Yawal Wildlife Sanctuary

{{Short description|Wildlife sanctuary in Maharashtra, India}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}

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{{tone|date=August 2016}}

{{more citations needed|date=December 2013}}

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{{Infobox protected area

| name = Yawal Wildlife Sanctuary

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| iucn_category = IV

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| map = India Maharashtra# India Madhya Pradesh# India

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| map_caption = Location of Yawal Wildlife Sanctuary

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| location = {{ubl|Yawal, Jalgaon district, Maharashtra| Khargone district, Madhya Pradesh, India}}

| nearest_city = Khargone And Burhanpur

| coordinates = {{coords|21.382|75.876|region:IN-MH|notes={{Cite web |url= http://protectedplanet.net/sites/Yawal_Sanctuary |title= Yawal Sanctuary |work=protectedplanet.net}}|display=inline, title}}

| area = {{Convert|176|km2|abbr=on}}

| established = 1969

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The Yawal Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area located in the Jalgaon district of Maharashtra, India, at the banks of the Anner and Manjar rivers and at the border of Madhya Pradesh.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JYFmoOWfmX8C&pg=PA139|title=Handbook of National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries and Biosphere Reserves in India |author=Negi, S. S. |page=139 |publisher=Indus Publishing Company |year=2002 |isbn=9788173871283}}{{Cite web |title=Places to Visit in Yawal {{!}} Tourist Places, Sightseeing Points around Yawal {{!}} MaharashtraPlanet |url=https://maharashtraplanet.com/wildlife-sanctuaries-in-maharashtra/yawal-wildlife-sanctuary/sightseeing-tourist-places/ |access-date=2022-05-18 |website=MaharashtraPlanet.com |language=en-US}} The sanctuary covers an area of approximately {{cvt|176|km2}} and is characterized by its extensive dense forest coverage.{{Cite web|title=Yawal Wildlife Sanctuary, Maharastra, India {{!}} EJAtlas|url=https://ejatlas.org/conflict/yawal-wildlife-sanctuary-maharastra-india|access-date=2021-07-13|website=Environmental Justice Atlas|language=en}}

The area was officially recognized as protected in 1969. Encroachment, deforestation and tree smuggling led to significant habitat degradation starting in the early 2000s.{{Cite web |date=2017-07-19 |title=Lesson from Yawal |url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/environment/conservation/lesson-from-yawal/article9769795.ece |access-date=2023-09-29 |website=Frontline |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=The Revival Of Yawal Wildlife Sanctuary {{!}} Nature inFocus |url=https://www.natureinfocus.in/nature-digest/two-sides-to-every-story |access-date=2023-09-29 |website=www.natureinfocus.in |language=en}} The local government, indigenous groups, and several environmental organizations have worked to reverse the damage. Organizations such as Lok Sangharsh Morcha (LSM), or the People’s Struggle Front,{{Cite web |date=2017-10-28 |title=Yawal Wildlife Sanctuary – Resurgence Through People's Participation |url=https://radicalecologicaldemocracy.org/yawal-wildlife-sanctuary-resurgence-through-peoples-participation/ |access-date=2022-05-18 |website=Radical Ecological Democracy |language=en-US}} have worked to ensure conservation of the region. The sanctuary is gradually recovering.