Balachandra Hegde Sahyadri Wildlife and Forest Conservation Trust, Nilkund, Uttara Kannada- 581331, Email:[email protected] Western Ghats in Karnataka Konkan Sahyadri Belgaum Madei WLS Bondla WLS Hubli Molem NP •Landscape level corridor Dandeli Dandeli WLS Cotigoa WLS •Conservation priorities Karwar Sirsi Sharavathi WLS Shimoga Shetti halli WLS Mookambika WLS Bhadra TR Someshwara Kudremukh NP Malnad Kodagu Bangalore Mangalore Baneru ghatta NP Puttur Talakaveri Cauvery WLS Brahmagiri WLS Biligiri RT WLS Bandipur NP Mudhumalai Belgaum Corridors? Elephants in Uttara Kannada District Madei WLS Bondla WLS Haliyal Hubli Molem NP Dandeli Dandeli Joida Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary Anshi National Park Dandeli WLS Yellapur Mundagod Cotigoa WLS Karwar Karwar Ankola Sirsi Sirsi Kumta Siddapur Honnavar Uttara Kanada District Elephant Distribution/ migratory path Bhatkal Sharavathi WLS Shimoga Shetti halli WLS Mookambika WLS Bhadra TR Someshwara Kudremukh NP Bangalore Mangalore Baneru ghatta NP Puttur Talakaveri Cauvery WLS Brahmagiri WLS Biligiri RT WLS Bandipur NP Mudhumalai Methodology: Secondary Data, 5x5 kms of grids Landscape level Multi criteria analysis of corridor. Priority grids Priority grids: Fragmentation Corridor connectivity Priority Species Wildlife , (Large mammals) Special ecosystems e.g. Myristica swamps Indicator /Key/ Priority species e.g. LTM Threat index Proposed Development projects Conservation hotspots Magod Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary Tenginamudi Anshi National Park Yana Magod Benne hole Tenginamudi Nilkund Ghat Yana Benne hole falls Unchalli falls Nilkund Ghat Dodmane ghat Unchalli falls Karikanammana gudda Dodmane Ghat Katlekan Karikanammana Gudi Kanooru kote Kathlekan Conservation priority areas Places Ecological Importance Geographical and other S.No. importance 1 Devimane Ghat Corridor Aghanashini 2 Dodmane Ghat Good evergreen forest , Northern most point of Lion Tailed Macaque Aghanashini 3 Karikanammana Dipterocarpus indicus. Religious place Gudda Sharavathi 4 Kathalekan Freshwater Swamps , Lion Tailed Hotspot within the hotspot macaque, Semecarpus kathlekanensis, Endemic amphibians Sharavathi 5 Magod Deciduous forests, Great Indian and Malabar pied Hornbills Tourist place, water falls Bedthi 6 Nilkund Ghat/ Pristine Evergreen Forest, Embelia Bhimana gudda ribes, Slender loris, Corridor Aghanashini 7 Muktihole Lion tailed Macaque, Freshwater swamps Riverine forests Sharavathi 8 Tengina mudi Evergreen forests Bedthi 9 Unchalli falls Myristica swamps, Tourist place, water falls Aghanashini 10 Yana Evergreen forest, Lime stone Trekking place, religious formations place Aghanashini Next steps…. Developing management plan for specific conservation reserves. Strengthening community participation. Creating awareness. Restoring corridors- critical links CEPF Small grants Programme Thanks to Karnataka Forestry Department Ananth Ashisar, Western Ghats Task Force, Narasimha Hegde, LIFE Trust Manoj kumar, IFS, DCF, Sirsi Dr. R Vasudeva, College of Forestry Wildlife Conservation Society – India Program Dr. H.N. Kumara …………………………………………..…. So many others.