In a significant move prompted by the rising tiger population in Vidarbha, the Government of Maharashtra has announced its decision to hand over the administrative control of the buffer area of Bor to the Bor Tiger Reserve (BTR). This action is in accordance with the Tiger Conservation Plan (TCP), which mandates the notification of buffer zones around tiger reserves following amendments to the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 on September 4, 2006.
The State Government’s decision to transfer unified control of the reserve to the Bor Tiger Reserve administration comes after the Management Effectiveness Evaluation of Bor conducted in 2018 and 2022. Under this new arrangement, the Bor management will now oversee the 678.14 sq km buffer area and the 138.12 sqkm core area of the reserve.
Previously, the jurisdiction of the Nagpur Territorial Forest Division encompassed the control of the 226.15 sqkm buffer area of the Bor Tiger Reserve, while the Wardha Territorial Forest Division managed the 451.99 sqkm buffer area. With this government decision, the management of the entire 678.14 sqkm buffer area now falls under the control of the Bor Tiger Reserve.
The Field Director of the Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR) will assume the role of the administrative head of the Bor Tiger Reserve (BTR). The Deputy Director of BTR, who will have his office in Wardha, will oversee the administrative work of the buffer area. This role grants the Deputy Director control over a total of 816.26 sqkm, which includes the Bor Dharan, New Bor, Kavdas (Buffer), Hingni (Buffer), and Bangdapur (Buffer) Forest Ranges.
As part of the restructuring process, the Forest Department has transferred 88.43 sqkm of the Nagpur Forest Division to the BTR, resulting in a reconfigured Nagpur Forest Division covering an area of 1,271.32 sqkm.
Excluding the Bor Tiger Reserve, the Nagpur Forest Division now comprises Narkhed (116.83 sqkm), Katol (95.09 sqkm), Kondhali (130.07 sqkm), Hingna (106.69 sqkm), North Umred (267.96 sqkm), South Umred (127.665 sqkm), Seminary Hills (9.30 sqkm), Kalmeshwar (49.05 sqkm), Khapa (58.85 sqkm), Deolapar (104.66 sqkm), Paoni (116.29 sqkm), Ramtek (88.19 sqkm), and Kamptee (0.68 sqkm) forest areas.