A REPORT

ON

PROJECT TIGER
SUBMITTED TO: SUBMITTED BY:
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I have taken efforts in this project. However, it would have not been possible without the

kind support of many individuals and organizations. I would like to acknowledge my

sincere thanks to all of them.

I am highly indebted to my teacher Ms.Vandana Saini for her guidance and constant

supervision as well as for providing necessary information regarding the report and also

for her support in completing the report.

I would like to express my gratitude towards my parents and my sister for their kind co-

operation and encouragement which help me in completion of this report.

My thanks and appreciations also go to my classmates and friends in developing the

report and people who have willingly helped me out with their abilities.

i
PREFACE
The Government of India launched Project Tiger, a centrally sponsored scheme, in April

1973 to protect tigers and to ensure a viable population of tigers in India.

The Management Plans were to form the bases for the implementation of the project.

These were not approved by the State Governments and the Central Government in many

cases.

The norms decided in 1972 to create Tiger Reserves stipulated an average area of 1500

sqkms. The actual areas of the Tiger Reserves were mostly less than the prescribed area.

15 out of the 28 Tiger Reserves created had area less than half the prescribed area which

was definitely not conducive for conservation, protection and sustenance of a viable tiger

population. Besides, the boundaries of many of the Tiger Reserves had not been

demarcated nor the areas falling within the Tiger Reserves notified legally.

Relocation of the people living within the Tiger Reserves as well as removal and

prevention of encroachment is essential to ease the biotic pressure on the tiger population.

Efforts in this direction did not succeed primarily because of lack of resources. Against

the requirement of around Rs.11000 crore to relocate 64951 families living within the

Tiger Reserves, the allocation in the Tenth Five Year Plan was a meager Rs.10.50 crore.

Even this money was not properly utilized by the State Governments.

The implementation of the project was severely hampered by understaffing at the level of

Tiger Reserves. The personnel actually employed were also found to be over aged, under

trained and under equipped in many cases. The intelligence and communication network

at the Reserves level was also weak.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS (i)

PREFACE (ii)

1. INTRODUCTION 1-2

2. BACKGROUND 3

2.1 Project Tiger 3-6

2.2 Graph of Tiger Reserves in India 5

2.3 Review Assignment 7-8

2.4 Methodology 9

3. REVIEW FINDINGS 10

A. Comments on the Compliance of criteria used 10-11

for evaluating the reserves

B. Observations on Plausibility of overall 12-14

Result

C. Observations on Methodology followed 15-16

D. Recommendations on future use of MEAF 17-19

for Tiger Reserves in India

4. FACTS AND FIGURES 20

4.1 Total area of Tiger Habitat 20

4.2 Name of the Tiger Reserves in Tiger Range 21

States with year of creation and area

4.3 Populations of tigers in India report 22

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5. NATIONWIDE TIGER CENSUS IN 23-24

JANUARY 2010

6. CRIME AGAINST TERROR 25-26

7. FUTURE PLANS AND ACTIVITIES 27

7.1 Future Plans 27

7.2 Future Activities 28-29

8. RECOMMENDATIONS 30-31

9. CONCLUSIONS 32-34

10. BIBLIOGRAPHY 35

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INTRODUCTION
Project Tiger is a wildlife conservation movement initiated in India in 1972 to protect

Bengal Tigers. The project aims at tiger conservation in specially constituted tiger

reserves representative of various regions throughout India and strives to maintain viable

populations of Bengal tigers in their natural environment.

In 2008, there were more than 40 Project Tiger Tiger Reserves of India covering an area

over 37,761 km². Project Tiger helped to increase the population of these tigers from

1,200 in the 1970s to 3,500 in 1990s. However, a 2008 census held by Government of

India revealed that the tiger population had dropped to 1,411. Since then the government

has pledged US$153 million to further fund the project, set-up a Tiger Protection Force to

combat poachers, and fund the relocation of up to 200,000 villagers to minimize human-

tiger interaction.

