Livelihood Support

The Western Ghats mountain chain is one among the 36 global biodiversity hotspots supporting significant biodiversity and endemicity, particularly among vascular plants, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. This chain of mountains spans 140,000 sq. km, traversing the Indian states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.


Bhadra landscape inWestern Ghats Landscape

WCS-India supports its government and non-government partners by playing an active role in this landscape to address several complex conservation issues. The main goal is to ensure the long-term persistence of the threatened mammalian fauna and consolidation of critical wildlife habitats in the Western Ghats, while aiding in positive socio-economic outcomes for the marginalized forest-dwelling communities living within or around these critical wildlife habitats.

Facilitating the Government-sponsored voluntary relocation program 


Crop yield at Sollepura Resettlement

Voluntary relocation is a government-funded program which supports willing families to voluntarily resettle outside the Protected Areas. When implemented fairly and efficiently, it is a “Win-Win situation” and a potent tool for social upliftment of the marginalized forest-dwelling communities. It also aids in forest and wildlife recovery by creating large inviolate spaces inside PAs. 


Happy farmer at Shettihalli Resettlement

We help in post-voluntary relocation support by aiding families in establishing livelihood as well as providing skill-based training. Additionally, we provide access to quality medical help, sponsor higher education of many tribal students, empower these communities by supporting self-help groups as well as access other government schemes that will help in livelihood, educational and other social security support.  

 


Beneficiaries of the Government sponsored voluntary relocation programme in their new house outside the PA in Wayanad

For two decades, we have been actively supporting many voluntarily resettled families from various protected areas in Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Our efforts in supporting the Telangana and Andhra Pradesh government are also ongoing.


Bharati, the first female member of Gram Panchayat in Sollepura

Supporting private-funded land purchase in critical wildlife habitats for consolidation of these lands with PAs:


Gaur herd seen in the purchased land after voluntary relocation in Bhagawathi

 

 

Trail-blazing journey from a forest-dweller to a 'super farmer'

Meet Daasi, the tribal woman from the Sollepura resettlement colony, who had no clue about farming few years ago, but is now a model farmer!

Read More

Click here to meet the team!

 

Photo Copyrights: Prakash Matada/IORAPRO, Manish Machaiah, Govindappa H L, Niren Jain

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Contact Information
Address: 551, 7th Main Road Rajiv Gandhi Nagar, 2nd Phase Bengaluru - 560097 Karnataka, India https://g.page/WCS-India?share | 080-2973-7455