Republic of India Summary of National Tiger Recovery Program (NTRP) PART-A Country Name: INDIA Introduction India has a strong National legislation in the form of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which provides the legal frame work for both ‘in-situ’ (National Park/Wildlife Sanctuary) and ‘ex-situ’ (zoos) conservation. There are more than 600 protected areas (National Parks/Wildlife Sanctuaries) in the country amounting to almost 5% of the country’s geographical area. Special Centrally Sponsored Schemes have been launched to conserve the flagship species like the tiger (Project Tiger) and the elephant (Project Elephant), besides other endangered species like the snow leopard and the Kashmir hangul deer. Many milestone initiatives have been taken for tiger conservation based on the urgent recommendations of the Tiger Task Force constituted by the Prime Minister, in the wake of tiger getting locally extinct in Sariska. Project Tiger “Project tiger”- is one of the most ambitious conservation projects in the world, hardly having any parallel in terms of its scale, magnitude and diversity of field operations and challenges. With a view to ensure protection of tiger and its habitats, many initiatives were taken by the Government since 1960. In 1972, for the first time, the then Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi set up a Task Force under the Chairmanship of Dr. Karan Singh which made various recommendations on the subject. Based on the recommendations of the Task Force, 9 tiger reserves were identified to be covered under the Project Tiger, which have now increased to 39 tiger reserves falling in 17 States of the country. This encompasses more than 32,000 sq. km of core / critical tiger habitat in the form of forests, meadows, mountains and scrub land. The Project has helped in saving the endangered tiger, while putting it on a path of assured recovery. It has a holistic, ecosystem approach. Its core–buffer strategy, protection and development initiatives gave a new perspective to the concept of wildlife management in our country and has been “role model” for conservation. The ‘in-situ’ conservation strategy of Project Tiger “Project Tiger” is a focused, in-situ conservation initiative to save the flagship species - the tiger. The corebuffer strategy of Project Tiger has successfully fostered source populations of tiger in designated tiger reserves. The core areas of tiger reserves are important source sites for tiger and the buffers provide scope for the sink populations while addressing the man-tiger interface. The National Legislation [The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972] has been amended in 2006 to provide a separate chapter on tiger conservation with enabling provisions for constituting the National Tiger Conservation Authority, the core-buffer areas, preparation of reserve-specific Tiger Conservation Plan and corridors. The recent findings of the all India tiger estimation using the refined methodology has identified the following six tiger occupied landscapes in India: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Shivaliks and the Gangetic Plain Central Indian Landscape Eastern Ghats Western Ghats North-East Hills and Brahamputra Plains and Sunderbans
The status of tiger source populations in the above landscapes are viable and satisfactory, while requiring ongoing managerial inputs. However, the situation in the context of tiger is poor in other forest areas owing to loss of quality for sustaining a viable natural prey base for tigers. The Indian strategy of Project Tiger since 1972 to focus on tiger source areas in the form of ‘core areas’ thus stands vindicated. Because of this vision and ongoing initiatives, India has the maximum tiger source sites in the world today. Efforts are underway to mainstream the concerns of tiger in the landscape surrounding such source sites through restorative actions, while providing livelihood options to local people to reduce their dependency on forests. Active management has also been resorted to for repopulating wild tigers in areas where they have gone locally extinct. As a part of the strategy, sattelitic course has also been identified in tigers bearing forests which can foster gene-flow by receiving the transient tigers. Further, continuous, scientific monitoring of core areas is being facilitated to obtain more information on tiger sociology and their spatial use pattern. The three key imperatives in tiger conservation which necessitate a ‘project mode’ are: a focused approach to prioritize actions, in the interest of tiger conservation, within and outside the tiger reserves, eliciting the support of local stakeholder communities and, ensuring the necessary infrastructure for protection and management. Considering the fact that conservation of tiger has ecological national significance transcending State boundaries, the Government of India provides funding support and technical guidance to States through the ongoing Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Project Tiger and other schemes for wildlife conservation. Tigers are present in the forests of seventeen states in our country at present, which also include their protected areas / tiger reserves. The distribution of tigers/density vary in these states due to several ecological and human reasons, viz. the forest cover, terrain, natural prey availability , presence of undisturbed habitat and the quality of managerial efforts taken towards protection. Despite three decades of project tiger and the efforts of the centre and the states, tiger continues to remain one of the most endangered large predators in the world. The causative factors are many, and to name a few, we may mention the important ones like loss of habitat due to agriculture expansion and development, revenge killings by people due to man- animal conflicts and above all, the demand for the body parts and derivatives of tiger in the illegal international market. These factors contribute to the decimation of our in-situ population in the wild. Therefore, continuance of a focused, species-specific, multifaceted, ecosystem project like the project tiger becomes important and crucial at this juncture to address the threats faced by the tiger and its habitat. Since tigers are at the top of the ecological “food -chain”, their conservation results in the overall conservation of all other species of plants and animals occupying the ecosystem. We can say that tigers are indicators of the well being of the ecosystem. A healthy tiger population indicates that the other ecological components in its habitat are equally robust, since tigers need large amount of prey and good habitat. The investments made in a project of this kind are more than justified. Present status of tigers As per the findings of the recent All India Tiger Estimation in 2008, using the refined methodology, the total country level population of tiger is 1411 (mid-value) the lower and the upper limits being 1165 and 1657 respectively. The new findings are based on determining spatial occupancy of tigers and sampling such forests using camera traps in a statistical framework. This assessment is not comparable to the earlier total count using pug marks.