At the turn of the 19th century, one estimate of the tiger population in India placed the

figure at 45,000. The first ever all-India tiger census was conducted in 1972 which

revealed the existence of only 1827 tigers. The landmark report, Status of the Tigers, Co-

predators, and Prey in India, published by the National Tiger Conservation Authority

estimates only 1411 adult tigers in existence in India (plus uncensored tigers in the

Sundarbans). The project was launched in 1973 in Palamau Tiger Reserve, and various

tiger reserves were created in the country based on a 'core-buffer' strategy. Management

plans were drawn up for each tiger reserve based on the principles outlined below:

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1. Elimination of all forms of human exploitation and biotic disturbance from the core

area and rationalization of activities in the buffer zone.

2. Restricting the habitat management only to repair the damages done to the eco-system

by human and other interferences so as to facilitate recovery of the eco-system to its

natural state.

3. Monitoring the faunal and floral changes over time and carrying out research about

wildlife.

The Forest Rights Act passed by the Indian government in 2006 grants some of India's

most impoverished communities the right to own and live in the forests, which likely

brings them into conflict with wildlife and under-resourced, under-trained, ill-equipped

forest department staff. In the past, evidence showed that humans and tigers cannot co-

exist.

The Project Tiger was meant to identify the limiting factors and to mitigate them by

suitable management. The damages done to the habitat were to be rectified so as to

facilitate the recovery of the ecosystem to the maximum possible extent. The overall

administration of the project is monitored by a Steering Committee. A 'Field Director' is

appointed for each reserve, who is assisted by the field and technical personnel. At the

Centre, a full-fledged 'Director' of the project coordinates the work for the country.

2
BACKGROUND

Project Tiger:
Project Tiger was launched on April 1, 1973, based on the recommendations of a Special

Task Force of the Indian Board for Wildlife.

Initially, the project included nine Tiger Reserves, covering an area of 16,339 km2

with a population of 268 tigers, which has now increased to 28 Tiger Reserves,

distributed in 17 States in India and encompassing 37,761 km2 of land with an estimated

population of 1,498 tigers. The land area under reference amounts to 1.14% of the total

geographical area of the country.

The Project Tiger seeks to ensure a viable population of tiger in India for “scientific,

economic, aesthetic, cultural and ecological values and to preserve for all time, areas of

biological importance as a natural heritage for the benefit, education and enjoyment of

the people”. Towards this end, the main activities of the Project include, inter alias,

wildlife management, protection measures and site specific eco-development to reduce

the dependency of local communities on tiger reserve resources. With the current

population of tigers, this project holds the most important tiger gene pool in the country,

together with biodiversity-rich ecosystems and habitats for wildlife.

3
Project Tiger has a holistic ecosystem approach. Though the main focus is on the flagship

species tiger, the project strives to maintain the stability of ecosystems by also supporting

abundant prey populations. This is essential to ensure an ecologically viable population

of tiger, which is at the ‘apex’ of the ecological food chain.

Assessment of the Impacts of the Project:

In order to assess the impact and overall contribution of the Project Tiger, an independent

evaluation of Tiger Reserves was launched in July 2004 through national experts selected

for their professional background, relevant experience and absence of conflicts of

interest. The assessment guidelines were developed by the Ministry of Environment and

Forests, Government of India.

In all, 45 parameters have been used to assess the evaluation elements pertaining to

planning, inputs, processes and outputs in each Tiger Reserve. The scoring criteria on

each individual parameter have been standardized in the methodology to reduce

subjectivity of the evaluation and are assessed quantitatively to arrive at a composite

score for each Reserve. The composite score is then assessed on a scale of 4 grades: Very

Good, Good, Satisfactory and Poor.

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5
These parameters are meant to assess the management effectiveness of each Reserve and

have been adapted to the Indian context from the Management Effectiveness Assessment

Framework (MEAF) provided by the World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA).

