Fourth Asia Ministerial Conference on Tiger Conservation

Context:

Recently, the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change addressed the 4th Asia Ministerial Conference on tiger conservation (AMCTC). 

About Asia Ministerial Conference:

• The conference is an important event for reviewing progress towards the Global Tiger Recovery Programme and commitments to tiger conservation.
• It was organized by Malaysia and Global Tiger Forum (GTF).
• India will facilitate Tiger Range Countries towards finalisation of New Delhi declaration for the Global Tiger Summit to be held in Russia later this year (2022).
  • 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 is one of the Founding members of the intergovernmental platform of Tiger Range Countries – Global Tiger Forum.
  • 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.
  • Tiger Range Countries in GTF: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Cambodia, Nepal, Myanmar and Vietnam.

India’s achievements:

• India has doubled the tiger population in 2018 itself, 4 years ahead of the targeted year 2022.
• 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.
• The 14 tiger reserves, which have been accredited are
  • Manas, Kaziranga and Orang in Assam
  • Satpura, Kanha and Panna in Madhya Pradesh
  • Pench in Maharashtra
  • Valmiki Tiger Reserve in Bihar
  • Dudhwa in Uttar Pradesh
  • Sunderbans in West Bengal
  • Parambikulam in Kerala
  • Bandipur Tiger Reserve of Karnataka and
  • Mudumalai and Anamalai Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu

Significance of Tiger Conservation:

• Vital in Regulating Ecological Processes:
  • Tigers, the top predators in the ecosystem, are vital in regulating and perpetuating ecological processes.
    • Forests are known to provide ecological services like clean air, water, pollination, temperature regulation etc.
• Maintaining Food Chain:
  • It is a top predator which is at the apex of the food chain and keeps the population of wild ungulates (primarily large mammals) in check.
  • Thus, Tiger helps in maintaining the balance between prey herbivores and the vegetation upon which they feed.

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.

Tiger Population in India:

• India is home to over 70% of the tiger population globally.
• India is home to 53 tiger reserves spread across 18 states and the last tiger census of 2018 showed a rise in the tiger population.
  
  
  • Guru Ghasidas (Chattisgarh) is the 53^rd Tiger Reserve.
• India has achieved the remarkable feat of doubling the tiger population in 2018 itself, 4 years ahead of the targeted year 2022 of the St. Petersburg Declaration on tiger conservation.
  • Now, 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, while the country is on the threshold of introducing Cheetah in its historical range.

Related Steps taken:

• Conservation Assured | Tiger Standards (CA|TS):
  • 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.
• Project Tiger:
  • It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) launched in 1973. It provides havens for tigers in the country’s national parks.
• Budgetary Allocation:
  • The budgetary allocation for tiger conservation has increased from Rs 185 crore in 2014 to Rs 300 crore in 2022.
• Helping Frontline Staff:
  • The Frontline staff, which is an important pillar of tiger conservation, have extended Rs 2 lakh life cover to each contractual/temporary worker under e-Sharm, a recent initiative of the Ministry of Labour and Employment and Rs 5 lakh health cover under Ayushman Yojana.

Source: PIB

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