The Hindu : National : Tiger action plans and conservation projects

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Friday, Dec 14, 2007
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Tiger action plans and conservation projects

Aarti Dhar

NEW DELHI: The National Tiger Conservation Authority has identified 273 villages to be relocated from the core areas of tiger reserves as part of conservation efforts. These are situated in 28 reserves in 17 States.

Speaking at the release of a compilation of Tiger Action Plans drawn up by 12 tiger range countries, Rajesh Gopal, member-secretary, NTCA, said so far only one village in the Sariska Tiger Reserve had been relocated. The 21 families shifted were each given a two-room house, 6.25 bighas and Rs. 84,000.

Mr. Gopal was confident that India had put the tiger on the path of recovery, despite some constraints. But he said the data from the tiger census were not too encouraging. The census done in four States – Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan – released a couple of months ago had shown a sharp decline in the numbers over the past five years, though the methodology of the census had changed. The nationwide figures are expected.

Led by the Global Tiger Forum, the International Fund for Animal Welfare and the Wildlife Trust of India, the strategy involves encouraging the 14 tiger range countries to formulate action plans to guide conservation. While the GTF had received plans of 12 countries, North Korea and Laos were yet to submit theirs.

According to S.C. Dey, general secretary, GTF, the situation is critical in China, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos, while it was “reasonably happy” in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Russia.

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