FOREST OCCUPANCY AND POPULATION ESTIMATES OF TIGER AS PER THE REFINED METHODOLOGY
State
Tiger km2
Tiger Numbers No. Lower limit Upper limit Shivalik-Gangetic Plain Landscape Complex Uttarakhand 1901 178 161 195 Uttar Pradesh 2766 109 91 127 Bihar 510 10 7 13 Shivalik5177 297 259 335 Gangetic Central Indian Landscape Complex and Eastern Ghats Landscape Complex Andhra Pradesh 14126 95 84 107 Chattisgarh 3609 26 23 28 Madhya Pradesh 15614 300 236 364 Maharashtra 4273 103 76 131 Orissa 9144 45 37 53 Rajasthan 356 32 30 35 Jharkhand** 1488 Not Assessed Central Indian 48610 601 486 718 Western Ghats Landscape Complex Karnataka 18715 290 241 339 Kerala 6168 46 39 53 Tamil Nadu 9211 76 56 95 Western Ghats 34094 412 336 487 North East Hills and Brahmaputra Flood Plains Assam* 1164 70 60 80 Arunachal 1685 14 12 18 Pradesh* Mizoram* 785 6 4 8 Northern West 596 10 8 12 Bengal* North East Hills, 4230 100 84 118 and Brahmaputra Sunderbans 1586 Not Assessed Total Tiger 1411 1165 1657 Population
* Population estimates are based on possible density of tiger occupied landscape in the area, not assessed by double sampling. ** Data was not amenable to population estimation of tiger. However, available information about the landscape indicates low densities of tiger in the area ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 per 100 km2.
Milestone initiatives (including the recent) taken by the Government of India for conservation of tiger and other wild animals Legal steps 1. Amendment of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 for providing enabling provisions for constitution of the National Tiger Conservation Authority and the Tiger and Other Endangered Species Crime Control Bureau. 2.
Enhancement of punishment in cases of offence relating to a tiger reserve or its core area.