The elements of evaluation vis-à-vis percentage weighting and criteria are outlined

below:

Evaluation Planning Inputs Process Output

Weighting 16% 15% 50% 19%
Criteria 5 9 21 10
Focus of Appropriateness Resources Efficiency Effectiveness

evaluation

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Review Assignment:
IUCN - the World Conservation Union, Asia Regional Office, was requested by the

Government of India to provide an independent review of these Tiger Reserve assessment

reports. Accordingly, the Director of Project Tiger, Ministry of Environment and Forests,

Government of India provided 28 Tiger Reserve assessment reports to IUCN for external

peer review. These reports range in length from 3 to 12 pages and some also include

general comments on management effectiveness. At the request of the Project Tiger, the

focus of this external review is to provide:

1. Comments on the compliance of criteria used for evaluating reserves.

2. Observations on the plausibility of the overall results.

Nagarjuna Srisialam Tiger Reserve

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Namdapha Tiger reserve

3. Observations on the methodology followed; and

4. Recommendations on the future use of MEAF for Tiger Reserves in India.

8
Methodology:
IUCN used its in-house expertise to review the 28 reports by engaging Dr. Keith

Williams (Head, Regional Protected Areas Programme) and Dr. Ranjith Mahindapala

(Deputy Regional Programme Coordinator).

Additionally, it sought technical advice from its network of experts, in particular the

following:

� Dr John Seidensticker, Senior Scientist, Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park &

Chairman, Save the Tiger Fund Council, together with his colleagues, Dr Brian

Gratwicke (Assistant Director, Save the Tiger Fund) and Dr Matt Birnbaum (Head,

Programme Evaluations, National Fish & Wildlife Foundation);

� Dr Jose Courrau, PA management specialist and post-doctorate fellow under Dr Marc

Hockings (Senior Lecturer, School of Natural and Rural Systems Management,

University of Queensland, Australia);

� Mr. Moses Mapesa, Executive Director of the Uganda Wildlife Authority and member

of the Management Effectiveness Task Force; and

� Dr William Schaedla, Ecologist & Conservation Biologist, Wild Aid Asia. Namdapha

Tiger Reserve: S. Sathyakumar.

9
REVIEW FINDINGS
The following review findings are reported under four categories, as below:

1. Comments on the compliance of criteria used for evaluating reserves.

2. Observations on the plausibility of the overall results.

3. Observations on the methodology followed; and

4. Recommendations on the future use of

MEAF for Tiger Reserves in India.

A. Comments on the compliance of

criteria used for evaluating the

reserves

Introductory comments
Since the early 1990s, Protected Area management authorities have experimented with

methodologies to assess the management effectiveness of protected areas, adapted to

regional or local areas and conditions. The need for a standardized approach for PA

evaluation was addressed by the World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA)

through the development of an evaluation framework allowing specific evaluation

methodologies to be designed within a consistent overall approach (Hockings, 2003).

This development of the Management Effectiveness Assessment Framework (MEAF)

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over a period of several years, took into cognizance the design issues relating to both

individual sites and to protected area systems, appropriateness of management systems

and processes, and delivery of protected area objectives.

Kalakad Tiger Reserve

11
B. Observations on the plausibility of

the overall result

S.NO. RESERVE EVELUATOR(S) SCORE
1 Sariska V B Sawarkar 61
2 Indravati A S Negi and S K Chakrabarti 70
3 Ranthambhor V B Sawarkar 89
4 Namdapha M K Ranjitsinh 95
5 Nagarjun/Srisailam A S Negi and S K Chakrabarti 98
6 Valmiki M K Naidu and S K Patnaik 105
7 Pakke V B Sawarkar 106
8 Manas M K Ranjitsinh and V B Sawarkar 106
9 Bhadra P K Mishra and M G Gogate 106
10 Kakakad P K Mishra and M G Gogate 109
11 Nameri V B Sawarkar 110
12 Dampha M K Ranjitsinh 121
13 Buxa V B Sawarkar 124
14 Pench(Maharashtra) A S Negi 125
15 Rajiv Gandhi P K Mishra and M G Gogate 126
16 Pandhavgarh A S Negi and S K Chakrabarti 127
17 Bori-Satpura A S Negi and S K Chakrabarti 128
18 Periyar P K Mishra and M G Gogate 129
19 Tadoba-Andhari A S Negi 135
20 Panna A S Negi & S K Chakrabarti 135
21 Melghat A S Negi 137
22 Simlipal A S Negi & S K Chakrabarti 140
23 Palamau M K Naidu and S K Patnaik 141
24 Pench(Madhya Pradesh) A S Negi & S K Chakrabarti 144
25 Sunderbans V B Sawarkar and M K Ranjitsinh 150
26 Corbett M K Naidu and S K Patnaik 152
27 Dudhwa M K Naidu and S K Patnaik 154
28 Kanha A S Negi & S K Chakrabarti 163

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Tadoba Tiger Reserve

Sunderban Tiger Reserve

13
C. Observations on the methodology

followed

Review Findings
(a) The use of a consultative forum of national experts, who have had long and

distinguished services on protected area/tiger management, to determine the basic set of

criteria is welcome and strongly supported. The criteria are also very robust for the

measurement and evaluation of inputs and outputs.

