Why in news?  Bandipur Tiger Reserve gets second rank in management review at fifth cycle of Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) report.

Highlights:

• Five tiger reserves of Karnataka have been successful in ranking among the top 10 for the best maintained tiger reserves in India, as per an evaluation carried out by the Centre.
• Bandipur Tiger Reserve in Chamarajanagar district shared second place among the best maintained tiger reserves with Satpura tiger reserves of Madhya Pradesh
• Periyar Tiger Reserve in Kerala stands first in the list of MEE with a highest score
• Nagarahole Tiger Reserve in Mysuru district, Biligiri Ranganatha Swamy Temple (BRT Hills), in Chamarajanagar, Bhadra Tiger Reserve in Chikkamagalur and Kali Tiger Reserve in Uttara Kannada are among top 10 in the list .

About the assessment

• The government has been using the MEE to assess tiger reserves across the country since its inception in 2006.
• The MEE report is prepared based on conservation management plans, activities, process, and results. This helps formulating a mechanism for preserving the forest system by making good use of local resources.
• The expert committees conducted the evaluation at 51 tiger reserves in the country to give the MEE rankings.
• No tiger reserve came under the ‘poor’ rating.

Bandipur Tiger Reserve

• it is an important part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve
• It is surrounded by Mudumalai Tiger Reserve in the South, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary in the South West & on the North West Side the Kabini Reservoir separates the Bandipur and Nagarahole Tiger Reserve.
• The Northern side of the Tiger Reserve is surrounded by human dominated landscape with villages and agricultural lands.
• It is a distinctive landmass located at the tri-junction area of the States of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
• It is located partly in Gundlupet taluk of Chamarajanagar District and partly in H.D.Kote and Nanjangud taluks of Mysuru District.