Administrative steps 3. Strengthening of antipoaching activities, including special strategy for monsoon patrolling, by providing funding support to Tiger Reserve States, as proposed by them, for deployment of antipoaching squads involving ex-army personnel / home guards, apart from workforce comprising of local people, in addition to strengthening of communication / wireless facilities. 4. Constitution of the National Tiger Conservation Authority with effect from 4.09.2006, for strengthening tiger conservation by, interalia, ensuring normative standards in tiger reserve management, preparation of reserve specific tiger conservation plan, laying down annual audit report before Parliament, constituting State level Steering Committees under the Chairmanship of Chief Ministers and establishment of Tiger Conservation Foundation. 5. Constitution of a multidisciplinary Tiger and Other Endangered Species Crime Control Bureau (Wildlife Crime Control Bureau) with effect from 6.6.2007 to effectively control illegal trade in wildlife. 6. Declaration of nine new Tiger Reserves and in-principle approval accorded for creation of four new Reserves, namely Pilibhit in Uttar Pradesh, Ratapani in M.P., Sunabeda in Orissa and Biligiri Ranganatha Temple Tiger Reserve in Karnataka. 7. The revised Project Tiger guidelines have been issued to States for strengthening tiger conservation, which apart from ongoing activities, interalia, include funding support to States for enhanced village relocation/rehabilitation package for people living in core or critical tiger habitats (from Rs. 1 lakh/family to Rs. 10 lakhs/family), rehabilitation/resettlement of communities involved in traditional hunting, mainstreaming livelihood and wildlife concerns in forests outside tiger reserves and fostering corridor conservation through restorative strategy to arrest habitat fragmentation. 8. A scientific methodology for estimating tiger (including co-predators, prey animals and assessment of habitat status) has been evolved and mainstreamed. The findings of this estimation/assessment are bench marks for future tiger conservation strategy. 9. An area of 31207.11 sq. km. has been notified by 16 Tiger States (out of 17) as core or critical tiger habitat under section 38V of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, as amended in 2006 (Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Mizoram, Orissa, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal). The State of Bihar has taken a decision for notifying the core or critical tiger habitat (840 sq.km.). The State of Madhya Pradesh has not identified / notified the core / critical tiger habitat in its newly constituted tiger reserve (Sanjay National Park and Sanjay Dubri Wildlife Sanctuary). International Cooperation 11. India has a Memorandum of Understanding with Nepal on controlling trans-boundary illegal trade in wildlife and conservation, apart from a protocol on tiger conservation with China. 12. A Global Tiger Forum of Tiger Range Countries has been created for addressing international issues related to tiger conservation. 13. During the 14th meeting of the Conference of Parties to CITES, which was held from 3rd to 15th June, 2007 at The Hague, India introduced a resolution along with China, Nepal and the Russian Federation, with directions to Parties with operations breeding tigers on a commercial scale, for restricting such captive populations to a level supportive only to conserving wild tigers. The resolution was adopted as a decision with
minor amendments. Further, India made an intervention appealing to China to phase out tiger farming, and eliminate stockpiles of Asian big cats body parts and derivatives. The importance of continuing the ban on trade of body parts of tigers was emphasized. 14. Based on India’s strong intervention during the 58th meeting of the Standing Committee of the CITES at Geneva from 6th to 10th July, 2009, the CITES Secretariat issued notification to Parties for submitting reports relating to compliance of Decisions 14.69 and 14.65 within 90 days with effect from 20.10.2009 (Progress made on restricting captive breeding operations of tigers etc.). During the 15th meeting of the Conference of Parties, India intervened for retaining the Decision 14.69 dealing with operations breeding tigers on a commercial scale. Reintroduction of Tigers 15. As a part of active management to rebuild Sariska and Panna Tiger Reserves where tigers have become locally extinct, reintroduction of tigers / tigresses have been done. 16. Special advisories issued for in-situ build up of prey base and tiger population through active management in tiger reserves having low population status of tiger and its prey. Creation of Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) 17. The policy initiatives announced by the Finance Minister in his Budget Speech of 29.2.2008, interalia, contains action points relating to tiger protection. Based on the one time grant of Rs. 50.00 crore provided to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) for raising, arming and deploying a Special Tiger Protection Force, the proposal for the said force has been approved by the competent authority for 13 tiger reserves. Rs. 93 lakhs each has been released to Corbett, Ranthambhore & Dudhwa Tiger Reserve for creation of STPF during 2008-09. Since then, the guidelines of the STPF have been revised for deploying forest personnel in place of Police as an option-II, with scope for involving local people like the Van Gujjars. 18. In collaboration with TRAFFIC-INDIA, an online tiger crime data base has been launched, and Generic Guidelines for preparation of reserve specific Security Plan has been evolved. Recent initiatives 19. Implementing a tripartite MOU with tiger States, linked to fund flows for effective implementation of tiger conservation initiatives. 20.
Rapid assessment of tiger reserves done.
21. Special crack teams sent to tiger reserves affected by left wing extremism and low population status of tiger and its prey. 22. Chief Ministers of tiger States addressed at the level of the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Environment and Forests on urgent issues, viz. implementation of the tripartite MOU, creation of the Tiger Conservation Foundation, stepping up protection etc. 23. Chief Ministers of States having tiger reserves affected by left wing extremism and low population status of tiger and its prey addressed for taking special initiatives. 24. Steps taken for modernizing the infrastructure and field protection, besides launching ‘M-STrIPES’ for effective field patrolling and monitoring. 25. 26.
Steps taken for involvement of Non-Governmental Experts in the ongoing all India tiger estimation. Special independent team sent to Similipal for assessing the status, besides constituting State level
Coordination Committee for redressing the administrative problems. 27. Issue of tiger farming and trafficking of tiger body parts discussed at the level of Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Environment and Forests with the Chinese Authorities. 28.