Overall, further refinements to the methodology (and concomitantly plausibility of

results) could have been made by improving the following:

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� The assessments would have further value with clarification statements to avoid

ambiguity.

Many failures and successes have been identified using the criteria but without an

assessment of the context, it is somewhat difficult to comment on the appropriateness of

the parameters used for these elements.

(b) The MEAF evaluation criteria are useful in so far as they address the majority of

management decisions, threats, and issues proximate to Tiger Reserves.

Even so, they could stand improvement.

(c) The implementation of the approach was not consistent across the sites. It was evident

that the evaluators tried to present the information following the common format.

However, that was not always the case. In some cases, the comments that should

accompany each score were presented in the “Comments” column; in other cases, it was

presented as a narrative at the end of the form. There were even cases in which very little

or no comments were provided. This condition limits the capacity to fully understand

each score and further use of the comments as part of an assessment. It limits the use of

the comments (and even the scores) for comparability with future assessments.

(d) There was no consistency in the partial use of the SWOT analysis. In some cases, the

opportunities and threats for the site were identified but not in other cases. In those

reports where the opportunities and threats were included, the information in each section

included a mixture of external and internal aspects while they normally refer specifically

to external aspects of the protected area.

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Corbett Tiger Reserve

D. Recommendations on the future use

of MEAF for Tiger Reserves in India

The implementation of the management effectiveness assessment frameworks has been a

very significant and forward-looking step in the management of Indian Tiger

Reserves. It has been an essential step, and the Government of India is to be applauded

for moving forward with this initiative. The Tiger Reserves are under great pressure and

16
this approach to evaluation allows a regular assessment of actual needs. It can be used as

a predictor and a director of critical resources within the system.

Methodology
(a) Consistency and comprehensiveness make the MEAF a valuable methodology. With

further standardization and minimal expansion it could become the backbone of a regular

assessment programme for India’s Tiger Reserves.

Evaluation Process
(b) Changes to the evaluation process may also need to include a ranking system that

takes into account the status of tiger populations in different areas. A one-size-fits-all

approach is probably inappropriate given the population variation in India’s reserves.

Managing for tigers verifiably present, managing for the potential presence of tigers, and

managing for a day when extirpated tigers might again be present, are very different

activities.

(c) The participation of a diversity of stakeholders is very important. The assessments of

the Tiger Reserves should continue engaging others in order to promote ownership

among stakeholders as well as transparency.

(d) It is important to conduct a session with the tiger reserve managers to evaluate the

assessment process as well as the approach followed and define the next steps to continue

implementation. During this session, an overall summary of the assessments results can

be completed.

(e) It is recommended to incorporate a section to identify the key points and conclusions

that emerge from the assessments. These key points should be organized according to the

17
WCPA MEAF components. As part of the overall assessment of the Tiger Reserves,

lessons learnt should be drawn and documented.

Use of the Results

(f) The agency responsible for the Tiger Reserves and especially the site managers must

use the assessment results to improve the condition of the reserves. If the results are not

used, the managers will not see change emerging from them and the assessments could

become just more work for the managers. Follow-up on the results must be provided.

(g) The most immediate use for the assessment results is adaptive management. Adaptive

management is a basic foundation of management effectiveness. The reserves must learn,

correct and enhance the management of their values based on the results provided by the

assessments. The implementation of adaptive management is a means to shape the Tiger

Reserves as learning organizations.

(h) Another use of the assessment results is by incorporating them into the regular agency

reporting requirements that include reporting to the agency hierarchy, to donors and

stakeholders. The results can be used to report to local communities and indigenous

groups as well. This effort will promote the accountability of the Tiger Reserves and will

help constituency building.

