Rewilding a Tiger Corridor near Kanha Tiger Reserve
Location: Near Kanha Tiger Reserve, Mandla District, Madhya Pradesh
A 5.46-acre private land parcel adjoining the buffer zone of Kanha Tiger Reserve, located in Balaghat district, Madhya Pradesh.
A small-scale, community-linked rewilding effort restoring native vegetation on a private land parcel used by tigers in the Kanha buffer landscape.
​Project at a glance
5.46 acres
Total Project Area
2.99 acres
Grassland Restoration Zone
2.07 acres
Moist Deciduous Restoration Zone
1
Camera Trap installed that has recorded consistent presence of a tigress
​About the project
The project focuses on ecological restoration of a 5.46-acre parcel through zone-based land-use planning and native species regeneration. The land was divided into grassland and moist deciduous forest development zones alongside existing forest cover, allowing different habitat types to be restored in parallel.
​
Rewilding activities emphasise ecological function over landscaping, aiming to support wildlife movement and gradual natural regeneration rather than rapid visual transformation. The project is designed as a demonstrative pilot that can inform similar small-parcel restoration efforts in buffer landscapes.
​How the Project Started
The Nature People Network initiated this project after identifying a privately owned land parcel that is regularly used by tigers moving between forest patches in the buffer zone of Kanha Tiger Reserve. Recognising the site’s corridor value despite its small size, the organisation began a pilot rewilding effort to restore native habitat and reduce human-induced pressures on wildlife movement.
​Our approach
NPN adopted a low-cost, ecology-driven restoration approach. A foxhole-based planting method was used to establish diverse clusters of native trees, shrubs, and herbs, enabling natural seed dispersal and reducing planting intensity. Species selection focused on native forest species appropriate to moist deciduous ecosystems, with limited agroforestry species included for edge compatibility.
​
Invasive plant species were removed from both the land parcel and an adjoining stream. A local community member was engaged to monitor wildlife movement, manage grazing pressure, and maintain camera traps, ensuring continuous on-ground oversight of the site.
The map labeling the forest and grassland cover, and the plantation foxholes.
​Outcomes and Impact
-
Native species restoration has been initiated on a site used regularly by tigers for movement within the Kanha buffer landscape.
-
Invasive plant species were removed, improving conditions for natural regeneration.
-
Continuous wildlife monitoring is now in place through camera trapping and local stewardship.
-
The project demonstrates how small private parcels can contribute to landscape connectivity when managed for ecological function.
Footprints of various fauna including the pugmarks of a tiger; at the land parcel
​Partners and Community
The project is being implemented on privately owned land with the consent of the landholder. A local community resident has been engaged for site monitoring, wildlife observation, and grazing management.
​
The Nature People Network provides project design, species planning, and coordination. No external funding partners or institutional collaborators are mentioned in available documents.
The perennial stream that flows through the land
​Challenges and Learnings
-
Rewilding on small private parcels requires careful zoning to balance ecological goals with land-use constraints.
-
Managing grazing pressure is critical during early restoration phases.
-
Monitoring and maintenance depend heavily on consistent local presence rather than episodic interventions.
​What's Next
Planned next steps include continued wildlife monitoring, maintenance of restored zones, and exploring a complementary model where community educational and career consultations are exchanged for conservation monitoring and anti-poaching support. The project is intended to evolve as a long-term restoration and learning site rather than a short-term intervention.