WILDLIFE CORRIDOR FUNCTIONALITY WILL BE HARSHLY IMPACTED BY CLIMATE CHANGE: A CASE STUDY OF KANHA-PENCH CORRIDOR

摘要

Habitat fragmentation has been recognized as a major threat to conservation of wildlife. Wildlife protected areas (PAs) have been established for the conservation of wildlife. However, PA is only like an oasis surrounded by a desert of hostile environment. It is therefore, highly desirable to establish, maintain and improve connectivity between PAs through effective and functional corridors. Kanha and Pench are two very important tiger reserves in the state of Madhya Pradesh. A case study was undertaken to assess the present status offunctionality of the existing Kanha-Pench corridor (KPC) between these two tiger reserves and also the possible impact of climate change on the functionality of this corridor. In this study, core functionality survey was conducted and tiger conservation prioritization areas were identified using various tools, such as MaxEnt analysis, BMLR (Binomial Multiple Logistic Regression) analysis, Circuitscape, LCP (Least Cost Path) analysis, Linkage mapping, etc. on ArcGIS platform. Total eight TCPUs (Tiger Conservation Prioritization Units) were identified with total area of 439.74 km~2. Tiger habitat suitability map was also prepared. Percent contributions of different variables, such as water availability in the month of June, climatic variables, grazing pressure, presence of natural salt licks, presence of breeding tigresses, etc. were also calculated with the help of MaxEnt. It was found that water availability in the month of June, together with climatic variables, contributed to the extent of about 36.5% to tiger habitat suitability in the KPC. Hence, the functionality of this corridor is likely to be harshly impacted by climate change.