Comprehensive eco-development of a sanctuary village – Mhatarbachi Wadi at Bhimashankar wildlife sanctuary, Pune district in Maharashtra

Genesis of the project
Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Ambegaon and Khed talukas of Pune district in Maharashtra. This seasonal cloud forest in the Sahyadri mountain range was given a protected status in 1984, mainly for the conservation of the Indian Giant Squirrel and its unique habitat. One of the major rivers of south India, Bhima, a tributary of the Krishna, originates here. The area of the sanctuary is 130.78 square kilometre which includes 9 tribal villages inside.

People
Mahadev Kolis, primarily hunter-gatherers, and secondarily pastoralists and agriculturists, have been forest dwellers over many generations and their life revolves around this evergreen forest.

Religious Tourism
Bhimashankar is a famous pilgrimage place because of its temple which is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of India. The temple receives a minimum of 10 lakh devotees on one single day during the Mahashivratri festival, and another twenty five lakhs during the sharavan months in August and September every year. This is in addition to the year round tourists who either visit the sanctuary for its natural beauty or the temple. All of which, puts an enormous pressure on the sanctuary and has over the years also influenced the life style of the villagers. The pressure to meet the needs of the visitors has only increased the dependence and exploitation of the sanctuary resources.

The Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary is small; just 130 square kilometre²; within this area, the forests are patchily distributed between rocky expanses. The sacred grove surrounding the temple is just 5 square kilometre² – little over a few cricket stadia in total area. This smallness is the cause of its greatest vulnerability. In order to protect this small sacred forest and its people, it is necessary to reduce the dependency of the Mahadeo Kolis on this forest and to provide them with viable alternatives. In order to achieve this effectively, it is necessary to evolve a comprehensive developmental programme that is ecologically sound, socially just, gender-unbiased and economically viable. This developmental programme should also take into consideration that the visits of lakhs of pilgrims and tourists to the temple and sanctuary are parts of the problem and of the solution.

Purpose and Objective
Dr. Renee Borges Associate Professor, Indian Institute of Science, and Ulhas Rane, Landscape Architect and Environmentalist, have been involved in a number of environmental studies at Bhimashankar WLS. They approached WWF-India’s Environment Education Programmes, with a proposal to launch a pilot project in one tribal village with the aim of replicating this project in the other eight tribal villages in the sanctuary, if successful. On collaborating with the forest department and support of the Village Development Committee (Gram Vikas Samiti) of Mhatarbachiwadi, Bhimashankar the project was framed as per the needs of the village and the well being of the sanctuary.

The purpose for selecting this village was; one it is located at the entrance of the sanctuary, two most of the younger generation had a minimum of basic education and thirdly they were aware of the impact they were creating on the sanctuary and wanted beneficial and sustainable change. Keeping the needs of the villagers in mind the following objectives were set:

Ecological: Reduce the pressure / impact on the forest, Rejuvenate the private lands with indigenous forest, Become partner of the forest department for forest conservation.
Socio-economic: Resolve the problem issues e.g. Water, Shelter, Energy, Health, Economy, Capacity Building, Training, Equitable approach in all actions
Participatory Action: Villagers’ initiative – equal participation of women & men in decision making, villagers’ financial contribution in every item of donation to form a village kitty. Active participation of Forest Department Active NGO / Corporate involvement.

WWF-India’s Involvement

Based on the objectives and seed funding from WWF-India, the project was formally inaugurated on the 26th January, 2006 as it was considered the most auspicious day for the country by the villagers. The inauguration was done at the hands of a village senior Mr. Asawale in the presence of CCF Mr. Parihar, RFO Mr. George, Sr. Scientist ICSc Dr. Renee Borges, Prof. Ulhas Rane, WWF-India, Pune Div. Director Ms. Danita Daniel, WWF-India, MSO Education Officer Dr. Goldin Quadros and Ms. Sheetal Mahadik ,Project Officer.

During the inauguration representatives from all the 65 families were present and they showed keen interest in having the project implemented. The project was inaugurated by selecting a community place for the village gatherings and activities and named the Jidnyasa Kendra, where a library was also started with WWF-India marathi publications and books. At the meeting the Forest officials pledged their support to the villagers by providing them help in making the project a success. The villagers also had a detailed discussion on their role in conservation of the forest as well as rules and regulations of the forest department. It was an interesting session as women and children also contributed to the discussions.

Following the inauguration two workshops were conducted for the villagers. In one workshop the youth were trained in using their local skills and traditional knowledge as a forest guide. This was a day long workshop facilitated by Mr. Mahesh Bhosle volunteer of WWF-India. Ms. Sheetal Mahadik staff of WWF-India, Mumbai office conducted the workshop on paper making and paper bag making for the women and children.

On 27^th January the villagers planted trees followed by continuation of the forest guide training workshop and the paper making workshop. Later in the afternoon the youth were gifted WWF-India caps and key chains. As one of the objectives is reduction in energy consumption a donation of copper boiler that uses less of fuel wood was made. The boiler was given by drawing lots to one of the villager.

Regular interactions and meetings were held with the forest department, villagers and local ministers by Dr. Renee Borges and Prof. Ulhas Rane. They along with Ms. Danita Daniel in April 2006 helped form the village committee called the “Chirantan Vikas Samiti” and opened a bank account with SBI. The villagers were shown Audio-visuals on nursery and chulla techniques developed by ‘Aarati’: an NGO, Pune. The construction of a permanent structure for the Jidynasa Kendra was started in December 2006 and completed in May 2007, the entire village contributed ‘ Shramdan” by helping in the construction work. The Kendra was formally inaugurated on 15th August 2007. The villagers will be using this Kendra as a library, interpretation cum eco-development center. The villagers will be using the structure to also store saplings for distribution.

Way Forward!
For sustaining the project the villagers have requested a repeat of the forest guide workshop to refresh and build their capacity. They have been introduced to the concepts of community toilet and hygiene, cattle shed concept and apiary. The villagers are willing to learn and adapt so they can conserve the forest and reduce their dependence and pressure on the forest thereby ensuring that the protected area dedicated to the protection of wilderness and ecosystem functions remains intact.