Periyar tiger reserve, conservation and real time monitoring

Conservation strategy and real time monitering of periyar tiger reserve, kerala.

1. Biodiversity Conservation and Real time monitoring in Periyar tiger reserve Submitted by, Shamnas M N , R.No:29 Shinu s muhammad , R No:30 Sivasanth P, R No:31 Sooraj Bhaskar , R No:32

2. Periyar Tiger Reserve is located in the Southern part of Western Ghats PTR is one of the most visited protected areas in India, bagged the title of the Best managed Tiger Reserve among 54 Tiger Reserves in the country PTR falls in the Idukki , Kottayam , and Pathanamthitta districts of Kerala. The Sanctuary was brought under Project Tiger in 1978 as the 10 th  Tiger Reserve in the country and named Periyar Tiger Reserve PTR- INTRODUCTION

3. Core: 881 Km 2 Buffer: 44 Km 2 East Div. 707 Km 2 West Div. 218 Km 2 Total Area: 925Km 2 ADMINISTRATIVE AREA

4. Nellikkampetty Game Sanctuary 1934 Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary 1950 Periyar Tiger Reserve 1978 Periyar National Park 1982 Project Elephant Reserve 1992 India Eco-development Project 1996 Periyar Foundation 2004 Addition of 148 km 2 as Core or Critical Tiger Habitat 2007 Periyar Foundation as Periyar Tiger Conservation Foundation 2012 Timeline of PTR

5. Why to conserve PTR ECOLOGICAL Water shed-tropical & subtropical rain forests (74%) 1980+ plant species- 26% endemic, 7.5% threatened 76 mammals (13 WG endemic), 338 birds ( 14 WG endemic), 68 reptiles (27 WG endemic) 68 fish (7 endemic) 262 butterflies (20 WG endemic) ECONOMIC Subsistence & Supplemental income Irrigation & Power Tourism CULTURAL Religious Sites Indigenous people- Mannan , Paliyan , Urali , Ulladan , Malaarayas , Malampandaram

6. Indian Elephant ( Elephas maximus ) Bengal Tiger ( Panthera tigris ) Sambar ( Cervus unicolor ) Gaur ( Bos gaurus ) Leopard ( Prionailurus bengalensis ) Indian Wild dog ( Cuon alpinus ) Barking deer ( Muntiacus muntjak ) Mouse deer ( Tragulus meminna ) Monitor lizard ( Varanus bengalensis )  Wild life of PTR

7. Periyar Tiger Reserve a model for participatory approach of conservation Tribal communities resided in the interior areas voluntarily shifted to fringe of the Park in 1940’s before launching of Relocation projects The eco development activities features People centered approach that leads to successful conservation. A total of 81 Eco development committees were formed in Periyar Tiger Reserve. Providing alternate livelihood for ex poachers transformed them in to protectors of PTR through Ecotourism activities Livelihood improvement and Social status upliftment a key approach to transform poachers to protectors CONSERVATION

8. Administration of ptcf Operations Manual got approved by State Government on 01/11/2017 Trust Deed was Registered on 25/07/2012 Operations Manual is an administrative code for the PTCF based on the objectives envisaged under Section 38(X)(2) of The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 Contains 7 Chapters which deals with Administration Asset Creation and Financial Management Office Administration and Staff Pattern General Conditions of Service Procurement of Goods and Services Dealing with Projects Miscellaneous

9. VASANTHASENA Women Eco development committee Well known for voluntary conservation/protection activities Voluntary Sandal protection and plastic collection

10. HONEY PROCESSING UNIT Honey processing unit a facility to process honey collected by tribal communities. Value addition done through processing ,bottling and labelling of raw honey received at the unit

11. ORGANIC PEPPER FARMING - COMMUNITY FARMING Livelihood support to forest dependant tribal communities by Periyar Tiger Reserve Cleared tribals from debt /exploitation through IEDP project Export of organic pepper certified by Lacon Quality certification Pvt. Ltd Organic pepper farming activity by Mannakudy , Paliyakudy and Vanchivayal Ecodevelopment commitees .

