CEPF-ATREE Western Ghats Small Grants - List of projects granted

Status of the application as of 29/7/2010

SlNo. Proposal Title Applicant Start Date Status Location (KML)
1)

Regeneration of traditionally used indigenous species to reduce pressure on the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve

Create a nursery of these traditionally used species such as various medicinal plants, tubers and firewood, and proving saplings to the numerous tribal families and settlements along edge of critical tiger habitat (CTH) of Gudalur Division near Mudumalai. If propagated on their own land, this will retain the tribal communities traditional resource base while reducing pressure on the CTH. 		ACCORD 1-Oct-09 Granted
2)

Revitalizing the Indigenous Farming System to Enhance the Ecological and Livelihood Security in Anamalai Corridor of Western Ghats, southern India

Revitalize capacity of tribal farmers for traditional farming, maintaining on-farm crop diversity, and practice sustainable NTFP harvest and their linkages with biodiversity, thereby improving quality of critical habitats for biodiversity conservation in the Palni Hills (Anamalai). Project aims to concentrate on rare plants, threatened species such as grizzled giant squirrel, and Paliyan tribes 		ACT India Foundation 1-Sep-09 Granted
3)

Ecological and Anthropogenic Correlates of Large Carnivore Occupancy in the Sahyadri-Konkan Corridor

Quantifies the ecological and anthropogenic correlates of occupancy for tigers, leopards, dholes and sloth bears in the Sahyadri-Konkan corridor, to generate a scientifically rigorous estimate of species distribution. It will identify habitat variables underlying occupancy, identify critical sites for interventions and disseminate the results of the research to various stakeholders, and support efforts to conserve endangered species through management plans 		Advait Edgaonkar 1-Aug-09 Granted
4)

Community Based Conservation and Monitoring of Great Hornbills (Buceros bicornis) and Malabar Pied Hornbills (Anthracoceros coronatus) and their Habitats of the Anamalai Part of Southern Western Ghats, India through Empowering The Endemic ‘Kadar’ Tribe

Developing a long-term conservation strategy for the hornbills and their habitat in the landscape unit with the support of the Kadar tribe, by assessing availability of hornbill nesting trees, nest characteristics, habitat details and threat factors. Project also envisages strengthening of ongoing participatory conservation activity in the Vazhachal forest division with the support of forest department, Kadar tribe and their community groups 		Amitha Bachan 1-Sep-09 Granted
5)

Investigating congruence between biodiversity and ecosystem services across production landscapes in the Mysore-Nilgiri landscape corridor in the Western Ghats

Assess patterns of and congruence between biodiversity (birds) and ecosystem services (carbon storage) across a heterogeneous human-dominated landscape outside protected areas, in Kodagu. Besides documenting impacts on ecosystem services by land-use intensification for increased economic returns, this study will provide a quantitative understanding of biodiversity and economic aspects for planning private reserve models on private lands as well as state-supported models on public lands 		Anand, M.O. 1-Oct-09 Granted
6)

Evaluation of aquatic insect diversity in natural water-filled tree holes and their artificial analogues, in a tropical forest of Western Ghats

Perform a much needed scientific evaluation on the dynamics of the canopy-aquatic insects and other fauna of natural tree holes (phytotelmata) and their artificial analogues. Project explores how insects in tree holes are active colonizers trapped in a risky mostly ephemeral habitat and along with other fauna play a significant role in the ecosystem functioning in the forest canopy. 		Anoop Das, K.S 1-Sep-09 Granted
7)

Identifying critical areas for a landscape level wildlife corridor in Uttara Kannada District (northern part of Malnad-Kodagu corridor to Sahyadri - Konkan corridor) of Central Western Ghats

Assess conservation priority areas in the northern part of Malnad-Kodagu corridor in Western Ghats. Project will compile the researches done in the landscape over the years and collect baseline ecological and diversity status data for Aghanashini and Bedthi river valley in detail. Based on this, proposals would be developed to identify the priority regions in the corridor under better protection strategies with different legal options 		B.L.Hegde 1-Sep-09 Granted
8)

Identifying Potential Areas as "Conservation Reserves" in Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve

Intend to Develop criteria for the establishment of conservation reserves in the reserved forests of the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve, and to delineate and map the potential conservation reserves. The project will promote and strengthen the partnerships and mechanisms in the management of biological corridors for globally threatened species, within and outside Protected Area networks in the Biosphere Reserve, that are exposed to severe anthropogenic pressures. 		CED 1-Sep-09 Granted
9)

Conserving native trees in the coffee agroforestry landscape of Kodagu

Identify strategies that would enable farmers to conserve native trees within privately owned coffee estates in Kodagu that harbor a high diversity of tree species, even though economic and legal constraints are driving farmers to reduce native tree cover. Other project outcomes include production of scientific articles and development of linkages between stakeholders 		Cheryl D. Nath 1-Oct-09 Granted
10)

Ecology and conservation of small carnivores in the Western Ghats

Undertake ecological studies of small carnivores in Karnataka state, use this information to formulate scientifically based management recommendations for these species and disseminate the results among protected area managers, conservationists and other stakeholders 		Devcharan Jathanna 1-Jan-10 Granted
11)

Conservation of bio-diversity hotspot through capacity building of forest dependent communities through the promotion of organic farming in Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary of North Kanara district, Karnataka, India

Identify major native species threatened by intensive chemical agriculture on selected farms in and around Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary and assess the positive effect of organic farming on endemic biodiversity. Project also aims to document indigenous agricultural knowledge in reducing the effect of chemicals on flora and fauna, while promoting organic farming with active participation of stakeholders, and minimize the use of in-organic inputs to crops 		Ganapati Bhat 1-Dec-09 Granted
12)

