Context: Uttar Pradesh’s tiger reserves and forest divisions are set for a grassland management overhaul, collaborating with IGFRI to cultivate perennial grasses.
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- In collaboration with the Jhansi-based Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute (IGFRI), these regions will cultivate perennial grasses to provide year-round green grazing areas for wild herbivores, which form the primary prey base for tigers and leopards.
- The Divisional Forest Officer of Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR) has sought technical support from IGFRI to implement the initiative.
- The plan has received in-principle approval from the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), who also stated that the IGFRI-supported initiative will be expanded to all tiger reserves across the state.
- At present, tiger reserves face a shortage of green fodder during the winter months, as dominant grass species like Saccharum munja and Vetiver dry up and only regenerate with the onset of the monsoon.
- The absence of green fodder for nearly seven months results in dry grasslands, forcing herbivores to stray into nearby farmlands in search of crops like wheat, lentils, gram, and mustard.
- Such crop raids result in heavy economic losses for farmers and simultaneously attract predators like tigers into farmland areas, thereby intensifying the risk of human-wildlife conflict.
- The Director of IGFRI has been requested to deploy a team of grassland experts to the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR) to recommend suitable perennial grass species, tailored to the area’s specific climate conditions, soil type, and sub-soil water levels.
- Due to the diverse soil types across the reserve, this initiative will include the cultivation of different grass species tailored to the specific conditions of each range.
- Ideally, grasslands in a tiger reserve should constitute 8 to 10% of the total core forest area.
- PTR and DTR cover core forest areas of approximately 620 sq km and 1,107 sq km, respectively, with the South Kheri Forest division spanning around 160 sq km.
- Transforming 10% of these vast areas into perennial grasslands presents a significant logistical and financial challenge for the forest department.
- Dry grasses pose a significant fire risk, as recently seen when large stretches of long dry grasses in the Mala, Mahof, and Haripur forest ranges of PTR caught fire, burning over 400 hectares.
