Improving the Habitat for Wildlife | Essay | Geography

Read this essay to learn about the various major artificial measures adopted for the habitat-improvement/management/manipulation for proper supply and availability of food, water and shelter.

Essay Contents:

1. Essay on Food Improvement
2. Essay on Water Improvement
3. Essay on Shelter Improvement
4. Essay on Fire Management

Essay # 1. Food Improvement:

In general, the plants of any place are the resultant of climate, soil, moisture and biotic factors of that very place. Hence, these factors determine the quality and quantity of food of the habitat. For instance, due to the effects of climate and soil, the forests and vegetation’s are quite different in Rajasthan hot-desert and Ladhakh cold desert and subsequently the wildlife (wild animals) in both the places are quite different according to the suitability.

For the manipulation, the projects should be designed to improve the habitat for wildlife; seed mixtures should be used rather than straight browse or grass plantings. Native ranges containing a wide choice of grass, browse etc. usually supports the most abundant wildlife-population.

Therefore, habitat-management projects should be designed not only to increase the quantity of grass, browse etc. but to provide a well-balanced variety as-well. Hence, to- access the condition, quality and character of the existing plants and their improvement in a habitat, is primary basic steps of wildlife management.

Before the management/manipulation of the habitat, it is important to find out or access the necessities of the all types of plants available in that habitat. For example, some animals eat only fruits and seeds, some depend upon grass, and some take grass and leaves of the bushes.

In this way, their requirements are different and, therefore, the condition of the habitat or the animals depends upon each other. Judging the situation of the habitats, it is essential to manipulate them as per the needs of the wildlife.

For the purpose, control-burning and control-grazing are must through which germination of the seeds and growths of the plants are assured. Likewise, afforestation and introduction of fodder species, wherever needed, are essential taking into consideration the suitability of the wild animals.

The above objectives should be brought about following the principles such as:

(a) Reduction of other competitive plants to allow moisture and soil nutrients tor the planted seeds.

(b) Elimination or control of grazing by live-stocks.

(c) Terrain and soil should be suitable to support the desired forage species.

(d) Plantation of adopted species and strains.

(e) Plantation of mixture (mixed species) because it supports different species on the site conditions to which they are best suited.

(f) Use of sufficient seeds to ensure a stand.

(g) Proper planting and coverage of seed is essential.

(h) Seeding and plantation should be in proper time.

(i) Control-burning and control-grazing.

Food is the most important basic need of the animal. Hence, “improvement of food production” is the most frequently used technique to manipulate the habitat of wildlife.

This may be accomplished by:-

(i) Production of Edible Fruits and Seeds:

The fruits and seeds of many plant species are eaten as preferred food by so many herbivorous wild animals including birds. Therefore, conservation and propagation of such plants are very essential. Their plantation is also important measure for the production, of such edible parts. Such fruit species should be saved by providing protection to them and propagated by removing unwanted competitive vegetation’s found around them.

(ii) Production of Grazing and Browsing Food:

We know that choice of food is different for different kinds of wild animals as well as there are some particular foods which are not preferred by them. Particularly, herbivorous animals graze and browse on so many plant species but among them all are not so energetic and of good quality.

Therefore, such plants species which have good quality as food for wildlife in the habitat should be accessed and judged very carefully. They must be protected and propagated to fulfill the demand of the required wildlife. Unwanted plant species should be removed for their proper growth.

But in this practice, there should be judicious approach because each and every species has its own importance in the ecosystem. Hence, at the time of management practices, it is necessary to take careful decision especially in connection of retaining and removing the plant species in view of propagating the target species.

Sometimes, it happens that the preferred food plants come on the verge of extinction due to heavy grazing and browsing; and the unwanted vegetation’s or weeds get enormous growth being less damaged in grazing/browsing. Therefore, it is necessary to take scientific and judicious step in this regard depending upon the situations and objectives.

(iii) Production/Creation of Pasture Land:

The areas inside the forest or neighbouring the forest which are suitable for pasture lands should be created for the purpose as well as the pasture lands which have become damaged due to over-grazing should also be improved.

In such areas, seeding of suitable grass species and plantation of browsing species should be done as per the need of wildlife. As per the requirement in such areas, control-grazing should be adopted and even grazing may be banned for certain required period for the proper growth of the vegetation.

