About VTR Foundation (VTRF)

Vide Environment & Forest Department, Government of Bihar, Patna memo no. 467 (E) dated 31.12.2010, constitution of Valmiki Tiger Reserve Foundation has been notified under the Chairmanship of the Minister of the Department. The VTR Foundation is a Government-owned public trust with the legality of the Government organization. The main aim of the foundation is to facilitate and support the biodiversity conservation initiatives through eco-development and people’s participation.

Besides the main objective of biodiversity conservation, the Foundation also helps in generation of employment to local youths through EDCs and in eco-development activities. At present the eco-tourism activities in VTR are being regulated through the Foundation. Measures have been taken to improve the staying facilities and also visits into the forest. All the revenue collected from eco-tourism are deposited into the Foundation account, and the Foundation in return meets all expenses of maintenance and wages to local youths employed as tourist guides, drivers, boat guards, tourist facilitators and upkeep staff.

GOVERNING BODY

The Governing body is the overall control of the Foundation. Formed under the Chairmanship of the Honourable Minister of Environment, Forests and Climate Change of Bihar, the Principal Secretary to Government, Environment and Forests department is the Vice President of the body and 9 other members including the members of the State Legislature Assembly representing the constituencies of Bagha or  Ramnagar are the members of the body.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The affairs of the Foundation administered and subject to the rules and regulations and orders of the Foundation by an Executive Committee. The Conservator of Forests and Field Director is the Chairperson of the Executive Committee which has 7 other members.

ADMINISTRATION

For efficient implementation of various activities and programmes of the Valmiki Tiger conservation foundation in a mission mode under the directions and guidance of the Executive Director.

Expected Activities of VTR Foundation

The conservation and Biology Wing of VTR carrying out different monitoring programs in VTR and its adjoining landscapes. This includes monitoring of tigers, co-predators and health monitoring of prey species and their habitats. Even studies are related to monitoring of population of chital, gaur and other animals along with contentious and complex issues linked to human-wildlife conflict, impacts of eco-development initiatives on the ecosystem, baseline studies, impact of pilgrimage and community-based ecotourism.

The Foundation may seek the external direct funding from the Department of Tourism and Directorate of Ecotourism of Government of Bihar along with the CSR funds from corporates/banks, etc. to undertake wildlife services & studies related to sustainable ecosystem.

Preparation of management plans for eco-tourism, participatory micro planning and rapid biodiversity assessment are some of the consultancy works may also be taken up as a non-profit making activity. Training workshops and seminars may be conducted at local and regional levels. Training programs include the capacity building for field staff in wildlife techniques and biodiversity assessment, law, habitat and fire management, Global Positioning System (GPS), eco-development, crime investigation, use of GPS, camera traps, MSTrIPES, Census, training in management of wild elephants, collection of metrological data such as rainfall, temperature, humidity etc. Seminars and workshops may be conducted for the veterinary doctors in collaboration with Indian Vetinary Association (IVA). National level workshop for senior forest officers in ecotourism planning in protected areas in collaboration with the WII, Dehradun may also be conducted.

Nature education and trainings are conducted for a variety of campaigns for creating nature awareness, sensitization, dissemination, outreach, awareness, campaigns, celebrations, exposure visit for the EDC members, students, members of the nature clubs and other stakeholders, including Panchayat (local administration) and tour operators, home-stays owners, hoteliers, the local administration and Anganwadis.

The Foundation provides camp equipment to the field staff and watchers from the local community engaged for protection in the interior forest areas. The professionals of the Foundation support the park management in analyzing the data on wildlife monitoring, weather projects/programmes pertaining to effective management and documentation of park values.

The Foundation may also support eco-development activities by funding various micro-plan activities and helps the EDCs in reviewing and implementing various micro plan activities and in conducting various studies on ecological and socio-economic impacts.

Local people are empowered through continuous training, capacity building and scientific temperament of research. The foundation helps in the formation of new EDCs and innovative alternate income generation activities. It may act as a nodal agency for marketing and branding the producers of EDCs, including exporting the indigenous products. Other activities include the adoption of the health center and tribal schools for providing dust bins and technical support for waste management.

Formation of EDC’s

The relationship between the park authorities and local people is harmonized through the formation of 90+ EDCs, encompassing almost 40,000 people from the forest fringe areas of VTR. The major objective of the EDCs was to improve capacity of protected area management, to conserve biodiversity and to minimize negative impacts of people. The major components of EDCs include the management of protected areas, village Eco development, nature education and training research and monitoring. As a result, negative dependency of these people on forest was almost reduced and poaching and wildlife crime rate was reported to be at its lowest. Further forest fires were controlled through participatory management of these EDCs beyond the project period.

Village Eco-Development

The objectives of the village eco-development activity are to reduce negative interaction of local people on the biodiversity of VTR and increase collaboration of local people in its conservation. The central theme of this program is the participatory planning.