12. WOMEN SELF HELP GROUPS Women Self Help Groups of Koruthode ecodevelopment committee involved in income generating activities -improved livelihood … Units for paper bag production, manufacture ready to eat food.

13. Vanambadikal -Folklore Theatre programme

14. Mannan tribal community earlier resided in the interior forest areas of Periyar Tiger Reserve Resettled in the fringe of the Park in recent past An alternate livelihood support to the tribal community Presents the traditional art form before the ecotourists that helps visitors to understand rich tribal culture and tradition . TRIBAL FOLK DANCE

15. Periyar Tiger Reserve was ranked as the top scorer with 94.38 and was officially declared as first among the Tiger Reserves in India during the Commemoration of 50 th year of Project Tiger, April 2023. Periyar Landscape - PTCF – Implementation of All India Tiger Estimation for 5 cycles from 2006-21 Implementation of All Kerala tiger monitoring in Periyar LS The ranking was carried out on the basis of tiger monitoring, community participation, protection and perambulation, human-wildlife conflict management, utilization of funds, activities of Periyar Tiger Conservation Foundation, Training ... Capacity building of frontline staff of the State in Tiger monitoring exercises TIGER CONSERVATION

16. MSTrIPES : Patrol Android Application The MSTrIPES Application is a comprehensive platform that comprises of four modules – Administrative, Patrol, Ecology and Polygon. Monitoring System for Tigers Intensive Patrolling and Ecological Status is an application developed for National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) by Wildlife Insitiute of India. The Administrative module provides a user-friendly interface to manage users, roles, and access control. The Patrol module helps in tracking patrolling activities and monitoring the progress of anti-poaching activities. The Ecology module enables data analysis and visualization of tiger population dynamics and habitats. The Polygon module helps in mapping tiger habitats, analyzing land use patterns, and predicting the impact of climate change on tiger populations. This application is designed to help strengthen tiger conservation efforts by providing better data, enhanced monitoring, and improved decision-making.

17. Protection strategies SL.NO ACTIVITY Local Benifit IMPACT MITIGATION MEASURES 1 Restructuring of PTR into periyar East and Periyar West divisions Improved administrative structure for better management Lack of integration Mechanism for ensuring information and exchange between two division 2 Road   improvement Improved infrastructure for patrolling Improved access for illegal activities Regulation of speed and construction of barriers 3 Wireless steel towers (28 in number) and fire watch towers Improved infrastructure for better communication Some likely visual and aesthetic impact Camouflaging may improve aesthic value

18. 4 Improvement of Vayals Provide good feeding ground for herbivores   Provide hunting ground for carnivores Pressures from cattle grazing and human interference may lead to poor utilization of some vayals and invasion by weeds may have degradational impacts Maintenance of vayals important for conservation of marshy vegetation  Care should be taken to regularly uproot exotic weeds such as Eupatorium and Lantana 5 Weed removal (Lantana, Eupatorium, Mikania spp.) Improved habitat quality Removal of Lantana will reduce cover for grey jungle fowl, reduce habitat for butterflies and reduce cover for otters Eradication of Lantana to be confined to Vayals .   Avoid eradication of Eupatorium along the lake fringes used by otters

19. Poachers Turned to Protectors Ex- vayana bark collectors Vidiyal EDC Ex- Thelli collectors EDC

20. VIPER An in house team of frontline staff established in 2017 Trained in Jungle Combat and Survival Techniques Engaged for Special Perambulation activities in Periyar TR and adjoining areas Involved in Rescue operations outside TR during emergency /crisis situations ( Valient Intrepid Powerful Enigmatic Raiders)

21. PERIYAR SNIFFERS Dog squad established in 2016 trained at Border Security Force, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh A Periyar Tiger Reserve -WWF- India initiative Deals with detection of wildlife crime and protection activities

22. Sarpa Android App Rescue of snakes from human habitations It is intended to minimize threats to snakes and humans To avoid any negative interaction between them Aims to create awareness among public regarding snakes and the service they provide to the ecosystem It handles snake-bite cases and will help public to find the nearest place where treatment is available