(iv) Control Grazing:

The practices of control-grazing must be preferred area-wise, phase-wise and period-wise. Such periodical grazing will be helpful in proper growth of the vegetation and germination of the seeds and production of the sufficient food quality.

(v) Control Burning:

Mostly herbivorous wild animals prefer new delicate succulent parts of the vegetation. It is more nutritive to the animals and also liked too much. Old and hard plants including bushes become unpalatable and, hence, lessens the carrying- capacity of the habitat. In such condition, control-burning is essential to regain new delicate plants.

But in such practices, care should be taken to avoid burning of wild animals and other valuable plants species. Burning should be avoided also in the areas where even long and old grasses are liked, though not by all, but certain wild animals such as bison etc.

In certain areas, even burning does not help in germinating delicate palatable grasses. Hence, before applying control-burning practices, it needs thorough studies and observations in respective habitat for the target species.

(vi) Insect Control:

To maintain food-chains and food webs of the ecosystem and its natural-balance in habitat, it is essential to keep the population of each species up to the optimum-level. In this view, the insect population is an important link in the food-chain providing feeding to the insectivorous birds and animals.

The races of insects are to be maintained; otherwise the existence of the animals depending upon them comes in danger. For the purpose, ail dead and dying trees should not be removed. They should be retained as such in certain ratio so that the insects living on such trees may survive keeping ecological-balance.

If situation is adverse, the predators of insects will perish and the population of insects will grow enormously and then epidemic condition will arise. As the consequences, insecticides (chemicals) are to be used to control them which is disastrous to the wildlife as well as causing environmental-pollution and, hence, not feasible everywhere and every time in the forest area.

That’s why; “integrated pest management (IPM)” technique is preferred now-a-days. Overall, as the preventive measure, at least five snag trees per hectare should be left in every area at the time of silviculture operation in the forest.

(vii) Artificial Feeding:

Though the artificial-feeding to the wild animals should not be preferred because the animals lose their wilderness characters in getting such food and become like pets; but some time in pinch-period or in adverse natural condition, artificial-feeding becomes essential to save them, specially the target species.

In this respect, salt lick is very much important. It is a place where salty or sulphurous earth, mud or water is found on the surface and wild animals habitually resort to eat, lick or drink the stuff. Natural salt­licks are available in the jungle in the form of almost flat hilly rocks made up of licking soil mixed with Nacl.

But in some places, it is found in scanty and so artificial salt-licks are supplied to the wild animals to make up the deficiency. Artificial salt-licks are made by mixing the normal salt (Nacl) with the licking soil in the form of balls or in rectangular shape and sun dried.

It is supplied to the wild animals inside the jungle as the supplementary nutrients generally near the waterholes or other suitable places so that the animals can lick it and remove the deficiency.

It may also be placed near the spaces where the animals are not visiting for grazing so that they may be attracted towards it and can graze and grow in the untouched areas. Thus, the sighting of the wild animals may be increased by the artificial-feeding, salt-licking etc. in the desired areas and in this way their population may be enhanced.

Essay # 2. Water Improvement:

The requirement of water is one of the basic needs of wild animals, though its consumption varies in accordance with the species concerned. Some species require it daily, some at intervals while some do not. But majority require it daily. Therefore, the availability of water source (waterholes) in the habitat is very essential throughout the year.

If it is not found in sufficient quantity, the wild animals will be unable to live in that particular habitat, their number will deplete and even cases of death will occur. Hence, water affects density of the animal’s population and, therefore, the management and maintenance of waterholes is an important tool in habitat-improvement in the field of wildlife management.

Generally, it has been seen that even after the availability of sufficient food and shelter; there is insufficient number of the species or occurrence of death in the habitat showing the reason of lacking of sufficient waterholes. Such occurrence is apparent in pinch- period specially in the summer.

To be big in size or quantity of the waterholes is not very essential; but its distribution and numbers in the habitat matter a lot. For instance, if there is very less number of waterholes in the habitat; there will be great pressure and gathering of wild animals around it causing hard intra and interspecific competition among them. Near the water source, there will be crowd of the animals beyond its carrying-capacity.

There will be over-utilization of food and shelter around it, causing its destruction; while the other parts of the habitat will remain untouched or under-utilized. As the resultant, the animals will come under psychological pressure due to over-crowding hampering their productivity.

This will also cause diseases due to dirtyness of the waterholes being more and more utilized beyond its capacity and, thus, the whole populations of the area may vanish. Only existence of a population is not so important rather its growth and propagation in proper direction is essential and important.

