Melghat Research Articles

Quantification of Ecosystem Services of the Melghat Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra, India

The present study was an attempt to quantify the direct as well as indirect ecosystem services from forest ecosystems in the Melghat area, which were undervalued in economic terms as compared to other developmental projects. The valuation of growing stock in the Melghat Tiger Reserve (MTR) was estimated to be IRs 80221 crores (equal to 9600 million US $). While the carbon sequestration potential of the system was estimated to be IRs 9291 crores, the value of non-timber forest products (NTFP), a part of the provisioning service, was IRs 3.92 crore. The Forest land itself is valued at IRs 66874 crores using the current land costs in the region for non-forest uses. Recreation benefits are estimated to be IRs 30.94 crores which is more than the user fee collections at entry points. The contribution value of biodiversity and other ecosystem services for the entire Melghat landscape was IRs 2156 crore. Timber and carbon sequestration loss due to land distributed under forest rights was IRs 447.23 crore, while gains from agricultural use of that land by farmers was merely IRs 7.07 crore. Thus, the land conversion resulted in 63 times higher loss in the total ecosystem services than the gains from the subsistence-level farming practice for provisioning service alone. The total economic value of the Melghat landscape was estimated at IRs 1,69,853 crore, equalling to IRs 57.20 lakh per ha. The Net Present Value (NPV) of IRs 7.5 lakh per ha for protected areas such as the MTR prescribed by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Government of India is much lower than the estimated value, emphasizing the need to revise NPV using appropriate valuation methodology.

Living on the edge: Insights into habitat patterns of forest-dwelling mammals in the buffer zone of Melghat Tiger Reserve, India

Buffer zones surrounding protected areas act as interfaces between humans and wildlife, providing sustainable resource utilization while minimizing negative interactions. This study analyzed data from camera trap sampling to understand habitat use and the effects of anthropogenic impacts on medium and large-sized forest-dwelling mammals in the buffer zone of Melghat Tiger Reserve in Central India. The human population in this region is increasing at a rate of 15 % in a decade. There are instances of human death and injury and frequent cattle lifting by carnivores. Crop damage by wild herbivores is common. These factors impede long term conservation goals in the tiger reserve. Camera trap sampling was carried out in the buffer zone for a period of 33 to 46 days. Camera trap data were analyzed using occupancy modeling to estimate habitat use probability (Ψ) and detection probability (p). Naïve estimates of habitat use ranged from 0.11 to 0.64, while Ψ values based on occupancy modeling ranged from 0.23 to 0.71. The study showed a fairly high level of habitat use by mammals in the buffer zone of the tiger reserve. Leopards were found to be associated with abundance of large prey species and human presence. Hyena, gaur, and sambar showed an association with forest cover, while nilgai showed association with scrubland. Chausingha and langur showed an association with sloping terrain. Overall, the study showed that the buffer zone plays an important role as a wildlife habitat and provided insights for prioritizing conservation efforts and management strategies in the study area.

The Bear Truth: Analyzing Genetic Variability and Population Structure in Sloth Bear across the Vidarbha Landscape Using Microsatellite Markers

Endemic to the Indian subcontinent, the sloth bear (Melursus ursinus) is a threatened species, present in fragmented habitats across India. Field techniques such as direct observation and camera trapping alone are not sufficient and may not be explicit enough to understand a monomorphic species like the sloth bear at larger spatial scales. In this study, we looked into the genetic structure, variability and population demographics amongst the extant sloth bear populations in the highly fragmented Vidarbha landscape, using a panel of 13 microsatellite markers with a cumulative PID value of 1.48 × 10−5 PIDsibs. Our results revealed genetic clustering (K = 5) and moderate structuring amongst the study populations. Despite being geographically distant and placed in two different genetic clusters, sloth bears from the Melghat Tiger Reserve and Sahyadri Tiger Reserve shared genetic signatures, indicating connectivity, while migration was detected amongst other study areas as well. The findings from this study can serve as baseline assessment for future genetic monitoring of the species in the human-dominated landscape and assist in managerial decisions to step up protection of fragmented forest patches and reduce human–bear conflicts without compromising on the genetic connectivity.

