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India Reviews 50 Years of Tiger Policy as Cheetah Program Breeds Success

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav has called for a comprehensive review of all policy decisions from the National Tiger Conservation Authority's 50-year history to identify outdated or unimplemented measures. He highlighted the success of India's cheetah reintroduction program, which is now seeing its third India-born generation, with a new batch from Botswana expected by month's end. The minister proposed consolidating five decades of decisions into a formal policy statement and forming four working groups to tackle region-specific challenges. The conference aims to enhance coordination between conservation bodies to improve the efficiency of tiger conservation efforts on the ground.

Key Points: India Reviews Tiger Conservation Policy After 50 Years

  • 50-year tiger policy review
  • Cheetah reintroduction success
  • New cheetahs from Botswana
  • Four working groups for regions
  • Strengthen NTCA coordination
2 min read

Bhupender Yadav calls for more efficient, updated tiger conservation

Union Minister Bhupender Yadav calls for policy review at tiger conference, highlights success of cheetah reintroduction program reaching third generation.

"identify decisions that have become outdated - Bhupender Yadav"

New Delhi, Feb 7

As India completed 50 years of tiger conservation, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, on Saturday, called for a comprehensive policy review to identify challenges in the present times and ensuring efficiency.

Highlighting the Cheetah reintroduction programme, the Union Minister said India has successfully carried out an international translocation of a wild species that had gone extinct in the country, with the project now reaching the third India-born generation of cheetahs.

He added that a new batch of cheetahs from Botswana is expected to arrive in the country around February-end.

Addressing the inaugural session of the "Conference of Chief Wildlife Wardens of Tiger Range States and Field Directors of Tiger Reserves" in Rajasthan's Alwar, Union Minister Yadav suggested a review of all policy decisions taken in the 28 meetings of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) held so far.

He said that the exercise was needed to identify decisions that have become outdated, those that could not be implemented, and those that have been fully executed.

The initiative, the Union Minister highlighted, would help Tiger conservation policy to adapt with the challenges being encountered in the present times and ensure efficient implementation of conservation measures on ground.

Setting the tone of the two-day conference, Union Minister Yadav suggested that policy decisions taken over the last five decades should be consolidated into a formal policy statement, with the issue placed as the first agenda item in the next NTCA meeting.

The Union Minister 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.

The conference would review the overall status of tiger conservation in the country and deliberate on key policy, management and operational issues.

Union Minister Yadav also 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.

He also asked participants to discuss ways to enhance coordination between 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, so as to incorporate research inputs from these apex organisations and derive practical benefits in tiger conservation.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
This is a positive step. Consolidating five decades of policy into a formal statement will bring much-needed clarity. However, I hope this review is transparent and involves inputs from ground-level forest staff and local communities, not just officials in conference rooms. Their experience is invaluable.
R
Rohit P
Great to hear about the cheetah project's success! The third India-born generation is a huge milestone. But let's not get distracted. Tigers are our national animal and the flagship of conservation. Focusing on efficient fund utilisation and modern tech for population estimation is key. Jai Hind!
S
Sarah B
As someone who loves visiting Indian wildlife sanctuaries, I'm thrilled. Better coordination between all these research institutes sounds very sensible. More scientific data should lead to better protection for these magnificent creatures. Hope the new cheetahs from Botswana adapt well too!
V
Vikram M
Forming four working groups for region-specific challenges is a smart move. The issues in the Sundarbans are very different from those in Ranthambore or Bandipur. A one-size-fits-all policy won't work. This review must lead to actionable, localized plans, not just another report.
K
Kavya N
While I appreciate the intent, I have a respectful criticism. We hear about policy reviews and conferences often. The real test is implementation on the ground. Let's hope this leads to tangible outcomes like better equipment for forest guards and faster compensation for farmers affected by conflict.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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