Action taken for amending the Wildlife (Protection) Act to ensure effective conservation.
29. Initiatives taken for improving the field delivery through capacity building of field officials, apart from providing incentives. 30.
Steps taken for the independent Monitoring and Evaluation of tiger reserves.
31.
Action initiated for using Information Technology to strengthen surveillance in tiger reserves.
32.
Providing special assistance for mitigation of human-tiger conflicts in problematic areas.
33. As an outcome of the fourth Trans-border Consultative Group Meeting held in New Delhi, a joint resolution has been signed with Nepal for biodiversity / tiger conservation.
Cost table Five Year Normalized Budget for India NTRP
S. No.
Activities\Year
1
Securing Habitats
1.1
INR CRORE
Remarks
201011
2011-12
201213
2013-14
201415
Total
Creating inviolate core tiger habitats
Includes village relocation & settlement of rights
1078.50
78.50
1000.00
1000.00
1000.00
4157.00
1.2
Anti-poaching activities
Includes creation, training and equipping of Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF)
25.00
32.00
32.00
35.00
35.00
159.00
1.3
Strengthening of infrastructure within Tiger Reserves (including new Tiger Reserves)
10.00
10.00
11.00
12.00
12.00
55.00
1.4
Establishment of new tiger reserves
9.00
13.00
14.00
15.00
15.00
66.00
Includes development of 8 reserves already identified by NTCA/GOI and provisions for adding additional reserves
Sub-total 1
2
Improving Management
2.1
Habitat improvement activities
4437.00
Includes measures for improving water resource availability, soil-moisture works, fire lines, forest raods etc
3.00
3.00
4.00
4.00
4.00
18.00
2.2
Monitoring and Evaluation
Includes development of monitoring indicators and frameworks, contracting monitoring experts etc
0.60
0.60
0.80
0.80
1.00
3.80
2.3
Equipment Support
Research, providing equipments (camera traps, GPS, etc.), computer softwares, All India Estimation of Tiger/Copredators/Prey Animals, habitat monitoring and evaluation
0.50
0.50
1.00
1.00
1.00
4.00
2.4
Launching of MSTRIPES
5.00
5.00
19.00
19.00
19.00
67.00
2.5
Research Studies
Includes studies on economic valuations of tiger reserves amongst others
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
50.00
2.6
Information Technology
Use of new and modern technology in data collection, analysis and management, including on survillance
15.00
3.00
20.00
7.00
20.00
65.00
2.7
Staff Welfare and Development activities
Includes provisions for special project allownaces for staff (all categories) of tiger reserves
5.00
62.00
62.00
62.00
62.50
253.50
Sub total 2
461.30
3
Capacity Building
3.1
Improving infrastructure and provisions for regular tiger census and monitoring
Providing basic infrastructure/Project Tiger Headquarter and expenditures for consultancy, all India tiger estimation/continuous monitoring of tigers outside tiger reserves, strengthening of NTCA at the Center and establishing a monitoring lab in the Wildlife Institute of India
1.50
1.50
2.00
2.00
3.00
10.00
3.2
Improving knowledge agenda
Includes provisions for exchange of good practices & strengthening knowledge institutions
19.00
20.00
20.00
20.00
20.00
99.00
Sub total 3
4
4.1
Community Engagement & Development Addressing HumanWildlife Conflict
109.00
Includes provisions for timely and adequate compensation for loss of human/cattle life and damages due to crop depredation by wildlife
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
4.00
16.00
4.2
Co-existance in Buffer/Fringe areas of tiger reserves and support for sustainable livelihoods
Includes provisions for piloting new landscape-based approaches for conservation, sectoral integration through convergence of ongoing schemes to benefit communities, sustainable livelohoods approaches in buffer/fringe/rural/semi-urban areas/tiger town
513.50
513.50
616.00
618.00
619.00
2880.00
4.3
Rehabilitation/resettlem ent of denotified tribes
Includes provisions for rehabilitation / resettlement measures of denotified tribes / communities involved in traditional hunting (small population)
