page_title: Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary
section_title: Threats and conservation issues
hierarchical_section_title: Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary / Threats and conservation issues
caption_attribution_description: English: Non functional Datunama forest beat in Sunabeda
context_page_description: Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary and a proposed tiger reserve located in the Nuapada district of Odisha, adjoining Chhattisgarh. It has a total area of 600 km². The sanctuary harbours a great diversity of wildlife habitats, with a vast plateau, multiple valleys, gorges and magnificent waterfalls. The sanctuary forms the catchment area of the Jonk River, over which a dam has been constructed to facilitate irrigation. The Indra nullah and Udanti River lies to the south of the sanctuary. The important vegetation of the site comprises dry deciduous tropical forest.
context_section_description: Human pressure
  Livestock grazing
  Encroachment of forestland
  Forest fire
  Unsustainable exploitation of the forest resources
  Illegal felling
  Defunct Forest infrastructure on non existent monitoring/patrolling by Forest Department
  Presence of Naxals
  According to Kotwal (1997), the highly endangered wild buffalo used to occur here nearly 70 years ago. At present, they are found in Udanti Wildlife Sanctuary in Chhattisgarh, about 20 km away but there is a Patdhara Reserve Forest corridor. Efforts should be made to improve the habitat so that the wild buffalo can come back to Sunabeda using this corridor. This would give a boost to the protection of this sanctuary, which is important for birds also.
  About 64 villages, with a human population of 20,000, fragment this sanctuary and there is a large population of cattle. The villagers subsist on forest products to a great extent, as they have land holdings with poor yield. Grazing and encroachment of forest land for cultivation of Cannabis sativa are major threats to the sanctuary. Graziers from other states including Rajasthan arrive here with their camels and goats, which compete with local herbivores for the grass. Though there is a proposal for a tiger reserve, there are extensive encroachments inside the sanctuary. It is doubtful if these people could be shifted. 
  The core area of Sunabeda could be increased southwards across the Indra nullah (stream), to add 30,000 ha of forest without human habitation (Kotwal 1997).
  Following are the recommendations by NGO, The Corridor Foundation made to NTCA and State Government based on detailed study in the area between 2018-20.
  Immediately Notify Sunabeda as a Tiger Reserve, which has been pending since long after in- principle approval has been communicated by the NTCA.
  Take up the matter with Home Department to sanitise the area from Naxalites.
  Create an enabling environment for forest staff to return to their positions for any meaningful work.
  Ground massive awareness campaign in enclosed and fringe villages and towns of Khariar and Nuapada with people as stakeholders.
  Forest and wildlife staff needs to be provided with required amenities including free ration, prophylactic/ preventive medicines, support auxiliary staff and a vehicle in each Range.
  Monitoring wild animals should start earnestly after staff positioning so that it becomes ingrained in routine work.
  Implement the management plan in a participatory mode with the EDC/ VSS.
  Work out, initiate and implement a model voluntary relocation plan in a way that, it shall have a spread effect.
  Issue a direction to prevent migratory livestock entering the area.
  Wildlife wing in collaboration with District Collector to facilitate income generating activities for villagers to create conducive wildlife- people interface.
caption: Crumbled forest beat houses
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