The forest Department has developed Mayureshwar Wildlife Sanctuary situated near village Supe in Baramati Taluka of Pune Distirct, which is protected for Chinkara (Gazella gazella bennetti). For many years the area was barren and remained devoid of any vegetation. The soils lack in humus, contain toxic elements and the status of nutrients is low. Natural colonization and its development into an ecosystem are slow and stochastic processes. Systematic plantations were undertaken on a large scale in the year 1982-83. The species like Acacia nilotica Delile ssp. indica Brenan, Acacia torta (Roxb.) Criab.(syn. A. spirocarpa Hochst. ex A.Rich.) (A. tortilis Hayne.), Azadirachta indica A. Juss, Balanites aegyptiaca (L) Del.: Dalbergia sissoo Roxb., Eucalyptus globulus Labill.(hybrid), Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Kunth. ex Walp, Leucaena latisiliqua (L.) Gills, Prosopis cineraria (L.) Druce, Prosopis julifera (Sw.) DC, Stylosanthes humata Taub. were planted in some patches and these species too have faired very well. As a part of habitat improvement grass species like Shedya (Sehima nervosum Stapf.), Pavnya (Ischaemum semisagittatum Stapf..ex Fisch.), Marval (Dichanthium annulatum (Forssk.) Stapf). were sown. Due to vegetation cover and enrichment of bio-mass made changes in physical properties of soil, microbial and mycological diversity in soil samples of protected area of MWLS.
