According to the management plans, conservation forests
are zoned into 1) protected core zone for strict preservation of
biophysical features, 2) traditional use zone for traditional harvest
of timber and non-timber forest products (NTFPs), 3) cultural
zone with sites of cultural and religious importance,
4) recovery zone which requires restorative management
intervention, 5) village integrating zone, extensively
encroached and 6) buffer zone where socio-economic development
can help achieve the conservation of the core zones. It
should be noticed that the concept of buffer zone is for socioeconomic
development in the management. The existing
definition of buffer zones according to the Fauna and Flora Act
- one mile wide belt surrounding protected areas - is not
realistic. Multiple-use trees like kitul palm (Karyota urens)
which yields sap for treacle and raw sugar and pith for food
and medicine as well as fodder are planned to be planted at
boundaries as a visual and useful sign.