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Ecology & Environment
Mahesh

06/12/24 09:52 AM IST

Ratapani in MP declared India’s latest tiger reserve

In News
  • India got its 57th tiger reserve in Madhya Pradesh’s Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary, after receiving in-principle approval from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change.
Tiger Reserve
  • A tiger reserve in India is a designated area established under the Project Tiger initiative of 1973 to ensure the conservation of tigers and their habitats.
  • These reserves are part of the government’s efforts to protect the tiger population, maintain biodiversity, and restore ecological balance.
  • Tiger reserves are usually large tracts of land with a core and buffer area.
  • The core area is legally designated as a national park or a sanctuary.
  • In contrast, the buffer or peripheral areas are a mix of forest and non-forest land, which is maintained as a mixed-use area.
  • Buffer zones act as transition areas for wildlife.
  • Currently, there are 57 tiger reserves in India, spread across around 82,000 sq kilometres and accounting for over 2.3 per cent of India’s geographical area, as per the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
  • The NTCA conducts the All India Tiger Estimation to track the big cat numbers, usually in cycles of four years.
  • As per the 5th cycle summary report of 2022, India has a minimum of 3,167 tigers and is home to more than 70% of the world’s wild tiger population.
Tiger Reserves in India
  • In the mid-20th century, India’s tiger population rapidly declined due to hunting, habitat loss, and other human activities.
  • Following Indian independence in 1947, this decline became even more pronounced.
  • In the first attempt to ensure the big cats were not poached, the Indian Government banned the export of wild cat skins, including of tigers, in 1969.
  • Extending further protection, the Indian Board for Wild Life (IBWL) formed an 11-member task force to devise a comprehensive conservation strategy, marking the inception of Project Tiger.
  • The task force submitted its final report in August 1972, recommending that eight tiger forests across India be included in the project.
  • On April 1, 1973, Project Tiger was officially launched at the Corbett Tiger Reserve.
  • The initial phase included nine tiger reserves: Corbett (Uttarakhand), Palamau (Jharkhand), Similipal (Orissa), Sundarbans (West Bengal), Manas (Assam), Ranthambhore (Rajasthan), Kanha (Madhya Pradesh), Melghat (Maharashtra) and Bandipur (Karnataka).
Creation of Tiger Reserve
  • The state government identifies a suitable area for a tiger reserve based on the presence of a viable tiger population and suitable habitat.
  • Ecological assessments, including studies on prey base, vegetation, and the area’s potential to support tigers, are then conducted.
  • The state prepares a detailed proposal, including maps, ecological studies, and management plans.
  • Finally, a proposal is submitted to the NTCA, which studies and approves it and submits it to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change for further consideration.
  • Following this, the state government issues a preliminary notification under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, declaring the identified area as a tiger reserve. After addressing any objections or modifications, the state issues a final notification under Section 38V of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, formalising the reserve.
  • The reserve is brought under the Project Tiger initiative, entitling it to central funding and technical support for conservation activities.
  • A detailed management plan is developed, focusing on habitat improvement, anti-poaching measures, and community participation. The NTCA conducts regular monitoring and evaluation.
  • As per section 38W of the Act, once the notification comes “no State Government shall de-notify a tiger reserve, except in public interest with the approval of the Tiger Conservation Authority and the National Board for Wild Life”.
Benefits of Tiger Reserve
  • According to wildlife researchers, as top predators in an ecosystem, tigers play an essential role in regulating and perpetuating ecological processes.
  • Ensuring the conservation of this apex carnivore ensures the health of forest ecosystems, the biodiversity they represent, and the security of water and climate.
  • Tigers inhabit a wide range of habitats in India, including high mountains, mangrove swamps, tall grasslands, dry and damp deciduous forests, and evergreen and shola forest systems.
  • Since there are many resources at the disposal of Project Tiger and the national interest behind this project the protection enacted on tigers has an umbrella effect that extends to other sub-species.
  • These reserves helped prevent the loss of over 5,800 hectares of forest.
  • This, in turn, restricted the release of about 1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, contributing positively to combating the effects of climate change.
Source- Indian Express

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