While conservation efforts are associated with conflicts between villagers and Forest Officials in most Protected areas across the country, the Kailadevi Wildlife Sanctuary in Rajasthan has involved local community initiatives for conservation and regeneration. The Sanctuary was initiated in 1983, over 674 sq km forming a part of the 1334 sq km Ranthambore Tiger Reserve. It is located within the Karauli and Soptara blocks of Sawai Madhopur district.

The primary occupation of the predominant Meena and Gujjar communities is pastoralism and subsistence agriculture.

Pressures on the sanctuary included migrant grazers known as the Rabaris, who came from the Mewar region of Rajasthan with herds of over 150,000 sheep. Other pressures were from exploitation of timber and fuelwood and mining. The threat posed by the migrant grazers spurred the formation of the "Baragaon ki Panchayat" in 1990, which in turn initiated a ‘Bhed Bhagao Andolan’.

The Forest Department supported the villagers in the formation of Forest Protection Committees and Van Suraksha Samitis. The benefits of involving local people in protection of their resources were obvious. Illegal felling was checked. The use of forest resources for local use was monitored. The Forest Protection Committees (FPCs) were also successful in stopping the mining in the Sanctuary. The people not only protect their forests but also use their resources judiciously.

While conservation efforts are associated with conflicts between villagers and Forest Officials in most Protected areas across the country, the Kailadevi Wildlife Sanctuary in Rajasthan has involved local community initiatives for conservation and regeneration. The Sanctuary was initiated in 1983, over 674 sq km forming a part of the 1334 sq km Ranthambore Tiger Reserve. It is located within the Karauli and Soptara blocks of Sawai Madhopur district.

The primary occupation of the predominant Meena and Gujjar communities is pastoralism and subsistence agriculture.

Pressures on the sanctuary included migrant grazers known as the Rabaris, who came from the Mewar region of Rajasthan with herds of over 150,000 sheep. Other pressures were from exploitation of timber and fuelwood and mining. The threat posed by the migrant grazers spurred the formation of the "Baragaon ki Panchayat" in 1990, which in turn initiated a ‘Bhed Bhagao Andolan’.

The Forest Department supported the villagers in the formation of Forest Protection Committees and Van Suraksha Samitis. The benefits of involving local people in protection of their resources were obvious. Illegal felling was checked. The use of forest resources for local use was monitored. The Forest Protection Committees (FPCs) were also successful in stopping the mining in the Sanctuary. The people not only protect their forests but also use their resources judiciously.

While conservation efforts are associated with conflicts between villagers and Forest Officials in most Protected areas across the country, the Kailadevi Wildlife Sanctuary in Rajasthan has involved local community initiatives for conservation and regeneration. The Sanctuary was initiated in 1983, over 674 sq km forming a part of the 1334 sq km Ranthambore Tiger Reserve. It is located within the Karauli and Soptara blocks of Sawai Madhopur district.

The primary occupation of the predominant Meena and Gujjar communities is pastoralism and subsistence agriculture.

Pressures on the sanctuary included migrant grazers known as the Rabaris, who came from the Mewar region of Rajasthan with herds of over 150,000 sheep. Other pressures were from exploitation of timber and fuelwood and mining. The threat posed by the migrant grazers spurred the formation of the "Baragaon ki Panchayat" in 1990, which in turn initiated a ‘Bhed Bhagao Andolan’.

The Forest Department supported the villagers in the formation of Forest Protection Committees and Van Suraksha Samitis. The benefits of involving local people in protection of their resources were obvious. Illegal felling was checked. The use of forest resources for local use was monitored. The Forest Protection Committees (FPCs) were also successful in stopping the mining in the Sanctuary. The people not only protect their forests but also use their resources judiciously.