Therefore, management of evenly and properly distribution of waterholes in sufficient numbers throughout the year in the habitat is very essential. Keeping this view, there should be at least one waterhole in each home-range for the animals which require water daily or regularly; for others, it may be at distinct places serving their requirement.

The proper management of waterholes in sufficient number increases the carrying-capacity of habitat and its proper utilization as a whole. For the purpose, maintenance of natural waterholes and development of artificial waterholes are must.

Following are the methods of improving waterholes for wildlife:

a. Maintenance of Natural Waterholes:

Natural waterholes can be maintained and improved as follows:

(i) Natural Waterholes:

Natural waterholes are often found in nallas and rocky areas where run-off water is accumulated in depressions. At times, such holes can be improved by deepening the catchments or by trenching run-off water directly to the basin. The arrangement should be done to make it available to the wildlife.

The improvement techniques of the natural water sources should be done under the guidance of experienced and expertized persons, otherwise the result may lead to damaging stage.

(ii) Seeping:

Somewhere in natural condition, it is seen that water is coming out drop by drop through a particular space. Such water cannot be utilized by the wildlife. Such water can be collected in a artificially made ditch/tank by applying devices like through hollow bamboo or pipe catching those seeping water. Such collected water will be beneficial and utilizable to the wildlife serving their purpose.

b. Development of Artificial Waterholes:

Artificial waterholes are developed by adopting following measures:

(i) Reservoirs and Ponds:

These may be formed by building a dam directly across a drainage/nallah or by enclosing a depression on one side of the drainage and also by constructing a diversion-ditch into the resulting basin.

(ii) Water Catchments:

Many types of self-filling watering devices may be designed and developed for the use of wildlife called as “water- catchments” in general. These are designed differently as per the need of the different species of wild animals.

(iii) Other Water Developments:

The habitat manager may construct water development devices such as tanks, wells, tube-wells, hand- pumps etc. with the connection of water reservoirs according to the requirement and suitability of the habitat.

c. Soil & Water Conservation:

From habitat improvement point of view, it is important to take care simultaneously for soil-conservation and water-conservation. It is essential to maintain eco-balance of the habitat as soil is the prime natural base for the development of vegetation. Soil is one of the factors determining the kinds and growth of the plant of a place for which water is also essential.

Hence, their conservation is the conservation and propagation of forest, plants and all types of vegetation’s, and ultimately to the wild animals. By planting suitable tree, fodder, grass and other species in the habitat; soil and water should be conserved.

This will play dual purposes such as conservation of soil and water as well as solving water and food problem of wildlife. In addition, formation of check-dams and other suitable devices are also necessary to prevent soil-erosion and run-off of water.

d. Wetland Development:

Particularly for certain birds, wetland and shallow water are required as their habitats. Deep water is required for the fishes; but for the aquatic birds, marshy land and vegetation inside the reservoir are needed for their roosting and perching. Therefore, its development is very much essential for developing the habitat for the aquatic birds.

This is the reason that in vast water-reservoir; the number of birds in deep-water area is very few, while on the bank and shallow-water area they are found in large numbers. Such area is also ideal place for migratory birds. Hence, the development of wetlands and the reservoirs is too much essential. Such areas should be free from effluents or byproducts of the factory and siltation.

The water-level in the reservoir should not be alike throughout the year so that the aquatic plant may grow on the moist banks or in shallow water very well. For the purpose, check-dams should be built in the deep reservoir and minimally there should be 15-45 cm water-level area in the half of the total basin-area.

The aquatic-habitat has been and being damaged and polluted too much. The unused products of the factories, sewage of the cities and towns, garbage etc. are dropped in such habitat. The wetland is also being converted into human-habitation and, thus, such areas are dwindling day-by-day hampering the habitat of wildlife.

Such practices must be stopped and the following measures should be adopted for its management:

(i) In the reservoirs and waterholes, the devices like check-dames etc. should be made to lessen the water-level as per the need of the aquatic birds.

(ii) If the waterholes are not shallow and purposeful to the birds, the artificial nesting should be formed and installed along the banks of the water source. Such nesting as shelter should be placed at the height of one metre from the water-level and apart from the bank at the distance of 20 metres with the intervals of 100 metres.

(iii) In the vast and deep reservoirs and lakes, mount of mud near the banks having height of 2m with 3m diameter at certain intervals should be built in summer season. Upon the mounts, plantation of aquatic vegetation and trees should also be done.