Reduction in Firewood Consumption due to Implementation of Improved Cookstoves in Melghat Tiger Reserve, India

According to the 2001 Census of India, around 82% of the rural population of India depends entirely on biomass and uses primitive cookstoves for cooking. The smoke released due to incomplete combustion causes several chronic respiratory disorders among women responsible for cooking. Despite these adverse effects, people continue to use traditional cookstoves due to their simplicity. Firewood consumption is also responsible for the degradation of forests and the emission of CO2, which is a major greenhouse gas. A project was implemented by Wildlife Research and Conservation Society in 12 villages in Melghat Tiger Reserve to introduce improved cook stoves in 1,098 households for reducing firewood consumption and smoke emission. This study estimated that the improved cookstoves (ICS) had reduced the average per capita firewood consumption by 0.61 kg/day (25%) and resulted in the conservation of 1,171 tons of firewood annually. A decrease of 1,953 tons of CO2 emissions due to the installation of ICS has been estimated. Installation of ICS reduced the time taken to cook a meal by an average of 40 minutes and reduced smoke production, thereby contributing to the health of the users.

Molecular investigation and clinical management of Hepatozoon Canis infection in an Indian jackal \u2013 a case report

BackgroundHepatozoonosis is a common tick-borne illness reported from all over the world. The infection has been well documented in dogs and cats, and has also been identified in wild canids and felids. India is home to many canid species; however, the incidence of Hepatozoonosis in wild canids is rarely reported. A wide variety of protocols have been discussed for the clinical management of the infection in companion animals; however, the suitability of treatment protocols in wild canids is understudied. The current case report highlights the clinical management of Hepatozoonosis in an Indian jackal and molecular investigation to provide vital insights into the epidemiology of the disease.Case PresentationA paraplegic Indian jackal was rescued from Melghat Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra, India. The animal had extensive decubital ulcers on the left pin bone and could not walk; however, the animal was active and dragged the hindlimb during locomotion. The vital parameters, blood and serum investigations were normal. Post physiotherapy, massage and infrared therapy, the animal could walk but started knuckling, resulting in injuries. Eight weeks into rehabilitation, the animal had a steep fall in haemoglobin concentration, platelet count, weight loss and was diagnosed with Hepatozoonosis. Considering the altered vital parameters, the jackal was rationally treated with Doxycyclin @ 20 mg/Kg O.D. (Once Daily) for 45 days along with supportive therapy. The jackal recovered after the treatment and led a normal life.ConclusionMono-drug regime using Doxycycline was effective in the alleviation of H.canis infection in jackal. The drug was effective in alleviating the clinical presentation without alteration of vital parameters. The molecular investigation provided qualitative inputs in understanding the epidemiology of Hepatozoon in wild canids.

Characterization of forest fire frequency using fire scar mapping of temporal satellite data for forest fire management

One of the most complex problems facing in tropical forests, particularly in deciduous forests, is the recurrent incidence of fire. It is well known that fire caused extensive damage in the forest ecosystem by quantitatively and qualitatively. To reduce occurrences of forest fire, proper management of fire is highly important which entails mapping of forest fire frequency and identification of suitable area for watchtowers. In the present study, fire frequency analysis of Melghat Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra was done for the last seven years (2014-2020) based on the fire scar on the temporal Landsat data during fire season (January-June). Fire frequency analysis shows that an area of 1053.64 ha (0.52%) of the reserve was burned all seven years followed by 3050.53 ha (1.49%) for six times, 3849.52 ha (1.88%) for five times, 5520.04 ha (2.70%) for four times, 11845.63 ha (5.80%) for three times, 36863.52 ha (18.03%) for two times, 70126.33 ha (34.31%) for once and 72093.02 ha (35.27%) remains unburned all these seven years. The fire frequency map generated was used as an input for prioritizing the locations of watch towers as well as prioritizing grazing closure areas and fires lines. Identification of suitable sites for locating new watchtowers has been done by integrating and modeling of forest fire frequency map, existing watchtowers and viewshed analysis in GIS. Based on these results only thirteen watchtowers were categorized under retainable among the existing watchtowers and 27 new watchtowers are proposed to cover the entire area.

