Annual Report, April 2014

Satpuda Landscape Tiger Programme

Sustaining the Lives of Tigers and People

Executive Summary THE TIGER CRISES The wild tiger is an iconic species, revered and feared With as few as 3,000 wild tigers left in the world, and in equal measure. Yet man’s fascination with the tiger numbers rapidly decreasing, the future for this iconic has not protected it from a mounting raft of threats species in its natural habitat is precarious indeed. In , that have left as few as 3,000 worldwide clinging to home to more wild tigers than any other range country, survival. The Saptuda Highlands of Central India only 11% of original habitat remains in an increasingly arguably represent the best chance wild tigers fragmented and often degraded state. Whilst there are have for survival and here, the partners of the encouraging signs that the species might be on the rise Satpuda Landscape Tiger Programme (SLTP), in some areas, India could have as few as 1,400 tigers funded by the Born Free Foundation, are working remaining, requiring urgent protection to ensure any tirelessly to stem the tiger’s decline and aid its recovery can be sustained. recovery. Throughout 2013/14, the SLTP has maintained this dedication with a range of activities As a conservation dependent species, tigers require large detailed further in the report that follows, including: contiguous forests with access to water and undisturbed legal representation; landscape monitoring and core areas in which to breed. Against a backdrop of a lobbying; field research; mitigation of human- Tomorrow’s tiger conservationists! ©BNHS tiger conflict; health care provision; environmental burgeoning human population desperate to overcome forest resources, often resulting in fatalities on both sides, education programmes; and sustainable livelihood poverty, habitat is encroached upon for livestock grazing and it is clear that the threats to tigers are greater now than initiatives. The activities of the SLTP persistently and agricultural cultivation, and tiger prey is poached by deliver benefits for tigers and people alike with hungry villagers. They are targeted by poachers driven by they ever have been. remarkable cost-efficiency, but in order to sustain the market for tiger parts and products, particularly in China, their efforts additional funding is needed. with demand being further stimulated by the burgeoning A MODEL SOLUTION The 25,000 km² of contiguous forests in the Satpuda growth of ‘tiger farms’ in recent years. Add to this the direct highlands of central India are amongst the world’s most conflicts with rural communities competing for the same © www.tigersintheforest.com important tiger habitats and the focus of SLTP’s efforts. Rich in biodiversity, this forest landscape is key to the water security of millions of Indians, delivering essential Kishor Rithe, President of Satpuda Foundation and the Land Rover Freelander ecosystem services to the surrounding communities. To combat the threats facing wild tigers in this region, SLTP and Land Rover the SLTP was established in 2004 by the Born Free Land Rover has extended its support to the Born Foundation and the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit Free Foundation’s work in India by delivering a brand (WildCRU) at Oxford University. As tigers roam widely new Freelander vehicle to Satpuda Foundation, one and do not recognize political or land-use boundaries the of Born Free’s Partner organisations in the Satpuda SLTP operates a holistic landscape oriented conservation Landscape Tiger Programme. The vehicle will be a strategy, implemented by a network of Indian NGOs active vital asset in the field and a highly visible ambassador in and around seven Tiger Reserves: Kanha, Melghat, Pench for conservation work in the Satpuda highlands, the (Madhya Pradesh), Pench (), Saptuda-Bori, largest viable block of tiger habitat in India. Tadoba-Andhari and Navegaon-Nagzira.

