Rajasthan

• 25 Mar 2025

International Forest Day

Why in News? 

International Forests Day celebrations were organized on 21st March, 2025 at Rajasthan International Centre (RIC), Jaipur. 

• On this occasion, the Chief Minister of Rajasthan launched  several programs related to forest conservation, tourism and climate change . 

 Key Points 

• About the programs: 
  • The Chief Minister laid the foundation stone of Forest Training and Management Institute in Jaipur. 
  • Eco tourism facilities were introduced in Sitamata Wildlife Sanctuary and electric golf carts were introduced  in Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur and Nahargarh Biological Park . 
  • Soil Health Card and logo of Climate Change Response and Ecosystem Services Enhancement (CRESEP) in Rajasthan were unveiled.  
  • DG-Forest App was inaugurated , which is based on IT technology to enhance transparency in the Forest Department . 
  • Kits were distributed to Vanmitras and women forest personnel working in the field were honoured.  
• International Forest Day: 
  • The International Day of Forests began as “World Forestry Day” established in 1971 by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) . 
  • It was formally recognised by  the United Nations General Assembly in 2012. 
  • It aims to raise awareness about forest conservation and sustainable management . 
  • The theme of International Day of Forests 2025 is "Forests and Food" . 

 Nahargarh Wildlife Sanctuary  

• About:  
  • Situated in the Aravalli hills, approximately 20 kilometres from Jaipur, Rajasthan.  
  • Named after Nahargarh Fort, an 18th-century fort built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the founder of Jaipur.  
  • Covers an area of 720 hectares.  
  • Includes Nahargarh Biological Park, renowned for its lion safaris.  
• Flora: Comprises dry deciduous forests, scrublands, and grasslands.  
• Fauna:  
  • Mammals:  
    • Common species include leopards, wild boars, deer, lions, tigers, sloth bears, and various small mammals.  
  • Birds:  
    • A paradise for bird watchers, featuring species such as peacocks, owls, and eagles.  
  • Reptiles and Amphibians:  
    • Home to reptiles like Indian rock pythons and monitor lizards.  
    • Amphibians such as frogs and toads are also found here. 

 Keoladeo National Park 

• Introduction:  
  • Keoladeo National Park is a wetland and bird sanctuary located in Bharatpur, Rajasthan. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of  the most important bird sanctuaries in the world. 
    • Chilika Lake (Odisha) and Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) were recognised  as India's first Ramsar sites in 1981 . 
    • Currently, Keoladeo National Park and Loktak Lake (Manipur)  are listed in the Montreux Record . 
  • It is famous for its rich bird diversity and abundance of water birds . The park is home to over 365 species of birds , including many rare and endangered species , such as the Siberian crane .   
• Rivers :   
  • The Gambhir and Banganga rivers flow through this national park. 

Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve

Why in News? 

Caracal, a medium-sized and locally threatened cat, was seen for the first time in Mukundara Hills Tiger Reserve of Rajasthan . 

 

Key Points 

• About Caracal: 
  • Scientific Name: Caracal Caracal Schmitzi 
  • The caracal is a nocturnal cat species found in  Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia and South Asia . 
  • It is identified by its long, pointed and black tufted ears . Its name is derived from the Turkish word 'karakulak' , which means black ears . 
  • It is an extremely agile predator , known for its fast speed and long jumping ability . Its main diet is small hoofed animals and rodents . 
• Historical Importance: 
  • The caracal has been an important part of Indian wildlife . It is mentioned in historical texts such as Khamsa-i-Nizami and Shahnama , indicating its usefulness in hunting. It was once found in various biological provinces across 13 states of India . 
• Distribution: 
  • They are found mostly in Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh and are located in Kutch, the Malwa Plateau, the Aravalli hill range. 
  • Besides India, the caracal is found in several dozen countries across Africa, the Middle East, Central and South Asia. 
• Habitats: 
  • It occurs in semi-deserts, steppes, savannah, scrubland, dry forest and moist woodland or evergreen forest. 
  • It prefers open terrain and drier, scrubby, arid habitats and needs cover. 
• Declination in numbers: 
  • The number of Caracal in India has reduced to less than 50 . 
  • Between 2001 and 2020, their population has declined by more than 95%. 
  • Their staple food has become scarce due to habitat loss and urbanization . 
• Conservation status: 
  • IUCN Red List: Least Concern 
  • Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I 
  • CITES: Appendix I 
  • In 2021, the National Board for Wildlife and the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change classified the caracal as a critically endangered species. 

Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve 

• It is located in the Hadauti region of Rajasthan, spread over an area of 759 square kilometres across four districts of Rajasthan – Kota, Bundi, Chittaurgarh and Jhalawar. 
  • It consists of a core area of 417 square kilometres and a buffer zone of 342 square kilometres. 
• It was declared a protected area in 1955. The trees in the forest here are very thick and dense. 
• This tiger reserve is surrounded by four rivers Ramzan, Aahu, Kali and Chambal and is situated between two parallel hills Mukundra and Gagrola . It falls under the drainage area of the tributaries of Chambal river. 
• Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve is the third largest tiger reserve in Rajasthan after Ranthambore and Sariska Tiger Reserves. 
• The Government of Rajasthan, in collaboration with the National Tiger Conservation Authority , declared it a Tiger Reserve in the year 2013 under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 .