Vidarbha Secures Over Rs4 Crore For Nature Conservation
In a significant policy signal for environmental management and climate resilience in eastern Maharashtra, the state government has earmarked over Rs4.29 crore for forest and wildlife conservation initiatives across the Vidarbha region in the current financial year. The allocation, part of a broader Rs17.5 crore “Nature Conservation and Wildlife Management” programme sanctioned by the state’s revenue and forest department, aims to bolster habitat protection, biodiversity stewardship and sustainable forest governance in one of the country’s vital ecological landscapes.
Vidarbha — a mosaic of dense forests, tiger reserves and dry deciduous ecosystems that act as critical wildlife corridors — receives a significant share of the state fund, which is distributed based on proposals submitted by the Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Budget, Planning and Development) in Nagpur. Major allocations include approximately Rs2 crore for the Bramhapuri territorial division, Rs1.10 crore for Wardha, Rs73 lakh for the Pench tiger project in Nagpur district, and Rs46 lakh for Chandrapur’s forest conservation programmes.Environmental governance experts say that such earmarked funding — while modest on an absolute scale — supports a multi-pronged approach to conservation that blends habitat management, anti-poaching operations, species monitoring and community engagement. For regions like Nagpur and Chandrapur, which host core areas of Project Tiger and are integral to biodiversity corridors connecting major reserves, financial backing for conservation infrastructure is a cornerstone of longer-term ecological stability and human-wildlife coexistence. Implementation will be overseen through established budgetary channels and requires administrative and technical sanctions before expenditure begins.
The state’s allocation strategy further segments finances between labour-related activities — with Rs12 crore set aside for field personnel and support operations — and Rs5.50 crore earmarked for procurement and material resources. Conservation proponents argue that labour investment matters as much as equipment spending, especially in regions where patrol staff, forest watchers and local surveillance networks are frontline defenders against illegal logging, wildlife crime and habitat degradation.For local communities adjacent to protected areas, such as tribal villages in Gondia and Bhandara districts, strengthened forest management efforts are intertwined with livelihoods and environmental services. Independent research indicates that when villagers are recognised as custodians of community forests and are supported in sustainable non-timber produce and alternative livelihood initiatives, both forest health and socioeconomic resilience improve.
However, environmental advocates underscore that targeted funding must dovetail with visionary policies that address climate-linked stressors — including increasing forest fires, invasive species, water scarcity and developmental pressures such as infrastructure expansion in ecologically sensitive zones. Vidarbha’s landscape has been at the intersection of such tensions, balancing conservation imperatives against rising demand for connectivity and industry.Officials indicate that this year’s funding will prioritise habitat restoration, wildlife management systems and capacity-building for frontline staff. The Pench tiger project, for example, is expected to receive support for enhanced monitoring and anti-poaching activities, while the Wardha division’s allocation may fund community-oriented conservation outreach and ecological surveys.
As policymakers frame future budgets, conservationists say sustained financing — combined with transparent monitoring and community partnership — will be essential not just for preserving forest corridors, but also for strengthening Vidarbha’s role in Maharashtra’s climate resilience and sustainable urban-rural ecosystems.
