Odisha’s Similipal Tiger Reserve Begins A Grassland Revival Programme

Bhubaneswar: Deep inside the forests of Odisha’s Similipal Tiger Reserve, a quiet ecological transformation is underway. Beneath the towering sal trees and across open patches once teeming with wild herbivores, conservationists are attempting to bring back something often overlooked but vital to the survival of the forest — its grasslands.

The reserve has launched an ambitious restoration programme to revive more than 500 hectares of degraded meadows, aiming to rebuild critical wildlife habitats and strengthen the prey base that sustains its tiger population.

“These grasslands are the foundation of the food chain,” said Prakash Chand Gogineni, Regional Chief Conservator of Forests (RCCF) and Field Director of Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR). “Healthy grasslands support herbivores, and these herbivores ultimately sustain carnivores, including tigers.”

The restoration effort has begun with the revival of 70 hectares of degraded meadows — 50 hectares in the South Wildlife Division and 20 hectares in the North Wildlife Division. Instead of relying on commercially available varieties, forest officials are using seeds of native grasses collected from the surrounding landscape, preserving the ecological character of Similipal’s natural habitat.

Spread across nearly 2,750 square kilometres, Similipal is one of India’s most important wilderness landscapes and a refuge for the Royal Bengal Tiger. But beneath its dense green canopy, an ecological challenge has been quietly unfolding.

The reserve has nearly 1,250 hectares of recorded meadows, which serve as feeding grounds for herbivores such as deer, gaur and other wild grazers. However, more than 40 per cent of these grasslands have deteriorated over the years due to increasing grazing pressure and the invasion of non-native weeds.

As herbivore populations expanded, many grasslands struggled to regenerate naturally. The spread of invasive species further reduced the availability of nutritious native grasses, threatening the delicate balance between prey and predator.

To reverse this trend, STR has turned to a restoration technique known as complete seeding — a method that focuses on rebuilding grass cover from the ground up. The approach involves preparing degraded patches of land and sowing a carefully selected mix of native grass seeds gathered from nearby agricultural fields, roadside areas and abandoned lands where these species continue to survive.

Forest officials are also developing permanent grass seed nurseries to create a sustainable source of native seeds for future restoration programmes.

The technique emerged as the most successful among four different restoration methods tested by STR. During the 2025-26 financial year, about 40 hectares of degraded meadows were restored through complete seeding, producing promising results. The once-barren patches have now begun turning green with native grasses, and wildlife movement into these areas is expected after another cycle of natural seed dispersal next year.

The restoration of these meadows is not merely about increasing green cover. Grasslands act as the dining halls of the forest, supporting the herbivores that form the backbone of the tiger’s ecosystem. A healthier prey population means a stronger and more resilient tiger habitat.

Officials believe the 500-hectare restoration initiative will not only improve the ecological health of Similipal but also create a reserve of native grass seeds that can support conservation efforts in other forest divisions.

“In the ancient rhythm of Similipal’s wilderness, where every species is connected to another, the return of native grasses could mark the beginning of a larger revival — restoring the forgotten landscapes that keep the forest alive,” says Manoj Das, a local journalist.