Protect India's Tigers And Promote Co-Existence

October 2022: Community initiatives in the Panna Tiger Reserve

Thank you for choosing to support our work to protect India’s tigers and promote co-existence.

In this update, we look closely at Satpuda Landscape Tiger Partnership (SLTP) partner, the Bagh Aap Aur Van Trust (BAAVAN), which works on conservation initiatives in the Panna Tiger Reserve Landscape.

BAAVAN was set up to protect wildlife, forests and people, with the main objective to work closely with local communities to encourage, support and promote community-based nature conservation.

The team’s focus areas include conducting nature education programs with a view to creating tiger friendly communities around Panna Tiger Reserve; undertaking engagement initiatives to encourage people to adopt sustainable livelihoods which are better for them financially and also for the surrounding forests; and understanding the impact of conservation actions on the forest and wildlife of the area via surveys and studies.

Supported by Born Free, recent projects undertaken by the trust have focused on introducing the community to good animal husbandry practice, working with local people to generate awareness of the impact of free range grazing of cattle on their productivity versus stall feeding. The aim is to reduce grazing pressure on forests (and therefore reduce human-tiger conflict) while increasing the milk production of cattle.

Other key initiatives have included conducting wildlife surveys, assessing the impact of increased tourism activities in the area, and running education programmes for students in fringe areas of Panna Tiger reserve.

Looking forward, BAAVAN aims to continue its work with children and aims to provide them basic nature education.This will all help to conserve India’s precious population of wild tigers.

Thank you for your continued support for this vital conservation programme.