Context:

• NTCA, in collaboration with the Sankala Foundation, is organizing an art exhibition to pay tribute to the 50th anniversary of Project Tiger’s successful completion.
• National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is a statutory body under the Ministry for Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC) and was established in 2006.

What is Project Tiger?

• Project Tiger (Centrally Sponsored Scheme) was launched by PM Indira Gandhi on April 1, 1973 from  Jim Corbett National Park.
• Project Tiger Objective: To promote the conservation of the tiger.
• Project Tiger not only focused on the conservation of the tiger but also ensured the preservation of their natural habitat as tigers are at the top of the food chain. 

Protection Status of Tigers

• Schedule I: Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
• Endangered: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List
• Appendix I: Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) 

Threats

• Tiger-human conflicts: Retaliatory killing of tigers and demand for its organs are big hurdles to its survival.
• Poaching: Poaching is driven by demand for tiger parts for use in traditional Chinese medicine, as well as for trophies and other purposes.
• Habitat Loss: The destruction and fragmentation of tiger habitats due to human activities such as agriculture, logging, and infrastructure development continue to threaten tiger populations.
• Climate change: Climate change may affect tiger habitats, prey availability, and other aspects of tiger ecology, which could further threaten tiger populations in the long term.

Benefits of Conserving Tigers

• Preservation of Rivers: The Creation of Tiger Reserves resulted in the preservation of many rivers and biogeochemical cycles essential for maintaining healthy forests.
• Indicator of Health of Forests: The presence of tigers is an indicator of the good health of the forests.
• Food Chain: It is a top predator that is at the apex of the food chain and keeps the population of wild ungulates in check, thereby maintaining the balance between herbivores and the vegetation upon which they feed.
• Carbon sequestration: Tiger habitats, particularly forests, are important for carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation. 
  • Conserving these habitats helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and slow down the pace of climate change.

News Source: PIB