Palamau Tiger Reserve
Salient findings
The activities proposed for implementation under IEP are in accordance with the planned activities in the management plan which is under implementation (2001 – 2002 to 2010 – 2011). The strategies broadly include measures to arrest the impacts of grazing, fuelwood extraction, water scarcity and soil erosion. The ecodevelopment initiatives are all planned to combat these problems and promote habitat improvement and PA management.
The delayed implementation of the project has however slowed the pace of progress of most activities on ground. The biotic pressures associated with very large number of cattle grazing in PA pose the greatest challenge for conservation of this area. This threat has not been adequately addressed in IEP. Development of pasturelands should have been a priority action to arrest cattle grazing impact. This has been undertaken in a limited way. Similarly under the initiatives to reduce fuelwood extraction, the alternate energy sources should have been promoted more effectively.
The scope of IEP has have further been fairly restricted in overcoming the impacts of several important threats that have jeopardized the conservation efforts in this PA. The more significant of these are the potential impacts of Barkana-Daltonganj section of eastern highway, the crippling effects associated with the Kutku dam on Koel river and the threats posed by the Central Coalfield Limited by illegal mining.
The activities proposed under village ecodevelopment are largely feasible at community level but they need forward linkages such as marketing, maintenance support and awareness raising. The leaf plate making is environmentally feasible but its economic feasibility is linked to availability of leaves and marketing support. Similarly the economic gains from poultry farming and vegetable production are linked to favourable market structures which may be difficult to create within short project duration.
Last Updated: October 8, 2015
