The wildlife reserve is named after Sita, the wife of Hindu god Rama, due to the belief that Sita and her sons Luv and Kush had spent some of her exile in this forest.[3]
Many local villagers were inducted and employed at the reserve by the founder Abhishek Ray,[4] thereby generating revenue through Eco-tourism and creating a sustainable conservation area.[5]
Animals
Being a part of the Trans-Himalayan birding corridor, the reserve gets both plain and mountain birds during latitudinal and attitudinal migration patterns. Some Himalayan animal species, like Himalayan Black Bear, Himalayan weasel, Yellow-throat Pine Marten, Himalayan Goral, and Himalayan Serow also visit the reserve, especially during the colder months. Indian leopards in this reserve inhabit the craggy cliffs and gorges to avoid interaction with their dominant predator, the Royal-Bengal Tiger.[6][7] This tiger species prefers the thick forested valleys and lowlands. Herds of Asiatic Elephants pass through the reserve when migrating between the core and buffer areas of Jim Corbett National Park. Altitudinal and geographical variations and diverse flora, combined with direct connectivity with Jim Corbett National Park on one side and the Nainital Forest Division on the other, makes this reserve a natural tiger, leopard, and birding corridor of strategic conservation value.[8]
Animals
Being a part of the Trans-Himalayan birding corridor, the reserve gets both plain and mountain birds during latitudinal and attitudinal migration patterns. Some Himalayan animal species, like Himalayan Black Bear, Himalayan weasel, Yellow-throat Pine Marten, Himalayan Goral, and Himalayan Serow also visit the reserve, especially during the colder months. Indian leopards in this reserve inhabit the craggy cliffs and gorges to avoid interaction with their dominant predator, the Royal-Bengal Tiger.[9][10] This tiger species prefers the thick forested valleys and lowlands. Herds of Asiatic Elephants pass through the reserve when migrating between the core and buffer areas of Jim Corbett National Park. Altitudinal and geographical variations and diverse flora, combined with direct connectivity with Jim Corbett National Park on one side and the Nainital Forest Division on the other, makes this reserve a natural tiger, leopard, and birding corridor of strategic conservation value.[11]
Vision and Conservation Goals
The vision of the Sitabani Wildlife Reserve is to maintain a self-sustaining ecological system that supports biodiversity conservation, community participation, and sustainable resource use. The reserve seeks to function as a model for balancing human needs with long-term environmental stability.
The primary conservation goals include:
Enhancement of Water and Soil Resilience: Promote water-efficient conservation practices that improve soil moisture retention and reduce dependency on external water sources. These approaches draw inspiration from sustainable dryland agroforestry methods, such as contour levelling and minimal-water planting techniques, which have been successfully implemented in other regions of India.[12]
Habitat Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation: Restore and preserve natural habitats to maintain ecological balance. The reserve emphasises the protection of wildlife corridors that facilitate the movement of native species such as tigers, leopards, and migratory birds.
Community Engagement and Sustainable Livelihoods: Encourage the involvement of local communities in conservation management through eco-tourism initiatives, training programmes, and livelihood activities that reduce human–wildlife conflict and dependence on forest resources.
Implementation of Low-Resource, Nature-Based Techniques: Integrate restoration practices that require minimal resource input, including water-efficient tree-planting methods, as part of broader afforestation and habitat enhancement programmes.[13]
Awareness and Education: Promote environmental awareness among visitors and local residents through outreach and educational programmes that highlight the importance of forest conservation, wildlife protection, and sustainable ecosystem management.
References
↑ "Amgarhi". Google Maps. Google, Inc. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
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