Our Works

About Our Works

Having a thorough understanding of landscape, communities, biodiversity, and related issues is very crucial for effective intervention and positive outcome. With over 25 years of continuous on ground presence, good knowledge of wildlife and forest laws, first hand understanding of issues in the region and good network with local communities SWAN & Man is working at grass root level to address various conservation issues. Our major activities include,

Work / 01

Enhancing protection of crucial wildlife habitats by notifying new Protected areas (PA) and expanding existing Protected areas.

National parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries constitute a mere 4% of India’s land area and 5.6% of Karnataka state’s land area, where intact assemblages of several Endangered species have the best chance of long-term survival in the wild.

We support Karnataka Forest Department in identifying key biodiverse areas, writing proposals and in the notification process to declare new protected areas.

Sharavathi valley Lion-Tailed Macaque Sanctuary

Sharavathi Valley is one of the largest areas of tropical evergreen forest in the fragile Western Ghats. The river valley is home to a diverse array of species and sustains a very rich biodiversity, some of which are still unknown to the outer world. Most importantly it is home to endangered and endemic Lion-Tailed Macaque and vulnerable Great Indian Hornbill apart from many other endangered species. The landscape is a conservation priority area for long term survival of Lion-Tailed Macaque as it harbours the northernmost and a viable population of these endemic macaques in the whole Western Ghats.

We played a crucial role in propounding the idea, preparation and presentation of the proposal and finalizing the draft notification for the expansion of Sharavathi Valley wildlife sanctuary from 431 sq kms to 930 sq kms. The Karnataka State Board of Wildlife approved the proposal on 9.01.2019 and the official government notification of the expanded and renamed Sharavathi Valley Lion-tailed Macaque Sanctuary was issued on 7.06.2019. The sanctuary was formed by combining the existing Sharavathi valley wildlife sanctuary, Aghanashini Lion-Tailed Macaque conservation reserve and adjoining reserve forest blocks. The Lion-Tailed Macaque was considered as the flagship species of the new protected area.

This expansion has brought an important wildlife corridor under protection and will ensure that the crucial habitats of endangered Lion-tailed macaque are saved for posterity.

The notification of Sharavathi valley LTM sanctuary is an historic decision by the Karnataka Government. This is a benchmark for all the nations across the world. Given the accelerated mass extinction of species in recent decades, decisions like these goes a long way in conservation of threatened species, their habitat and biodiversity.

Bhadra-Shettihally Protected Area Complex

Based on our initial proposal to expand Shettihally wildlife sanctuary the Karnataka State Wildlife Advisory Board chaired by the Chief Minister of Karnataka on 03/09/2020 formally approved the proposal to reorganize and expand the Shettihally Wildlife Sanctuary by adding forest blocks of Umblebyle landscape which are crucial wildlife corridor between Bhadra and Shettihally. However due to local political intervention the proposal was dropped subsequently.

Further to our perseverant efforts and successful intervention the Standing Committee of National Board for Wildlife on 25/04/2023 in its 72^nd meeting rejected Karnataka state government’s proposal and directed the Chief Wildlife Warden to relook into the proposal and consider the possibility of connecting Bhadra TR and Shettihally WLS. Also SC NBWL constituted an expert committee to relook into the issue.

Finally, based on our earlier proposal and the committee recommendation, the SCNBWL in its 73rd meeting held on 17/07/2023 has approved to reorganize and notify Shettihally WLS with an area of 395.6 sq kms and to add nearly 45 sq kms of reserved forests of Umblebyle landscape to Bhadra Tiger Reserve (rather than Shettihally WLS due to administration issues) to ensure direct connectivity between Bhadra and Shettihally protected areas.

Finally on 27th March 2025 Karnataka State Government Issued notification no. FEE 42 FWL 2025 expending Bhadra Tiger Reserve. This historical move ensured direct connectivity between Bhadra and Shettihally Sanctuaries which is a long term tiger conservation priority landscape.

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Identification, rejuvenation, and protection of water sources in effective collaboration with local communities and district administration.

Natural lakes are very important in maintaining water table of the region which is very crucial for agricultural activities. They also act as important sources of food and water for the communities and the wildlife of the region. There were numerous, very old lakes in Sagara Taluk which were in very bad condition due to pollution, silt, and encroachment. In effective collaboration with local communities and district administration and funding support by M/s Karnataka Bank we strategically identified lakes, removed silt, and rejuvenated four of them in Sagar Taluk of Shivamogga district, Karnataka.

Bangaramma lake
Anesondilu lake
Agastyatheertha lake
Sulmane Siddhi Vinayaka lake
Otigodu Lake

We plan to take up many such projects in future with the help of partners and stakeholders.

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Consolidation of critical wildlife habitats by facilitating voluntary relocation of strategic small hamlets from protected areas.

As per article 19 of Constitution of India, it is the fundamental right of every citizen of India to move freely and settle anywhere in the country.

Based on the interaction and consent of local communities/families and in effective collaboration with elected representatives, district administration, and forest department we are facilitating the identification of small hamlets deep inside protected areas which lack all kinds of civic amenities like electricity, road, transport, health centre, schools etc and relocation of small hamlets outside the sanctuary limits through Government sponsored Voluntary relocation program.

More importantly, the cost of relocation is very less when compared to the cost of providing basic amenities to these hamlets inside protected areas. With better access to schools, health care, transportation and other facilities that the families are aspiring for, they are also expected to lead a better life outside the sanctuary, resulting in a win-win solution for both people and wildlife.

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Conservation advocacy.

It is highly essential to identify emerging threats due to rapidly changing government policies, management approaches and corruption. We regularly do below mentioned activities;

Establishing & developing strong local intelligence network to effectively tackle and reduce Forest & wildlife related offenses like Illegal poaching of wildlife, forest encroachment, smuggling and trade in collaboration with Karnataka Forest department.
Regularly interacting with local communities, understanding their demands and problems, and exploring solution to support their livelihood to reduce anthropogenic pressure on forest and wildlife.
Establishing good rapport with the higher officers of forest department to address the issues and management related problems. Extending support to the Forest department in their effort to save wildlife and habitat.
Ensuring better protection and management of Protected areas and corridors through policy level interventions.

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Creating and spreading awareness

Citizen science model

Under the Article 51A(g) the Constitution of India mandates that “It shall be the duty of every citizen of India to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife”. Also, several legislations passed by the Governments empower common man to effectively participate in the efforts to protect forests, wildlife and water bodies.

This activity is one of the important and oldest activity of SWAN & Man. The main objective of this program is to create awareness and increase sensitivity of the society for the cause. As a strategy we focus on future generations to increase effectiveness of the activity.

In association with Karnataka Forest Department, we regularly conduct education/awareness programs, bird watching sessions, Jathas for School children and volunteers to create awareness through interactive and field sessions.