Ranthambhore Foundation
Working to Save the Tiger
RANTHAMBHORE FOUNDATION
Working to Save the Tiger
India has a land mass of nearly 33 lakh sq. kms with just under one billion people, a coastline of 7516 kms, 14 different types of climatic forest, 13,000 species of flowering plants, 65,000 species of fauna including 2000 species of fish, 1200 of birds, 350 of mammals. There are 70,000 wetlands and 28,000 kms of rivers. Temperatures vary from 500C to 490F and rainfall from 5 inches a year to 424 inches a year. India has 80 National Parks, that constitute 1% of the land mass and 441 sanctuaries
that constitute 3 % of the land mass. Ranthambhore National Park, a microcosm of India's wilderness, with 392 sq. kms, is an ecological island surrounded by 91 villages and 3 townships with a total human population of 1,67,000 and cattle population of 1,00,000 l.u. They are either totally or partially dependent on the resources of the Park for meeting their basic requirements of firewood, fodder, timber, grasses and building materials. The human population in the villages and townships is growing at a rate of 3.2% p.a. Besides the resident livestock, an estimated 20,000 l.u. of migratory herds pass through the forest in search of fodder every year. The townships exert a far greater pressure on the National Park than previously believed.
The Ranthambhore Foundation (R.F.) was registered in 1987 as a non profit society with the primary objective to strive for the maintenance of the essential ecological balance necessary for man to live in harmony with nature. The Foundation has been working since 1988 in villages around Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve, situated in Sawai Madhopur District, along the south-eastern periphery of Rajasthan. R.F.'s approach has been
site-specific, flexible and based to a large extent on the ideas and needs of the local people. It is our firm belief that fragile ecological systems like Ranthambhore can survive only with the active support and participation of the people.
A special emphasis of R.F. efforts is to protect and ensure the safety of the tiger in its natural habitat across India and in any other tiger range country. R.F. believes not only that the tiger is a great living symbol of the natural world but also that the very presence of a tiger within a forest system due to the protection given to the tiger, that forest is relatively safe. Today the tiger is struggling to survive, so saving the tiger from its present fate is essential.
The challenges are enormous but if we fail to save the tiger what can we save?
FIELD ACTIVITIES AROUND RANTHAMBHORE NATIONAL PARK
1. Health care & Family Planning:
Working closely with PRAKRATIK Society, the R.F implements since 1989 a Health Care and Family Planning programme across 32 villages and benefit 40,000 people around the National Park. In 1996, a village health Centre and clinic commenced operations. Family Planning, Immunization, Eye camps, and many facets of primary health care are a regular component of the programme. From 1989 immunization has increased from 25%-75% with 50% reaching the status of being fully immunized at one year. The acceptance of Family Planning has increased by 10% with over 600 women adopting different family planning aides. The service also focused on men. This medical facility is deeply entangled in the concept of environment and ecology and its very symbol is a tiger and a tree. It is a vital part of a broad range of activities that integrate together to reduce the pressures on the natural resource.
2. Income Generation - Dairy Development & Cattle Breeding Centre
Since one of the critical problems that depletes natural resources is free grazing of livestock, the R.F has focused since 1991 on this problem in order to minimize the dependency of livestock on the National Park. We concentrate on home fed, home reared, improved breeds of cattle/buffalo by sponsoring both a BAIF Cattle Development Centre which implements a comprehensive breed improvement programme to increase milk production, thus contributing to the upliftment of the economic
standards of the farmers, natural services and a Cattle Demonstration Farm that provides improved and tested livestock to the farmers. Fodder development, veterinary care, the encouragement of milk cooperatives, distribution of cattle feed, extension services are only a few of the strategies in place. Cattle feed sales have gone up 15 fold, fodder seed sales 10 fold, crossbreeds from 0 - 400 in 4 years, 500 Murrah buffalo
calves have been born through natural services and village milk
cooperatives like Padli, are with totally homefed cattle and a revenue of 3 lakhs in the last year.
