Sanjeet Kumar
sanjeet.biotech@gmail.com
Ravenshaw University
The Similipal Biosphere Reserve has been notified by Government of India on the
22nd June, 1994. It comprises of the entire Similipal sanctuary (core and buffer
together), the adjoining Nato and Satkoshia Reserve Forests forming additional
buffer and a belt of approximately 10 KM width all around the entire buffer
designated as the 'transition zone'. The total area of this BR is 5569 Sq. KMs.
The Similipal hill ranges, a densely forested area constitute the core and a
part of the buffer zones of the BR, and there are also 65 villages within these
two zones including four in the core zone. Similipal is in the
eastern end of the eastern ghats and classified in the Chhotanagpur biotic
province of the Mahanadian bio-geographical region. The transition zone of the
Reserve has 1200 villages whose total population is about 4.5 lakhs. The tribals
constitute about 73% of this population. The forests and the biodiversity
resources to a great extent sustain the livelihood of these people. The forest
and wildlife in the sanctuary, and the human population and cattle living in
close proximity impact on each other. The Management Action Plan for the BR
seeks to put emphasis on suitable programmes of eco-development in the
transition zone and also to a limited extent in buffer zone, to promote various
alternative livelihood options, and thereby to reduce people's pressure on the
forests.
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| Me, Sanjeet & my research team at Simlipal Biosphere reserve |
Save Forest, Save Life