23. COMMUNITY BASED ECOTOURISM PROGRAMMES

24. Current Status Programmes Additional Patrolling (Man hours) Guest Guids Staff Tiger Trail 9960 22200 4440 Bamboo Rafting 22563 12645 2529 Jungle Patrol 7557 1662 831 Border Hiking 7965 5544 1386 Nature Walk 7746 1014 Jungle Inn 636 636 Total 56427 43701 9186 Year N u mb e r of cases Number of persons arrested 2018 22 20 20 19 16 22 2020 9 14 2021 6 10 2022 7 11 Total 40 47

25. Real Time Monitoring (Video Surveillance cum communication enhancer INTRANET) Network An innovation of Periyar Tiger Conservation Foundation Objectives : Keeping latest technology cameras deep inside forest which is devoid of any communication networks and to stream it live back at division office with the facility of controlling the camera and recording the video Creating an INTRANET for providing better connectivity including internet inside our areas including core area camp sheds Devising a new generation of networking and camera techniques

26. Phase – I PTZ (Pan Tilt Zoom) Camera deployed in Poovarassu

27. Phase – I PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom) Camera deployed in Poovarassu Poovarassu Mangaladevi Division Office Underground Cable PTZ Camera (5 kilometers air distance) (3.9 kilometers air distance)

28. Working Principle The initiative came from Periyar Tiger Conservation Foundation & Amal Jyothi College of Engineering, Kottayam . A night vision camera unit, tower, Microwave antenna has been installed at Poovarashu , a marshy field which is 13 km into the Periyar forest. The connectivity uses frequency 2.5 GHz to 5 GHz free bandwidth & the method of transmission is Point to Point The network is powered by solar panels and the antenna, camera and solar panels are set up at a height inaccessible to animals. During daytime, the field of the cameras will be 1 km and 100 metres at night. The camera can be remotely panned 360 degrees and tilted to cover a wide range of field. The cost of the system worked out to ₹4.5 lakh , which is inexpensive when compared to other systems available

29. Phase II - Cameras at Manammutty mala, Kumarikulam and Internet to Vallakkadavu

30. Deployment of towers The network was extended to 16 locations Expense for the second phase was 26 lack. Total 36 Cameras installed in different locations & cameras are solar powered .

31. Phase–III Proposed – Connectivity to all Campsheds in PTR East Division

32. Benefits of Real time monitoring system The Field Director and other officers can have video conferencing to all the field staff sitting in his office. Enable paperless communication from field camps to Range Offices and then to Field Director’s office through Deputy Director. Field Director or any officer with user credentials can login to the network from any part of the world and see the cameras setup in the field. Real time monitoring of flora and fauna Negligible radiation impact to environment through PTP transmission. Camera Trap Images can be transmitted directly from field to office, without the physical transportation of the camera trap devices from the field to office. Daily M stripes data can be uploaded to the network and managers can evaluate the perambulation pattern. Can be used to track radio collared animal Etc.....

33. AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS MEE- Evaluation - Periyar Tiger Reserve was ranked as the top scorer with 94.38 declared as first among the Tiger Reserves in India during the Commemoration of 50 th year of Project Tiger, April 2023 NTCA Award for Excellence: 2016 (In recognition of outstanding performance in the field of Anti-Poaching) NTCA Award for Excellence: 2012-14 (Co-occurrence and Eliciting Local Public support) WWF-Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA)- Bagh Mitra Award 2014 The Chief Minister’s Award for Innovation in Public Policy 2013 – (SAPP EDC) Kerala State Biodiversity Award 2013 U.N.D.P - India Biodiversity Awards 2012 – Best PA in the country David Shepherd Wildlife Award – 2008 Best EDC Award for Vidiyal EDC-2007 Sanctuary Asia Award for Outstanding individual performance in Wildlife Conservation-2007

34. PUBLICATIONS- PTCF

35. REFERENCE Website of Wildlife Institute of India ( https://wii.gov.in/eia/casestudies/ecodevelopment_projects_periyar_tiger_reserve_table1 ) Official website of Periyar tiger reserve ( https://www.periyartigerreserve.org/ ) Official website of NTCA (https://ntca.gov.in/)

36. THANKS…