SLTP a n n u a l r e p o r t April 2014 April 2014 SLTP a n n u a l r e p o r t SLTP PARTNERS CONSERVATION FELLOWS ACTIVITY UPDATE April 2013 – March 2014 Ashfaq Aarbi - Satpuda Anoop Awasthi - Pench HABITAT PROTECTION Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) Vishal Bansod - Mobile Health Unit As part of efforts to relocate willing communities from www.bnhs.org Poonam Dhanwatey - Tadoba-Andhari sensitive areas in the Satpuda landscape, CAT and SF Debi Goenka - Legal Unit actively assisted the Forest Department by holding Nishikant Kale - Melghat meetings with three villages regarding their relocation, Sanjay Karkare - Mobile Education Unit as well as facilitating a meeting with a village which Kishor Rithe - Landscape Monitoring Unit Born Free Foundation has already undergone relocation, providing a valuable www.bornfree.org.uk Giri Venkatesan - Pench Kedar Gore - Kanha opportunity for information exchange. JUNIOR PARTNERS In Pench Tiger Reserve (TR), further village meetings enabled the establishment and development of Village Repairing a gobar gas unit © BNHS Conservation Action Trust (CAT) Uday Contractor Eco Development Committees and provided the www.cat.org.in Bandu Dhotre opportunity to discuss government schemes relating Nature Club to the use of alternative fuel sources such as stoves Rujit Karoo which burn firewood more efficiently. Mahendra Singh Chavan New Conserver The success and spread of the gobar gas initiative

by BNHS continued apace. Recalling that the average The Corbett Foundation (CF) consumption of wood for fuel per family is 1,200- www.corbettfoundation.org 1,400 kg a year, the use of alternative fuel sources by local communities living around TRs is critical. Some of this initiative continues to be funded by the Forest Department, this year to the tune of £24,000,

highlighting the value placed on this work by local Cattle dung powered cooking © BNHS Nature Conservation Society Amravati (NCSA) government. www.satpuda.org submitted to the Supreme Court. After years of delay, this is This year in Tadoba and Pench (MP), 410 gobar gas a significant victory. © www.tigersintheforest.com units were maintained, 650 units were repaired, and repair work was expanded within Kanha’s periphery. Founded on principles of transparent, egalitarian In another case, the declaration of Ecosensitive Zone In Kanha, training of local youths in unit maintenance collaboration, the SLTP programme is unique in Notifications for the PAs in Maharashtra will restrict took place and a survey of 119 villages and 1,400 development and is being closely followed through meetings Satpuda Foundation (SF) four significant ways: houses was carried out, to assess the suitability for with the Maharashtra Forest Department and the Ministry of www.satpuda.org/ncsa various alternative fuel solutions. Environment and Forests (MoEF). The MoEF has committed • SLTP promotes a close working relationship between to making the draft notifications available before they are small NGOs, local people and Tiger Reserve directors, and LEGAL ACTION finalized, and this provides a valuable opportunity to improve encourages the sharing of experiences and best practice CAT has continued to follow up on the Supreme Court outcomes. case regarding the Forest Rights Act which was created Tiger Research and Conservation Trust (TRACT) between these stakeholders. to empower tribal people through the granting of land The Maharashtra Forest Department is again attempting to • SLTP addresses all of the primary threats to tigers, www.tractindia.org rights, but has instead inadvertently placed India’s denotify about 90,000 hectares of forest land known as allowing a holistic approach to how best to tackle them. forests in grave danger. However, the Supreme Court the Zudpi Jungles, on the grounds that they are unable to • SLTP funding flows directly to field level activities, recently passed an order asking that all claims be protect smaller patches of forest land - CAT is opposing this Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU) ensuring that a little really does go a long way. verified independently, and that a report should be with the help of SF. • SLTP Partners set themselves clear objectives against www.wildcru.org which their performance can be measured.

