Author: GTFAdmin

Global Tiger Forum (GTF) is inviting proposals for appointment of an Agency to enhance livelihood through tiger conservation, as per the Scope of Work prescribed hereunder. Interested Applicants intending to apply are requested to go through our Eligibility Criteria and furnish their credentials in the given formats of RFP Document latest by 20 September 2024.

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The high-altitude landscapes have been serving as critical habitat for many wildlife species, however very little is known about tigers in these landscapes especially in Sikkim. The tiger has been categorized as “Endangered” under the IUCN red list. It is listed in “Appendix I” of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and is protected under “Schedule I” of India’s Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 which provides it with full legal protection from hunting as well as trade. The increasing record of presence of this charismatic species, in the recent past, and increasing anthropogenic pressures in these areas including rapid development, linear infrastructures, hydro-power projects, and natural resource dependency of the locals, at the same time, makes it necessary to understand this landscape better and build the capacity of local authorities and the communities residing in the vicinity of these protected areas of the landscape. This is important not only for conserving the tiger, its prey and habitat but also for communities.

Under the ongoing project “Investigating and Addressing Tiger Conservation in Sikkim – the Eastern Himalayas” project, supported by IUCN’s Integrated Tiger Habitat Conservation Programme (ITHCP) and funded by the German Cooperation via KfW Development Bank, the Global Tiger Forum (GTF) aim to assess and understand the landscape better and implement focused and site-specific interventions for conservation of the tiger, co-predators, and prey.

Assessing the landscape for better and focused interventions: uncovering the unknown

The Global Tiger Forum (GTF) has installed double sided camera traps at 30 locations in Protected and non-protected areas of Eastern Sikkim to understand movement and presence of tigers and other wild animals. A similar, exercise is being carried out in northern Sikkim as well. These camera traps have revealed the presence of tigers and some other elusive species in non-protected areas for the first time. These cameras have recorded tiger, Clouded leopard, golden cats, and other meso-predators and prey species. Collection of direct and indirect evidence of the wild animals is being recorded along with habitat assessment.

Efforts are being made to understand the potential route connecting the Protected Areas (PAs), and non-PAs, both within the State, inter-state and transborder regions (Indian side). The stages of transformation and identify areas for focused conservation actions.

Building Capacity for better monitoring:

Building capacity of both the forest frontline staff and community monitors is crucial for monitoring the species and the habitat in a better way. The GTF team conducted four (4) capacity building workshops for monitoring and data collection. Around 114 staff and local communities have been trained so far including 71 men and 43 women. These staff and local communities are further engaged in the ongoing camera trapping and sign survey exercises. Involving the local community in such trainings, monitoring, and conservation gives them valuable skills and a sense of ownership and making them guardian of the landscape while also securing their support in better conservation efforts.

Human Wildlife Conflict and livelihood

The proximity of the villages to PAs and movement of wild animals in non-PAs increases the chances of human wildlife conflict with agricultural fields and livestock making an easy food availability for such wild animals. Several, discussions, and consultations have been carried out to zero down on the sites for implementation of human wildlife conflict mitigation measures. A pairwise understanding i.e., site v/s species, crop v/s species, livestock v/s species have been made to implement species specific and site-specific mitigation measures which includes greenhouse, chain-link fences with RCC base, and electric/solar fences. With reduced crop loss, fewer livestock casualties, and greater security for families, the community will find new ways to thrive alongside wildlife.

Sikkim became the first 100% organic state of India. To further strengthen the market for organic commodities and ensuring effective income generation, a systematic plan of investment, establishing grassroot institutions to manage this produce with due capacity of producers and stakeholders in market led extension would be the key to achieve profitability in market. The project further aims to provide market linkage to such produces through the existing and new Farmer Producers Organisations (FPOs) while engaging the social enterprises. This pilot initiative will further add to the economy of local people and open opportunities to access regional, national, and international markets.

Disclaimer: This project is supported by IUCN’s Integrated Tiger Habitat Conservation Programme, funded by the German Cooperation via KfW Development Bank. The contents of this article are the sole responsibility of GTF and do not necessarily reflect the views of IUCN, the German Cooperation or KfW.

Under the ongoing GOI-GEF project titled “Strengthening conservation and resilience of globally significant wild cat landscapes through a focus on small cat and leopard conservation”,  a two day transboundary meeting was conducted by Global Tiger Forum and MoEFCC in association with UNDP-India in New Delhi, India on 11-12 January 2024. The Said meeting was attended by the Government officials from Forest and Park Services, Nature Conservation Division, and Forest Monitoring and Information Division, Bhutan; DNPWC, NTNC, and Chitwan National Park, Nepal; MoEFCC, NTCA, WCCB, WII, Uttar Pradesh Forest Department, and Meghalaya Forest Department, India. Representatives of IUCN-India, UNDP-India, GTF, WWF-India, CCMB, WTI, SACON, and GGS Indraprastha University also attended the meeting.

