State Forest Research Institute Jabalpur | MPSFRI

Wildlife Management Division

Research Disciplines

PA Network
Wildlife Management
Man-Animal Interactions
Landscape Level Planning and Management
Corridor Management

1. PA NETWORK

Research Priorities

Planning a network of Protected Areas (PAs)-National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Conservation Reserves & Community Reserves to provide an umbrella for long term conservation and sustainable management of wildlife diversity in the state
Identification of suitable areas for establishment of new and expansion of existing PAs, their viability studies and preparation of DPRs
Management effectiveness evaluation in the existing PAs
Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with various stakeholders and affected communities to elicit their feedback for mitigation of their problems and ascertaining their willing cooperation and participation in protection and conservation of wildlife
Standardization of model set of prescriptions for sustainable management of buffer zones of PAs

2. WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT OUTSIDE PAs

Research Priorities

Study of the protection status of wildlife outside PAs – Identification of hot spots, site-specific threat factors and suggestions for their mitigation
Standardization of provisions to be included in the working plans of territorial forest divisions related to wildlife protection and conservation and habitat improvement
Studies on population trends of various wildlife species outside PAs
Identification of species-specific pockets of sizeable abundance outside PAs and their habitat suitability modelling through RS/GIS mapping

3. MAN - ANIMAL INTERACTIONS

Research Priorities

Identification of pockets of frequent man-wildlife conflicts and study of socio-economic aspects related to the conflicts in these pockets
To devise suitable measures for mitigation and adaptation for man-wildlife conflicts
To conduct wild health care monitoring programmes of zoonotic diseases

4. LANDSCAPE LEVEL PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT

Research Priorities

Genomic studies in tigers and other important species at landscape level
Study of landscape level source-sink dynamics of wild populations
Development of land scape level climate change adaptation model keeping into consideration the human-wildlife interface

5. CORRIDOR MANAGEMENT

Research Priorities

Delineation of wildlife corridors between various tiger reserves of Madhya Pradesh
Corridor functionality assessment in the identified wildlife corridors
Preparation of guidelines for the habitat improvement and management of corridors

Dr. Mayank M. Verma

Senior Research Assistant & Division In-Charge

16 Years Experience

Mobile No: + 91 9981657100
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An environmental & wildlife Research Professional with over 16 years of experience. Working in State Forest Research Institute as Senior Research Assistant and expertise in the environmental science, forest genetics, Silviculture, Forest Mensuration, Forest Management, Monitoring & Evaluation of the Forest Village Development Schemes, and Wildlife Management.
As a member of Climate Change Cell of Environmental Planning and Coordination Organization (EPCO) representing State Forest Research Institute of Govt. of M.P. on “Madhya Pradesh State Action Plan on Climate Change”
Successfully accomplished various Forestry Projects. An active and responsible person for climate change participated in various seminars on Climate Change.
Implemented a project on DNA-based monitoring of Tiger's presence and their movements in Kanha - Pench corridor of M.P. as Principal Investigator and scaling up into the other parts of State and published various research articles on forestry issues concerned to wildlife management and climate change. A Conceptual model on silvicultural management of bamboo plantation poster was presented at the XXIII IUFRO WORLD CONGRESS (IUFRO2010) held in Seoul (Korea).
Presently, doing research on Genetic and GIS mapping of Ratapani-kheoni landscape of Vindhyan range as a Principal Investigator project entitled "Study on Tiger presence and their dispersal movement in Ratapani Kheoni landscape of Vindhyan Range" under the Madhya Pradesh PCCF Wildlife sanctioned project since 2017, need forthe project originated from roaming of dispersal tigers near the Bhopal capital of Madhya Pradesh. We are doing a scientific investigation to find out the root cause and reasons for the presence of tiger inthe proximity of the capital jurisdiction. This study finding will be helpful in DSS for demarcation of critical Tiger habitats based on functional attributes and their connecting linkages. We are also performing the landscape level functionality assessment to determine the principal reason for Tiger's presence within the urban matrix. Study findings will be helpful in support to strategic green development of Bhopal capital in the upcoming future, with special reference to Tiger conservation in the Ratapani Kheoni landscape.
Research paper titled “Estimation of carrying capacity for grazing in different forest types, canopy densities and topography in Jabalpur forest division of Madhya Pradesh” prepared after conceptualization, research analysis, extensive fieldwork and published in Journal of Tropical Forestry, October-December, 2019 Vol. 35 (IV) ISSN 0970-1494. A research paper is published in XV World Forestry Congress 2021, Seoul, South Korea Title “Tiger Occupancy in Ratapani Landscape: What is the reason behind tiger presence in proximity of capital Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India?” conceptualizes occupancy, calculated in presence software 13.6.
Research paper on Wildlife Conflict Management titled “Evolvement of new population estimation techniques based on unique defecation behavior of male Blue bull” prepared after conceptualization, research analysis, extensive fieldwork and published in Journal of Tropical Forestry, January-June, 2021 Vol. 37 (I-II) ISSN 0970-1494. A scientific paper published in the peer-reviewed Journal PNAS “High frequency of an otherwise rare phenotype in a small and isolated tiger population” Sep 13,2021
I have Ph. D. in a functionality assessment of wildlife corridors through Genetic Diversity analysis and GIS mapping of Tigers (Panthera tigristigris) and their habitat. Also had M.Sc. in Life Sciences, L.L.B. - Forensic Science, and the Post Graduate Diploma in Management.
While working with State Government, I experienced partnerships and associated with key state/central government and relevant technical institutions working on environment, wildlife and climate change issues.

