Project Info
Project Description
Valmiki Tiger Reserve is one of the 14 Potential Source Sites for tigers in India. The reserve is contiguous with Chitwan National Park-Parsa Wildlife Reserve in Nepal. The landscape is critical not only for tiger but also for other threatened species sharing this trans-boundary Protected Area complex. Apart from tiger, the VTR landscape also supports other threatened fauna including Greater one-homed rhinoceros, Gharial and Gangetic dolphins. However, more than 150 villages located on the fringe of the tiger reserve exert significant biotic pressure on the tiger reserve.
Spread across approximately 900 sq. km. area, the Valmiki Tiger Reserve forms approximately 17% of the total geographical area of West Chapmparan district. The tiger reserve was notified in 1998. The reserve is rich in biodiversity and it is a home to many threatened species of flora and fauna. The reserve is surrounded by about 150 villages (inhabited by approximately 1 lakh people) within 5 km from its boundary. Tharu, a scheduled tribe, are the dominant community in the villages surrounding the tiger reserve. The district in general and the villages around the tiger reserve lack basic infrastructure and facilities. The district is poorly developed according to a composite index of development, and ranks 31st among the 37 districts in the state.
Valmiki Tiger Reserve entry gate | Photograph by Sreenanth K/WTI
According to a study conducted by WTI in 2004, 74% villagers depend on forest for fuel wood, bamboo and small timber. Cattle rearing for subsistence activities such as agriculture, transport and dairy production is a common practice. As many as 95% villagers rear cattle numbering more than 5, and 40% percent depend on the forest for grazing and fodder. Agriculture is the primary livelihood option for 73% families. The villagers were unaware of the conservation value of the Reserve and 90% of them consider the forest solely as a resource for firewood, fodder and housing materials.
WTI has been working in the Valmiki Tiger Reserve landscape since 2003 to recover tiger population and the protected area by providing scientific inputs to the tiger reserve management (Department of Environment and Forest, Government of Bihar) and reducing communities’ dependence on the tiger reserve. WTI began the first phase of the project in the landscape in the year 2004 to recover tiger populations focusing on fringe villages of VTR including the Done Valley. The project was unique as it adopted a comprehensive 360-degree approach towards improving the wellbeing and providing sustainable livelihoods for the community by increasing their human, social and economic capital, and reducing their dependence on the tiger reserve forest. Eco-development ventures were implemented in 7 of the 26 villages in Done Valley to reduce forest dependence, crop damage, and livestock depredation; and upsurge non-farm livelihood prospects, and strengthen organizational capacities.
In 2018, a third-party Impact Assessment of the Valmiki Recovery Project was conducted with reference to the role of Self-help Group (SHGs) in the economic and social results in the Done valley. WTI partnered with the Grameen Foundation’s Bankers without Borders (BwB) and the University of Maryland’s Do Good Institute to measure the outcomes and impact of the Valmiki Recovery Project’s self-help group interventions in Done valley on economic development (viz., skill development trainings on moon), grass weaving (STEP project of Govt. of India), animal husbandry, financial literacy, seeds, and irrigation) and energy security (viz., improved cook stoves). The interventions were found to effective and recommended an up-scaling of efforts in the region with further identified refinements, which is planned for the current phase of the project.
workshop for Primary Response Team (PRT) members | Photograph by WTI
Based on WTI’ s experiences in the landscape and inputs of multiple stakeholders, including local communities and forest department, the project aims to identify the issues and needs in the landscape. To improve wellbeing and guarantee long-term support for tiger conservation, reducing poverty by diversifying livelihoods and lowering the costs of living close to tiger habitats is prioritised.
- Increasing availability of space for tigers
The project will improve habitat conditions in the fringe forests, especially around Done Valley, which supports a large human population dependent on the VTR. Habitat improvement will lead to an enhanced prey base and more suitable areas for tigers. It will be achieved by restoring approximately 150 sq. km. of human-influenced and degraded forests inside VTR. Simultaneously, restoring degraded natural habitats and agricultural lands adjoining the VTR will also be undertaken to improve the usage of degraded agricultural lands by taking restorative measures. Restoration will be brought out by changing locals’ practises (such as forest fire, and grazing) and attitudes towards nature and the use of natural resources in order to sustain the project’s impact over the long term.
- Enabling an environment of human-big cat co-existence
The project aims to build resilience in local communities to the continued or frequent presence of large carnivores in human-use areas. It will be achieved by empowering the communities with appropriate strategies and solutions to deal with the negative impacts of human-carnivore conflict and setting up community-based systems to relay and respond to carnivore conflicts. Initiatives will be taken to reduce the vulnerability of communities to negative interactions with large carnivores inside forest areas by reducing their venture distance in the forest and dependence on the forest for grazing, firewood and other critical needs by providing them with alternatives. It is anticipated that HWC takes a great toll on the mental health and well-being of survivors, victims and associates, but there is no solid proof of the extent and implication of its. Thus, the project will pilot an investigation on the mental health implications of HWC on forest-dependent communities of villages adjoining VTR. The pioneering study will be used to identify appropriate measures to ensure the mental well-being of locals.
- Strengthen socio-economic resilience
VTR have obligatory restrictions on resource use and extraction due its protected area status under Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and its amendments. Yet, the local communities have very high dependence on the forest resources although utilities are limited to non-commercial use. The communities also face financial challenges due to limited livelihood opportunities which instigates exhaustive use of the natural resources and eventual degradation of the ecosystem reducing community resilience. The project will strengthen the socio-economic resilience of forest dependent communities in the fringes of VTR to not just reduce forest dependence of the locals but also increase their economic and ecological sustainability. This will support implement both habitat restoration and human-wildlife conflict mitigation measures.
Partners: Chester Zoo, Darwin Initiative
Project Lead: Subrat Kumar Behera
