Sansad TV Perspective - Project Tiger: Reclaiming Territories

In the series Sansad TV Perspective, we bring you an analysis of the discussion featured on the insightful programme ‘Perspective’ on Sansad TV, on various important topics affecting India and also the world. This analysis will help you immensely for the IAS exam, especially the mains exam, where a well-rounded understanding of topics is a prerequisite for writing answers that fetch good marks.

In this article, we feature the discussion on the topic Project Tiger: Reclaiming Territories

Anchor – Vishal Dahiya

Participants:

1. Dr. M K Ranjitsinh, Former Director, Wildlife Preservation
2. Dr. S P Yadav, ADG, Project Tiger & Member Secretary, NTCA
3. Ravi Singh, Secretary General & CEO, WWF India

Context

50th year of the start of Project Tiger.

Tiger Conservation in India

• Tigers occupy an important place in Indian culture.
• For many centuries, Tigers have been a symbol of the magnificent power of fierceness and bravery.
• IUCN Status: Endangered
• Tigers are protected under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
• Project Tiger has been regarded as one of the largest species conservation initiatives in the world.

Project Tiger

• Project Tiger was launched on the 1st of April 1973 to promote the conservation of Tigers in India.
• It is a 100% centrally sponsored scheme that provides funds to help the ‘tiger range States’, for in-situ conservation of tigers in the chosen tiger reserves.
• It was initially launched in nine tiger reserves and 14,000 sq km and has been extended to include 51 tiger reserves.
• The Project Tiger is administered by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)

Achievements of the Project Tiger

• At the start of the initiative, the number of Tigers was less than 2000 and according to a survey conducted in 2018, India’s Tiger population stands at a total of 2967.
• India also currently accounts for about 70% of the global Tiger population.
• The Project now has been expanded to include 51 tiger reserves and covers around 74,000 sq km of the geographical area of the country.
• In 2010 at the Petersburg Tiger Summit, the tiger range countries vowed to double their Tiger numbers by 2022 and the project also played a key role in achieving the target 4 years in advance by 2018.
• The project has played a significant role in the conservation of the habitat which in turn has resulted in the conservation of diverse ecosystems.
• The tiger was used as a symbol for the conservation of the diverse biome and biota of India which constitute the natural heritage of the country.
• The initial 9 reserves were also selected not just based on the number of tigers but also their potential for the upgradation of biomes.
  • Example: Manas National Park was selected in Assam and not the Kaziranga, as the latter was looked after well because of its Rhinoceros.
• The Project has been regarded as a flagship initiative and has helped identify the best practices for the conservation of wildlife as a whole by providing a platform for the collaboration of the government with the communities, wildlife experts, corporates, media, etc.
• The conservation project on such a large scale is also helping in the mitigation of adverse effects of climate change.

Challenges in the conservation of Tiger reserves

• Climate change has been one of the most serious challenges and poses a significant threat to not just the conservation of Tigers but for the conservation of the whole ecosystem.
• According to the Water Source Atlas of Tiger Reserves, more than 350 water streams originate or have their catchment in these Tiger reserves, hence the changes in the water table also throw significant challenges to the protection of these reserves.
• Poaching still is one of the major challenges for the conservation of Tigers.
• Natural disasters such as large scale forest fires are a great threat.
• Tackling human-tiger conflict.
• Securing the livelihoods of thousands of traditional forest dwellers in and around the tiger reserves.

Key initiatives by the government

• Increased financial assistance to States and the Union Territories.
• Various initiatives such as,
  • The National Mission for Green India
  • National Afforestation Program
  • Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) Act
  • Nagar Van Yojana
  • Forest Fire Prevention and Management Scheme
• Setting up of Joint Forest Management Committees at the village levels.
• Identification of Eco-Sensitive Zones in National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries.
• Adoption of National Wildlife Action Plan (2017-2031)

Recommendations

• Reinvigorating the governance and funding to further extend the area under protection.
• There is an urgent need to employ innovative methods to counter the adversities of climate change.
• Measures to increase carbon sequestration have to be expedited as they not just help the Tiger reserves but also the overall wildlife and ecological health of the country.
• Acknowledging the role of water bodies in the conservation of Tigers, the management and conservation of water bodies and wetland areas must be brought under the ambit of the project.
• Efforts should be undertaken to secure the livelihoods of people who depend on these forests by providing various skill training which helps them get employment elsewhere in various other sectors.
• Increase the collaboration with the local communities and forest dwellers in the conservation program as they have traditional understanding and knowledge regarding these forests.

Read more summaries of Perspective in the link.

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