Networking and information support for conservation of rocky plateaus in the Sahyadri- corridor • Aparna Watve, BIOME CONSERVATION FOUNDATION • CEPF-ATREE RIT SMALL GRANT

1/2/2012 to 31/3/2013 Report and accounts submitted What are rocky plateaus?

Forest “Rock outcrop” Wetlands Grasslands Ferricrete/ Mesa High altitude meadow Plateau Sada/ Kharam X

Dry Season photo of lateritic plateau in

For a month in :-

KAS : WORLD HERITAGE SITE 3 lakh tourists in 3 months

Objectives: Networking (organizations, individuals)

Information support (site and species information sheets)

Dissemination in public domain. Network partners, stakeholders NETWORKING SCIENTISTS, INDIVIDUALS, NGOs

52 participants Material : FAQs about rock outcrops

Step 1 : Creating an issue-based network

Many more faces 118 members in the group Biodiversity experts

Nirmal Kulkarni

Gayatri Chitale

Sanjay Thakur

Varad Giri

Neelesh Dahanukar Young researchers

Pratiksha Panaskar Apeksha Patil

Siddharth Kulkarni

Yatish Lele Archana Guleria

Step 2 : Baseline documents preparation • 70 species profiles (endemic, threatened) are added to WG Portal

• 15 Site profiles with detailed information are prepared Step 3: Information support for conservation planning

• Case study 1: Support to Jui Pethe’s project (Nature Conservation Society)

• (): Support for population studies of endangered species, baseline information used by CCF, Nashik for regulating indiscriminate plant collection on the plateau • Help in preparation of management guidelines by providing accurate information on biodiversity and ecosystem processes • Has received Rs. 2.5lakh grant from forest department • DST Grant of Rs. 5 lakhs is sanctioned (separate project) Step 3: Information support for conservation planning

Case study 2: Support to Hema Ramani’s work (Bombay Environmental Action Group) • Panchgani tableland (): Support for legal protection of Tableland to supoort biodiversity conservation plan and stop unsustainable tourism activities • Conservation and management guidelines have been submitted to Bombay High Court based on accurate information on biodiversity and ecosystem processes Step 3: Information support for conservation planning

Case study 3: Kas Plateau: Natural World Heritage Site Only mis-directed action by administration was of fencing for conservation Meeting with the forest minister, forest secretary, Commissioner

Public Consultation in

Discussion with local people Assessing the Ecological Impact of Tourism and Developing Ecotourism through Stakeholder Participation for Conservation of Kas Plateau, ,

Rufford Grant Rs. 5,00,000/-

Publication of conservation and management framework for Kas plateau Step 3: Information support for conservation planning

Case study 4: Dhangarwada plateau

Site profile detailing biodiversity conservation values is being used by National Green Tribunal appointed committee in the matter of Forest Department vs. bauxite mining company

Step 3: Information support for conservation planning

Case study F: Amboli Plateaus Malabar Nature Conservation Club’s work

1. Documentation of biodiversity Site profile detailing biodiversity 2. Sustainable tourism conservation values will be used for 3. Supporting local students Development of People’s Biodiversity 4. Awareness generation Register 5. Community based conservation Possibility of BIODIVERSITY HERITAGE SITE A request for consideration is made to the State Biodiversity Board

Presentation of information in front of senior administrators, forest department, policy makers

SPECIAL POLICY ON ROCK OUTCROPS

All the villages around plateaus are included in the WGEEP report in ESA1 and Kasturirangan report in Ecologically Sensitive AREAS

- Challenges in preparing management guideline are being addressed

Summary

• Increased participation and networking amongst diverse group • Three projects on plateaus

Impact of tourism on Kas- Prerna Agarwal, funded by Rufford Foundation,

Digital herbarium of Anjaneri plateau – Jui Pethe, funded by Forest Department

Ecology of Lichens (Kas, Panchgani)- Gayatri Chitale, funded by DST, India • Network of young researchers, capacity building of local students • Information about 15 sites and about 70 species endemic to plateaus- Western Ghats portal • Conservation and management guidelines published Future steps for Rocky Plateau Conservation

• Keeping the network dynamic: Facebook upgrade to website planned

• Bringing primary biodiversity information in Public Domain: Special issue of JOTT by ZOO, articles published by different groups

• Securing PERMANENT social, legal and policy support for rocky plateaus

• Financial support for the conservation activity- ongoing

Special thanks to

All the networking NGOs, individuals, partners Government departments

CEPF-ATREE Western Ghats Small Grant and RIT