Date: February – March 2019
Last Wilderness Foundation in association with the Panna Tiger Reserve management conducted the forest fire prevention awareness programme for approximately 500 villagers from 16 villages, namely: Koni, Majhouli, Katehri, Bilhata, Dobha, Akola, Kotagunjapur, Jardobha, Ranipur, Darera, Madaiyan, Badour, Hinouta, Khajri, Dahlan Chowki and Kudar between 1st February – 17th March 2019. The programme was targeted during this specific time period to proactively address the issue of forest fires by actively engaging with the villagers and motivating them for a ‘zero incidence’ Summer season in Panna.
Apart from this it was also to ensure a collaborative ownership of protecting the forests through various measures like joint patrolling by the villagers along with the Forest Dept staff, information sharing of any illegal activity in and around these villages, DOs & DON’Ts to avoid any animal attack, reinstating EDC meetings for further discussions etc. During the programme an open-house session was also held with each village to bring up the problems that the villagers are facing and the possible solutions that can be implemented with the help of the Panna TR’s support.