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
15.00
sub total 4
2911.00 1701.60
758.60
1817.80
1811.80
1828.50
GrandTotal
INR CRORE
7918.30
S. No.
Activities\Year
201011
201112
201213
201314
201415
201516
201617
201718
201819
201920
202021
202122
Total
1
Anti-poaching including STPF Strengthening of infrastructure within Tiger Reserves (including new Tiger Reserves) Habitat improvement and water development Addressing mananimal conflict (ensuring uniform, timely compensation for human deaths due to wild animals, livestock depredation by carnivores, crop depredation by wild ungulates) Co-existence agenda in buffer / fringe areas (landscape approach/sectoral integration/ ecologically sustainable development programme/ livelihood options/ecotourism)
25.00
32.00
32.00
35.00
35.00
35.00
35.00
40.00
40.00
40.00
40.00
40.00
429.00
10.00
10.00
11.00
12.00
12.00
12.00
12.00
14.00
14.00
14.00
14.00
14.00
149.00
3.00
3.00
4.00
4.00
4.00
4.00
4.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
51.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
4.00
4.00
4.00
4.00
4.00
4.00
5.00
5.00
46.00
12.00
12.00
14.00
14.00
15.00
15.00
16.00
17.00
17.00
18.00
18.00
18.00
186.00
2
3 4
5
6
7
8 9
10
11
12
13
14
Rehabilitation / resettlement of denotified tribes / communities involved in traditional hunting Research, providing equipments (camera traps, GPS, etc.), computer softwares, All India Estimation of Tiger/Copredators/Prey Animals, habitat monitoring and evaluation Staff development
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
1.00
1.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
23.00
0.50
0.50
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.50
1.50
1.50
1.50
1.50
13.50
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.50
1.50
1.50
2.00
2.00
2.00
2.00
2.00
18.50
Deciding inviolate spaces for wildlife and relocation of villagers from core or critical tiger habitats in Tiger Reserves within a timeframe and settlement of rights Mainstreaming livelihood and wildlife concerns in forests outside tiger reserves and fostering corridor conservation through restorative strategy involving locals to arrest fragmentation of habitats Safeguards / Retrofitting measures in the interest of wildlife conservation
1078.5 0
78.50
1000.0 0
1000.0 0
1000.0 0
1000.0 0
500.00
50.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
5707.0 0
1.50
1.50
2.00
4.00
4.00
4.00
4.00
5.00
5.00
6.00
6.00
8.00
51.00
1.25
1.25
1.50
1.50
1.50
1.50
1.50
2.00
2.00
2.00
2.00
2.00
20.00
Providing basic infrastructure/ Project Tiger Headquarter expenditure for consultancy, all India tiger estimation/continuo us monitoring of tigers outside tiger reserves, strengthening of NTCA at the Center and establishing a monitoring lab in the Wildlife Institute of India Independent Monitoring and evaluation of tiger reserves
1.50
1.50
2.00
2.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
4.00
4.00
4.00
4.00
4.00
36.00
0.60
0.60
0.80
0.80
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.10
1.10
1.10
1.20
1.20
11.50
Establishment and development of eight new tiger reserves
8.00
8.00
9.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
12.00
12.00
12.00
12.00
12.00
125.00
15
16 17 18 19
20
21
22
23
Provision of project allowance to all categories of Project Tiger field staff Staff welfare activities Fostering ecotourism Launching of MSTRIPES Capacity-building, exchange of practices & strengthening knowledge institution. Assessment of values of Tiger Reserves / Ecosystem services Information Technology in surveillance
3.00
60.00
60.00
60.00
60.00
60.00
60.00
70.00
70.00
70.00
70.00
70.00
713.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.10
1.10
1.10
1.10
1.10
12.50
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.10
1.10
1.10
1.10
1.10
12.50
5.00
5.00
19.00
19.00
19.00
19.00
19.00
19.00
19.00
19.00
19.00
19.00
200.00
19.00
20.00
20.00
20.00
20.00
20.00
20.00
22.00
22.00
22.00
22.00
22.00
249.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
120.00
15.00
3.00
20.00
7.00
20.00
20.00
20.00
17.00
20.00
21.00
20.00
25.00
208.00
Smart practies /ecosystem management to address tiger concerns in semi urban areas. Creation of new Tiger Reserves
500.00
500.0 0
600.00
600.00
600.00
600.00
600.00
700.00
700.0 0
700.0 0
700.0 0
700.0 0
7500.0 0
1.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
6.00
6.00
6.00
6.00
6.00
61.00
1703.8 5
760.8 5
1820.3 0
1814.3 0
1831.0 0
1831.0 0
1332. 00
1004. 80
957.8 0
959.8 0
959.9 0
966.9 0
15942. 50
Total
S. No. 1 2 3
Abstract
Total
Management & Antipoaching activities including creation of inviolate space Community development Capacity building
7787.00
Total (Rs. Crores)
15942.50
7838.50 317.00
