What is Project Tiger In India – UPSC

News Source: TH Over time, the tiger conservation initiative has evolved, establishing Tiger Reserves (55) and implementing crucial wildlife protection laws. However, conflicts in Tiger Reserves between the forest bureaucracy and forest dwellers have intensified due to violations of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and the Forest Rights Act, 2006. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change announced the merger of the two flagship programmes Project Tiger (PT) and Project Elephant as Project Tiger and Elephant (PTE).

What is Project Tiger

• About:
  • Project Tiger is a wildlife conservation initiative in India that was launched in 1 April,1973.
  • The first Director of Project Tiger was Kailash Sankhala, who was born in 1925 and died in 1994.
  • In 2023, India celebrated 50 years of Project Tiger.
• Objective:
  • The primary objective of Project Tiger is to ensure the survival and maintenance of the Bengal Tiger population in their natural habitats by creating dedicated Tiger Reserves.
  • Maintain a viable population of tigers for scientific, economic, aesthetic, cultural, and ecological values.
  • The project also aims to repair the relationship between local people and tigers by developing coexistence strategies. It also aims to regenerate forest habitats by investing in the forest, water, and grassland economies of the people. 
  • Starting with only nine reserves covering 9,115 sq. km, the project marked a paradigm shift in wildlife conservation efforts.
• Method of Tiger Census:
  • The unreliable pug-mark method of the first tiger census in 1972 gave way to more accurate techniques like the camera-trap method.
• Growth Rate in Tiger Population:
  • The first tiger census, in 1972, used the unreliable pug-mark method to count 1,827 tigers.
  • As of 2022, the tiger population is estimated at 3,167-3,925, showcasing a growth rate of 6.1% per year.
  • India is now home to three-quarters of the world’s tigers.
• Tiger Reserve:
  • In 1973, Project Tiger began with nine reserves covering 9,115 sq. km. By 2018, it had grown to 55 reserves in different states, totalling 78,135.956 sq. km or 2.38% of India’s land area.

What are Other Initiatives Taken for Tiger Conservation?

Wildlife (Protection) Act,1972:

• The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 provides a legal framework for the protection of various species of wild animals and plants, management of their habitats, regulation, and control of trade in wild animals, plants, and products made from them.
• The Wildlife (Protection) Act (WLPA), 1972 laid the groundwork for tiger conservation. It established National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries, segregating rights in favour of State governments and introducing the concept of Critical Tiger Habitats (CTH).
• The amendment to WLPA in 2006 led to the creation of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and a comprehensive tiger conservation plan.
• This marked a departure from the earlier fortress conservation approach, acknowledging the inseparable link between tiger protection, forest conservation, and the well-being of local communities.

Tiger Task Force:

• In 2005, the formation of the Tiger Task Force, prompted by concerns about tiger conservation, emphasized the necessity for a reassessment. The task force pointed out flaws in the existing strategy that heavily depended on weapons, guards, and fences.

What are the Challenges in Tiger Conservation?

• The Wildlife Protection (Amendment) Act, 2006 didn’t prohibit the diversion of a “tiger’s forest” for development projects and allowed wildlife to be killed as a last resort if they threatened human lives.
• The government planned to notify the FRA Rules in 2009 and operationalise the Act.
  • But in November 2007, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) passed an order that gave the Chief Wildlife Wardens 13 days’ time to submit a proposal to delineate Critical Tiger Habitats (CTHs), each with an area of 800-1,000 sq. km.
  • As a result, the government ended up notifying 26 Tiger Reserves in 12 States Section 38 (V) of WLPA, and without complying with its provisions.
• Tiger Reserves in Similipal, Odisha, the Critical Tiger Habitats (CTHs) lacked a Buffer Area.
  • It was only in 2012 that they were included following a directive from the Supreme Court, which gave the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) a three-month ultimatum.
• The Tiger Task Force found the approach of using guns, guards, and fences wasn’t protecting tigers, and that the increasing conflict between the forest/wildlife bureaucracy and those who coexist with the tigers was a recipe for disaster.

What is the Recognition of Forest Rights Act, 2006?

• The enactment of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 recognized the customary and traditional forest rights in communities.
• This empowered Gram Sabhas to democratically manage forest resources and biodiversity within their boundaries.
• Critical Wildlife Habitat (CWH):
  • The Forest Rights Act (FRA) introduced a ‘Critical Wildlife Habitat’ (CWH), similar to the Critical Tiger Habitat (CTH) under the Wildlife Protection Act (WLPA).
    • However, a key difference was that once a CWH was notified, it couldn’t be redirected for non-forestry purposes. This particular clause was insisted upon by Adivasi movements during negotiations.
  • Critical Tiger Habitats (CTH) cover 42,913.37 sq. km, or 26% of the area under National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries.
• The Gram Sabhas were given the authority to safeguard, preserve, and oversee the forest, wildlife, and biodiversity within their customary boundaries.

Conclusion

The journey from Project Tiger in 1973 to creation of the NTCA by 2006 amendments reflects India’s commitment to tiger conservation and sustainable coexistence. The integration of community empowerment, recognition of forest rights, and a nuanced approach to wildlife protection showcase a holistic paradigm in wildlife conservation.