A Review on Herbal Remedies for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) from Melghat Region of Maharashtra State, India

Melghat means "meeting of ghats" region well known for "Melghat Tiger Reserve (MTR)" located in the north-western compact block of Amravati district in Maharashtra state, India. This literature review aimed to compile and document the herbal remedies for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) as Gonorrhoea, anti-HIV Leucorrhoea, Sexual Transmitted Diseases (STDs), and Syphilis in Melghat region. A total of 167 medicinal plant species from Melghat distributed among 137 genera, and 66 families have complied for Gonorrhea (103), Syphilis (85), Leucorrhoea (84), anti-HIV (10), and STD (01). Plant families like Lythraceae (17 species), Malvaceae (11 species), Moraceae (8 species), Euphorbiaceae (8 species), Acanthaceae (6 species), Amaranthaceae (6 species), Verbenaceae (6 species), were most frequently occurred in the study. Trees represented 34.13% of species, followed by Herbs (32.33%), Shrubs (20.95%), Climbers (10.17%), Grasses (1.19%), Orchids (0.59%) and Aquatic (0.59%). Leaves were the most commonly used plant parts; it accounts 19% followed by roots (18%), whole plant (13%), bark (13%), seeds (7%), fruits (6%), stem (5%), flowers (5%), etc. Curated data presented as botanical names, families, local names, habitat, floristic area (in Melghat), ailments, part used with relevant ethnobotanical citations were documented and thus offers scope for researchers engaged in herbal drug discovery and development.

Mahua Flower Collection Sheets - A simple Intervention for Facilitating Collection of Mahua flowers and Reducing Forest Fire

All over Central India, collection ofmahua flowers is carried out by burning the undergrowth undermahua trees, often causing forest fire. Trials were conducted in Melghat TigerReserve using mahua collection sheets made from old saris. Use ofmahua collection sheets obviated the need for burning the undergrowth and could be effective in preventing forest fire. A comparison was made of the benefits of using mahua collection sheets vis-a-vis the traditional method. The most significant benefit was the reduction in time required formahua collection, from 6.78±0.79 hours to 1.58±0.29 hours each day. There were otherbenefits such as reduction in manpowerrequirement and reduction in encounters with wild animals. These benefits will encourage the adoption of this technique by forest dwelling communities for mahua collection.

Performance improvement of space diversity technique using space time block coding for time varying channels in wireless environment

Performance improvement of space diversity technique using space time block coding for time varying channels in wireless environment

Molecular Phylogeny of a Rodent from Melghat Tiger Reserve in Central India: A Probable New Species or New Genus

Molecular Phylogeny of a Rodent from Melghat Tiger Reserve in Central India: A Probable New Species or New Genus

Mitochondrial DNA diversity in wild gaur (Bos gaurus gaurus): evidence from extant and historical samples

Bos gaurus gaurus commonly called as gaur is a wild bovid species inhabiting South and Southeast Asia and attained vulnerable status in India. In this study, we typed 62 extant free-ranging wild gaur individuals for mitochondrial partial displacement loop (D-loop) and cytochrome b gene (Cyt b) from the Melghat Tiger Reserve (MTR). Two historical DNA samples originating from museums and two Tectona grandis bark fibers samples browsed by wild gaur were also used as a source of environmental DNA. Both D-loop and Cyt b loci show the occurrence of a single haplotype in the contemporary wild gaur population. While D-loop fragment sequencing of two historical museum samples reveals two unique haplotypes, virtually absent in the present wild gaur population of MTR. Amplifications of the similar haplotypes in gaur DNA samples obtained through chewed T. grandis bark fibers have proved the efficacy of eDNA. Bayesian Skyline Plot (BSP) analysis using extant and historical D-loop sequences illustrate population decline starting from upper Mesolithic. Also, the BSP graph indicates accelerated effective population size decline (Ne), a time period coinciding with the different phases of the ∼5000 years old Indus civilization. The plot shows an overall declining trend in the wild gaur population, a probable outcome of ever-shrinking habitat in the central Indian landscape caused by prehistoric, medieval and colonial hunting practices.

