Kanha-Achanakmar Corridor
The Kanha - Achanakmar corridor is arguably the most important key to the survival of tiger in Central India. It connects one of India’s best protected tiger reserves - Kanha in Madhya Pradesh with one of the most promising - Achanakmar in Chhattisgarh, through Phen Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh and Bhoramdeo wildlife sanctuary in Chhatisgarh, as well as forests of five territorial forest divisions (Bilaspur, Dindori, Kawardha, Mandla East and Mandla west). The above four mentioned protected areas (PAs) have breeding tiger populations.
The terrain here is hilly, particularly towards the east in Achanakmar. Forests of this area are a source of major rivers including Narmada and Son. Narmada is the lifeline of millions in Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. Sal (Shorea robusta) is the dominant tree species while patches of miscellaneous forests with bamboo (Dendrocalamus strictus) on slopes are also present.
The aerial length of the corridor is approximately 60 km with an average width of 10 km. It is spread over 37,716 sq km and has a great potential to carry good tiger numbers. The human and cattle pressure on the corridors is not very high, though there are clusters of human habitations whose population growth might concern the corridor’s functionality in the future. Also, the number of cattle inside the corridors is not very high. Among the people inside the corridor are unique tribes like Gondis, who are Indian sub-continent’s northern most representation of the Dravidian language.
WWF-India is working in 29 villages of this corridor. Apart from the project office at Mandla, it has field offices at Kawardha, Mawai, Sargadhi, Mangli and one project office at Amarkantak, which work closely with the communities and the stakeholders.
The terrain here is hilly, particularly towards the east in Achanakmar. Forests of this area are a source of major rivers including Narmada and Son. Narmada is the lifeline of millions in Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. Sal (Shorea robusta) is the dominant tree species while patches of miscellaneous forests with bamboo (Dendrocalamus strictus) on slopes are also present.
The aerial length of the corridor is approximately 60 km with an average width of 10 km. It is spread over 37,716 sq km and has a great potential to carry good tiger numbers. The human and cattle pressure on the corridors is not very high, though there are clusters of human habitations whose population growth might concern the corridor’s functionality in the future. Also, the number of cattle inside the corridors is not very high. Among the people inside the corridor are unique tribes like Gondis, who are Indian sub-continent’s northern most representation of the Dravidian language.
WWF-India is working in 29 villages of this corridor. Apart from the project office at Mandla, it has field offices at Kawardha, Mawai, Sargadhi, Mangli and one project office at Amarkantak, which work closely with the communities and the stakeholders.
SML Landscape