3. Afforestation and Agroforestry
To deal with the problems of wood cutting by both urban and rural communities RF has been running since 1988 a nursery with a capacity 100,000 saplings annually for regreening and afforestation. In 6 years R.F. has been instrumental in the plantation of about 5,00,000 saplings in the area, and about 1,50,000 of these trees are surviving today. A seed bank, extension services, and the creation of tree compounds adjacent to schools are integral to this effort. Since 1994 an intensive agroforestry project focuses on agricultural land of the farmers, who are mainly dependent on the forest resources, and the planting of trees on it, in order to contain the negative impact on the timber of the forest creating alternative bio-mass, fuel and fodder for the people.
4. Alternative energy
Both the above activities have resulted in a small effort in alternative energy by propagating bio-gas plants in villages where livestock is home reared. The slurry from the bio-gas is effectively used as natural fertilizer in agricultural fields. Some efforts are also underway to encourage solar energy.
5. Education
Between 1990-1995, 9000 children from the villages around Ranthambhore National Park have participated in a non-formal education program. The educational activities have been focusing on awareness of land-use, water, trees, and soil. The deep entangled link between man and nature was reasserted through jungle camps, forest trips, Park's visits and a number of activities such as paintings competitions and exhibitions, theatre
plays and skits. A small nature centre is now focusing mainly on
extension services with trees. Ranthambhore National Park is nature's own class room.
6. Support to N.G.Os and Others
The Foundation has attempted to harness the expertise of other NGOs in Ranthambhore by persuading them to undertake field activities in the area. We support and facilitate -
(a) Income Generation - Craft Development - Dastkari Kendra:
Supporting Dastkar, the Ranthambhore Foundation has built a centre for the revival of traditional art and craft skills. Over 100 families are regularly using the Kendra to propagate, create and market their skills and products. This income generation activity has used the motifs of trees, bird and animals in many of the products that are created, to stress the concern towards the forest and the tiger. The project is self sufficient. The Kendra is also used as a venue for medical camps and for community meetings.
(b) Ranthambhore School of Art
R.F. has supported and facilitated a group of painters under the broad banner of a Ranthambhore School of Art. The painters from the nearby town and adjacent villages depict both tigers and other wildlife. Through a dozen exhibitions they have earned respect both in India and across the world.
(c) BAIF Development Research Foundation
The Foundation has facilitated the BAIF Development Research Foundation, by providing full financial support and other inputs, to start and run an Artificial Insemination centre in Kundera village in January 1994 with an aim to improve the breed of the local livestock.
(d) Prakratik Society
The Foundation supports a local NGO to run a Mobile Health care & Family Planning project and also a Primary Health Centre in the area by providing all necessary financial and other inputs.
(e) INTACH
R.F. has facilitated the Indian National Trust for Art and
Cultural Heritage to work in the area by providing necessary support when required.
(f) District Milk Union
In an effort to promote a viable milkshed in the region R.F. has been strengthening and supporting the Sawai Madhopur and Tonk Milk Union since 1991.
7. Village Groups & Meetings
A special effort over the last 6 years has been in the promotion of local village groups that could be empowered to act in the interest of the forest. In December 1995, at the request of a group of village elders, R.F organized a 2 day meeting of over 200 people from 55 villages including 16 Sarpanches/ Ex-sarpanches and 44 representatives of village organizations to formulate an action plan to save Ranthambhore National Park. This meeting revealed through the energetic participation of people the positive momentum that has been created in the last 6 years in the interest of the Park. One of the vital outcomes of the meeting was the unanimous declaration that the National Park must be protected at all costs.
8. Research & Documentation
* R.F has sponsored small research grants for students working on environment related issues. It has also conducted a two year research project on the Park-People interface with a view to understand the rate of exploitation of the natural resources with the rate of regeneration. Each activity undertaken by R.F is documented as much as possible by statistics, facts and figures and by project reports.
* Satellite imageries of the National Park and R.F.'s work area are undertaken every two years by R.R.S.S.C., Jodhpur, since 1992. These land-use and forest maps are vital indicators and assessments of the state of the area.
9. Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve.