The Field Initiatives What inputs are made in a tiger reserve? How do we conserve tigers? Who implements the Project? These are some of the common questions asked. The major input is protection! The designated tiger reserves as well as other protected areas and tiger bearing forests are in States. Being the owners of resource the State machinery does the field implementation. Gifted with a congenial tropical climate, our ecosystem readily resurrects to its original form, given a little bit of protection. The well preserved, tranquil core zones of many of our tiger reserves bear adequate testimony to this. To be more precise, some of the major non-recurring activities supported by the project include civil works like patrolling camps, deployment of Special Tiger Protection Force, project allowance for the staff deployed in tiger reserves, development and reinforcement of roads and wireless communication network, development of water impounding structures like ponds, anicuts, establishment of barriers, voluntary village relocation, creation of veterinary facilities, compensation to the dependents of staff killed while performing duty and so on. The works of recurring nature include anti-poaching squads, deployment of fire watchers, fire
protection measures, weed eradication and indigenous grass management, compensation to fringe villagers for cattle depredation by carnivores, field research, estimation and monitoring of tigers and other wild animals, deployment of patrolling camp watchers and the like. Each tiger reserve has its own site –specific Tiger Conservation Plan whose implementation is based on a Memorandum of Understanding between the State and Central Governments, besides the Field Director of the concerned reserve. The problems The project has been addressing several problems, which in a diverse country like ours are but natural. The traditional resource dependency of people on forests is not benign. Rather, several distortions have taken place due to distortion in our forest dynamics itself. With just two percent of forest area of the world, we support 17% of the global livestock and harbour an equal percentage of humans as well! The tiger is very resilient species with a short gestation, and responds well to habitat management. Reasons for tiger decline The reasons for tiger decline in areas outside tiger reserves / protected areas are as below: (i)
(ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (vi) (vii) (viii)
Degradation of forest status outside Protected Areas / Tiger Reserves owing to: (a) human pressure (b) livestock pressure (c) ecologically unsustainable land uses Fragmentation leading to loss of gene flow from source populations Loss of forest quality in terms of prey biomass Tiger deaths due to man-animal conflict Tiger deaths due to poaching Loss of reproduction owing to disturbance on account of heavily used infrastructure like highways, etc Lack of adequate protection in outside areas Insurgency / law and order problems
The Tiger Task Force On the basis of the recommendations of the National Board for Wildlife chaired by the Prime Minister on 17th March, 2005, a Task Force was setup to look into the problems of tiger conservation in the country and to suggest measures for improvement. The recommendations requiring immediate attention have been accepted for implementation, which interalia include strengthening of Project Tiger by giving it statutory as well as administrative powers. Further, it has also been recommended that the report relating to Project Tiger should annually be sent to Parliament so that the commitment to the Project Tiger is reviewed from time to time. Tiger is our national animal which is widely present across the forest and non-forest natural habitats in seventeen States throughout the country. Owing to its ecological position as a flagship species, the conservation status of tiger in our natural ecosystem signifies the status of their health. Good health of these ecosystems in turn signifies that the quality of ecological services rendered by them including ensuring water security, critical to our survival and sustainable development, is optimum. Such unfortunately is not the case, degradation and fragmentation of forests and non-forest natural areas across the length and breadth of our country reflect the decline in ecological services seen in the form of poor water regime and loss of our unique biodiversity. Such decline has also undermined the productivity of farm and livestock of our people inhabiting the forested regions aggravating their impoverishment. The need for conservation of tiger must therefore be seen in the light of these imperatives for the care of our forests and other ecosystems, which call for an
integrated holistic approach for managing land uses and mainstream development initiatives in the forested regions. Since the inception of Project Tiger in the early seventies, the Government of India has invested considerably in the protection and conservation of tiger. The Tiger Task Force appointed by the Prime Minister has reviewed the work done over these years and has advocated the following urgent recommendations:(i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v)
Reinvigorating the constitution of governance. Strengthening efforts towards protection of tiger, checking poaching, convicting wildlife criminals and breaking the international trade network in wildlife body parts and derivatives. Expanding the undisturbed areas for tiger by reducing human pressure. Repair the relationship with local people who share the tigers habitat by fielding strategies for coexistence. Regenerate the forest habitats in the fringes of the tigers protective enclaves by investing in forest, water and grassland economies of the people.
