The Maharashtra government has declared the Bhorgiri Forest Conservation Reserve near Bhimashankar, covering 35.64 square kilometres across 15 villages in Pune district to protect wildlife corridors, water ecosystems and biodiversity in the Sahyadri ranges.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the Maharashtra State Board for Wildlife chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on October 26, according to a report by Lokmat – Pune. Fourteen forest areas across Maharashtra were granted conservation reserve status at the meeting, including three areas in Pune district.
The Bhorgiri reserve covers parts of Khed and Ambegaon talukas under the Junnar forest division. The area includes seven villages in Ambegaon taluka — Nigdale, Taleghar, Shinoli, Terungan, Don, Nighotwadi and Ahupe — and locations in Khed taluka including Bhorgiri, the fort area, Tokawade, Bhakawadi, Kondhwal, the source region of the Ghod river, Vandre, Mharwani and Yelwali.
The Pune Forest Department has received administrative approval for 35.64 square kilometres, or 3,564 hectares, to be included in the Bhorgiri conservation reserve. The wider conservation status granted to areas under the Pune Forest Department covers 87.41 square kilometres, the report said.
The declaration will not involve the acquisition of local residents’ land or their resettlement. Existing legal rights traditionally held by local communities will remain in place. Representatives of gram panchayats and villagers will also participate in the management committee for the conservation reserve.
Commercial-scale tree felling, mining, heavy industrial projects and land-use changes that damage the environment will face restrictions within the reserve. At the same time, the government intends to support sustainable ecotourism and traditional livelihood activities for local residents.
The reserve is intended to strengthen ecological connectivity between the Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary and forest areas around Lonavala, Rajmachi and Tamhini. The protected landscape includes habitats of the Indian giant squirrel, leopard, sambar, barking deer, pangolin, tree frogs and rare orchids.
The area also includes the headwaters of the Ghod and Bhima rivers, water sources around Kondhwal, Bhorgirigad Fort and natural waterfalls. These features link the conservation decision to both wildlife protection and the security of local water ecosystems.
The management structure and restrictions will determine how conservation goals are balanced with village-level land use, traditional livelihoods and tourism activity. The next implementation steps are expected to involve the reserve’s management committee, with local government and community representatives participating in its administration.