These mounts will submerge partially under water in rainy season and will serve as shelter and cover for the aquatic birds. Such practices should also be done in such other water sources areas where water remains collected in the ditches in the form of sumps after rainy season and so on.

Essay # 3. Shelter Improvement:

Shelter or cover is also a basic fundamental need like food and water for wildlife and acts as a limiting-factor for them. Shelter varies differently for different kinds of species and, hence, it is species-specific in case of wild animals. Therefore, the management technique should be accessed and applied as per the need of the target species.

Moreover, it should be tagged, if possible, with the food improvement technique as the foods plants may be suitable covers also for the animal. Hence, selection of food plants and its improvement should be done carefully and wise-fully.

The various artificial measures for shelter/cover improvement are as follows:

(a) Development of Natural Shelter:

We know that in nature, there is cycle of plant succession. The phenomenon is continuous and contiguous process in its own way unless and until it is manipulated by the human-beings. We can judge and access the stage of succession which is the most beneficial for the particular wild animal or the target species.

The management should be like that particular stage and can be retarded or retained for longer desired period so that it may be helpful for the target species for its proper growth and propagation. In this way, the desired shelter/cover may be obtained for wildlife. In real sense; the process is tagged with the food-improvement, and hence needs thorough studies and research for the purpose before implementation.

For instance; if an open meadow forest is converted into dense forest by planting suitable trees, this will be better cover to the cheetal in comparison with black buck and will be the most suitable for the sambhar. On contrast; if meadows are built up by clearing unwanted bushes etc. in a dense forest having insufficient meadows, it will be better cover for cheetal in comparison with the sambhar.

Hence in general, it can be concluded two cases in natural-cover development such as:

i) If the plant succession is in favourable direction for the target species; then it should be enhanced in the habitat by applying measures such as fire-protection, control-grazing, plantation of suitable species, if required and so on.

ii) If a particular stage of succession itself is beneficial for target species; then measures for manipulation should be applied to retain that particular stage of the succession such as felling, grazing, control-burning, changes in the silvicultural operations etc.

(b) Development of Artificial Shelter:

Before going towards artificial cover, it is necessary to ascertain the actual necessity of the target-species in respect of the shelter means what type and how much cover is needed for that particular species.

Whether they are in need of roosting or nesting or protecting cover and in what quantity? Hence; accurate selection of particular required cover, its quantity and places are the prime factors from improvement and management point of view.

However, the following artificial measures are being applied in general for cover improvement purposes:

(i) Plantation of Trees (Afforestation/Reforestation):

Generally; plantation of trees for shelter purposes is not needed in the jungle, but if it is required then the evergreen shade and fruit trees should be preferred for plantation so that they may meet the demands of food and shelter for wildlife even in the pinch-period. Such plantation is required in the forest which has become degraded due to various reasons as gap-planting to fill-up the gaps inside it.

The choice of tree species should be selected as per the suitability of the climate, topography, soil etc. of the habitat and mixed- plantation of the indigenous species must be preferred as far as possible because wild animals of the habitat are genetically habituated for such species.

But if necessary, the fast growing species may also be planted to get the result in the shortest period. Simultaneously, it is also to be cared for that all the gaps should not be planted. Some gaps should be left as open meadows as ideal habitat for certain wild animals.

(ii) Caves and Rock-Cliff Shelters:

There should be thorough investigations and observations of all the caves and rock-cliffs which are serving as shelters and which are not serving as shelters for wildlife. Such shelters which are presently serving as shelters should be improved, if needed.

Such caves etc. which are not being used as shelters must be observed minutely to find out the factors and obstacles due to which they have been abandoned by the wild animals and such factors must be removed so that they may be suitably used as shelter by the animals.

There should not be felling at least around 100 metres of the caves and cliffs because felling in such area gives devastating result for wildlife- shelter. Waterholes should be managed near such shelters. In short, it can be said that the limiting-factors of such shelters should be removed and managed them to be suitable for the wild animals.

(iii) Development of Brush-Piles:

Some small animals and birds require their shelter in bushes. They use them as their roosting and nesting covers. Therefore, such covers should be accessed in the habitat and, if needed, must be developed artificially. For the purpose; the branches of fallen trees, cutting of bushes left during formation of beat-line, fire-line, blocks etc. and such other left-out parts of the felling-practices should be used to form artificial brush to serve as shelter by the desired wild animals.

