India Expands Tiger Reserves to Strengthen Conservation Efforts

Why in the News?

India has declared Madhav National Park as its 58th tiger reserve, aiming to expand habitat connectivity and boost conservation efforts. This comes amid concerns over habitat loss, poaching, and declining tiger populations in some states.

Significance of Tiger Reserves:

  • Madhav National Park in Madhya Pradesh has been designated as India’s 58th tiger reserve.
  • The move aims to protect tiger populations and expand their habitat connectivity.
  • Project Tiger, launched in 1973, initially included nine reserves and has now expanded significantly.
  • India currently houses an estimated 3,681 tigers, as per the latest census.

Challenges Facing Tiger Reserves

  • Deforestation, poaching, and habitat fragmentation threaten tiger conservation.
  • States like Telangana, Odisha, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh report static or declining tiger populations.
  • Illegal activities, including mining and encroachment, impact core tiger habitats.
  • The Satkosia reserve in Odisha has seen local tiger extinction due to these pressures.
  • Only 25% of tiger habitats lie within core protected areas, while buffer zones remain vulnerable to human activities.

Conservation Strategies and Way Forward

  • The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) oversees tiger protection policies and reserve management.
  • New reserves help expand safe zones, ensuring better genetic diversity and population growth.
  • Stronger anti-poaching measures, habitat restoration, and community involvement are crucial for sustaining tiger populations.
  • Increasing awareness and eco-tourism initiatives can help fund conservation efforts while balancing human-wildlife coexistence.
  • The recognition of tigers as an endangered species under the IUCN Red List reinforces the need for continued global conservation efforts.

Key Aspects of Establishing a Tiger Reserve:

Scientific Management Framework

●      Project Tiger (1973) was later replaced by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) in 2006.

●      Each reserve follows a site-specific management plan for scientific conservation.

Core and Buffer Zones

●      Core Zone – Strictly protected habitat for tigers and wildlife.

●      Buffer Zone – Surrounding area with regulated human activities to support conservation.

Tiger Conservation Plans (TCPs)

●      Focus on protection, habitat management, and prey conservation.

●      Corridors connect reserves to maintain genetic diversity.

Process of Declaring a Tiger Reserve

●      State Government submits proposal → NTCA evaluates → State officially notifies.

Funding Mechanism

●      General States: 60% Centre, 40% State.

●      Northeastern & Himalayan States: 90% Centre, 10% State.