Bhupender Yadav calls for 4 panels to assess tiger reserves, schemes

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on Saturday called for the formation of four working groups to review region-specific challenges, including changes in tiger population, and to assess the implementation of centrally sponsored schemes across the tiger reserves of the country.

At the Conference of Chief Wildlife Wardens of Tiger Range States and Field Directors of Tiger Reserves in Alwar, Rajasthan, the Minister asked forest officers to discuss ways to enhance coordination between National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and institutions, such as Wildlife Institute of India, Botanical Survey of India, Zoological Survey of India, and Indian Council for Forestry Research and Education, to incorporate research inputs from these apex organisations and derive practical benefits in tiger conservation.

He also called for a review of all policy decisions taken in the 28 meetings of the NTCA held so far, to identify decisions that have become outdated, those that could not be implemented, and those that have been fully executed.

The initiative, he highlighted, would help the Tiger Conservation Policy to adapt to the challenges being encountered in present times and ensure efficient implementation of conservation measures on the ground.

Yadav said issues related to tiger population estimation, rescue and rehabilitation infrastructure, human-wildlife conflict, utilisation of the Tiger Reserve Fund, and the need to strengthen tiger conservation foundations require focused deliberation.

Yadav said a new batch of cheetahs from Botswana is expected to arrive around the end. The Minister also highlighted that it is important to develop a clear and standardised framework for rescue, rehabilitation, and transit treatment centres around tiger reserves.

Pending issues, such as tiger mortality cases, would also be reviewed by officials to better align financial, administrative, and technical processes with field requirements.