Green-Ag

The landscape in Odisha is contiguous with the UNESCO recognized Simlipal Biosphere Reserve, in the Mayurbhanj district. It covers 556 900 ha. and comprises of the Similipal Tiger Reserve, the Similipal Wildlife Sanctuary, and the Nato and Satkoshia Reserve Forests.
The project aligns with State policies and priorities, particularly the ‘Odisha’s 12th Plan Approach paper’, the gender and social inclusion priorities identified in the 12th Plan of Odisha, ‘The Vision Document-2036’ and the management plan for the Similipal Tiger Reserve from 2013-14 to 2022-23, as shown in table below.

Summary of landscape in Odisha
S.No.	Particulars	Details
1	Landscape	Similipal Landscape
2	Protected Areas / Biosphere reserves within landscapes	Similipal Biosphere Reserve
3	Global environmental values	• 94 species of orchids, two endemic to Similipal • 1 286 species of flowering plants • 21 species of amphibians • 62 species of reptiles • 362 species of birds • 55 species of mammals • Robust habitat for the Asian elephant and the Royal Bengal tiger • Significant agrobiodiversity and cultural diversity
4	Socioeconomic Information
4.1	Districts included in the landscape	Mayurbhanj
4.2	Number of villages in the target landscape	1 218
4.3	Population in the target landscape	795 804
4.4	Key ethnic groups	Birhors, Hill Khadias and Lodhas as primitive tribes amongst the indigenous people are present in this landscape. Other indigenous ethnic groups such as Santhal, Kolha, Bhomji, Bhuiyan, Bathudi, Kharia, Gond etc. are also present.
4.5	Dominant agricultural produce	Spiked Millet, Great Millet, Maize and Rice
4.6	Livelihoods	The main sources of livelihoods in the landscape are agriculture, fisheries, mineral resources, small scale business, and manual labour. Most of the families here are smallholder farmers who practice crop farming, livestock raising and agroforestry. Collection and sale of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP) is also important for local communities. Rearing of tussar silkworms is an important source of income for many tribal and other disadvantaged communities here.

Project alignment with Odisha State policy and priorities
S.No.	State Policy and Priority	Project alignment
1	Odisha’s 12th Plan Approach paper (that aims at broad-based and inclusive overall growth above 9% and above 4% growth in the agriculture sector)	Focuses on raising farm productivity; augmenting irrigation through check dams, deep borewells, mega lift projects and revival of traditional water bodies; remunerative prices to farmers through appropriate market interventions; promoting facilities for better storage and post-harvest etc.
2	Gender and social inclusion priorities identified in the Odisha State’s 12th Plan	The project incorporates perspectives of gender and social inclusion in its design by identifying existing gender roles and social barriers and designing strategies/activities to ensure gender equality and socially inclusive outcomes. Greater focus will be on repressed tribal dominated districts.
3	The Vision Document-2036	Focuses on poverty eradication, infrastructure boost, gender equality and social inclusion etc.
4	A management plan for the Similipal Tiger Reserve from 2013-14 to 2022-23	Addresses issues relating to protection of tiger reserves; delineation of dispersal pathways and corridors; ensures agricultural livelihood development including gender equality and social inclusion, and other interests of the people living in the buffer areas adjoining tiger reserves etc.

Similipal Landscape (Odisha)