Occurrence of the Arrow-headed Trinket Snake (Coelognathus helena nigriangularis) in the Melghat Tiger Reserve

Occurrence of the Arrow-headed Trinket Snake (Coelognathus helena nigriangularis) in the Melghat Tiger Reserve

Translating legitimacy: Perspectives on institutions for human-wildlife coexistence in central India

Achieving human-wildlife coexistence relies on legitimizing conservation institutions for diverse groups of stakeholders. Accordingly, wildlife conservationists have developed a range of tools to enhance the legitimacy of conservation institutions. But these tools often reflect the normative ideas of ‘intermediaries’ found in academic and grey literature about how and why people grant legitimacy to certain institutions. In the buffer zone of Melghat Tiger Reserve in central India, an area managed for human-wildlife coexistence, we used Q Methodology to understand how people who regularly encounter wildlife assess some of the ideas currently circulating in wildlife conservation discourses about enhancing the legitimacy of coexistence institutions. There was consensus that some of the ideas would help to legitimize conservation, and there were three main ways in which people interpreted these ideas, reflecting different perspectives on how people grant legitimacy. These perspectives were based on (1) the practical outcomes of conservation institutions, (2) the relationships between conservationists and local people, and (3) people’s knowledge of conservation institutions. These perspectives add empirical depth to largely theoretical discussions of legitimacy in conservation, while also showing how people translate the same ideas differently. These different translations suggest that practitioners and policy-makers should attend to the trade-offs involved in framing and implementing programs for human-wildlife coexistence, as the same ideas will be understood differently by people who regularly encounter wildlife depending on their different perspectives on legitimacy.

Comparative analysis of multi-criteria probabilistic FR and AHP models for forest fire risk (FFR) mapping in Melghat Tiger Reserve (MTR) forest

A comparative study of Frequency Ratio (FR) and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) models are performed for forest fire risk (FFR) mapping in Melghat Tiger Reserve forest, central India. Identification of FFR depends on various hydrometeorological parameters (altitude, slope, aspect, topographic position index, normalized differential vegetation index, rainfall, air temperature, land surface temperature, wind speed, distance to settlements, and distance by road are integrated using a GIS platform. The results from FR and AHP show similar trends. The FR model was significantly higher accurate (overall accuracy of 81.3%, kappa statistic 0.78) than the AHP model (overall accuracy 79.3%, kappa statistic 0.75). The FR model total forest fire risk areas were classified into five classes: very low (7.1%), low (22.2%), moderate (32.3%), high (26.9%), and very high (11.5%). The AHP fire risk classes were very low (6.7%), low (21.7%), moderate (34.0%), high (26.7%), and very high (10.9%). Sensitivity analyses were performed for AHP and FR models. The results of the two different models are compared and justified concerning the forest fire sample points (Forest Survey of India) and burn images (2010–2016). These results help in designing more effective fire management plans to improve the allocation of resources across a landscape framework.

Gender dimension towards Right over Traditional Knowledge by Adivasi women of Melghat Tiger Reserve, India

Gender dimension towards Right over Traditional Knowledge by Adivasi women of Melghat Tiger Reserve, India

Rediscovery of Graceful Racer Platyceps gracilis Gunther 1862 (Reptilia:Squamata: Colubridae) After Ninety Years in Central India

Platyceps gracilis occurs in dry and arid parts of western India from Maharashtra to Rajasthan and western parts of Madhya Pradesh. In this paper, I report range extension of Platyceps gracilis based on temporarily collected specimen from Melghat Tiger Reserve. Ninety years since the last record, there is been no further report of this species from Central India. I recently sighted two additional specimens of this poorly known species from Vidharbha region of Maharashtra state, India.

