Day: July 29, 2020

Prestigious new tiger conservation award opens for submissions

29 July 2020 – A new annual award in recognition of sites that have doubled numbers of wild tigers since 2010 has launched today and is open for submissions. The award will be presented in partnership with WWF, UNDP, The Lion’s Share, IUCN-Integrated Tiger Habitat Conservation Programme (ITHCP), Global Tiger Forum (GTF) and Conservation Assured Tiger Standards (CA|TS).

A second Tiger Conservation Excellence Award will also go to a site that has achieved significant progress in two or more of the following areas: tiger and prey population monitoring and research; effective site management; enhanced law enforcement and protection; community-based conservation; and habitat and prey management.

The inaugural TX2 Award and Tiger Conservation Excellence Award winners will be announced on 23 November – the 10 year anniversary for the global TX2 goal to double the number of tigers in the wild by 2022. 

“As we near 2022, it’s time to acknowledge the sites contributing to one of the most ambitious conservation goals ever for a single species. This is an achievement that not only secures a future for tigers in the wild, but also the ecosystems that wildlife and people depend on,” said Stuart Chapman, Lead of WWF’s Tigers Alive Initiative. 

“Securing sites harbouring wild tigers are invaluable genetic repositories, apart from ensuring ecosystem services to all. The frontline and management teams who maintain such areas are often unsung, but their contributions are invaluable. This award is most welcome and timely, and will provide the much needed motivation, when the going is not all that smooth,” said Dr. Rajesh Gopal, Secretary General at the Global Tiger Forum (GTF)

“As we respond to the severe global health, social, and economic impacts of COVID-19, now is the moment for us to more clearly understand the risks associated with nature loss and degradation of natural ecosystems. Healthy population of wild tigers in range countries is an important indicator for healthy ecosystems and sustainable development. These awards will act as an added incentive for those who are dedicated to ensuring healthy ecosystems for people and the planet,’’ said Midori Paxton, Head of Ecosystems and Biodiversity, UNDP

The government agencies engaged in tiger conservation can nominate the site of their country or state under the mentioned categories. To be eligible, sites must be within the current tiger range and have a legal status under the country’s legislation. 

Details for how to submit nominations can be found here: www.TX2TigerAward.org

Contact:

Khalid Pasha, CA|TS Manager, WWF Tigers Alive Initiative (based in Singapore), email: kpasha@wwf-tigers.org 

Tristan Tremschnig, Communications Director, WWF Tigers Alive Initiative (based in Hong Kong), email: tristant@wwf-tigers.org

28 July 2020 – In a major boost to tiger conservation ahead of Global Tiger Day, India’s National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change today announced the adoption of the Conservation Assured Tiger Standards [CA|TS] across all of the country’s 50 tiger reserves.

These 50 tiger reserves are spread across 18 states covering an area over 7000 sq. km and contain over 80% of the world’s tiger population.

The announcement means India is the first among the 13 tiger range countries to nationally adopt CA|TS, which are a set of minimum standards setting the benchmark for managing conservation sites. This brings India’s total number of registered sites to 94 (which includes sites not in tiger reserves).

CA|TS is a conservation tool that sets minimum standards to manage target species, and encourages assessments to benchmark progress. Tigers are the first species selected for the initiative. Launched in 2013, the tool was developed in collaboration with field managers, tiger experts and government agencies engaged in tiger conservation.

This announcement further strengthens India’s contribution to the global goal set in 2010 to double the number tigers in the wild, known as TX2. India reported a population of 2,967 wild tigers during the last census in 2018, which is more than double the last estimate in 2006.

Dr. SP Yadav, ADG (Project Tiger) and Member Secretary, National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), Ministry of Environment and Forest and Climate Change: “The CA|TS framework provides an avenue for key tiger sites to assess and identify where their management strengths and challenges are, set goals and evaluate their progress toward achieving those goals. In addition, the framework provides a robust lens through which we can view the benefits of tiger conservation and creating safe havens for tigers in the wild.”

Stuart Chapman, Lead of WWF’s Tigers Alive Initiative: “India’s adoption of CA|TS across its tiger reserves has brought the majority of the world’s wild tigers under one conservation management standard. This will strengthen efforts for continued tiger recovery in India and provide a model for other tiger range countries to follow”. 

Sugoto Roy, the Chair of CA|TS International Executive Committee: “CA|TS is an excellent diagnostic tool designed to help site-based tiger management and conservation to be effective and assist in identifying gaps, challenges and resources needed to catalyse the recovery of tigers.” 

Dr Rajesh Gopal, Secretary general of Global Tiger Forum: “The countries that have still not adopted the CA|TS framework must be encouraged to do so, as this will assist in establishing a uniform and robust framework for the global tiger recovery programme.”

The seven tiger range countries implementing CA|TS include Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Malaysia, Nepal and Russia. 

CA|TS is a partnership of tiger range governments, inter-governmental agencies, institutions, NGOs and conservation organisations. WWF is helping tiger range countries to implement CA|TS, and is joined by other key global organisations,  such as Equilibrium Research, Fauna & Flora International, Freeland, Global Tiger Forum, Global Wildlife Conservation, IUCN, Panthera, Smithsonian Institution, UNDP, WildTeam, World Commission on Protected Areas and the Zoological Society of London. 

CA|TS is being adopted for use beyond tigers, including potentially jaguars, lions and freshwater dolphins.