Project Objectives:
Conservation of 2000 ha forest land in the buffer zone of Melghat Tiger Reserve by strengthening local livelihood is primary objective of the project.
1. Reduce firewood consumption by 50% by promoting biogas in villages.
2. Promote sustainable harvesting practices and set up institutional mechanism for trade of NTFPs in the area.
3. Provide training to the local carpenters and masons at this organization to develop capacities.
4. Linkage with banks to support for biogas and set up biogas units in the villages.
5. 10 biogas units will be set up in families who are not able to contribute anything due to poverty will be set up on 100% support basis.
6. Exposure visits of females will be carried out to Sindhudurga to see how a biogas can change someone's life.
Project Activities:
1. Develop village level database of forest use area through people's biodiversity register approach 5 PBRs will be prepared. Submit PBR's to forest departments to link it with working plan and implement plan of JFM for habitat improvement, soil and water conservation etc.
2. Capacity building of people on sustainable harvest practice of following NTFP's- Mahua, Honey, Gum. Trainings will be organized in villages on harvesting practices of these NTFPs.