Ambegaon taluka

In 2014, a serious mudslide around the village of Malin killed around 200 people. The landslides were caused by heavy rainfall that began a day prior, with the village receiving 10.8 cm (4 in) of rain on 29 July of that year and the downpour continuing throughout the following day. The environmental factors that resulted in the landslide is believed to have had more than one cause. One major cause was negligence of geological facts of the area before any construction or civil developmental process. Another cause cited for contributing to the landslide was rapid deforestation in the area.[2] Deforestation removes not only trees, but also root structures that hold together the soil. Through deforestation, the soil of the surrounding land was made soft, and experts argue that deforestation was the primary underlying anthropogenic cause of the landslide.[3] One additional reason was changing agricultural practices – villagers had then recently shifted from cultivation of rice and finger millet to wheat, which required leveling of steep areas, which contributed to instability of the hills. Also the construction of the Dimbhe Dam ten years ago near this area was considered as a contributing factor. The instability of the hillsides was due to the construction activities, which are often done without careful analysis of environmental consequences.[4] Stone quarrying, among other types of construction, was specifically blamed for the instability of the hillside.[5]

Deciduous Forests cover area around Bhimashankar. The Forests in the area have trees like Teak, Oak, Mango. The forest inhabits animals like Rabbit, Deer, Wolf, Fox, Tiger and Leopards. Birds found in the area include Peacock, Bulbul, and Parrot. Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary was created in the area in order to protect the habitat of the Indian Giant Squirrel. Its area is 131 km² (51 sq mi) and is a part of the Western Ghats (Sahyadri Ranges). This sanctuary was created in 1984 and includes 9 tribal villages. This area's biodiversity has been retained as it will be preserved as a cluster of sacred groves for generations.[6] These sacred groves act as gene pools of this area, from where seeds were dispersed. Inside the Ahupe village's sacred grove in the sanctuary (where a tribe of Mahadev Koli resides) in 1984, a climber plant called Khombhal or Xantolis tomentosa was found to be 800–1000 years old.[7]

National Highway no. 50 linking the cities of Pune and Nasik goes through the taluka. There is also a State Highway linking cities of Shirur to Bhimashankar via Manchar. At present there are no rail links in the taluka.

State Primary Schools in the Taluka are run by the Zila parishad. Private schools along with secondary schools in the taluka are run by charitable trusts. All schools are required to undergo mandatory inspection by the Zila parishad.[8] Mode of instruction is either in Marathi or English. The secondary schools are affiliated with either of the boards, the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), the Central Board for Secondary Education (CBSE), the National Institute of Open School (NIOS) or the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education. Under the 10+2+3 plan, after completing secondary school, students typically enroll for two years in a junior college, also known as pre-university, or in schools with a higher secondary facility affiliated with the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education or any central board. The taluka has 2 High schools, 23 Central Schools, 222 Primary Schools, 5 Ashram-run schools and 74 pre-school nurseries run by the Zila Parishad. Reputed schools in the taluka are Mahatma Gandhi Junior College of Science in the town of Manchar and Janta Vidya Mandir in Ghodegaon.

The town of Ghodegaon has a post Secondary School Industrial training institutes (ITI) run by the government that offer vocational training in numerous trades such as construction, plumbing, welding, automobile mechanics, etc. Successful candidates receive the National Trade Certificate.[9]

Annasaheb Awate college run by the Rayat Shikshan Sanstha in Manchar is the only institution that offers Degree and Masters level courses in the Taluka. The college is affiliated to the Savitribai Phule Pune University. Institutes for Higher Technical Education in Ambegaon, are the Government Polytechnic College in Awasari, the Government College of Engineering & Research in Awasari Kd, and Dattatray Govindrao Walase Patil College for Higher Education run by the Bhimashankar Shikshan Sanstha in Pargaon (Shingave).