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Chapter 3: STUDY AREA

3.1. The Achanankmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve

The programme of Biosphere Reserve was initiated under the 'Man and

Biosphere' (MAB) programme by UNESCO in 1971. Biosphere Reserves are areas of

terrestrial and coastal ecosystems promoting solutions to reconcile the conservation of

biodiversity with its sustainable use. They are internationally recognized, nominated by

National Governments and remain under sovereign jurisdiction of the states where they

are located. Biosphere Reserves serve in some ways as 'living laboratories' for testing out

and demonstrating integrated management of land, water and biodiversity. The

Government of India has decided to designate the proposed Achanankmar-Amarkantak

area as a Biosphere Reserve. Given the considerable potential of NTFPs to contribute to

local livelihoods, there is a real need for: field-level research, synthesis and collection of

information on NTFPs, its dissemination in the form of practical guidelines for NTFP

identification, regeneration, extraction management, collection, processing, storage and

marketing, and training on technical issues, including silviculture, extraction

management, processing and marketing issues.

3.2 Location

Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve lies between 21 15 -22 58 north

latitude and 81 25 - 82 5 longitude. It is well connected by road from Bilaspur and

Raipur in Chhattisgarh and Anuppur and Pendra road railway station in Madhya Pradesh.

Pendra Road, Belgahana and Kota are in transition zone and transport can be arranged

from these areas also.

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Most of the area of the proposed Achanakmar- Amarkantak BR are either dense

or open or degraded and blank forest with rich biodiversity along with agriculture fields

in between. The reserve forest in the BR is about 66% of the total geographic area of the

BR. Zonation of proposed BR is determined on the basis of existing Indian Wildlife

Protection Act and no new restriction have been imposed. It is designed to integrate

knowledge on eco-geographical aspects, socio economics of local communities,

magnitude of biodiversity and categories of people who use it. The zonation where the

protected core zone, is surrounded by buffer zone makes clear the ecological and socio

economical independence between the areas.

A brief has been described below:

Study Area (AABR)

Block I Block II

III

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a. The core zone consisting of 55155.0 ha. is a protected forest under Lamni range,

Achanakmar range and Game range. It is most undisturbed with conserved habitat in

terms of vegetation and wildlife. Nearly 1460 species of flora belonging to 759 plant

genera and 374 species of fauna belonging to 256 genera are known and many species are

still to be taxonomically identified from this area. All the forestry operations including

collection of NTFP have been stopped by Government of India and State Government

from the core zone. Some forest living tribes inhabit in the core zone. Their population is

low and distributed sparsely from each other.

b. Buffer zone surrounds the core zone and consists of 28396.889 ha. It consists of protected

and reserve forests as well as small agricultural land in between, running water, small

temporary water Check dam, built up areas and scattered settlement.

c. Transition zone is the outermost area of the BR consisting of approximately

299999.111ha. It covers the buffer zone. It consists of reserve forests, managed forests,

agricultural land, builtup areas and settlements. Achanakmar-Amarkantak BR contains

418 revenue and forest villages. Of which, 396 villages exist in buffer and transition

zones. In all, about 4, 17,643 people live in the BR as per census 2001. Tribal population

residing in BR consists of 48.1% and schedule caste population is 8.46%. The literacy

rate is also only 26.48%. Inhabitants in these villages enjoy road transport, schooling,

horticulture, apiculture, sericulture, animal husbandry, fisheries, rural and khadi Village,

industry, irrigation, soil and water conservation etc. and Non-Governmental agencies like

World Wildlife Fund, etc.

d. The zonation also assists in further developing and promoting the concept that is possible

to have ecological integrity, sustains biodiversity and have integration rural and urban

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lifestyles while utilizing the natural resources in a responsible manner. The core region of

the BR is situated in Chhattisgarh state whereas the buffer and transition zones lie partly

both in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

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3.3 Biogeographical region

The BR falls in Indo-Malayan realm and Deccan Peninsula bio-geographic zone of

India. Achanakmar-Amarkantak BR falls in Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest Biomes. The

vegetation or forest types and subtypes met in proposed BR are: Tropical Moist

Deciduous Forests, subtype Northern Tropical Moist Deciduous Forests and Tropical Dry

Deciduous Forests; subtypes Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests.

Most of the rural inhabitants in BR are primitive forest dwelling tribes, whereas

people belonging to several other castes including tribal, populate the urban towns.

