Building bridges in the forest, to help wildlife

• Eco-ducts or eco-bridges aim to enhance wildlife connectivity that can be disrupted because of highways or logging.
• These include canopy bridges for monkeys, squirrels and other arboreal species;

What are eco-bridges?

• Eco-ducts or eco-bridges aim to enhance wildlife connectivity that can be disrupted because of highways or logging.
• These include canopy bridges for monkeys, squirrels and other arboreal species; concrete underpasses or overpass tunnels or viaducts for larger animals; and amphibian tunnels or culverts.

What are the living examples of these bridges?

• NH 44, which intersects Kanha-Pench and Pench-Navegaon-Nagzira corridors in various sections. It’s one of India’s success stories. It is used by nearly 18 species that used these underpasses, including tiger, leopard, and golden jackal.
• One of the largest underpasses – 1.4km – for animal conservation is India is being built along the Madhya Pradesh-Maharashtra border.
• Other proposals include the Chennai-Bangalore National Highway, in the Hosur-Krishnagiri segment, near reserve forests for elephant crossings, and in the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve in Chandrapur, Maharashtra.

Why eco-bridges matter?

• They enhance wildlife connectivity that can be disrupted because of highways or logging.
• They help in connection of forest and wildlife conservation.