Wildlife In-Situ Conservation Strategies in Jharkhand

The State of Jharkhand has a unique relation with forest since time immemorial. The word Jharkhand connotes area of land covered with forests. Therefore, literally as well as symbolically, Jharkhand is associated with forests. The total recorded forest area of the State is 23,605 km2 which is 29.61% of the geographical area of the State. Of the total recorded forest area, Reserved Forests constitute 18.58%, Protected Forests 81.28% and Unclassified Forests 0.14%. Jharkhand Forest Department is entrusted with all matters pertaining to forests and forestry including protecting and conserving forests and wildlife resources of the State through scientific forest management practices within the ambit of policies, acts and rules in vogue. One of its main objectives is to bewildering sustainable conservation and management of biodiversity - rich ecosystems through in-situ conservation, such as, Biosphere Reserves, National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries. Presently Jharkhand has only one National Park, altogether eleven Wildlife Sanctuaries but devoid of any of Biosphere Reserves. In the present paper major wildlife species and their in-situ conservation strategies in the protected areas of Jharkhand State are discussed.