PROJECT TIGER
1. Context
- The Government of India launched "Project Tiger" on 1st April 1973 to promote the conservation of the tiger.
- Project Tiger has been the largest species conservation initiative of its kind in the world.
- While the field implementation of the project, protection and management in the designated reserves is done by the project States, who also provide the matching grant to recurring items of expenditure, deploy field staff/officers and give their salaries, the Project Tiger Directorate of the Ministry of Environment and Forests was mandated with the task of providing technical guidance and funding support.
3.Origin of Project Tiger
- In 1972, India implemented the Wildlife (Protection) Act (WLPA), which established 'National Parks' within designated forests, transferring the rights of forest-dwellers to the State government. It also introduced 'Wildlife Sanctuaries' where limited rights could be exercised. The launch of Project Tiger stemmed from these changes.
- Initially, there were nine tiger reserves spanning 9,115 sq. km in 1973. Presently, there are 54 reserves across 18 States, covering 78,135.956 sq. km. Critical Tiger Habitats (CTH) make up 26% of National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries, totaling 42,913.37 sq. km. As of 2022, data from camera-trap methods estimated the tiger population in India to be between 3,167 to 3,925.
- The creation of CTHs aimed to allocate specific forest areas for tiger-centric initiatives. These areas were accompanied by Buffer Areas, a blend of forest and non-forest land. However, the 'fortress conservation' approach, despite its inclusive agenda for the Buffer Area, led to the displacement of people who had coexisted with tigers for generations
4. What is Critical Wildlife Habitat’ (CWH)?
A 'Critical Wildlife Habitat' (CWH) refers to a specific area within a protected region or sanctuary that is identified and demarcated for the conservation and protection of a particular wildlife species or multiple species.
These areas are recognized for their crucial importance in providing habitats, breeding grounds, or essential resources necessary for the survival and well-being of endangered or vulnerable wildlife populations. CWH designations aim to ensure the preservation of these habitats and their ecological balance by implementing stricter conservation measures and regulations to safeguard the wildlife within those areas
5. Tiger Task Force
- The implementation of Project Tiger over the years has highlighted the need for a statutory authority with legal backing to ensure tiger conservation.
- Based on the recommendations of the National Board for Wild Life Chaired by the Hon'ble Prime Minister, a Task Force was set up to look into problems of tiger conservation in the country.
- The recommendations of the said Task Force, interalia include strengthening Project Tiger by giving it statutory and administrative powers, apart from creating the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau.
- It has also been recommended that an annual report should be submitted to the Central government for laying in Parliament, so that commitment to Project Tiger is reviewed from time to time, in addition to addressing the concerns of local people.
Broadly the urgent recommendations of the said Task Force are
- Reinvigorating the constitution of governance.
- Strengthening efforts towards the protection of tigers, checking to poach, convicting wildlife criminals and breaking the international trade network in wildlife body parts and derivatives.
- Expanding the undisturbed areas for tigers by reducing human pressure.
- Repair the relationship with local people who share the tiger's habitat by fielding strategies for coexistence.
- Regenerate the forest habitats in the fringes of the tiger's protective enclaves by investing in forest, water and grassland economies of the people.
6. National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)
- Considering the urgency of the situation, Project Tiger has been converted into a statutory authority (NTCA) by providing enabling provisions in the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 through an amendment, viz. Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2006.
- This forms one of the urgent recommendations of the Tiger Task Force appointed by the Prime Minister.
- The NTCA addresses the ecological as well as administrative concerns for conserving tigers, by providing a statutory basis for the protection of tiger reserves, apart from providing strengthened institutional mechanisms for the protection of ecologically sensitive areas and endangered species.
- The Authority also ensures enforcing guidelines for tiger conservation and monitoring compliance of the same, apart from the placement of motivated and trained officers having good track records as Field Directors of tiger reserves.
- It also facilitates capacity building of officers and staff posted in tiger reserves, apart from a time-bound staff development plan.
- The Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2006 has come into force with effect from the 4th of September, 2006 and the NTCA has also been constituted on the same date.
For Prelims & Mains
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For Prelims: Project Tiger, Tiger Task Force, Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2006, Global Tiger Summit, National Tiger Conservation Authority,
For Mains:
1. Discuss the Role of the National Tiger Conservation Authority in increasing the tiger population in India. Explain the significance of the Tigers in the Ecosystem. (250 Words)
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Previous Year Questions
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1. The term ‘M-STRIPES’ is sometimes seen in the news in the context of (UPSC 2017) (a) Captive breeding of Wild Fauna (b) Maintenance of Tiger Reserves (c) Indigenous Satellite Navigation System (d) Security of National Highways Answer: (b) 2. Consider the following statements: (UPSC 2014) 1. Animal Welfare Board of India is established under the Environment (Protection) Act, of 1986.
2. National Tiger Conservation Authority is a statutory body.
3. National Ganga River Basin Authority is chaired by the Prime Minister.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 2 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Answer: (b) 3. Which one of the following is the well-publicized wildlife campaign in the world launched in 1973? (BPSC 2023) 1. Sunderbans 2. Project Project 3. Tiger Lion Project 4. More than one of the above 5. None of the above Answer: 2 |
Source: Tigernet.nic.in
