excellent and energetic. Effective work has been done in punishing the accused in all the cases registered under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972. In case of human-tiger and tiger-animal conflict, immediate financial relief is being given to the animal owners. Along with this, they are also being supported by World Nature Fund India.

Regular Charwaha Sammelans are being organized and educational material is being distributed to the school going children of these charwahas. In addition, regular meetings of the representatives of village level committees, guides of tourists, vehicle owners, resort owners and managers of the concerned departments and NGOs are also held. One-third of the income from tourism is given to village committees. As a result, these committees get full cooperation in the creation of the buffer zone. The income from tourism is given to the Park Development Fund and it is put to good use.

Similarly, Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve has effectively revived Eco Development Committees by using funds received from Tiger Tourism. Effective wildlife habitat reclamation programs have also been undertaken to build waterholes and maintain grasslands. Keeping in view the human-wildlife conflicts, arrangement for immediate payment of relief and assistance in case of death and injury to cattle and human beings has been made.

Kanha Tiger Reserve has adopted unique management strategies. Kanha Pench Wildlife Corridor is the first such corridor in India. This corridor is managed collectively by local communities, government departments, research institutions, civic organizations. The Park Management has also established a Primary Health Center in the premises of the Forest Department Office Complex, which has proved beneficial for the employees of the Forest Department and the villagers of the surrounding area.

Panna Tiger Reserve has attracted the attention of the whole world in increasing the population of tigers. Starting from zero, it now has 60 to 65 tigers. This is a unique example in the wildlife conservation history of India. 42 villages have been successfully relocated from Satpura National Park, Pachmarhi and Bori Sanctuary in Satpura Tiger Reserve. Here solar pumps and solar lamps are being effectively used.