Satpura Tiger Reserve has longest conservation history in the country. Its unique Biodiversity includes rich floral, faunal and cultural attributes. It is part of first Biosphere reserve of MP. Management of this area is governed by set of values existing in the area.
This area is vital for survival of Tiger and the PAs of the reserve are the most important source value for the region. Among prey animals primarily for Gaur and Sambar, area is one of the best habitats. Area is finest example of central Indian ecosystem, where Teak and Sal coexist and is truly an eco-convergence area. PAs provides an ideal range of ecological niches for a multitude of rare and other small important animals such as the Indian Giant Squirrel, Tree shrew and large Brown flying squirrels. Area is very rich in cryptograms, Bryophytes, Pteridophytes and Thallophytes.
STR constitutes significant catchment of Tawa and Denwa river systems. The sustenance of reservoir, the river systems and significant economic contribution to command area is owed to the catchment capability of the forests of STR. Reservoir represents significant wetland habitat values for the resident and migratory waterfowls, mugger, otters and turtles.
Reserve represents significant cultural values in its 55 Prehistoric Rock shelters and pictographs along with monuments of past cultures. The religious shrines situated in reserve is venerated by millions of people from in and adjoining areas. Pachmarhi as only hill station of MP and one of the few least disturbed hill resorts in the country, constitute a repository of eco-tourism opportunities to the benefit of the local community.
Vision:
Conservation of the biological, cultural and historical diversity of the Satpura Tiger Reserve and adjoining landscapes with the focus on maintaining a viable tiger population by creation of an inviolate area and ensuring the livelihood security of the local communities.
Goals:
Based on above set of values, following are broad management goals of Satpura Tiger Reserve:
• To make the area inviolate as early as possible.
• To develop suitable habitat for wildlife towards fostering a ‘viable’ population of Tiger.
• To maintain overall Biodiversity and prevent extinction of the floral and faunal species & also to reduce Biodiversity based dependencies of people living in and around along with ensuring sustainable and economically viable eco-tourism benefiting local population.
• To maintain area as catchment of Tawa reservoir, to sustain reservoir, the river systems and regional economy & to maintain significant wetland values of reservoir and its recession areas.
• To conserve historic rock shelters, pantographs, religious shrines, monuments, buildings, spots with nature value etc. of anthropological and archeological importance.