Research

On-going projects

S. No.	Title of the Project	Name of PI	Source of funding	Sanctioned Amount (Rs.)	Date of Initiation	Due Date of completion
1	Study project on wild elephant habitat use and mitigation measures to minimize man-conflict : with reference to Sanjay-Bandhavgarh habitat linkage of central highlands landscape.	Dr. Mayank M. Verma	PCCF (CAMPA), M.P. Bhopal	50.00 lakhs	Nov. 2022	Nov. 2024

Completed Projects

TITLE OF THE PROJECT	NAME OF PI	OBJECTIVES	FUNDING AGENCY	YEAR OF COMPLETION
Study on Tiger Presence and their dispersal movements in Ratapani-Kheoni landscape of Vindhyan Range	Dr. Mayank Makrand Verma		PCCF (Wildlife) Madhya Pradesh, Bhopal	2023
Reclamation plan of old ash bund in Sarni, Dist. Betul (MP) in favour of M.P. Power Generating Company Ltd., MP	Dr. Mayank Makrand Verma	To prepare a reclamation plan of old ash bund in Sarni, Dist. Betul (MP)	M.P. Power Generating Company Ltd., MP	2012
Standardization of potting mixture of various soil types for optimum growth of Tectona grandisL.f. (Teak), Gmelina arborea Roxb. (Khamer) and Dendrocalamus strictus Roxb. (Bamboo) species	Dr. Mayank Makrand Verma	To standardize proportion of ingredients of potting mixture for production of healthy planting stock of Tectona grandis, Gmelina arborea and Dendrocalamus strictus in major soil types of M.P.		2014
River sand mining Project of cluster bcl-2 at Bhind District (M.P.) EIA completed as Co-PI	Dr. R.K. Pandey	To Prepare Environment impact assessment and environmental management plan of Koundhkimadaiyan-a, koundhkimadaiyan-b, Koundhkimadaiyan-c River sand mining Project of cluster BCL-2 by Bhind District (M.P.) Report		2016
Technical Assistance in ‘Pine plantation growth studies determination of thinning regime in pine plantations raised in M.P.”	Dr. Ram Prakash	To determine the thinning regime in pine plantations raised in M.P.		2009
“Estimation of carrying capacity of grazing in different forest types and canopy densities in Jabalpur Forest Division of M.P.”	Dr. Mayank Makrand Verma	To estimate the carrying capacity of grazing. To prepare an inventory of palatable and non palatable grass species To study the effect of grazing & browsing on the regeneration of tree, shrubs, herbs and grasses.	Development Wing of MPFD	2015
“DNA based monitoring of Tigers presence and their movements in Kanha-Pench Corridor of M.P.” and assessed the impact of climate change on it.	Dr. Mayank Makrand Verma	Non-invasive genetic analysis to establish tiger presence, minimum tiger numbers and distribution using DNA extracted from non- invasively collected faecal samples from KanhaPench corridor of Madhya Pradesh. Assessment of the importance of corridor in maintaining genetic exchange between Kanha and Pench source population of tiger in Madhya Pradesh. To study on functionality of Kanha-Pench corridor for genetic exchange.	PCCF willife	2016
Research Executed as Co.P.I. Network project on Conservation of Lac Insect Genetic Resources” with collaboration IINRG Ranchi	Dr. Pratibha Bhatnagar	To conserve the genetic diversity of lac insect and awareness creation for livelihood generation	IINRG Ranchi	2014-15
“Standardization of the population estimation techniques of blue bull (Boselaphustragocamelus) using Pellet Group Count Method at Van Vihar National Park.”	Dr. Mayank Makrand Verma	To estimate population of Nilgai using different population estimation techniques in Van Vihar National Park. To estimatedefecation rate of Nilgai in enclosure. To compare the efficacy of pellet countmethod (indirect) and distance based line transect method (direct) with complete count method.	PCCF Wildlife	2017-18

Major Achievement:

Project report submission feedback letter of Chief Wildlife Warden Madhya Pradesh no/ Technical 1/2017/196 Bhopal dated 10.01. 2017 regarding the practical utility of project report title “DNA based monitoring of tiger presence and their movement in Kanha-Pench corridor” in strategic planning and strengthening of wildlife management of the state.
Award received by Honorable Forest Minister of Madhya Pradesh Government dated 24^th Feb 2016 at SFRI, Jabalpur regarding the excellence research work performed in the field of Wildlife corridor ( Kanha-Pench).
Prepared Research paper title “Tiger Occupancy in Ratapani Landscape: What is the reason behind tiger presence in proximity of capital Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India?” accepted for the potential presenter in XV World Forestry Congress 2021, at Coex, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Services rendered

Study on wildlife management, Human wildlife conflict, Wildlife corridor management and Wildlife conservation plan.
Training for forest official on human animal conflict management.

Research Activities / Other Projects

This division had been shouldered the responsibility for International Wildlife Conference on “Wildlife Conservation: Emerging Scenario and Way Forward” held at Kanha Tiger Reserve, Mandla (M.P.) 27-29 April, 2023, under theme 4: “Human-Wildlife Conflicts and Mitigation Measures” and presented five posters in different themes.
AITE-2022 Evaluation of wild Animals Population and Habitat in Madhya Pradesh. (Analysis of Carnivore Sign Survey and beat status of Tiger & Leopard), under worked as a Co-PI and supervised data validation & encounter rate calculations. Participated and provided technical assistant in training programme on “AITE-2022 MSTrIPES Desktop software” dated 04-14 April, 2022 at SFRI Jabalpur.
Executed the project “Monitoring and Evaluation of Plantations (Plantations Year 2015-16) for 20 plantation sites of Madhya Pradesh”, as team leader, sites located in Bhopal, Rewa, Gwalior, and Shivpuri circles.