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FACTS AND FIGURES

19
Total Area of Tiger Habitat

20
Name of the Tiger Reserves in Tiger range states with year of creation and
area
Total area of
the
Name of Tiger
SNo. Year of Creation State Core/Critical
Reserve
Tiger Habitat
(In Sq. Kms.)
1 1973-74 Bandipur Karnataka 872.24
2 1973-74 Corbett Uttarakhand 821.99
3 1973-74 Kanha Madhya Pradesh 917.43
4 1973-74 Manas Assam 840.04
5 1973-74 Melghat Maharashtra 1500.49
6 1973-74 Palamau Jharkhand 414.08
7 1973-74 Ranthambhore Rajasthan 1113.364
8 1973-74 Similipal Orissa 1194.74
9 1973-74 Sunderbans West Bengal 1699.62
10 1978-79 Periyar Kerala 881.00
11 1978-79 Sariska Rajasthan 681.1124
12 1982-83 Buxa West Bengal 390.5813
13 1982-83 Indravati Chhattisgarh 1258.37
14 1982-83 Nagarjunsagar Andhra Pradesh 2527.00
15 1982.83 Namdapha Arunachal Pradesh 1807.82
16 1987-88 Dudhwa Uttar Pradesh 1093.79*
Kalakad-
17 1988-89 Tamil Nadu 895.00
Mundanthurai
18 1989-90 Valmiki Bihar 840.00*
19 1992-93 Pench Madhya Pradesh 411.33
20 1993-94 Tadoba Andheri Maharashtra 625.82
21 1993-94 Bandhavgarh Madhya Pradesh 716.903
22 1994-95 Panna Madhya Pradesh 576.13
23 1994-95 Dampa Mizoram 500.00
24 1998-99 Bhadra Karnataka 492.46
25 1998-99 Pench Maharashtra 257.26
26 1999-2000 Pakke Arunachal Pradesh 683.45
27 1999-2000 Nameri Assam 200.00
28 1999-2000 Satpura Madhya Pradesh 1339.264
29 2008-09 Anamalai Tamil Nadu 958.00
30 2008-09 Udanti-Sitanadi Chhattisgarh 851.09
31 2008-09 Satkosia Orissa 523.61
32 2008-09 Kaziranga Assam 625.58
33 2008-09 Achanakmar Chhattisgarh 626.195
34 2008-09 Dandeli-Anshi Karnataka 814.884
35 2008-09 Sanjay-Dubri Madhya Pradesh 831.25*
36 2008-09 Mudumalai Tamil Nadu 321.00
37 2008-09 Nagarhole Karnataka 643.35
38 2008-09 Parambikulam Kerala 390.89
Notification
39 2009-10 Sahyadri Maharashtra
Awaited
Total 32137.14
* Not yet notified.
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 Population of Tigers in India Report
S.No Name of the State 1972 1979 1984 1989 1993 1997
1. Tamil Nadu 33 65 97 95 97 62
2. Maharashtra 160 174 301 417 276 257
3. West Bengal 73 296 352 353 335 361
4. Karnataka 102 156 202 257 305 350
5. Bihar 85 110 138 157 137 103
6. Assam 147 300 376 376 325 458
7. Rajasthan 74 79 96 99 64 58
8. Madhya Pradesh 457 529 7863 985 912 927
9. Uttar Pradesh 262 487 698 735 465 475
10. Andhra Pradesh 35 148 164 235 197 171
11. Mizoram - 65 33 18 28 12
12. Gujarat 8 7 9 9 5 1
13. Goa Daman & Diu - - - 2 3 6
14. Orissa 142 173 202 243 226 194
15. Kerala 60 134 89 45 57 73
Total 1638 2732 2543 4026 3432 3508
16. Meghalya 32 35 125 34 53 *
17. Manipur 1 10 6 31 - *
18. Tripura 7 6 5 - - *
19. Nagaland 80 102 104 v104 83 *
20. Arunachal Pradesh 69 139 219 135 180 *
21. Sikkim - - 2 4 2 *
22. Haryana - - 1 - - N.R

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Nationwide tiger census in January 2010
The much awaited tiger census will begin on January 22, 2010, and experts are optimistic

that the government’s conservation methods after the last census’ shocking figures should

have helped protect the cats.

