Sahyadri Tiger Reserve has signed a five-year MoU with Last Wilderness Foundation to strengthen community-based conservation and promote human–wildlife coexistence in the Western Ghats. The partnership will focus on awareness, capacity building, and conflict mitigation in buffer villages
Sahyadri Tiger Reserve signs 5 year MoU with Last Wilderness Foundation
An MoU between the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve and the Last Wilderness Foundation has been signed on Tuesday, February 17. The MoU focuses on to strengthening community-based conservation and promote human–wildlife coexistence across the Sahyadri landscape.
The MoU was signed on behalf of Sahyadri Tiger Reserve by Tushar Chavan, IFS, Field Director, and on behalf of Last Wilderness Foundation by Vidya Venkatesh, Director.
Located in the northern Western Ghats, Sahyadri Tiger Reserve forms part of the globally recognised Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot and comprises Chandoli National Park, Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary and Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuary. The landscape supports tigers, leopards, gaur, sloth bears, sambar, dholes, and several rare and endemic species of the Western Ghats.
Objective of MoU
Under the MoU, emphasis will be placed on enhancing community participation in buffer and fringe villages, conservation awareness, capacity building, mitigation of human–wildlife conflict, and collaborative, locally driven protection efforts.
Last Wilderness Foundation is working in wildlife conservation, community engagement, conservation education, and human–wildlife coexistence. The organisation has previously partnered with forest departments in multiple tiger reserves, including Pench Tiger Reserve and Kanha Tiger Reserve, implementing community participation, conservation outreach, and eco-development initiatives.
Speaking on this occasion, Sahyadri Tiger Reserve, field Director Tushar Chavan said, "Active participation of local communities is critical for long-term conservation success in a vast and sensitive landscape like Sahyadri. This MoU will strengthen coexistence mechanisms and provide momentum to participatory conservation at the village level.”
On the other hand Vidya Venkatesh, Director, Last Wilderness Foundation said, “Our experience of working closely with tiger reserve administrations and local communities shows that conservation outcomes are more positive when communities are integral to the process. This partnership with Sahyadri Tiger Reserve offers an opportunity to develop a strong community-based conservation model in the Western Ghats.”
Community-based conservation
As per the MoU, Last Wilderness Foundation will implement community-based conservation and human–wildlife coexistence programmes, while the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve administration will provide necessary permissions, coordination, and field support. All activities will be undertaken in accordance with legal provisions, guidelines of the National Tiger Conservation Authority, and the rules of the Maharashtra Forest Department.
The MoU signing was attended by Field Director Tushar Chavan; Deputy Directors Kiran Jagtap and Snehalata Patil; Wildlife Warden Rohan Bhate; Range Forest Officer Sangram Godse; and from Last Wilderness Foundation, Vidya Venkatesh and Kedar Bhide.
As per the officials, the MoU between Sahyadri Tiger Reserve and the Last Wilderness Foundation will be valid for a period of five years, starting from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2031.
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