3. Male Mahadeshwara Hills
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Published : March 2009 Cover Illustration : Nikita Jain Design & Layout : Sushmita Mandal & Rohan D’Souza TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS _____________________________________________________ 3 ACRONYMS _________________________________________________________________ 4 LIST OF FIGURES AND MAPS ________________________________________________ 5 PROGRAMME SUPPORT ______________________________________________________6 Rationale for Programme________________________________________________________7 1. Influences that Shaped the Program _____________________________________________ 8 2. Stakeholder Roles ___________________________________________________________10 3. Gaps and Expectations in Stakeholder Roles ______________________________________10 4. Scope as Defined by Stakeholder Roles __________________________________________11 5. Scope As Defined by Site-wise Variables _________________________________________12 6. Realigning Strategic Framework and Objectives ____________________________________14 7. Central Questions and Objectives_______________________________________________15 Intervention and Results _______________________________________________________16 1. Socio-economic Analysis and Livelihood Intervention _______________________________16 1.1 Findings on Socio-economic Analysis ________________________________________19 1.2 Learnings _____________________________________________________________20 2. Institutions and Governance___________________________________________________20 2.1 State Representation _____________________________________________________22 2.2 Community Representation ________________________________________________23 2.3 Findings on Institutions and Customs ________________________________________24 3. Ecological and Conservation Status _____________________________________________26 3.1` Findings on Conservation and Sustainability ___________________________________30 Working Within Consonant Policy Frameworks for a Rights-based Approach____________31 1. JFM Policy _________________________________________________________________31 2. WPA Amendment ___________________________________________________________31 3. Recognition of Forest Rights Act, 2006 (RFRA)_____________________________________32 4. Biodiversity Conservation and Rural Livelihoods Improvement Project ___________________33 Conclusion and Way Forward ___________________________________________________34 Sites ________________________________________________________________________36 1. Site Summary ______________________________________________________________37 2. Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple WLS ______________________________________________40 2.1 Background____________________________________________________________ 41 2.2 Key Issues _____________________________________________________________42 2.3 Key Objectives of the Intervention __________________________________________42 2.4 Selection of Villages _____________________________________________________42 2.5 Socio-economic Status____________________________________________________43 2.6 Community Aspirations___________________________________________________46 2.7 Institutions_____________________________________________________________47 2.8 Ecological Status ________________________________________________________52 3. Male Mahadeshwara Hills _____________________________________________________57 3.1 Background ____________________________________________________________58 3.2 Key Issues _____________________________________________________________59 3.3 Key Objectives of the Intervention __________________________________________59 3.4 Selection of Villages _____________________________________________________59 3.5 Socio-economic Status____________________________________________________60 3.6 Institutions____________________________________________________________ 65 3.7 Ecological status ________________________________________________________72 4. Kanakapura _______________________________________________________________75 4.1 Background____________________________________________________________76 4.2 Key Issues _____________________________________________________________76 4.3 Key Objectives of the Intervention __________________________________________76 4.4 Selection of Villages _____________________________________________________77 4.5 Socio-economic Status____________________________________________________77 4.6 Institutions____________________________________________________________ 82 4.7 Education_____________________________________________________________ 86 4.8 Ecological Status ________________________________________________________86 5. Natham __________________________________________________________________88 5.1 Background____________________________________________________________ 89 5.2 Key Issues _____________________________________________________________90 5.3 Key Objectives of the Intervention __________________________________________90 5.4 Selection of Villages _____________________________________________________90 5.5 Socio-economic Status ___________________________________________________91 5.6 Institutions____________________________________________________________ 98 5.7 Ecological Status_______________________________________________________100 6. Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve__________________________________________102 6.1 Background __________________________________________________________103 6.2 Key Issues____________________________________________________________104 6.3 Key Objectives of the Intervention ________________________________________104 6.4 Selection of Villages ____________________________________________________105 6.5 Socio Economic Status __________________________________________________105 6.6 Institutions___________________________________________________________ 112 6.7 Ecological Status_______________________________________________________116 6.9 Way Forward__________________________________________________________120 COMMUNITY BASED CONSERVATION CENTRES ___________________________ 121 SMALL GRANTS PROGRAMME ______________________________________________124 CONSERVATION EDUCATION ______________________________________________129 ENDOWMENT FUND ______________________________________________________130 IDENTIFYING BIODIVERSITY HERITAGE SITES IN THE WESTERN GHATS___132 REFERENCES _____________________________________________________________ 135 2 Acknowledgements This report would not have been possible without data, information, and technical support from colleagues. Sharada Ramadoss provided useful comments, data, information, and guidance that substantially improved our work. We also acknowledge the efforts of Seema Purushottam and Sheetal Patil for compiling and analyzing the socio-economic data, Sajid Pareeth for the GIS maps of site locations. Samuel Thomas, H Manjunatha and Bansuri Taneja for providing critical inputs and support to the programme. Thanks also to the Forest Departments of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu for providing us permission to work in the sites and District administration of Chamrajanagara, Ramanagara, of Karnataka and Dindigul, Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu. We thank VGKK, SAS, CCD, ACT India Foundation, Samruddhi and Kalpavriksh for support, inputs and collaborative efforts during the project period. We duly thank Ms Madhu Sarin who has been the project consultant and a guiding force with her critical support in taking the programme forward. Her inputs to the project helped us arrive at a cohesive framework to work with. Finally we are grateful to Sir Dorabji Tata Trust for their financial support that has been integral to the project. 3 Acronyms used in the Report ATREE : Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment BCRLIP : Biodiversity Conservation and Rural Livelihood Improvement BRT : Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple C&LP : Conservation and Livelihoods Programme CBD : Convention on Biological Biodiversity CCC : Community Conservation Centre CCD : Covenant Centre for Development CWLS : Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary DC : District Commissioner DSWO : District Social Welfare Officer FD : Forest Department GIS : Geographic Information System GMCL : Gram Mooligai Company Ltd. GoI : Government of India HH : Household JFM : Joint Forest Management KMTR : Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve KVG : Kitchen Vegetable Garden LCC : Lantana Craft Centre MM Hills : Male Mahadeshwara Hills MoEF : Ministry of Environment and Forests MPCG : Medicinal Plants Cultivators Group MPGG : Medicinal Plants Gatherers Group MPHG : Multipurpose Home Gardens MSMSSK : Moologai Seharippu Matrum Sahupadi Sangangalin Kottamaippu NGO : Non-government Organization NRM : Natural Resource Management NTFP : Non-timber Forest Produce PA : Protected Area PRI : Panchayati Raj Institution RF : Reserved Forest RFRA : Recognition of Forest Rights Act SAS : Soliga Abhivruddhi sangha SHG : Self-help Group TAP : Tamil Nadu Afforestation Program VFC : Village Forest Committee VGKK : Vivekananda Girijana Kalyana Kendra WLPA/ WPA : Wildlife Protection Act WLS : Wildlife Sanctuary 4 LIST OF FIGURES & MAPS FIGURES Fig.1 Percentage Income from Various Sources - BRT Fig.2 Net Agriculture Income/HH/Annum - BRT Fig.3 Net NTFP Income /Annum - BRT Fig.4 Size-class distribution curve for Phyllanthus spp. BRT Fig.5 Percentage of Income Various Sources MM Hills Fig.6 Net income from NTFPs/HH/Annum MM Hills Fig.7 Percentage Income from Fuel wood and Bamboo Basketry/HH/Annum MM Hills Fig.8 Income distribution from NTFP Fig.9