A regional training was held from November 10 to 12 at the Bandipur tiger reserve for

forest officials. Now, the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in coordination with the central

government, various state forest departments and Project Tiger will undertake a detailed

study of 17 states.

A senior WII official said, “After a detailed scientific study in the last census, it was

found that an average 1,141 tigers reside in India. We believe that measures have been

taken to ensure safe habitat for these animals. The death of 59 tigers from January to

November this year is worrying.”

Madhya Pradesh topped the charts last census, housing an average 300 tigers, while

Karnataka was second with 290. The state recorded a forest cover of 40,236 sq km, with

tigers occupying 18,715 sq km. The Nagarhole-Mudumalai-Wayanad forest area of

10,800 sq km houses about 190 tigers, while the Kudremukh-Bhadra patch of 7,054 sq

km houses about 58 tigers. The Sharavathi Valley-Dandeli-Khanapur belt that spreads

across 7,309 sq km has about 33 tigers.

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The next census in January will be taken in two parts. The first session of eight days will

begin on January 22, where primary data will be collected from all forest departments

through filed surveys. Officials who have undergone the regional training will train

subordinates to carry out the surveys, with help from NGOs. A special core committee

has also been constituted to overlook the work, said additional principal chief conservator

of forests BK Singh.

The survey will comprise tiger population, prey density, herbivore and carnivore count

and forest details like human habitation, cattle grazing, vulnerable areas and condition of

protected areas. The data will include collection of scat samples and foot plasters of

carnivores, droppings of various herbivores, GPS reading of trails and transacts and

vegetation survey. The compiled data will be sent to WII.

Based on this, for the first time ever, WII will set up camera traps in 30 locations of low,

medium and high density at Bandipur, Nagarhole, Periyar and reserves in Tamil Nadu.

The final report will be released in November 2010, a WII official added.

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CRIME AGAINST TIGER

Poaching and Seizure cases

Problem of Poaching In the Country and Illegal Trade in Wildlife Body Parts and
Derivatives:

Increased human and cattle population in our country has led to pressure on forest

resources which have ultimately caused fragmentation and degradation of wildlife

habitats. This, along with the increase in wildlife population in Protected Aeras has

resulted in wildlife spilling over to other areas. Resultantly, increased man-animal

conflicts leading to revenge killings and poaching are discernable. Though India is not a

consumer of wildlife body parts, the demand from other countries for these with lucrative

profits is a threat to wildlife.

Reasons for man-animal conflict:

Qualitative and quantitative decline of wildlife habitat including loss of prey base are

main reasons for such a situation.

Ex-gratia and compensation payment:

Timely payment of ex-gratia for human deaths and compensation for loss of property is

crucial to pacify the affected families.

Government of India has raised the compensation against loss of human life to Rs 1 lakh.

During the IXth plan compensation to the tune of Rs. 332 lakhs has been provided by

Government of India under Project Tiger and Project Elephant for loss of life and

property.

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 Poaching Of Major Wild Animals:

The wildlife products traded illegally from the country are Musk Deer for cosmetics,

Bear for skin and bear bile, Elephant Tusk for ivory, Rhino horns for aphrodisiac, Tiger

and Leopard skins for fashion products, oriental medicines and food, Snakes and Monitor

Lizard skins for leather industry, Birds for pet trade and feather for decoration, Swift let

nests for soups, Mongoose for bristles, Turtles for meat and soup, and Tibetan Antelope

for shawls. It is estimated that quantum of trade in wildlife products is just next to

narcotics, valued at nearly 20 billion dollars in the global market; of this more than one

third is illegal.

Illicit Tran boundary trade in tiger body parts has increased due to lucrative prices offered

for tiger bones in particular. As per one estimate (1999) 10 gms. Of tiger bones fetch a

price of US$ 24.25 at the China-Vietnam border, i.e. above Rs. 1 lakhs per kg. In Japan,

trade in tiger parts and products was permitted till April, 2000. This has now been banned

after persuasion by the global conservation community. Difficulties being faced by

developing countries like India in controlling illicit trade in tiger parts and products, have

been brought to the notice of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered

Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) time and again. The Convention has appealed to the

International Community to support India in its efforts for conserving tigers.

