The Central India Landscape (CIL) is a mosaic of forests, agricultural land and human settlements, serving as a network of wildlife habitats and movement corridors. Spanning Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, the CIL encompasses approximately 247,624 square kilometres and comprises 34 protected areas.

The landscape supports a tiger population of 1,150 individuals—one of the largest populations in the world (AITE 2022). Beyond tigers, it is home to numerous other threatened species, including Asian elephant, gaur, leopard, Indian wild dog, Indian grey wolf, wild water buffalo, rusty-spotted cat, four-horned antelope, and seven species of vultures. The region encompasses diverse ecosystems and preserves several ancient Indian cultural heritage sites, including Bhimbetka, Amarkantak and Sanchi.  The landscape is also home to indigenous tribes, including the Baiga, Gond and Kurku, who have maintained their traditional relationships with the land.

The Central India Landscape presents unique conservation challenges, particularly the need to maintain wildlife habitat connectivity and promote coexistence in mixed-use areas where agriculture and forests intersect. Poorly planned linear infrastructure expansion, such as roads, railways and powerlines, poses a significant threat to this connectivity, fragmenting habitats and increasing wildlife mortality. Crop depredation by herbivores and the resurgence of human-elephant conflict also remain major challenges in the landscape, while poaching and illegal wildlife trade continue to threaten species recovery.

Central India’s tribal communities face significant challenges—half of them are below the poverty line, with a literacy rate of 57.23% and infant mortality rates 30% higher than national averages. Tribal women are particularly vulnerable to indebtedness and malnutrition, as their livelihoods rely heavily on agriculture and forest-based activities, which are often constrained by limited access to water, credit and markets. Therefore, community engagement remains a focus, with co-management models and recognition of community rights, such as Community Forest Resource Rights (CFRR), offering pathways for local stewardship and sustainable livelihoods.