Ecological analysis of The Satpura conservation area landscape through stratified field sampling and remotely sensed data Educational: Conservation education and nature interpretation opportunities in SCA are wide-ranging and diverse which can serve an equally diverse target groups. The significant aspect is the likely emerging support for conservation of biological diversity. Cultural: The rich and diverse tribal societies, their traditions and customs are a repository of nature's wisdom. Most traditions and religious beliefs revolve around wild plants, animals, wilderness and living in harmony with nature. Several rock paintings believed to be more than 10000 years old hold the secrets of ancient civilizations. There are old forts and other historical sites, sites of religious pilgrimage that attract pilgrims from various parts of the country. Study area: The study area covers the state of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, covering the forest divisions of
Data and methodology: An initial reconnaissance of the area was done to get acquainted with the area followed by its horizontal stratification. The stratification was based on variables like topography, vegetation, disturbance and moisture. This was followed by designing of transects, which were primarily of three types, viz. Rapid survey, detailed and vehicular. Other methods include plotless methods like Point Centered Quadrat, toe sampling etc. Results and discussion: The Satpura Conservation Area is a large block of Protected areas and Managed forests. The porosity of the area was more in Managed Forests while the Protected Areas were more or less contiguous blocks of forest (see Fig 1, 2 and 3). The predominance of non-forest areas and blanks in figure 1 and 2 clearly points towards the fragmentation of the forests due to biotic pressures that are much higher in Managed Forests than the Protected Areas.  Fig 1. The Study Area and its fragmentation  Fig 2. Forest Cover for Managed Forests  Fig 3. Forest Cover for Protected Area In areas outside the PAs people tend to over-exploit natural resources leading to degradation of the natural resource base which also affects the water regime. In the long run this leads to serious difficulties for the rural society; as for example has been witnessed in several parts of the country where over-exploitation of natural resources has resulted in rampant deforestation. This has adversely affected the rural people, especially the women who have to walk greater distances to get water, fuel-wood and fodder. The density of the forest crop on an average was 323 trees /ha in Managed Forests as against 530 trees /ha in case of Protected Areas with greater diversity of crop. |