The Lemru Elephant Reserve in Chhattisgarh

Table of Contents

Lemru Elephant Reserve Overview

Key Takeaways on Lemru Elephant Reserve and Coal Mining

Sections	Details
About Lemru Elephant Reserve	Situated in Korba district of Chhattisgarh. Initially covered an area of 450 sq km, but was expanded to 1995 sq km in 2019. Designated as a Conservation Reserve under the Wildlife Protection Act. Serves as a connection for three vital elephant corridors.
Coal Mining Concerns	The reserve contains 22 designated coal blocks. 7 of these coal blocks have been allocated, with 4 in the process of becoming operational. The area is considered significant due to its vast coal reserves.
Proposal to Downsize	A recent proposition suggests reducing the reserve’s size from 1995 sq km back to its original 450 sq km. This proposal is driven by the presence of both operational and allocated coal mines within the reserve.
Biodiversity and Importance	Lemru is a sanctuary for over 240 elephants. The reserve ensures connectivity between various elephant habitats, thus reducing incidents of human-elephant conflicts.
Challenges and Priorities	The reserve holds immense ecological significance, emphasizing the need for conservation. At the same time, there’s the pressing requirement to extract coal for developmental purposes. An optimal solution is sought-after, which takes both conservation and development into consideration.

The Lemru Elephant Reserve is located in the Korba district of Chhattisgarh. It was originally approved in 2007 over an area of 450 sq km but was later expanded to 1,995 sq km in 2019 by the state government. Recently, there have been proposals to reduce the area back to 450 sq km again. The key purpose of establishing this reserve is to provide a protected habitat for elephants migrating from nearby states like Jharkhand, while also minimizing human-elephant conflict and destruction of property.

The reserve falls within the dense Hasdeo Arand forests which act as an important elephant corridor connecting three regions – Lemru, Badalkhol and Tamorpingla. By providing a permanent habitat, the reserve aims to address issues of property damage and loss of human lives due to negative interactions between wild elephants and humans. The reserve is therefore ecologically significant for elephant conservation efforts in the state.

Lemru Elephant Reserve Map

Origin and Expansion

Original approval in 2007 for 450 sq km reserve
Expanded to 1995 sq km in 2019 by state govt
Notified as Conservation Reserve in 2020 under Wildlife Protection Act

The Lemru Elephant Reserve was originally approved by the Government of India in 2007 over an area of 450 sq km in the Korba district of Chhattisgarh. After its formation, the state government decided to expand the area of the reserve significantly to 1,995 sq km in 2019, in order to provide a larger protected habitat for elephants. This expanded area was then notified as a Conservation Reserve in October 2020 under Section 36A of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

Downsizing Proposal

Recently proposed to reduce area from 1995 to 450 sq km again
Due to coal deposits and operational mines in area

However, recently in June 2021, the Chhattisgarh Forest Department proposed reducing the area of the Lemru Elephant Reserve back to 450 sq km from the expanded 1,995 sq km. This proposal to downsize the reserve is being considered because the expanded area includes parts of the Hasdeo Aranya coalfields which are rich in coal deposits. Out of 22 coal blocks present here, 7 have already been allotted for mining and 4 others are in the process of being operationalized. Since mining activities cannot be undertaken in protected reserve areas, the presence of rich coal reserves in the expanded zone is a major reason behind the state government’s proposal to reduce the reserve area again to only 450 sq km.

Geography

Part of Hasdeo Aranya forests
Korba district
Connects 3 elephant corridors – Lemru, Badalkhol, Tamorpingla

The Lemru Elephant Reserve is located within the Korba district of Chhattisgarh. Geographically, it forms part of the dense Hasdeo Aranya forests which span across this region. The reserve provides connectivity between three important elephant corridors – Lemru, Badalkhol and Tamorpingla. By linking these corridors which are frequently used by migratory elephant populations, the reserve aims to provide a larger protected habitat for elephants in the state.

Biodiversity

Flora

Sal, bamboo and mixed forests
Catchment area of Hasdeo and Mand rivers

The flora found in the reserve comprises mainly of sal, bamboo and mixed deciduous forests. These forest areas also form the catchment region of two rivers – Hasdeo and Mand – which are important tributaries of the Mahanadi river system. Therefore, preserving the forest cover in the reserve is critical for maintaining healthy river flows.

Fauna

Elephants – migratory corridor
Tigers, leopards, bears, deer, bison etc

The reserve is home to a migratory population of elephants that move between Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh using this corridor. Apart from elephants, the reserve also harbors other wildlife species like tigers, leopards, sloth bears, bison, deer, and more. Hence it is biodiverse in terms of fauna as well and plays an important role in conservation of wildlife in the state.

Significance for Elephant Conservation

Home to over 240 elephants in North Chhattisgarh
Provides habitat connectivity to elephants migrating from Jharkhand
Aim to reduce human-elephant conflict

The Lemru Elephant Reserve holds significance for conservation of elephants in Chhattisgarh. As per records, north Chhattisgarh alone is home to a population of over 240 elephants. The reserve provides habitat connectivity and a protected passage for elephant herds migrating from neighboring states like Jharkhand into Chhattisgarh. By reducing habitat fragmentation, the reserve aims to minimize negative interactions and conflict between human settlements and migrating elephants. The Reserve plays an important role in elephant conservation for the state.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, the Lemru Elephant Reserve is ecologically vital as it provides a protected habitat for wildlife like elephants, tigers, bears etc. At the same time, the presence of rich coal deposits within the reserve also highlights the need to balance conservation goals and developmental needs. Reducing the reserve area could help utilize the coal reserves for energy needs. However, adequate precautions need to be taken to ensure mining activities do not impact the fragile river systems and wildlife habitats within the reserve. The future course for the Lemru Reserve should therefore aim for an optimal solution that serves both conservation and development interests.