Human Encroachment and Habitat Fragmentation as Emerging Threats to Wildlife Conservation in Madhya Pradesh, India

Abstract

Madhya Pradesh occupies a central place in wildlife conservation in India. It contains the country’s largest forest area and supports important populations of tiger, leopard, sloth bear, gaur and hard-ground barasingha. The 2022 all-India tiger assessment estimated 785 tigers in the state. This recovery is a major conservation achievement, but a rise in animal numbers within protected areas does not by itself guarantee their long-term security. Forest conversion, settlement growth, mining and linear infrastructure are changing the wider landscapes through which wildlife moves between protected habitats. This paper examines human encroachment and habitat fragmentation as interconnected threats in Madhya Pradesh. It is based on a critical review of government reports, statutory documents and peer-reviewed studies relating to the Central Indian Landscape. Evidence from the Pench–Satpura corridor, Panna Tiger Reserve, Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve and Kuno National Park is used to understand how land-use change affects habitat continuity, animal movement, genetic exchange and interactions between people and wildlife. The review shows that roads, railways, canals and other infrastructure can create ecological barriers even when the total area under forest appears relatively stable. It also shows that conservation measures are most effective when ecological planning, site-specific mitigation, scientific monitoring and fair participation of local communities are brought together. The paper therefore argues for a landscape-based approach that protects corridors and other connecting habitats in addition to the core areas of national parks and tiger reserves.