SC Panel Recommends Reforms in Tiger Reserves

SC Panel Recommends Reforms in Tiger Reserves

Why in the News?

A Supreme Court-appointed expert panel, also known as the Central Empowered Committee, has recommended a ban on night tourism, stricter safari regulations, and armed protection for forest staff to safeguard India’s tiger reserves. These recommendations come in the wake of environmental violations in the Pakhro tiger safari project at Jim Corbett National Park. The proposed reforms aim to strengthen Project Tiger initiatives and address challenges faced by prominent tiger reserves like Ranthambhore and Sariska in Rajasthan, which are key components of India’s tiger conservation efforts. The recommendations align with the latest tiger report 2023, highlighting the need for enhanced protection measures in tiger reserves across the country, including those in Uttar Pradesh and other states.

Major Recommendations by SC Expert Committee:

• Ban on Night Tourism to protect the circadian rhythm of wildlife in tiger reserves, aligning with the “silent night” concept for conservation. This measure is crucial for tiger reserves like Ranthambhore and Sariska, which are part of the Rajasthan tiger reserve network and play a vital role in Project Tiger initiatives.
• Declare core, buffer, and eco-sensitive zones (ESZs) as Silent Zones under the Noise Pollution Rules, 2000. This will help maintain the integrity of tiger habitats in various tiger reserves across India, including those in Uttar Pradesh, and support overall tiger conservation efforts.
• Enforce National Tiger Conservation Authority’s (NTCA) guidelines to phase out night stays in core areas within six months. The NTCA, established to oversee Project Tiger initiatives, plays a crucial role in tiger conservation efforts and wildlife management strategies.
• Mobile phones to be banned in core tourism zones of tiger reserves to minimize disturbance to wildlife. This measure will be implemented in all tiger reserves, including those listed in the NTCA tiger reserve list, to enhance wildlife management practices.
• Recommend tiger safaris only on non-forest or degraded buffer lands, not part of tiger corridors or core zones. This approach aims to balance tourism with wildlife management and tiger conservation needs, particularly in reserves like Ranthambhore and Sariska.

Forest Staff Welfare and Protection Measures

• Arm 75% of forest personnel within five years; raise special forest battalions under state forest departments to combat poachers and protect tiger reserves. This measure is crucial for tiger conservation efforts in reserves like Ranthambhore and Sariska, and will help curb illegal trade in wildlife products.
• Apply Section 218 of BNSS, 2023 to protect forest officers from arbitrary prosecution, enhancing forest staff protection. This will strengthen wildlife management efforts across all tiger reserves and support Project Tiger initiatives.
• Provide ex gratia compensation equal to paramilitary forces in case of death in service. This measure recognizes the risks faced by forest staff in tiger reserves and other protected areas, reinforcing the importance of their role in tiger conservation.
• Fill all forest vacancies and create dedicated cadres for veterinarians, biologists, and sociologists to build local trust and enhance tiger conservation efforts in reserves like Ranthambhore and Sariska. The Wildlife Institute of India can play a crucial role in training these specialized cadres and conducting research on tiger behavior and habitat management.

Pakhro Safari Violation and Legal Oversight

• Pakhro project led to illegal tree felling and construction without MOEFCC clearance, threatening the tiger reserve and potentially involving timber mafia. This incident highlights the need for stricter oversight in buffer zones around tiger reserves and the importance of combating illegal trade in forest products.
• Estimated ecological damage: ₹29.8 crore, to be recovered from guilty officers and used for wildlife management and habitat research in tiger reserves. The Wildlife Institute of India may be involved in conducting these research initiatives to support Project Tiger goals.
• SC had allowed safari only for rescued/injured/orphaned tigers, not zoo imports, emphasizing the importance of natural habitats in Project Tiger initiatives. This aligns with the core principles of tiger conservation in reserves like Ranthambhore and Sariska, and supports the overall wildlife management strategy.
• Report to be reviewed by CJI-led bench following plea by environmentalist Gaurav Bansal. This review will have implications for all tiger reserves under Project Tiger and may influence future tiger conservation policies.

The recommendations aim to strengthen Project Tiger initiatives and address challenges faced by tiger reserves like Ranthambhore and Sariska. The Wildlife Institute of India may be consulted for further studies on the impact of tourism on tiger habitats and the effectiveness of buffer zones in mitigating human-wildlife conflict in tiger reserves. These measures are crucial for tiger conservation efforts and to save the tigers from various threats, including poachers and habitat loss.