Rasal V., Dhakad M., Khandal D. ASSESSING ANTHROPOGENIC PRESSURE OF FOREST VILLAGES IN SEMI-ARID FOREST ECOSYSTEM IN WESTERN INDIA USING CUMULATIVE DISTURBANCE INDEX (CDI) // Arid ecosystems. 2021. V.27. № 4 (88). P. 41-49. | PDF

Human communities living in and around the forest are highly dependent on the forest for subsistence and livelihood. Kailadevi Wildlife Sanctuary (KWLS), is an important landscape for securing tiger population in semi arid western India. Human population and their livestock residing in KWLS are exerting anthropogenic pressure on the habitat. Understanding the nature of the anthropogenic pressure is essential to mitigate anthropogenic pressure, reduce negative human-wildlife interactions and improve habitat for wildlife. Anthropogenic disturbance caused by 12 enclave villages inside KWLS was measured using cumulative disturbance index (CDI). Livestock grazing and extraction of wood was found to be the most pressing anthropogenic pressures in the KWLS. Outcome of the study will help the forest managers to devise strategies to improve the habitat quality for the wildlife.

Keywords: anthropogenic pressure, cumulative disturbance index (CDI), Kailadevi wildlife sanctuary.

DOI: 10.24412/1993-3916-2021-4-41-49