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FUTURE PLANS AND ACTIVITIES

FUTURE PLANS
Wildlife protection and crime risk management in the present scenario requires a widely

distributed 'Information Network', using state-of-the-art information and

communication technology. This becomes all the more important to ensure the desired

level of protection in field formations to safeguard the impressive gains of a focused

project like 'Project Tiger'. The important elements in Wildlife protection and control are:

Mapping/Plot (graphics) plotting the relative spatial abundance of wild animals,

identification of risk factors, proximity to risk factors, 'sensitivity categorization', 'crime

mapping' and immediate action for apprehending the offenders based on effective

networking and communication.

Space technology has shown the interconnectivity of natural and anthropogenic

phenomena occurring anywhere on earth. Several Tiger Reserves are being linked with

the Project Tiger Directorate in the GIS domain for Wildlife Crime Risk Management. A

'Tiger Atlas of India' and a 'Tiger Habitat & Population Evaluation System' for the

country is being developed using state-of-the-art technology. This involves:

Mapping, data acquisition and GIS modeling

Field data collection and validation

Data Maintenance, Dissemination and Use

The following potential tiger habitats are being covered:

Sivalik– Terai Conservation Unit (Uttaranchal, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal), and

in Nepal

27
North east Conservation Unit

Sunderbans Conservation Unit

Central Indian Conservation Unit

Eastern Ghat Conservation Unit

Western Ghat Conservation Unit

Satellite data is being used and classified into vegetation and land use maps on a 1:50,000

scale, with digitized data relating to contour, villages, roads, drainage, administrative

boundaries and soil. The spatial layers would be attached with attribute data, viz. human

population, livestock population, meteorological data, agricultural information and field

data pertaining to wildlife, habitat for evolving regional protocols to monitor tigers and

their habitat.

FUTURE ACTIVITIES
Conservation of tigers and their prey species faces challenges from the need for income,

lack of awareness, and lack of land use policy in landscapes having Tiger Reserves.

These landscapes should be viewed as a mosaic of different land use patterns, viz, tiger

conservation and preservation, forestry, sustainable use and development, besides socio-

economic growth.

Tiger habitats exist in environments of thousands of Indigenous peoples and indigenous

communities that depend on them. Therefore we cannot view these protected areas in

isolation from the surrounding socio-economic realities and developmental priorities of

the Government. This calls for a cross-sectoral and cross-disciplinary approach.

Tigers now need a "preservationist" approach. Regional planning is important around

Tiger Reserves to foster ecological connectivity between protected areas through

28
restorative inputs with integrated land use planning. The management plan of a Tiger

Reserve, therefore, needs to be integrated in larger regional management plans.

29
RECOMMENDATIONS
All Tiger Reserves should have a well-formulated management plan encompassing long

and medium term targets. The annual plans of operations should be based on the

management plans to ensure appropriate allocation of resources. While enabling a

planned approach to tiger conservation, the annual plan of operations should also provide

a measure for achievement of targets against efforts made. Efforts may be made to

complete the detailed mapping of Tiger Reserves early so that the management plans are

based on reliable information. The boundaries of the existing reserves should be notified

The system of allocation of financial resources to Tiger Reserves needs to be streamlined.

The Project Tiger Directorate should establish formal criteria for allocation of funds and

prioritize the Tiger Reserves based on their risk perception. The issues relating to late

release of central funds, diversion of funds and short release of counterpart funds by the

States need to be addressed at appropriate levels to ensure that tiger conservation efforts

become fruitful.

The Government should make a firm commitment to relocate the local families/villages

from the core and buffer areas of the Tiger Reserves and draw a comprehensive

resettlement plan for the purpose, adequately supported by a credible financial package.

Stringent steps need to be taken to evict the encroachers.

The Government should frame a comprehensive tourism management policy for the

Tiger Reserves clearly spelling out the roles of the Project Tiger Directorate and the State

authorities. Tourism should be regulated such that human impact on conservation efforts

of ecologically sensitive areas is minimized.

