Assessment by Vivek Gour-Broome and Sanjay Thakur Pune

1. Biodiversity Assessment in Four
Selected Medicinal Plant Conservation
Areas in Maharashtra
Rural Communes
Project Funded by
Science & Society Division
Department of Science & Technology,
New Delhi

2. Objectives of the Project
a.Inventorying herpetological diversity
b. Analysis of associations between RET species and various functional
groups, species assemblages, community composition and interaction
between various groups of plants and animals, where possible.
c. Preparation of locale specific field guides for studied taxa.
d. Extension of the Rural Communes ‘barefoot botanist’ program and
network to ‘barefoot biologists’ with the aim of expanding local appreciation
and awareness of the importance of lesser known taxa and the conservation
of biodiversity.

3. MPCAs in Maharashtra
* Selection, demarcation & notification
of 13 MPCAs sites completed.
* Notification has been issued by an order no.
Desk-23(A)(4)/3557 by PCCF,Nagpur dated
19th Jan. 2001 declaring MPCAs as protected
gene pool areas.

4. Leghapani MPCA- Open Dry Deciduous Forest

5. Amboli MPCA- Edaphic Evergreen Forest

6. Bhaskaracharya MPCA- Dense Secondary Scrub &
Thorn Forest.

7. MPCA entrance- arch structure and the statues.

8. Communities using the MPCA &
adjoining forests
• Leghapani: Pawara & Bhil
• Patnadevi: Banjara, Bhil, Thakkar, Maratha, and
others
• Yedshi-Ramling Ghat: Thakkar, Maratha, Raj-
gond, and others
• Amboli: Kunbi (Maratha), Gawli, Vaisya (Wani)
and others

10. Different resources and their quality

11. Methods
• Secondary
literature survey
• Interviews of
knowledgeable
individuals from
the field areas

12. Herpeto-fauna - Systematic Search

13. Flora – Transects, Quadrats

14. GIS / RS inclusions

15. Surveys / Searches in different habitats.
Different habitats - different resources.

17. Associations

19. Field Guides: Process Documentation &
Methods adopted
• Development of the layout and design
• Development of Icons
• Testing the layout, design and icons
• Development of pictorial Data Sheet for
monitoring
• Use in the field / Training

20. Photography & Scanning

21. • and
• Expected outcome

25. Training of Village Biologist or “Barefoot Biologist”
Field-based training

27. Overcoming fear Overcoming revulsion

37. Training Workshops

38. Technical Support & Back-up
• Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Western
Regional Office, Akurdi, Pune
• Dr. G. K. Bhatta, Bhandarkar College,
Kundapura, Karnataka
• Mr. Varad Giri, Bombay Natural History Society
• Library of Agharkar Research Institute, Pune

39. Science & Technology Component
• Remote Sensing & Geographical Information
System (GIS)
• Use of Global Positioning System
• Field Guides and Pictorial data sheet –
demystifying science and taking it to people

40. Bufo koynaensis

43. Sum of NOS
60
AMBOLI
50
40
DISTURB
(blank)
5
30
4
3
2
20
10
0
Disturbed DT Forest Grassland Lateritic Savanna Tarmac Disturbed DT Lateritic Savanna Tarmac
park sada Road sada Road
koynaensis melanostictus
Bufo
GENUS SPECIES HABITAT2

47. Sum of NOS
14
12
10
8
DISTURB
3
2
6
4
2
0
Secondary Lateritic sada Riparian
curtipes malabarica temporalis
Rana
GENUS SPECIES HABITAT2

48. Special Features- Achievements
• Trimeresurus gramineus (Bamboo Pit Viper) – a
new distributional record for W. Satpuras
• Lygosoma guentheri – a new distribution record
for W. Satpuras
• Published article in widely circulated wildlife
magazine Sanctuary Asia on some observations
during fieldwork.

50. Pictorial data sheet forms

51. Work still to be done
• 2 Training workshops to sharpen observational,
documentation and identification skills
• Slide shows at each study area (carried out in
Leghapani MPCA)
• Data Analysis and Report

52. Future Plans
• To strengthen the local monitoring network with
the help of village biologists (by using
herpetofaunal groups / species as indicators).
• To enhance the ability of the local community to
manage resources in better and more
sustainable manner.
• Making it a source of livelihood for the village
biologists.
• To prepare and publish (bilingual) training
material for use by all field level workers
including Forest Department Staff.