Paddy, wheat, maize, traditionally grown oil seeds, etc. are generally grown by these

inhabitants. Besides their traditional way of cultivation of rain-fed annual crop, they

depend on tropical moist to dry deciduous forests for fuel, food and medicines. They also

collect some Non Timber Forest Produce (NTFP) and sell the raw material either to the

traders at very nominal cost or to Minor Forest Produce Federation of Chhattisgarh and

Madhya Pradesh. Development projects on habitat improvement, Infrastructure

development, village development, socio-economic upliftment, development of

communication, ecotourism, in-situ and ex-situ conservation of plant species, promotion

of non-conventional energy, promotion of activities for increasing crop production,

manure production and, social welfare activities, are financed to various Government

departments, Universities, Research Organization and Non-Governments Organization,

by Government of India as well as by maintaining their symbiotic and sustainable

livelihood. Projects on sanitation and habitat improvement of semi-urban areas, check

dam construction, drinking water facilities, encouragement of ecotourism, development

of interpretation centre, nature trail, development of tourism and irrigation, Project on

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other activities like eco-development schemes consisting of pasture and grassland

development, promotion of fuel wood and fodder species have been taken up by various

agencies in this area.

In village areas and extensive plantation on wasteland, enhanced techniques of

irrigation, biogas, vermincompost and other organic manure, various livelihood

opportunities like promotion to fisheries, mushroom cultivation, lac cultivation, tussar

cultivation, sustainable harvesting of NTFPs like mahua, mahul and honey, etc. have

been sanctioned by Government to BR management. State Apiculture department and

Horticulture department, Sericulture and Khadi and Gramodyog department (Government

of India) is providing training to the inhabitants of transition zone of BR and supports

them financially and technologically in wild silk production. Projects are also sanctioned

to various agencies for efforts to motivate inhabitants to grow tree species with

agriculture to meet thir own fuel requirements, encouraging biogas plants to minimize

fuel wood requirements, growing medicinal plant species of great demand to improve

their economic status and improvement in the chain of traders involved in NTFP trade,

helping to prevent habitat loss of many species besides improvement in the chain of

traders involved in NTFP trade of various threatened species existing in BR. Promotion

of ecotourism by developing landscape and wildlife sites, and educating local people to

act as guides are being helpful to provide employment to educated youth. Development

of basic infrastructure needed for efficient management include the construction of

patrolling camp, development of communication through wireless, electrification of some

of the remote areas by increasing the network of non-convention energy resources, etc.

all have been included on priority basis in the management plan of the BR.

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These zones encompass a variety of ecosystems. The Achanakmar Amarkantak

Biosphere Reserve is spread over an area of 383551.0 ha. in Deccan Peninsula

biogeographic zone of Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh provinces of the country and

comprises of tropical moist deciduous to tropical dry deciduous forests. The topography

is varied from plain rice fields in Bilaspur and Anuppur districts and wheat fields in

Dindori district to the hills of Maikal ranges of Satpura. The topography in combination

with perennial streams and valleys has created micro-climatic condition in the area to

provide diverse environmental conditions, encouraging luxuriant growth of several

species of flora and fauna of economic value. The drainage system consists of three

major rivers viz. Narmada flowing towards West, Johilla and Sone rivers flowing towards

North of the BR. A water check dam viz. Khudiadam situated in the North-West of

Maniari River and many streams and seasonal rivers provide an excellent ecology for

many species of fishes, amphibians, reptiles and birds. The area has rich cultural heritage.

The earliest known inhabitants Baiga tribe of central India followed by others settled in

BR from eighteenth century and now distributed all over the areas. The population of

inhabitants is, however, relatively sparse.

The BR supports 275 rare flora and fauna along with conserved habitat of many

internationally important medicinal plants as well as macro fauna such as birds, tiger,

bison, sloth bear, etc. Twenty eight threatened species of flora and 55 threatened species

of fauna belonging to various groups inhabit in the BR. Their threatened status is

designated regionally as well as globally as per IUCN criteria version 2001. At least two

plant species viz. 1 species of lichen Caloplaca amarkantakana (Family:

Teloschistaceae) and 1 species of angiosperm Bothrichloa grahamii (Family: Poaceae)

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are endemic to this region. Their global distribution is restricted. The pteridophyte ferns,

Adiantum capillus veneris, Lygodium flexuosum and angiosperm Clerodendrum, Acorus

calamus, Rauvolfia serpentine and Eulophia herbacea are endangered locally as well as

at regional level in the BR. There are a number of species, which are threatened, at risk or

endangered.

3.4 Human Population of Biosphere Reserve

Human population in core area of proposed BR varies year after year probably

due to temporary shifting of persons from one area to another area of core forest or to

nearby buffer or transition zone and occasionally outside BR in search of

employment/better opportunities. The number of persons in different villages of core

zone as per 2001 census is detailed below:

Table 1: Demographic details of core zone of Biosphere Reserve.