Study on Distribution, Status and Dynamics of Private and Community Forests in Sahyadri-Kokan Corridor in Southern Maharashtra

Form partnerships for protection of private and group private forests in the Sahyadri-Konkan. Project aims to help maintaining tree cover on group private forests, thereby enhancing biodiversity in priority sites and will help in achieving consolidation of corridors. Project will also analyze policy issues and make recommendations that will help to protect tree cover on private forests. 		Jayant Kulkarni 1-Sep-09 Granted
13)

Promotion of Organic farming through Introduction of Analog Forestry concept in Kollegal FD

Explores the possibilities of initiating Analog Forestry, a system of forest management that combines the values of local forest biodiversity with organic crop cultivation, in Kollegal FD that is home to rich diversity and diversified communities. Project will also provide an overview of the causes of the biodiversity loss, current situation in the project area - human-wildlife conflict, and threats from chemical farming 		Krishna Prasad, G 1-Oct-09 Granted
14)

Development of conservation strategy for a newly discovered lion-tailed macaque Macaca silenus population in Sirsi-Honnavara, Western Ghats: II. Feeding ecology, status of food trees and habitat

Study the impact of NTFP collection on feeding ecology of a newly discovered Sirsi-Honnavara population of the endangered lion-tailed macaque, an endemic primate, restricted in its distribution to certain pockets of rainforests in the Western Ghats. The study would help formulate a conservation action plan for this newly discovered, possibly the largest population that is confined to unprotected reserve forests with extensive anthropogenic pressure 		Kumara H.N 1-Aug-09 Granted
15)

Bat communities in the Western Ghats: status, ecology and conservation

Quantify and characterize spatial variation in bat communities, and develop echo-location call libraries for bats in priority conservation areas in the Western Ghats. The work will contribute to an enhanced recognition of the biological value of this unstudied taxonomic group, and evaluate the efficacy of the current protected area network for bat conservation in the region 		Mahesh Sankaran 1-Dec-09 Granted
16)

Tarantula (Araneae: Theraphosidae) spider diversity, distribution and habitat-use: A study on Protected Area adequacy and conservation planning at a landscape level in the Western Ghats of Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka

Aims to understand diversity, distribution and habitat use of theraphosid species of tarantula spiders in various land use categories in the Uttara Kannada district. It will help in population assessments of Indian Theraphosid spiders of the region, create awareness amongst locals about the importance of conservation of tarantulas, and help in improving conservation efforts of these poorly known but globally threatened taxa 		Manju Siliwal 1-Sep-09 Granted
17)

Opportunities for establishing informal conservation arrangements in the Periyar-Agasthyamalai Corridor of the southern Western Ghats

Identifies potential mechanisms and sites for informal biodiversity conservation in Ranni Forest Division (Periyar-Agasthyamalai ). Using an integrated approach involving ecological, socio-cultural and policy level filters, project will develop a set of mechanisms that identify sites of ecological importance and long-term socio-ecological persistence. A review of policies governing land-use and a template for awareness generation in the area will also be carried out. 		Meera Anna Oommen 1-Aug-09 Granted
18)

Cinnamon Plant Resources of the Central Western Ghats: Quantification, Impact Assessment, Livelihood issues and Conservation through Participatory Approach

Envisages assessment of the impact of harvesting Cinnamomum malabatrum, livelihood issues, evaluating the prospects for green-labeling, promoting sustainable harvest and multiplication of species in agro forestry systems through participatory approaches is envisaged. Project outcomes include cinnamon regeneration status, level of disturbance and impact on regeneration, sustainable harvesting methods, importance of resources to the family income, prospects for green-labeling, community nurseries and planting of species 		Narsimha Hegde 1-Sep-09 Granted
19)

Grassland and Shola Research and Restoration of the Palni Hills

Evaluate the status and restore three high altitude patches of forest land in Palni Hills, presently occupied by invasive monocultures of eucalyptus and wattle, with an objective to create habitat for native biodiversity, especially Nilgiri tahr, while exposing the hill communities to biodiversity conservation and restoration that can provide vital resources, and income. Project also aims to research and identify suitable pioneer native species that can replace invasive wattle 		PHCC 1-Sep-09 Granted
20)

Pilot Study for Mitigation of Human Elephant Conflict in Southern Maharashtra, India

Address the issue of conservation of endangered Asian elephant in fragmented landscape of northern Karnataka and southern Maharashtra by involving local community in conflict mitigation along with the Forest Department. This study aims to identify and implement activities that will motivate local communities, create social awareness and strengthen the efforts of Forest Department towards elephant conservation. 		Prachi Mehta 1-Oct-09 Granted
21)

Status of freshwater fishes in the Kerala region of the Western Ghats Hotspot: determining distribution, populations and threats to newly described and poorly known species

Assess the status of ‘data deficient’ freshwater fishes from ten major rivers of Kerala, since freshwater fishes remain one of the most poorly studied and documented taxa in the Western Ghats. Project will generate baseline information, which will help in systematic conservation planning and action as well as monitoring and assessing the conservation status of globally threatened species of fishes in the Western Ghats. 		Rajeev Raghavan 1-Sep-09 Granted
22)

Identifying historic and present connectedness in the unique montane “sky-island” ecosystem in the Western Ghats.

Examine connectedness and the effects of anthropogenic isolation as well as historical geographic isolation on populations of an endemic, threatened bird, the White-bellied Shortwing, using microsatellite and mtDNA markers from different sky-islands including 22 CEPF priority sites. Sky-island refer to Shola forests fragments on mountain-tops isolated by anthropogenic forces 		R Vijayan 1-Aug-09 Granted

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