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Madhya Pradesh to whip up public support for wildlife conservation

Staff Correspondent

‘Individuals and corporate houses should be encouraged to pay for conservation of tigers’
‘The names of the donors would be displayed in the National Parks and wildlife sanctuaries’

BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh has decided to lay maximum emphasis on building up public support and mobilising resources for wildlife conservation. A meeting of the Board of Governors and general body of the Madhya Pradesh Tiger Foundation was held at Van Vihar National Park here on Thursday.

The meeting was presided over by State Forest Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah. Minister of State for Forests Narayan Singh Kushwaha also attended.

Mr. Shah said individuals and corporate houses should be encouraged to come forward and pay for conservation and upkeep of tigers. The names of the donors would be displayed prominently in the National Parks and wildlife sanctuaries, he added.

He issued instructions for arranging at least one ambulance in every National Park and said this should be done through public support.

Anand Goyanka, one of the non-official members, immediately responded by announcing that he would be donating an ambulance to the Panna National Park.

The Forest Minister said dormitories with a capacity of about 50 school children should be built near every National Park keeping in view the requirements of educational tours. He also announced that the State Tribal Welfare Department would open ashram schools for villages inside the protected areas.

The general consensus at the meeting was that tigers should not be collared for shows and to attract more tourists. Joining the discussion on this issue, former Principal Chief Conservator of Forests A. P. Dwivedi said the tigers’ privacy had to be respected and the core area of their habitat should not be disturbed.

The Madhya Pradesh Tiger Foundation decided to appoint agents, on a commission basis to collect funds for carrying out various projects and activities. Tiger Foundation member Lalit Shastri said that the Foundation should become more dynamic in its approach and take up projects with the help of volunteers to motivate the villagers living near the tiger reserves and help them become active participants when it comes to achieving conservation goals. It was decided that facilities would be available, free of cost, to individuals and institutions opting for life membership of the State Tiger Foundation while visiting National Parks in Madhya Pradesh. The Tiger Foundation meeting was also attended by the State Principal Secretary (Forests), Prashant Mehta, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, V. R. Khare, PCCF (Wildlife) P. B. Gangopadhyaya, Additional PCCF (Wildlife) H. S. Pabla and park directors.

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