SLTP a n n u a l r e p o r t April 2014 April 2014 SLTP a n n u a l r e p o r t EDUCATION a series of tribal dance shows at various locations such as Cases of conflict between tigers and livestock were Education outreach activities included nature camps and resorts was also facilitated. documented and mitigation techniques and the perceptions trails, film shows, bird watching, game drives, lectures, of villagers were monitored. Understanding the conditions nature quiz competitions and teacher training. School SF also assisted in a recruitment drive for fire watchers from which led to the conflict with livestock is critical to education programmes reached more than 16,600 students 41 villages bordering Pench TR by helping villagers through determine ways in which these can be reduced. Cattle kills and 700 teachers around 5 Tiger Reserves and for the first the application process. The work of these teams is critical were checked for poisoning and TRACT helped ensure that time, these activities were begun in the newly protected in preventing and fighting fires, which are very common in livestock owners received timely compensation from the Nagzhira landscape. More than 230 guides were also trained Satpuda’s dry, deciduous forests. Forest Department. in conjunction with Forest Department staff in relevant topics such as species and track sign identification, and CONFLICT In the case of direct tiger-human conflict in five villages, communication with tourists. Field monitoring of the peripheries of villages and forest in sites of conflict were monitored and regular visits to local Nagzhira WS by TRACT enabled the collection and analysis of communities were conducted to raise awareness and One of the Maharashtra Governor’s official residences, vital information such as travelled routes and shared water ensure understanding of mitigation measures to reduce A school visit to Nagzira WS © BNHS Rajbhavan in , has been developed as a Bio Park bodies, against the backdrop of threats throughout the area. instances of conflict. Locals sometimes requested cages in conjunction with SLTP Partner BNHS which is running Socio economic surveys were carried out in key villages, to capture tigers and leopards which came close to human environmental education activities here. This year 1,700 providing critical information for management of the area. habitation and in response TRACT explained the futility of students and 127 teachers took part in these activities. capturing animals which are not problem animals. Sadly, the shooting of a tigress which had attacked people led Another Partner organisation, NCSA, ran a three week conference to an observed reduction in tolerance to large carnivore on using conservation education as a tool to change behaviour, attacks, emphasizing the need for regular interaction with with participants from India, Bangladesh, Nepal and USA. communities to create awareness as a pre-emptive measure to mitigate conflict. Many Partners in the network celebrated World Wildlife Week and Tiger Day with community outreach activities such as In addition, NCSA trained 30 forest staff in measures to quizzes, rangoli, face painting, lectures, film viewings, nature prevent and minimise human-wildlife conflict due to livestock trails, and written tests on natural history in multiple schools losses, human injury and loss of income through crop damage. and Tiger Reserves. Staff were also instructed in the application of relevant

Mobile Health Unit in action © NCSA Monitoring a cattle kill © TRACT government schemes for villagers facing such losses. EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING PROGRAMMES In Pench TR a key wildlife issue is illegal fishing and during a CAT has been successful in raising funds from other recent meeting with government officials, SF suggested that SLTP Seminar 2014 through Sahyadri TR. Many thanks to CAT organizations for itself and also for SF to oppose destructive local youths who were good at diving and swimming under coal mining and thermal power projects. water might be able to locate the submerged boats used Participants travelled overland to the location for taking the lead in organising this year’s by illegal fishermen. Three youths were hired by the Forest for this year’s seminar in Goa through the successful seminar. COMMUNITY HEALTH Department and so far, this has led to the retrieval of ten Western Ghats landscape, stopping along As part of SLTP’s community based conservation model, boats which were subsequently destroyed. the way at Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary, which NCSA and SF engaged with 150 villages around 5 Tiger CAT was involved in gazetting. In addition Reserves (Melghat, Pench (MP and MA), Tadoba-Andhari, Again due to the close long term relationships between SLTP to providing the opportunity for discussion Satpura, Navegaon-Nagzhira) to deliver medical assistance. Partner staff and Forest Department officials, seven youths As usual, these villages were selected in close consultation were employed by the Forest Department to assist with among Partners on key strategic and operational with management officials, in order to leverage support for patrolling duties. Others from villages around Pench TR were issues relating to the network, SLTP had the conservation initiatives among key communities. Since trained as crane operators and housekeeping supervisors honour of receiving Dr Rob Atkinson who was 2005, the Mobile Health Unit (MHU) has treated 60,000 tribal in the hospitality industry and an additional 11 youths were conducting an external audit for the network patients and this year, just over 400 health camps were also selected for these two training programmes. Six young and Dr Claude Alvares, Executive Director of conducted, with more than 15,750 patients treated. The MHU village women were selected for participation in a training Goa Foundation. Goa has a small number of also revived the Melghat hospital at Tarubanda which is now programme for beauty parlour assistants and 17 other tigers but could represent an important link open all year round and treats 5,000 patients a year. youths received various skills training. The organisation of Attendees at the annual SLTP Seminar, February 2014. between Maharashtra and Karnataka tigers

