The WII team undertook the field visit to the project area from 18th - 24th Sept., 1997. The first hand knowledge acquired of the project and the project environment during the reconnaissance (Plate 1) and the study of documented information provided the ability to (i) accomplish an assessment of the conservation values of the biohabitats likely to be impacted by the proposed linear development and (ii) evaluate the proposed alignment with respect to likely impacts on ecologically significant areas en route (iii) evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of the mitigation options that are being proposed by environmentalists and conservationist to incorporate conservation concerns in mitigating the impacts of developmental project.

• Conservation Values
   
• Representative ness or typical ness
   
• Uniqueness
   
• Diversity
   
• Rarity and Endemism
   
• Wildlife reservoir potential
   
• Existing threats of human interferences
   
• Evaluation of the Alignment of the Proposed Mumbai-Pune Expressway
   
• Evaluation of Developmental and Mitigation Options
   
• Widening of the existing NH4 in lieu of a new expressway
   
• Construction of tunnels 
   
• The Forests of Western Ghats
   
• Conservation priorities and Rationale
   
• Creation of protected area both North & South alignment stretching from Bhimashankar to Koyna
   
• Creation of Father Santapau Sanctuary
   
• Ex-situ conservation of wildlife species