Such unwanted materials should be collected and dumped at certain places at least 2 m height Having 6 m diameter. In the bottom, thick branches should be placed to serve as platform at least of 15 cm. height. In the middle of the brush, a pole should be placed and covered around by leaves and twigs as loose-heap.

Such brush-pilling serves ideal cover for certain animals as well as also helps to come out grasses and bushes inside it after sometimes. Such cover is used by certain birds especially for gallinaceous birds. The developments of such brush-piles are very much helpful in providing ideal shelter for certain wild animals enabling them to enhance their growth.

(iv) Development of Travel-Route Cover:

We know that the wild animals are mobile and move in search of their food, water or shelter from one place to another. During such migration, they need shelter in the route. Therefore, such travel-route cover should be protected and developed wherever needed specially near the waterholes.

Covers near the waterholes are mostly required to rest by the animals; otherwise, it has been seen that the waterholes which are devoid of covers are not used by the animals. Hence, protection and the development of travel-route covers play an important role in wildlife propagation.

(v) Artificial Nesting:

Wherever required, the artificial nests in the form of baskets of variable shapes made-up of wood should be hanged. Such nests are generally required for the game birds in the area which is devoid of vegetation. In the forests; such devices are oftenly not needed, however, may be arranged wherever and whenever required.

(vi) Modification in Silvicultural Operations:

Generally the silvicultural operations are recommended and practiced in view of getting more and more timbers. In such operations, the ideas of wild animals and their protection as well as propagation are ignored. Hence, there is need of modification in the rules and regulations of silvicultural operations/practices. These modifications should be on the basis of the priorities of the land-use and other factors of the habitat.

However, the following general facts must be considered in silvicultural practices:

(a) Felling of shade and fruit trees should be stopped as far as possible.

(b) There should be always mixed-species plantation to meet the various foods-chains of various wild animals.

(c) The felling of coups should be in such a way that they may give maximum core-effects to the wild animals resulting highest interspersion and juxtaposition for them.

(d) After felling and trading operations, the left-out parts of the trees should be arranged in the form of brush-piles to provide shelter for certain small wild animals and birds.

(e) There should not be felling etc. at night to maintain the privacy of wild animals.

(f) As far as possible, the interference at the waterholes should be avoided.

(g) There should not be interruption near the riparian zone as well as shelters like caves and rock-cliffs.

(h) The trees having young ones and eggs in the nests should be left untouched, and besides these at least 10 more trees should be left unfilled at certain distances for the purpose of roosting-cover.

(i) At least, five snag trees per hectare should be left for protection and propagation purposes of wild animals.

Essay # 4. Fire Management:

Fire management is an important component of habitat- management. It is the most disastrous in the forest as it results in much harm to the wild flora and fauna. It causes damage to the habitat of the wild animals destroying its food and shelter, forest crop, regeneration, productivity of forest and soil. Hence, wildlife is caused excessive loss by the fire by burning their eggs, young ones and the habitat.

As a result, the equilibrium of the nature becomes upset. Fire may be intentional or natural. Actually, all forest fires are man-made so as to facilitate grazing, collection of forest produces etc.

But fire is not always harmful, if it is done in controlled condition for the purpose of removing tall and old grasses to bring fresh grass growth for the herbivorous animals. Fires can both kill as well as stimulate new growth and thus checks natural-succession which depends upon the frequency and intensity of burning. Somewhere; specially in moist areas, it gives favourable result for the herbivorous animals while in other places, particularly in dry regions, does not.

Grazing is an alternative measure to find the new grass growth in meadows. In this respect, various experiments at different places show different results, though more favourable in case of controlled-burning in India.

However; cutting of grasses is found more favourable than that of control-burning in intensive areas, but it is not feasible and economic in extensive areas and here control-burning is said to be favourable. In short, it may be said that it needs thorough studies and experiments in the habitat concerned before coming to a conclusion and finalizing the strategies of fire-management.

The aspect of the management may be summarised as follows:

(a) Wild fires should be stopped as far as possible. If required, it should be done only.

(b) In moist grasslands, some burning is required and needs care so .that soil does not get dried up.

(c) Arid and semi-arid habitats should not be burnt. Needs of removal of grasses, bushes, woody plants and unwanted vegetation’s should be done through cutting in such areas.