Working to protect Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve and supporting the field staff we have recently leased for use our Canter/ Truck for anti-poaching operations in Ranthambhore. Our entire fleet of jeeps, motor cycles etc. can be used for Park purposes when necessary. We have also networked through Care for the Wild (CFTW) for one Canter Truck for anti-poaching in the Park. One hundred woollen sweaters were handed over by the Executive Director to forest staff. Other awards were also presented for exemplary work in anti-grazing operation.
RANTHAMBHORE FOUNDATION'S (DELHI OFFICE) INTERVENTIONS
For all R.F. interventions in the national and international
debate about wildlife conservation policy and all the related issues, a vital root of understanding, learning and awareness has come from R.F. field activities, their 'ups' and 'down', their impact in and around the National Park. R.F. (Delhi) functions as an Information Centre for the Tiger, for other wild cats and for wildlife in general, it is a Data Centre for Natural Resources, Dams, Power projects and their impacts on the environment. The issue of People and Protected Area is at the core of R.F.'s concerns and activities.
1. NETWORKING
(a) Tiger Link
In February 1995 R.F. initiated and coordinated a new initiative for tiger conservation : Tiger Link, at the first meeting over 25 organizations and 70 individuals took part. Tiger Link is a mechanism to network people and organizations to create support for field action in the interest of the tiger. R.F. (Delhi) extends support and assistance to Tiger Link participants as and when requested to strengthen their field actions and try to help in solving some serious problems they might confront in specific situations. Every four months R.F. (Delhi) produces a Tiger Link newsletter. 9 Newsletters have been published so far. Now there are more than 1,000 participants in the network. Recently R.F. organised the second meeting of 100 selected participants of the LINK in Delhi to assess the progress in field initiatives in different parts of the country for tiger conservation.
(b) Networking Assistance Across India
Ranthambhore Foundation has been active in linking Donors both national and international directly to site specific situations, Park management, and NGOs that genuinely have a need for infrastructural support or financial aid. The R.F. provides awards through TIGER LINK across India and has networked vital equipment for wildlife administration in the states of Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Maharastra and helped to provide similar benefits to NGOs in Bihar, Rajasthan, Maharastra, West Bengal and Karnataka. We believe that STRICT protection must work hand in hand with community conservation.
2. TO PROMOTE PUBLIC AWARENESS
Wildlife Conservation Talks at the I.I.C., New Delhi:-
R.F. (Delhi) in its efforts to increase awareness has also been organizing monthly talks by leading conservationists and specialists on issues concerned with Wildlife, People and Forests at the India International Centre, New Delhi. The eminent speakers who gave talks include: V. Thapar, Dr. K.U. Karanth, A. Kumar, Dr R..S. Chundawat, Dr. A.J.T. Johnsingh, B.C. Chowdhury, B. Sahgal, Dr. A.R. Rahmani, Dr. R. Chellam,
B. Grewal, A. Kothari, Dr.M.Rangarajan,Sathyakumar, D.Chavda, A. Leonard, Dr. S..A. Hussain, Dave Currey, Dr. R. Sankaran, S. Deb Roy, V.B.Sawarkar, P.K. Sen, O. Pfister, Dr. M.K. Ranjitsinh, Dr. Ajith Kumar, Dr.R. Sukumar etc.
3. COMMITTEES, FORUMS, ORGANISATIONS & MEETINGS
From 1992 representatives of Ranthambhore Foundation have participated, in various capacities, in the following national and state level committees, forums and/or organizations.
* Steering Committee of Project Tiger, Ministry of Environment and Forests (MOEF), New Delhi,
* Indian Board for Wildlife (IBWL),
* Tiger Crisis Cell, MOEF, New Delhi.
* Cat Specialist Group for Asia of SSC/IUCN
* Commission on National Parks and Protected Areas (CNPPA) of IUCN/World Conservation Union.
* Environment Appraisal Committee (EAC) - Hydro-electric and River Valley projects, MOEF.
* Madhya Pradesh Government Tiger State Committee. * Wildlife Institute of India Society.
* Global Tiger Forum, MOEF
* WWF State Committee of Rajasthan.
* Delhi High Court Committee on Wildlife.
* Committee for the wildlife sector of the 9th Plan constituted by the Planning Commission.
