Wild Maharashtra
Contents: 1. Wild Maharashtra : A personal journey. 2. Maharashtra: the great Kingdom. 3. Seasons in the Sahyadri: in appreciation of the Western Ghats. 4. Kalsubai-Harishchandragad-Malshej Ghat: Trekking in the roof of the Sahyadri. 5. The Sahyadri tiger reserve : life under the tiger\'s umbrella. 6. The Sanjay Gandhi National Park: more than a forest...a miracle. 7. The Tansa wildlife sanctuary: Mumbai\'s water bank. 8. The Bhimashankar wildlife sanctuary : Squirrels in Shiva\'s forest. 9. Mahabaleshwar: queen of bill stations. 10. Radhanagari and Dajipur: land of the Indian bison. 11. Amboli: hidden herb haven. 12. Matcheran magic: a cloud forest. 13. The Kaas plateau: Maharashtra\'s floral paradise. 14. The Karnala fort and bird sanctuary: pocket-sized wilderness. 15. The Phansad wildlife sanctuary: biodiversity in Mumbai\'s backyard. 16. The Tadoba-Andhari tiger reserve: Maharashtra\'s pride. 17. Tadoba\'s Pandharpauni tigers: family fortunes. 18. Nagzira wildlife sanctuary: more space for tigers. 19. The Pench tiger reserve: Maharashtra\'s reclaimed tiger haven. 20. The Melghat tiger reserve: where the bills meet. 21. The lonar crater: ethereal beauty, fragile heritage. 22. The great Indian bustard sanctuary: grassroot conservation in Nannaj. 23. Deulgaon-Rehekuri: protecting a scrub-grassland. 24. Coastal Maharashtra: magical marine haven. 25. The Sewri Mudflats: flamingo fortress. 26. Maharashtra\'s Wetland wealth: climate insurance. 27. Nandur-Madhmeshwar: Maharashtra\'s bird paradise. 28. Maharashtra\'s lesser known wildernesses: quiet biodiversity escapes. 29. The flying jewels of Maharashtra: where to spot butterflies. 30. The way forward: Maharashtra\'s conservation saga. 31. Tomorrow\'s world: protecting wild Maharashtra. 32. Flora and fauna checklists. 33. Useful information. Glossary. Bibliography. Index.
Maharashtra is a Universe unto itself. Appropriately named Maha-Great Rashtra-Nation its territory extends across just under 308,000 sq.km. and encompasses some of India\'s most diverse and beautiful ecosystems. It is this exquisite legacy that Wild Maharashtra celebrates.
Sanctuary Asia believes that this natural capital could attract millions of sensitive tourists from around the world in the years ahead. As they gaze in awe and delight at the extraordinary wonders this land has to offer the traditional hospitality for which Maharastra is justifiably famous, could be key to delivering unique experiences that help usher in an economic and social renewal.
Maharashtra\'s inventory of assets includes the Konkan\'s marine biomes, the water towers and ever green forests of the Sahyadri ranges in the Western Ghats, the grasslands of the Deccan Plateau, Vidarbha\'s tiger-stocked Satpuda range and Marathwada\'s semi-arid biotope that has gained popularity as the home of the Great Indian Bustard. For centuries, this land was fiercely defended by the likes of Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj who went on to establish the Hindavi Swarajya that withstood the might of the Mughals for over 150 years.
Since Independence, Maharashtra has taken justifiable pride in being India\'s economic powerhouse. But today, formidable challenges, primarily climate change, threaten our water, food, economic and social security. Restoring the natural ecosystems would help to mitigate such threats, but this will require statesmanship, and an understanding of the umbilical connection between biodiversity protection, climate change and the quality of human life.
It is to document and highlight Maharashtra\'s self-interest in protecting such natural life-support systems as forests, coasts, mountains, wetlands, grasslands, rivers and lakes, that Sanctuary Asia has dedicated itself tot he Wild Maharashtra mission. (jacket)