SLTP a n n u a l r e p o r t April 2014 April 2014 SLTP a n n u a l r e p o r t SLTP Conservation Hero Award 2013-14 Each year, the Born Free Foundation offers an SLTP Conservation Hero Award to a grassroots conservationist working to protect WHAT NEXT? tigers and their habitat in Central India. The Since 2004, Born Free has funded the SLTP to award is for Rs25,000 to assist with the person’s the tune of over £500,000 whilst Partners have tiger conservation work, thanks to a donation received substantial contributions from other from Mr Tony Renton. The winner this year donors to support their additional independent is Praful Waghmare, aged 27, of near activities. The current running cost of the SLTP is Nagzhira, nominated by SLTP Partner TRACT. £75,000 per year, but additional funds are needed Relocation of villages and designating critical to sustain and, wherever possible, expand the habitat as inviolate is a widely recognised priority activities of the Partners in the next 5-year phase. for the conservation of tigers and their habitat. Identified over a decade ago as a desirable area Conservation Hero Praful Waghmare rescuing a rat snake Please refer to our Donor Pack to help us fundraise to be converted to natural habitat, Fhuljhari in Contact [email protected] for a copy of to support the SLTP for years to come, for additional Pench Tiger Reserve had, until Praful’s arrival, 2014 more than 15 families had agreed to move. booklet and DVD. Or download here resisted all attempts to relocate. Risking the ire Thanks to Praful’s commitment it will not be long information on the conservation strategy of SLTP of the landlords and other village heavy weights, before Fhuljhari is a beautiful meadow for wild and for other ways to help the partnership. To watch the film: vimeo.com/12429914 Praful worked daily on this issue and by March animals – keep up the good work Praful!

HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT SLTP? WHY SUPPORT SLTP? Sponsors have many options to support any SLTP is cost-effective and achieves real of the SLTP projects outlined in the Activity value for money, as it: SLTP welcomes its newest Partner! Update section of this report. You can make At the end of this year, The Corbett Foundation (TCF) became SLTP’s a real contribution by: • Lays the foundation for a nationally and newest Partner organisation, a valuable addition to its ranks. In the internationally significant conservation initiative Satpuda landscape TCF applies the same philosophy and implements • Pledging long-term financial support for SLTP work • Invests in long lasting, high impact, locally many activities common to other Partners. According to its mission • Supporting Born Free’s fundraising events relevant resources to educate and build capacity statement, TCF is “committed to the conservation of wildlife and • Enrolling the support of UK and Indian companies amongst the enthusiastic and committed youth nature and fulfilling the ambition that men and nature must live as SLTP sponsors • 100% funding goes to the partners (No together in harmony.” www.corbettfoundation.org • Building partnerships by assisting SLTP to develop overheads) stronger in-country relationships at the national • Supports grass-root activities that strengthen and local levels social and environmental capital, and are • Spreading the news about SLTP’s work and indispensable for sustainable practical conservation influence

SLTP a n n u a l r e p o r t April 2014 April 2014 SLTP a n n u a l r e p o r t Direct reporting from SLTP Partners will ensure feedback on progress and there would be opportunities to get involved by visiting the region and seeing our work first hand. Corporate sponsors may develop PR opportunities including local and federal media coverage in association with SLTP Partners and Born Free. Born Free stages a number of events throughout the year and donors would be most welcome to join in and meet others with a passion for conservation.

Contact Us: Dr Claudio Sillero Head of Conservation Born Free Foundation Broadlands Business Campus Langhurstwood Road Horsham West Sussex RH12 4QP [email protected] / +44 1403 240170

Report prepared by Gabriel Fava, Claudio Sillero and SLTP partners, April 2014

Photo: tigersintheforest.com

SLTP a n n u a l r e p o r t April 2014 April 2014 SLTP a n n u a l r e p o r t