tiger: R’bore, Sariska Forest Cover Dipped By 60km2 In A Decade | Jaipur News
The total area of Ranthambore (1,765.57 sqkm) decreased by 44.57 sqkm in forest cover while the forest cover of Sariska estimated to be 1,145.80 sqkm dipped by 15.95 sqkm in the FSI report.
The report further stated that in Ranthambore, the majority of the loss is for open forest (OF) from 629.94 sqkm to 572.21 sq km. However, moderately dense forest (MDF) has witnessed a slight increase from 215.98 sq km to 229.14 sq km. The tiger reserve does not have very dense forest (VDF), the report noted.
Experts claimed, efforts should be made to save the tiger habitat as the big cat population in Ranthambore has increased noticeably to 53 (figures mentioned in the report) and it has the fifth highest tiger density of 9.60 per 100 sq km.
Dharmendra Khandal, conservation biologist of tiger watch said, “Over the years, large land parcels of the forest reserve in many areas including Baler range and Sevti area along with Chambal are encroached for agriculture. It’s a matter of grave concern as not only trees are chopped; even forest land for tigers is also grabbed.”
An official source said, to protect the forest cover in Ranthambore the department should deploy more staff. “At present, there is an acute shortage of forest staff at Ranthambore. Though, the department has deployed mostly local home guards, who do not stop villagers for wood cutting,”
As per the report, forest cover of the tiger corridor between Ranthambore-Kuno- Shivpuri- Madhav (Rajasthan- MP) has also reduced by 10.83 sq km area. Tapeshwar Singh Bhati, an environmentalist and a lawyer said, “Tiger corridor between two states is an important link that should be protected. In the absence of corridors, the tiger habitat may become isolated, making the tigers vulnerable to inbreeding and local extinction in coming years,”
The Sariska’s assessment between 2011 and 2021 shows that the very dense forest cover has witnessed a negligible increase of 1.59 sq km area, which is from 59.83 sq km to 61.12 km. The majority of the loss is for open forest from 437.09 sq km to 420.79 sq km. The moderately dense forest cover has witnessed a slight decrease from 284.74 sq km to 283. 80 sq km.