Present approach to tiger conservation Owing to habitat fragmentation on account of ecologically unsustainable land uses, biotic pressure and poaching, the following approach is imperative: a. Consolidating / strengthening the “source” population of tiger and its prey in tiger reserves, protected areas and tiger bearing forests This involves the following active managerial interventions: (i)
Protection / antipoaching operations / intelligence networking
(ii)
Strengthening of infrastructure within tiger reserves
(iii)
Creation of inviolate space through relocation
(iv)
Capacity building of frontline staff / local people and officers (including strengthening of training centres and training in related fields, viz. enforcement, intelligence networking, tourism activities, etc.)
b. Managing the “source-sink dynamics” by restoring habitat connectivity This involves the following managerial interventions: (i)
Actively providing incentives to local people for the eco-system services / corridor values provided by them by not degrading the forest (payment for eco-system services)
(ii)
Incentives to local people for taking up plantations and protecting natural root stocks besides preventing free grazing
(iii)
Encouraging stall feeding of cattle and fostering marketing of dairy products
(iv)
Providing subsidized gas connection to local people for reducing their dependency on forest towards fuel wood collection
c. Mainstreaming tiger / wildlife concerns in the landscape through smart practices with other sectors to prevent / address man-tiger conflicts (sectors: forestry, agriculture, welfare activities through the district Collector sector, tourism, fisheries, tea-coffee estates, road/rail transport, industry, mining, thermal power
plants, irrigation projects, temple tourism and communication projects operating in the landscape). For the future The issues in tiger conservation, are as below:
poaching and depletion /isolation of source population the existing or potential disturbance from activities, such as construction of infrastructure, presence of settlements, and extraction of minerals or produce. disruptions in traditional livelihoods of the local people, curtailment of their pre-existing entitlements due to conservation providing resource for management, including protection, of tiger reserves, protected areas and other tiger bearing forests.
The task is formidable. For the future, status of tigers outside the protected area system and linkages in the landscape (with the communities, and also between the forests) are important. Sustainable landscapes are more relevant in the present scenario rather than advocating sustainable management of isolated protected areas. This calls for reorienting the sectoral priorities in such selected landscapes keeping in mind the “inclusive/exclusive” agenda recommended by the Tiger Task Force.
NTRP--PART-B Long Term Strategic Goals. (Examine the implications of the global goal to double the numbers of wild tigers in your country and briefly describe appropriate national strategic tiger conservation goals by 2022) India is central to tiger conservation globally with almost half of the world’s wild tigers in India and over 32,000 sq km area protected as tiger reserves. However, a wide range of geographic terrain, vegetation types, varied habitats, geo-climatic parameters and various anthropogenic challenges posed due to differing socio-economic environment around tiger reserves, determine the tiger status. There are habitats that could benefit from proactive tiger conservation efforts and could see increase in tiger numbers especially in areas where tigers have gone locally extinct or those which have the viable habitat. Since ecologically unsustainable land uses pose a threat to tigers, two goals are relevant in the Indian context: (1) Securing inviolate tiger habitat and increasing the same, (2) Mainstreaming tiger concerns in land uses where tiger is not the goal.
Baseline Status. (Briefly describe the gap between each Long Term Strategic Goal described above and current situation).