Tigers, Tribes, and Bureaucrats: the voluntariness and socioeconomic consequences of village relocations from Melghat Tiger Reserve, India

Relocations of indigenous peoples from protected areas to promote wildlife conservation have typically resulted in negative socioeconomic results for those displaced. The international indigenous peoples’ movement has begun to coalesce around the use of free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) as a legal mechanism to prevent disadvantageous relocations. In 2006, India’s parliament passed the Forest Rights Act, which requires any village relocation of tribal people be conditional upon their FPIC. I used household surveys and qualitative interviews of relocated and forest (not-yet relocated) villagers from Melghat Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra, to examine (a) the extent to which putatively voluntary relocations were conditional upon FPIC and (b) how such relocations affect socioeconomic metrics and overall quality of life for those relocated. I found that while consent to relocate was mostly free, consent was not fully informed across the villages examined. The socioeconomic results indicate that relocated villagers make a trade-off, leaving a familiar, healthier environment for better access to modern services and employment. Finally, I found that forest villagers in favor of relocation emphasized how the social and economic costs of remaining in the forest had become greater due to the relocation of neighboring villages. This field study suggests that strong implementation of FPIC and state responsiveness post-relocation are both necessary to safeguard forest-dwelling people from disadvantageous relocations.

Legitimacy, access, and the gridlock of tiger conservation: lessons from Melghat and the history of central India

Though tiger conservationists almost ubiquitously acknowledge the necessity of landscape approaches and the involvement of local people for effective tiger conservation, reconciling these two needs presents certain challenges for practitioners. Seeking to address both local exigencies and conservation goals, state-sponsored ecodevelopment initiatives have become commonly associated with Project Tiger reserves in India. However, in this essay I argue that by focusing on the proximate sources of tension between tiger conservation and local people (i.e., human–tiger conflict, habitat degradation, and prey depletion), these programs have reinforced the ultimate causes of such tension: the structural inequalities that exists between local people and state organizations. By linking the historical literature with my own fieldwork in the Melghat Tiger Reserve of the Central Indian Highlands, I show how the current structure of ecodevelopment largely mirrors that of colonial forestry by attempting to enforce natural resource property rights in a way that privileges the state and delegitimizes local relational mechanisms of access to natural resources. In doing so, ecodevelopment reflects the political structure that facilitated the rise of conflicts between tigers and people and reinforces the “gridlock of tiger conservation” (Rastogi et al. 2012). With this political ecology perspective, I advocate solidarity between conservation practitioners, local people, and state organizations in addressing these structural problems to further conservation efforts. Emphasizing co-management’s ability to accommodate multi-scalar forms of authority, I end by offering three lessons for conservation from Melghat’s experience with colonial forestry and ecodevelopment.

POPULATION DENSITY AND BIOMASS OF THE WILD PREY SPECIES IN A TROPICAL DECIDUOUS FOREST, CENTRAL INDIA

For proper management of a wildlife reserve, it is essential to estimate density and biomass of herbivores that in turn determine the density of carnivores. We estimated the population density and biomass of three ungulates and two other species in the Melghat Tiger Reserve, Central India. The study was conducted from September 2010 to April 2011. We used distance sampling to estimate the population density of wild prey species. The 225km2 intensive study area was found to have high prey species density (69.5±8.3 individuals/km2), with gray langur being the abundant prey species (42.9±7.2 individuals/km2), followed by sambar (10.5±3.5 individuals/km2), gaur (5.8±1.7 individuals/km2), barking deer (2.7±0.3 individuals/km2), and peafowl (7.6±0.6 individuals/km2). When the density figures were multiplied by the average weight of each prey species, biomass of 6501.8 kg/km2 was obtained.

Population density and biomass of the wild prey species in a tropical deciduous forest, Central India

For proper management of a wildlife reserve, it is essential to estimate density and biomass of herbivores that in turn determine the density of carnivores. We estimated the population density and biomass of three ungulates and two other species in the Melghat Tiger Reserve, Central India. The study was conducted from September 2010 to April 2011. We used distance sampling to estimate the population density of wild prey species. The 225km 2 intensive study area was found to have high prey species density (69.5±8.3 individuals/km 2 ), with gray langur being the abundant prey species (42.9±7.2 individuals/km 2 ), followed by sambar (10.5±3.5 individuals/km 2 ), gaur (5.8±1.7 individuals/km 2 ), barking deer (2.7±0.3 individuals/km 2 ), and peafowl (7.6±0.6 individuals/km 2 ). When the density figures were multiplied by the average weight of each prey species, biomass of 6501.8 kg/km 2 was obtained DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/tapro.v6i1.7053 TAPROBANICA, 2014. Vol. 06, No. 01: pp. 1-6, 1 pl.