Balancing Conservation and Development in Nandhaur Wildlife Sanctuary, Uttarakhand, India

The Terai Arc Landscape in the foothills of the Himalaya is a critical tiger conservation unit straddling India and Nepal. The Nandhaur Wildlife Sanctuary (NWS) located in the eastern part of this landscape, is an important corridor for the movement of large mammalian species. This landscape is under tremendous pressure due to increased human population and demands for forest resources. The present study (1) assesses the dependence of the local communities on forest resources, (2) identifies concerns and interests of major stakeholders, and (3) assesses the major issues challenging conservation in the NWS. Household surveys and focus group discussions were carried out in 13 fringe villages around the NWS, and key stakeholders were identified and consulted. Risk assessment was done to identify the major issues in the area and their underlying causes. The local communities are dependent on forest for fuel wood (25-40 kg/ household/day) and fodder (20-25 kg/household/day). Low-income groups, displaced groups and the gujjar community emerged as the most dependent stakeholders. Diverse interests arose from the communities having different livelihood patterns. Habitat loss and degradation due to excessive extraction of forest resources, riverbed mining and lack of support of local communities emerged as the major threats hampering conservation in the area. Involvement of local communities in forest conservation along with provision of alternative livelihood is needed. It is critical to develop a consultative framework with the local communities and other stakeholders to explore alternative strategies that meet conservation and development goals.