(d) If burning is prescribed in an area, it should be done on a pre­planned patch-work system viz. phase-wise in small area.

(e) During burning, conservation of the area must be cared for.

(f) Overall, there is need of thorough research and studies on fires and its effect in a particular area before prescribing it as we lack adequate knowledge about it.

(g) Wildlife manager in one area may develop different fire policies as per the necessity.

Thus, fire-management in India in case of wildlife has two aspects such as suppression of fire and use of fire as a tool wherever necessary depending upon local climate, topography, vegetation and biotic factors.

The policy should be based mainly considering harmful effects on regeneration, loss of food and shelter of wildlife, damage to small or young animals including birds, soil-degradation and its erosion etc.

The management of fire has broadly two parts such as:

(A) Preventive Measures:

(i) Goodwill of the local people in preventing fire.

(ii) Early burning before summer season to prevent uncontrolled fire in summer.

(iii) Education of the masses to prevent fire.

(iv) Ban on the activities causing fire.

(v) Legislative measures to stop intentional fire.

(vi) Forecasting of Burning Days:

An organization should be set up which will forecast the dangerous burning days in the area by monitoring all the conditions which cause the occurrence of fires like temperature, humidity, wind etc.

(vii) Fire-Lines/Fire-Breaks:

It is an old practice in preventing the fire in the forest with the object to restrict the outbreak of fire in manageable area bounded by strips for checking the progress of fire. In other words, these are the cleared/burnt strips of land inside the forest so as to prevent fires from crossing over from one part to the other part of the forest. Fire-lines are made before the onset of the summer.

Fire-lines are of four kinds such as:

(a) Forest road which acts as a strip free from burning materials. To obtain specified width, lines on either side of the road are also cut which is normally 4 to 5 metres.

(b) Specific planned fire-line consists a principal fire-line of 30 to 40 metres width with subsidiary lines of lesser widths parallel or running across the principal line. In hilly areas, the principal fire-line runs along the base of foothills following the contour and also below to the plain area.

(c) Cutting and cleaning of compartment boundaries also act as tire-lines.

(d) Stream beds act as natural fire-lines.

(viii) Watch Towers:

Watching and timely detection of fire and its communication is an important strategy in fire prevention as well as in controlling it. To appoint fire-watchers at least during the fire season is necessary who communicate to the assigned station about fire outbreak.

They should be equipped with modern communicating equipment’s like wireless-sets/mobile-sets etc. Most tiger reserves are making use of wireless-sets as well as watcher-messenger-aided-system.

There must be watch towers at proper distances inside the wildlife habitat having suitable visibility by sitting on them. This serves dual purpose like surveillance of fire incidents as well as mishappening with the wildlife such as hunting, poaching and other illegal activities occurring inside the forest.

For example, in Betla National Park (Palamau Tiger Reserve) of Jharkhand State has marvellous fire watching system operating since 1976. Here, sufficient watch-towers have been built located at top high hills covering the entire park area. These are manned throughout day and night during fire season.

During the day time fire is detected by smoke and the watcher identifies the area of occurrence and communicates to the respective stations (sub-set, beat, range and headquarters) accordingly.

During night, a powerful torch with coloured papers is used giving signals like “Red” means fire is on; “Blue” means fire is in adjoining jurisdiction; “Green” means all clear. Besides it, Morse like code is used to convey the “block and compartment under fire”. Such signaling is visible between adjoining-towers and the concerned station.

(B) Remedial Measures:

(i) Quick Communication:

Wireless-sets/mobile-sets etc. should be provided to all the blocks, range and headquarters so that outbreak of fire may be communicated without delay.

(ii) Quick Action:

Proper and quick action is required if outbreak of fire occurs.

(iii) Availability of Labourers:

There should be prior arrangement of sufficient numbers of labourers to control fire.

(iv) Arrangement of Water:

Water should be easily available near the location of the fire-fighting squad.

(v) Arrangement of Tools:

Only water does not help to extinguish fire and mud has to be thrown on the fire to control it. For the purpose, hand tools are needed for cutting grasses and bushes, digging earth, making ditches etc.

(vi) Locally developed techniques for combating fire serves well.

(vii) Proper fire policies should be made after thorough investigation of the particular habitat.

Hence, tire-management is one of the most important management techniques to achieve the goal of habitat-improvement. Protection of the habitat from fire or quick and efficient action taken at the time of fire-outbreak gives excellent successful result in wildlife propagation.