Context:

Project Tiger, launched in 1973, marked a significant milestone in India's efforts to conserve its endangered tiger population. Over the last five decades, tiger reserves have evolved from administrative entities to a statutory category, gaining global recognition as a conservation success story. However, recent developments reveal that conflicts between the forest bureaucracy and forest-dwellers pose a threat to both tigers and the indigenous communities that coexist with them. 

Some Important Facts regarding Tigers in India

            Tiger Population Growth:

●       The number of tigers in India increased from 2,967 in 2018 to 3,682 in 2022.

●       This represents an annual rise of 6 percent in the tiger population.

            India's Global Tiger Population Share:

●       India is now home to approximately 75 percent of the world’s tiger population.

            Regional Distribution:

●       Madhya Pradesh has the highest number of tigers with 785, followed by Karnataka (563), Uttarakhand (560), and Maharashtra (444).

            States with a Decrease in Tiger Population:

●       Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand have recorded a decline in the number of tigers.

●       Arunachal Pradesh witnessed a significant decrease, losing around 70 percent of its tigers from 29 in 2018 to 9 in 2022.

            Conservation Challenges:

●       Approximately 35 percent of the 53 tiger reserves in India require enhanced protection measures, habitat restoration, ungulate augmentation, and tiger reintroduction.

            Tiger Reserve Statistics:

●       Corbett has the highest number of tigers within the tiger reserve (260), followed by Bandipur (150), Nagarhole (141), and others.

            Tiger Population in Specific Landscapes:

●       Shivalik Hills and Gangetic Plains landscape saw a significant surge in tiger population, with 804 unique tigers photographed.

●       Western Ghats witnessed a decrease in tiger occupancy due to increasing human footprint and development.

●       Northeastern Hills and Brahmaputra Plains landscape reported a decrease in distinctive tigers captured on camera, requiring intensive conservation efforts.

●       Central India experienced an increase in tiger population, with urgent attention needed in areas with extinct local tiger populations.

            Awards and Recognitions:

●       Six tiger reserves, namely Kali, Melghat, Pilibhit, Tadoba Andhari, Navegaon, and Periyar, were given CAT awards.

Origins of Project Tiger:

The foundation of Project Tiger can be traced back to the enactment of the Wildlife (Protection) Act (WLPA) in 1972. This legislation introduced National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries, designating specific spaces within forests where the rights of forest-dwellers were transferred to the State government. Project Tiger emerged as a response to the WLPA, aiming to safeguard the dwindling tiger population. In 1973, there were nine tiger reserves covering 9,115 sq. km, and today there are 54 in 18 States, encompassing 78,135.956 sq. km.

Evolution of Tiger Reserves:

The expansion of tiger reserves was accompanied by the establishment of Critical Tiger Habitats (CTH), covering 26% of the area under National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries. The tiger population, as of 2022, ranged from 3,167 to 3,925 according to the camera-trap method. However, the success story is marred by the displacement of people who have historically coexisted with tigers. The 'fortress conservation' approach has led to conflicts between forest bureaucracy and forest-dwellers.

Change of Operations:

In 2005, recognizing the inadequacy of traditional conservation methods, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh appointed a Tiger Task Force. The task force identified the need to integrate the protection of tigers with the well-being of forest-dwelling communities. Consequently, in 2006, Parliament amended the WLPA to create the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and a comprehensive tiger conservation plan. Simultaneously, the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act 2006 (FRA) was enacted to recognize customary forest rights, including those within tiger reserves.

Challenges and Violations:

Despite these progressive steps, challenges emerged as the government, in 2007, hastily notified 26 tiger reserves without complying with the provisions of the WLPA. The NTCA's directive to delineate Critical Tiger Habitats lacked informed consent from forest-dwelling communities, leading to the exclusion of Buffer Areas in most reserves. The consequences of this error are evident today, endangering both tigers and the rights of forest-dwellers.

Basis for Critical Tiger Habitats:

Originally, the creation of tiger reserves was intended to follow a democratic and scientific process, ensuring the protection of agricultural, livelihood, and developmental interests of people in tiger-bearing forests. The establishment of CTHs was based on evidence of irreversible damage to wildlife caused by human activities. However, the government's responsibility to ascertain coexistence feasibility and modify forest-dwellers' rights accordingly has been neglected in the rush to declare tiger reserves.

Relocation and Rehabilitation:

The Wildlife Protection Act (WLPA) requires "voluntary relocation on mutually agreed terms and conditions," following specified legal requirements. Once the Forest Rights Act (FRA) recognizes individual rights, the State assumes these rights as outlined in the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation, and Resettlement (LARR) Act of 2013. Consent from affected communities is crucial for relocation, with the LARR mandating comprehensive rehabilitation packages. The government, under the LARR, is obligated to compensate relocated individuals with twice the market value of land, a subsistence allowance, and one-time financial aid. Despite legal provisions, both Union and State governments adhere to the 2008 Revised Guidelines for Project Tiger, offering compensation lower than legally mandated. As of 2018, there were 2,808 villages in Critical Tiger Habitats (CTHs), with 42,398 families still residing within the 50 tiger reserves, according to the Union Environment Ministry as of July 12, 2019.

Tigers versus People:

Tiger reserves witness resistance to the recognition of forest rights, with the NTCA initially refusing to acknowledge FRA rights in CTHs. In 2018, the Environment Ministry issued guidelines, leading to the withdrawal of the ban order. However, challenges persist as the Ministry, in 2020, insisted on wildlife clearance for government public utilities within CTHs, deviating from the FRA requirements. The conflict between conservation goals and the rights of forest-dwelling communities remains unresolved, posing a threat to both tigers and indigenous people.

Conclusion:

Project Tiger, which has completed 50 years, stands as a testament to India's commitment to tiger conservation. The journey from administrative measures to statutory recognition has been commendable, but challenges persist. Violations of wildlife and forest rights acts, hasty notifications, and inadequate compensation for relocation highlight the urgent need for a holistic approach. Balancing the conservation of tigers with the rights of forest-dwelling communities is crucial for the sustainable coexistence of both. As India's tiger terrain becomes a potential hotspot for conflicts, a collaborative and inclusive strategy is imperative to ensure the long-term success of Project Tiger.