1. One of the main challenges for creating inviolate habitats for the tigers remains the relocation of nearly 48,000 households from the core tiger habitats. Almost $ 1.2 billion are required over the next 5 years to create inviolate areas for tigers. 2. Capacity building of frontline staff (Forest Guards and Foresters) is another challenge. The average age of protection staff is high at >50 years with sparse recruitment of fresh staff. There are inadequate field training opportunities and capacities. 3. Socio-economic development of buffer and fringe areas of the tiger reserves is also a limiting factor in soliciting the support of communities that depend on the forest resources. There are limited livelihood options for these communities and their close proximity and dependence on habitats creates many volatile human-wildlife conflict situations. Yet these are powerful approaches that can positively contribute to tiger conservation, as was highlighted from the field experience of KMTR, where in support solicited from local communities resulted in prevention of forest fires and reduction in grazing by domestic cattle inside the forest. Priority Actions (to achieve Long Term Strategic Goals. Identify 4-5 most critical NATIONAL and TRANS-BOUNDARY actions). India has a strong political support for tiger conservation with the Prime Minister chairing the National Wildlife Board. Further the political support is also expressed in terms of establishing new tiger reserves (there are 39 tiger reserves in India) thereby bringing additional area under conservation management. India has also demonstrated its willingness in creating inviolate habitats by increasing the quantum of compensation to Rs 1 million/ family. Overall, the country has a good legal and policy framework to deal with conservation issues. From the list of 12 action points from Hua Hin declaration, the priority actions for India can be classified into 3 broad categories, namely, Securing Habitats, Improving Management and Community Centered. The prioritized actions are described below:
1. Securing Habitats: The first priority action is to make core/ critical tiger habitats inviolate from biotic disturbance and ensure protection of corridors with due emphasis on ensuring buffer zones as functional landscapes for conservation. Protect tiger/prey base from poaching through smart patrolling and intelligence based enforcement. 2. Improving Management: The next set of priority actions center around management practices. Professionalize and improve management practices by adopting best practice systems is the priority
action , implementing scientific adaptive management tools in tiger conservation and set up robust mechanisms for monitoring progress towards achieving goals, besides stepped up intelligence based enforcement. 3. Community Engagement: The next priority action is to encourage communities around landscapes, through sustainable livelihood support through tiger conservation, to minimize tiger-human conflict. 4. Eliminate trade in tiger parts and derivatives Some of these priority actions are both national and trans-boundary in nature. For instance, creation of inviolate tiger habitat and corridors in the Terai Arc Landscape and Sunderbans assume trans-boundary character as well. Similarly, harmonizing management practices on trans-boundary contiguous habitats, for example, in Sunderbans is also a trans-boundary as well as national priority. Finally, tackling the illegal trade in tiger parts can be achieved only if trans-boundary cooperation and joint action is taken. India can utilize the GTI platform by actively engaging with it in the following areas: i. By undertaking technical studies for assessing/evaluating the economic value of tiger reserves, as this is an urgent need of the hour. ii. Extend the capacity building efforts undertaken through Smithsonian-WII relationship to frontline staff, including for NGOs. iii. Exchange of practices in bringing international experiences for improving harmonization and coordination between different sectors within the larger landscape with competing land uses. iv. Identifying what are the Smart/best practices in infrastructure development, patrolling etc that could be adopted or customized and adopted in the Indian context. v. How to improve field delivery system, wherein economic benefits from converging with other schemes/programs of other line departments yield maximum benefits to communities living around tiger forests. vi. Encourage more regional interaction between tiger range countries through some regional workshops and roundtables. Program Indicators (interim) to achieve country’s Long Term Strategic Goals. Identify and describe measurable indicators that will demonstrate the progress by 2015. 1. Creation of inviolate habitats (with buffers and corridors) 2. Number of breeding females per 1000 sq km secured inviolate space/source population; reduction in poaching cases and increase in prey-base numbers 3. Introduction of improved PA Management and M&E tools (e.g. M-STrIPES) 4. Assessment of economic value of tiger reserves (costing the ecological goods and services)
Program Indicators (final) to achieve country’s Long Term Strategic Goals. Identify and describe measurable indicators that will demonstrate achieving the Long Term Strategic Goals by 2022. 1. Relocation of villages (approximately 48,000 families) from the core tiger habitats 2. Development of knowledge institutions that excel in providing cutting edge management training to frontline staff within the country and also serve as regional centers for other tiger range countries.
7. Indicative Costs in US$ (order of magnitude only)
Activities\Year Securing habitats: anti-poaching activities creating, training and equipping of Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) Improving Management: research studies on economic valuations of tiger reserves amongst others Capacity Building: provisions for exchange of good practices & strengthening knowledge institutions Total
INR CRORE USD million 2010- 2011- 2012- 2013- 20142010- 2011Total 11 12 13 14 15 11 12
201213
201314
201415
Total
25.00 32.00 32.00 35.00 35.00 159.00
5.3
6.8
6.8
7.5
7.5
33.90
10.00 10.00 10.00 10.00 10.00
50.00
2.1
2.1
2.1
2.1
2.1
10.50
19.00 20.00 20.00 20.00 20.00
99.00
4.1
4.3
4.3
4.3
4.3
21.30
54.00 62.00 62.00 65.00 65.00 308.00
11.5
13.2
13.2
13.9
13.9
65.7
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