Bhubaneswar: Authorities of Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) have embarked on an ambitious ecological restoration project to revive nearly 500 hectares of degraded meadow. This year (2026-27), the reserve has planned to restore 50 hectares using indigenously collected seeds of native grasses, a move aimed at reversing the damage caused by overgrazing and weed infestation. A robust meadow is what keeps the prey population healthy for breeding. The prey population growth in turn helps carnivore growth, officials said.Similipal currently has more than 1,250 hectares of recorded meadows, but over 40% are in various stages of degradation. The decline has been attributed to the growing prey population, which has led to excessive grazing pressure, and the spread of invasive weeds. “Traditional weeding practices proved ineffective and costly. This prompted us to adopt a more sustainable solution — the complete seeding method,” said deputy director (south Similipal) Sumit Kar.Kar said complete seeding, also known as full reseeding, involves preparing degraded sites and sowing a diverse mix of native grass species across the entire area. “Seeds were collected from trusted local sources such as agricultural fields, roadside strips and abandoned lands. We have also emphasised the importance of establishing permanent grass seed nurseries to ensure a reliable supply for future restoration efforts,” said Kar.Wildlife officials said in 2025-26, 40 hectares of degraded meadows were treated using this technique. The results have been promising, with restored plots now dominated by desired native grasses. One successful seed-dropping cycle has already been completed, and the treated meadows are expected to be opened to wildlife after another cycle in the coming year.ACF (south Similipal) Pradip Dey said out of four restoration methods tested — rotational grazing, grass turfing, enrichment through inter-seeding, and complete seeding — the latter was found to be the most effective. “Intensive management and continuous monitoring have transformed highly degraded grasslands into productive ecosystems, boosting prospects for wildlife utilization. SWE will be able to supply surplus grass seeds to other divisions as well,” said Dey.He said revival effort will see a total of 500 hectare of fresh grassland. “This initiative will not only restore ecological integrity but also enhance prey base productivity, ultimately supporting the reserve’s tiger population,” he added.
