The ravines of Chambal, a unique geographical feature having gullies up to 15-20 feet deep which once used to be hideouts of dreaded dacoits, will turn into hub of eco-tourism and improved farm practices in the next seven years. Being treated as a model of landscape conservation, the ravines in Sheopur and Morena districts of MP will be developed by the Centre as a part of it’s ‘Green Agriculture’ project in collaboration with the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.
Work to transform the area without disturbing its ecological features will begin soon. This project in MP will focus on the ravines, primarily in and around the National Chambal Sanctuary which provides a habitat for Gharial and Gangetic Dolphin. It will turn the ravines into a hub of eco-tourism once landscape restoration is done. The concept of the project revolves around conservation of critical biodiversity and forest landscape, and transforming agriculture in this areas. It will be in sync with India’s commitment of restoring 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030.
Four more sites will be developed under this project during 2019-26 period. The GEF has sanctioned 33.5 million dollars (around Rs. 240 crores) for this. The other project sites include:
- Dampa in Lunglei and Mamit, Mizoram (1.45 lakhs hectare)
- Simlipal in Mayurbhanj, Odisha (5.56 lakhs hectare)
- Desert landscape of Barmer and Jaisalmer in Rajasthan (6.74 lakhs hectare)
- Corbett-Rajaji in Nainital, Pauri, Garhwal, Almora, Dehradun and Haridwar, Uttarakhand (3.24 lakhs hectare)
The project will collectively restore 1.8 million hectares of land. Each site has at least one associated protected area- sanctuary, national park, tiger reserve or bio-sphere reserve- to tap eco-tourism potential.
Matter referenced:
Times of India, Ahmedabad, Tuesday, 19th November, 2019.
By: Dr. Bhawana Asnani.
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