S.No. Village Population

(Male)

Population

(Female)

Total

population

1. Achanajmar 263 229 492

2. Bindawal 356 299 655

3. Bankal 71 67 138

4. Bahaud 101 96 197

5. Bokrakachar 48 55 103

6. Sambhardhasan 25 20 45

7. Lamni 314 260 574

8. Tilaidabra 92 86 178

9. Kuba 27 22 49

10. Birarpani 35 31 66

11. Chhirhatta 37 40 77

12. Chhaparwa 181 176 357

13. Katami 317 333 650

14. Surhi 306 298 604

15. Jakadbandha 226 232 458

16. Jalda 89 98 187

17. Niwaskhar 252 244 496

18. Mahamai 303 312 615

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19. Bamhani 198 209 407

20. Dagniya 247 269 516

21. Rajak 160 170 330

22. Ataria 205 218 423

Total population in Core

zone 3853 3764

7617

The population in other zones of the BR is as follows

Core Area: 7617 persons permanently

Buffer Zone: 956 persons permanently

Transition Area: 409070 persons permanently

There are 27 communities living in different zones in proposed BR. These

are Baiga, Gond, Dhanwar, Kol, Kanwar, oraon, Cgamar, Sais (Sartgi), Basore, Lonia,

Muslim, Sindhi, Brahmin, Rajput, Goswami, Baraith, Kalar, kumhar, Kewat, Nai, Ahir

(Raut), Panika, Sondhiya, Lohar, Sonar and Baniya. Among these, Oraon came from

Sarguja district and settled in BR in early eighties.

The major tribes residing in BR are Baiga, Gond, Kol, Kanwar, Pradhan and

Panka. The Baigas are primitive Dravidian tribe, who were in most primitive stage and

feared contact with the civilized men around 1860‘s. They use to collect food from forest

and use to kill wild animals for food. Thus, they are the most ancient, remarkable and

delightful oldest tribe of India. They migrated from eastern Satpura hills and settled in

proposed BR of Bilaspur district. They use to avoid tilling and ploughing due to their

rituals and believes, the baiga are dominant in population and ranked on the top among

the other tribal communities. Gonds have also their origin from Dravid culture. Gond of

core area are known by Pathare Gond and Singraulia Gond. They prefix ―Pathare‖ and

―Singraulia‖ to denote the place of migration. Pathare migrated from Mandla district

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whereas the Singraulia migrated from Singrauli of M.P. Their economy is largely

dependent on agricultural labour. Kols migrated to M.P. from Singhbhum district of

Jharkhand province. They also cultivate and engage themselves as agricultural labourer.

Kanwar refer to their origin to Mahabharata times. They constitute two types of families

i.e. single and joint family. Majority of them, live as single family. In village Katami.

They are land owning cultivators and prefer to join armed forces or engage in cultivation

of agricultural crops. Besides this, traders have also migrated from nearby areas. They are

now settled in some sub urban localities like Kota, Gorakhpur, Amarkantak in transition

zone, Oraons are also Dravidians tribe migrated from Chhota Nagpur, they are mobile/

traveler community with a tradition of ready acceptance of innovations. Amarkantak is

religious place for Hindus, Jains and Sikhs. Three rivers viz. Narmada river, Sone river

and Johilla emerge from this place. It is said that Adi Sankaracharya who was born in 788

AD, consecrated on the bank of river Narmada at Amarkantak. He founded Paraleshwar

or Surajkund from where the Narmada originates. Kalchuri Maharaja Karna Dev (1042-

1072 AD) had constructed temple at Surajkund. It is a great pilgrim centre for Hindus.

Devotees from different states come throughout the year. Politically, Amarkantak is a

boundry between two states viz. Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh and the areas towards

north and west to this place belong to Madhya Pradesh.

3.5 Bilogical Characteristics

The forest of the proposed Achanakmar-Amarkantak BR area is represented

by Tropical Deciduous Forests. It is grouped into Tropocal Moist Deciduous Forests sub

group- Northern Indian Moist Mixed Deciduous Forests. Sal is the dominant species in

valleys whereas the composition of forests in plateau and slope constitute mixed forests

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dominated by sal. The maximum area is covered by closed forest (212283.5 ha. 55.35%,)

open forest (17391 ha. 4.53%,) degraded forest (9414 ha. 2.45%) forest blank (3266

ha.0.85%) wastelands (5222 ha. 1.36%,) ravines (2391 ha. 0.62%) built up is (1092 ha.

0.28%,) agricultural area (130500 ha. 34.03%) land with or without scrub (2831 ha.

0.74%,) water bodies (3953 ha. 1.03%,) and others (840 ha. 0.21%,). Major residential

areas or settlements namely Kota, Khondri, Dindoiri, Amarkantak, Pendra road,

Karanjiya, Gorakhpur, Kabir, etc. are in transition zone whereas a few small forest

village like Rajki, Boirha and Sarasdol exist in buffer zone. Only a few village like

Achanakmar, Chhaparwa, Tilaidabra, Lamni with a population of 7617 persons live in

core area. The pastoral land is limited and hence human impact consists of cattle grazing,

traditional cultivation around village huts at certain localities.