50 Years of Project Tiger: India Reviews Tiger Conservation Policy and Future Strategy

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav called for a comprehensive review of tiger conservation policies as India completes 50 years of tiger conservation.

Key Highlights from the Conference

• Review of NTCA Meetings: The Minister urged a review of all policy decisions to identify those that are outdated, unimplemented, or fully executed.
• Formal Policy Consolidation: He suggested consolidating five decades of policy decisions into a formal policy statement, with the matter placed as the first agenda item in the next NTCA meeting.
• Key Priority Areas:
  • Tiger Population Estimation: The Minister highlighted the need for focused deliberation on improving tiger population estimation exercises.
  • Rescue and Rehabilitation Infrastructure: Strengthening rescue, rehabilitation, and transit treatment centres around tiger reserves was emphasised.
  • Human Wildlife Conflict: Active management of human–wildlife interactions was identified as a major emerging need.
  • Utilisation of Tiger Reserve Funds: Better utilisation of the Tiger Reserve Fund and Project Tiger resources was stressed.
  • Strengthening Conservation Foundations: The Minister called for strengthening Tiger Conservation Foundations for long-term sustainability
• Formation of Working Groups:
  • Four Region-Specific Working Groups: The Minister proposed setting up four working groups to examine region-specific challenges, including changes in tiger populations.
  • These groups would also assess the implementation of centrally sponsored conservation schemes across tiger reserves.

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Tiger Conservation Framework

• Project Tiger
  • Launch: Project Tiger was launched in 1973 as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme to ensure viable tiger populations and protect critical habitats.
  • First implemented at Jim Corbett National Park.
  • Type: A Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
  • Highest Tiger Population State: Madhya Pradesh
• National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA):
  • Established in 2005
  • Status: NTCA is a statutory body constituted under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (2006 Amendment).
  • Mandate: It approves tiger conservation plans, monitors tiger reserves, and ensures implementation of Project Tiger guidelines.
• Tiger Reserves Network:
  • Tiger reserves were created under Project Tiger to provide safe breeding habitats.
  • Administered by NTCA.
  • Number of Tiger Reserves: 58. (Madhya pradesh has highest numbers with 9 reserves)
  • Largest Tiger Reserve: Nagarjunsagar–Srisailam Tiger Reserve (Andhra Pradesh–Telangana) is the largest in India.

• Tiger Corridors Conservation:
  • Corridors connect protected areas and allow safe movement of tigers.
  • Important for landscape-level conservation, Tiger corridors prevents genetic isolation and supports long-term species survival.
  • 32 major corridors across the country.
  • Example:
    • Rajaji-Corbett in Shivalik Hills & Gangetic Plains
    • Ranthambhore-Kuno-Madhav in Central India & Eastern Ghats
    • Nagarahole-Bandipur-Mudumalai-Wayanad in Western Ghats
    • Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong in North East
• All India Tiger Estimation (Tiger Census):
  • Conducted once every 4 years.
  • Implemented By: NTCA with State Forest Departments and Wildlife Institute of India (WII).
• Monitoring System for Tigers: Intensive Protection and Ecological Status (MSTrIPES) Programme:
  • A technology-based monitoring system.
  • Helps in Real-time patrolling, Database creation, Ecological assessment and Better reserve management.
• Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972:
  • Provides the legal foundation for tiger protection
  • Tigers are listed under Schedule I (highest protection)
• Global Tiger Forum (GTF):
  • An international intergovernmental organization
  • Headquartered in New Delhi, India
  • Aims to promote international cooperation for tiger conservation.
• Global Tiger Initiative (GTI)
  • Launched in 2008 as a global partnership of governments, international organisations, civil society, and the private sector.
  • Seeks to prevent tiger extinction through coordinated global action.
  • In 2013, its mandate was expanded to include Snow Leopard conservation.

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International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)

• Overview:
  • The International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) is a treaty-based intergovernmental organisation established to promote the global conservation of major big cat species through cooperation, capacity building, and financial support
  • It was officially launched in April 2023, marking 50 years of Project Tiger, and was later formalised as an international legal entity in 2024
• Headquarters and Secretariat: New Delhi, India.
• Core Focus Species: IBCA works for the protection of seven major big cat species: Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, Puma.
• Global Big Cat Summit: The Union Budget 2026-27 has announced that the first Global Big Cat Summit will be hosted in India.

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