GS Paper 3:
Topics Covered: Conservation related issues.
Context:
4th Asia Ministerial Conference on Tiger Conservation was recently organised by the Government of Malaysia and Global Tiger Forum (GTF).
- The conference is an important event for reviewing progress towards the Global Tiger Recovery Programme and commitments to tiger conservation.
Outcome: The Kuala Lumpur Joint Statement was adopted.
India’s statement at the summit:
India will facilitate Tiger Range Countries towards finalisation of New Delhi declaration for the Global Tiger Summit to be held at Vladivostok, Russia later this year.
A “Pre-Tiger Summit” meeting was held at New Delhi in 2010, wherein the draft declaration on tiger conservation for Global Tiger Summit was finalised.
India’s efforts in tiger conservation:
- India has achieved the remarkable feat of doubling the tiger population in 2018 itself, 4 years ahead of the targeted year 2022.
- The model of success of India’s tiger governance is now being replicated for other wildlife like the Lion, Dolphin, Leopard, Snow Leopard and other small wild cats.
- The budgetary allocation for tiger conservation has increased from Rs 185 crore in 2014 to Rs 300 crore in 2022.
- 14 Tiger Reserves in India have already been awarded with international CA|TS accreditation and efforts are on to bring in more Tiger Reserves under CA|TS accreditation.
- Approximately 4.3 million man-days of employment are being generated by 51 Tiger Reserves in India and funds from Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) are being utilized for promoting voluntary village resettlement from core areas of the Tiger Reserves.
- India is one of the Founding members of the intergovernmental platform of Tiger Range Countries – Global Tiger Forum, and over the years, GTF has expanded its programme on multiple thematic areas, while working closely with the Government of India, tiger states in India and tiger range countries.
- Global Tiger forum is the only intergovernmental international body established with members from willing countries to embark on a global campaign to protect the tiger.
Two legal instruments that have enabled tiger recoveries in India are:
- The Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.
- The Forest (Conservation) Act of 1980, which reinforced Project Tiger.
Conservation Status of Tiger:
- Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I.
- International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List: Endangered.
- Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES): Appendix I.
What is Conservation Assured | Tiger Standards (CA|TS)?
CA|TS has been agreed upon as an accreditation tool by the global coalition of Tiger Range Countries (TRCs) and has been developed by tiger and protected area experts.
- CA|TS is a set of criteria which allows tiger sites to check if their management will lead to successful tiger conservation.
- It was officially launched in 2013.
- The Global Tiger Forum (GTF) and World Wildlife Fund India are the two implementing partners of the National Tiger Conservation Authority for CATS assessment in India.
Insta Curious:
Did you know that the Global Tiger Day is observed on 29 July? It was created in 2010 at the Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit.
InstaLinks:
Prelims Link:
- Differences between National Parks, wildlife sanctuaries and biosphere reserves.
- M-STrIPES is related to?
- What is GTIC?
- When was project tiger launched?
- NTCA- composition and functions.
- Why the fourth cycle of the All India Tiger Estimation 2018 entered Guinness Record book recently?
- State with highest number of tigers.
- State with highest tiger density.
Mains Link:
The centrality of tiger agenda is an ecological necessity for the sustainability of our environment. In this context, examine the steps taken by India to conserve tigers?
Sources: the Hindu.