* Eco-development committee of MOEF 1993-1994.
Cat Specialist Group-IUCN, Indian Region:-
Ranthambhore Foundation (Delhi) facilitates and assists in the
organization of the meetings of the Cat Specialist Group (Indian Region) of the SSC/IUCN. 12 such meetings have been organised so far.
4. PUBLICATIONS AND PAPERS
Regular publications by the Ranthambhore Foundation include Poaching Files and Tiger Files which are collectionsof newspaper clippings bound together on tiger, wildlife and wild habitats' issues such as poaching, trade, management, policy etc...
Ranthambhore Foundation has published The Flora of Ranthambhore National Park and various Reports on R.F.'s health, dairy, and research projects.
A Document on The Violation of environmental laws and conservation policy by various state governments in their respective Hydro Electric Dams and River Valley Projects all over India has been compiled for wider reference and analysis of the situation.
The book "In Danger: endangered species, people and threatened natural habitats" has been published by Ranthambhore Foundation.
A Comprehensive Survey of Tiger Reserves all over India has been undertaken and the report has been submitted to the Ministry of Environment & Forests.
5. R.F. International Participation
From 1992 R.F. representatives have participated in the following international meeting and training courses :
* Vth World Congress on National Parks and Protected Areas, Caracas, Venezuela, 10-12 February 1992.
* International Symposium on the Tiger, Ministry of Environment and Forests, New Delhi, February 22-24th, 1993.
* Field camp on Primary Health Care in Zimbabwe.
* International Symposium on People and Protected Areas organized by The Wildlife Society in San Jose, Costa Rica, September 1993.
* Meeting of Tiger Range Countries - Global Tiger Forum sponsored by UNEP and by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, March 1994.
* Lecture trip to Australia sponsored by AIDAB (Australian Government) May 1994.
* Training Course on "Project Management for environmental and wildlife conservation" Sydney, Australia, May-June 1994.
* 1st International Conference to assess the states of Tigers -
Thailand, October 1994.
* Talk at The Mammal Society in London 'Tigers and their crisis', November 1994.
* 2nd International meeting to assess the status of Tigers in Thailand, January 1996.
* TIGER GIS workshop - Thailand, January 1996.
* Tigers 2000 Symposium - London, Feb. 1997
* The Year of the Tiger Conference - Dallas, Feb. 1998.
R.F's Delhi Office has facilitated the contribution of papers and
interventions at these international meetings. To increase awareness a series of lectures/ talks have also been given in Australia, U.K., U.S.A. and across India.
6. Research Assistance.
The Foundation has also helped in networking scholarship assistance to the Wildlife Institute of India and attempts through the Delhi office to assist, help and advise individuals and NGOs in the field of conservation.
CONCLUSION
The RANTHAMBHORE FOUNDATION IS NOW CELEBRATING ITS 10TH ANNIVERSARY this
year. It is also the Year of the Tiger according to the Chinese calendar. Our integrated effort both in Ranthambhore and Delhi AIMS AT REDUCING THE VIOLATIONS ON OUR FORESTS AND WILDLIFE, AND ENSURING A BALANCE WITH FOREST DWELLERS SO THAT THEYTO ANOTHER CENTURY.
In a message sent to the Foundation on the occasion of the 10th anniversary the PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA, MR. I.K. GUJRAL stated, "IT IS INDEED WONDERFUL TO SEE SOME OF RANTHAMBHORE FOUNDATION'S WORK IN THE
VILLAGES OUTSIDE RANTHAMBHORE NATIONAL PARK THAT HAVE HELPED TO CREATE A HARMONY BETWEEN PEOPLE, FORESTS AND WILDLIFE. THIS PIONEERING EFFORT HAS PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN OUR CONSERVATION PROGRAMMES AND STRATEGIES TO
SAVE THE TIGER."
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RANTHAMBHORE FOUNDATION
19, Kautilya Marg, Chanakyapuri,
New Delhi 110 021, INDIA.
Telephone: (91-11) 301 6261
Fax: (91-11) 301 9457
E-mail: tiger@vsnl.com
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