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The Government should lay down a clear-cut agenda for coexistence by addressing the

needs of the people sharing habitat with tigers and at the same time ensuring that eco-

sensitive areas are protected from human disturbances, without diluting the conservation

efforts.

Efforts should be made to improve communication and intelligence network, to create a

strike force and to provide adequate arms and ammunition to the project personnel.

For effective patrolling of the reserves, number of camps/ chowkis and forest guards and

foresters in the camps should be augmented. The staff deployed should be physically fit,

capable of carrying out patrolling duties and adequately trained.

Efforts should be made to augment the manpower capacity at the Project Tiger

Directorate to equip it as an effective oversight agency.

Monitoring mechanisms at the Centre and the State levels need to be strengthened. An

effective system of follow up of recommendations should be instituted and the

accountability of officials at various levels needs to be enforced.

Census/ estimation of tigers should be done regularly. Techniques of tiger estimation

need to be refined so that the reliability of census data is enhanced.

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CONCLUSION
In compiling this very brief but pertinent review it is clear that there are a variety of

diverse problems that our 19 Project Tiger reserves face. These are some of the lungs

through which our sub-continent breathes. They are vital to the future of man. Since

Project Tiger started 20 years ago the population of India has increased by 300 million

people and over 100 million live stocks.

All the Tiger Reserves face increasing biotic pressure.

To resolve it site specific eco-development plans are being formulated to ensure the

participation of the local communities in the protection of these vital natural resources.

Our endeavor is to ensure their survival, reduce the pressures on them and create a

genuine harmony between local communities and these 19 tiger reserves.

Project Tiger Reserves and all the biodiversity that abounds in them will not be harvested

for commercial exploitation, used for dam sites or other mega or mini projects.

All Tiger Reserves face increasing threats from the poachers and smugglers of animals,

wood and other vital forest produce.

The tiger-bone trade booms in the Far East. India will take vital steps not only to ensure

that her tigers are safe from external threats but also rally world communities to oppose

the use of tiger-bones in Eastern medicine.

A new strategy will unfold to strengthen the protection of these areas in the light of new

pressures and effective legal procedures formulated for quick and timely action.

Seven Tiger Reserves have armed activists who have not only taken refuge within but

have made management exceedingly difficult.

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We hope that with effective eco-development this intrusion will remain only a passing

phase.

A focus on research, on specific wildlife training and on increasing the motivation of our

staff towards their duties is already a part of new strategies for better and more effective

management. With the development of an in-depth research base in Project Tiger

Reserves efficient and vital site-specific policies will evolve.

In many Tiger Reserves population estimates especially as far as predators and their prey

base are concerned suffer from large margins of errors, either due to over estimation or

under estimation of numbers. Even the pug mark method for counting tigers has problems

of field implementation in many areas. In several areas tiger populations have or appear

to have reached their optimum capacities in the fast five years.

A clear reality will only unfold through a more serious scientific approach.

Let us remember that local communities, their participation, involvement and

commitment are vital for the future safety of these areas.

The same commitment and concern is equally required from people living in urban and

semi-urban areas.

A major educational effort has to be made to increase the level of awareness of urban

dwellers that appear to have grown distant from nature because of the prevailing lifestyle

in the cities that exact a heavy toll on our natural resources.

The consumeristic approach with its lack of concern and infinite exploitation of natural

resources must be questioned and a completely different path should emerge, drawing

inspiration also from our own cultural heritage, and its integral respect for nature.

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The destiny of the people and the destiny of the tiger and all the bio-diversity in these

areas are deeply entangled.

A new phase for Project Tiger is unfolding, the focus will be on the people, in an effort to

reduce all the pressures and to involve them in the protection and nurturing of these

wilderness areas where the tiger walks. The challenges are enormous.

In the next decade Project Tiger will therefore refocus, restructure and reformulate its

strategies, but ultimately it is only through a collective approach where the local people,

the urban dwellers and the State Governments play a constructive role together, that a

new and dynamic era in tiger conservation will commence, to save the tiger and his

habitat.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. Online Encyclopedia –Project Tiger-Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

2. Project Tiger: Status Report(India Environment Portal)

3. Eco Development Project Report

4. Report a crime –HOME PAGE-Project Tiger

5. Daily News and Analysis-dnaindia.com

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