The meeting was focused on the Status of stressors in the three countries, Stakeholder engagement, Community involvement, Action Plan development, and Funding & Resource mobilization among others relating to small wild cats (mesopredators) conservation.

The state of Sikkim, characterized by a wide variety of ecosystems, ranging from sub-tropical forests to alpine meadows, is one of the most significant biodiversity hotspots, harbouring a diverse array of wildlife.

Recent camera trap surveys have provided evidence towards the presence of most charismatic species “Tiger” in the state. Presence and movement of tiger, usually on a seasonal basis, is also reported by locals of northern and eastern regions of Sikkim. It is likely that the tigers may have always occurred in Sikkim, however, very little is known on their status, distribution, and their migration routes (inter-state, intra-state, and trans-border). Evidence of tiger presence across the Eastern borders (in Bhutan) further highlight the importance of safeguarding transboundary forest linkages. The tiger has been categorized as “Endangered” under IUCN red list. It is listed in “Appendix I” of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and is protected under “Schedule I” of India’s Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 which provides it with full legal protection from hunting as well as trade.

During the last two centuries, the tiger population has been declining due to increasing anthropogenic pressures, viz. forest fragmentation, fuel wood collection, poaching and illegal trade, and other reasons. The state of Sikkim is not an exception to these anthropogenic pressures. The State, being a critical corridor for the majestic Big Cat in the Eastern Himalayas, and with increasing anthropogenic stressors, tiger conservation in Sikkim has become more pertinent for preserving the genetic diversity and long-term survival of tiger and its prey.

To understand and address these challenges in Sikkim, the Global Tiger Forum is implementing a project supported by IUCN’s Integrated Tiger Habitat Conservation Programme, funded by the German Cooperation via KfW Development bank titled “Investigating and Addressing Tiger Conservation in Sikkim – the Eastern Himalayas” . The project will be implemented in Khangchendzonga National Park (KNP), Shinba Rhododendron Sanctuary, Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary, Kyongnosla Alpine Sanctuary and reserve forests Lachen, Lachung, Chungthang, Phodong, Kabi, Tingda, Lagyap, Yali, Latui, and Phadamchen.

The overall project objective is to establish and standardize protocols for tiger monitoring and research in the state, reduce human-wildlife/ human-tiger interface, increase the overall household income of the local community; strengthening institutional capacity and maintaining effective monitoring and patrolling regime, while also maintaining the sanctity of the environment.

The project will focus on assessment and monitoring of species and its habitat including corridor (within Sikkim, Sikkim-West Bengal state border and Sikkim-Bhutan international border); strengthen the capacity of the forest personnel towards tiger conservation and its monitoring by imparting tiger specific training to atleast 100 forest officials/frontline staff and by providing protected area infrastructure i.e., portable patrolling camps along with safety gear in atleast three locations. The project will address ongoing human wildlife conflict issues, by installation of solar fencing in atleast five sites and other appropriate HWC mitigation measures, while also addressing issues related to feral dog impact, and possible spread of zoonotic diseases. The project will also provide opportunities for sustainable livelihood by promoting ecotourism, nature guide training, providing market linkage and value addition to local produce, which simultaneously supports community development and reducing forest dependency of the community.

Disclaimer: This project is supported by IUCN’s Integrated Tiger Habitat Conservation Programme, funded by the German Cooperation via KfW Development Bank. The contents of this article are the sole responsibility of GTF and do not necessarily reflect the views of IUCN, the German Cooperation or KfW.

The 1st State Project Steering Committee meeting for implementation of the GEF-funded GoI-UNDP-WWF-US-GTF project titled “Strengthening conservation and resilience of globally significant wild cat landscapes through a focus on small cat and leopard conservation” was held in the Conference Hall of the Forest & Environment Department, Itanagar on 25th August 2023 in a hybrid mode. The meeting was chaired by Shri Jitendra Kumar, PCCF (Environment, Forest and Climate Change), Chairman of the State Project Steering Committee of Arunachal Pradesh.

Wild tiger numbers have registered an overall increase in several tiger range countries (almost 5574). The status is optimal in tiger range countries of South Asia, with India and Nepal having doubled their tiger numbers (Tx2) since the St. Petersburg Declaration in 2010, and tiger status in Bangladesh and Bhutan remains stable and increasing. Read more

Global Tiger Recovery Programme 2.0 was released at Thimphu on 29 July International Tiger Day by H.E. Tandin Dorji, Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Royal Govt of Bhutan.

Global Tiger Recovery Program (GTRP) 2.0 has been firmed up by tiger range countries through the intergovernmental platform of the Global Tiger Forum along with collaborators like the WWF. GTRP 2.0 emphasizes on strengthening tiger governance, enhancing resources and protection, while addressing contemporary challenges like Human-Wildlife Conflict.

The new version has retained several ongoing archetypal actions along with new ones for a differentiated approach to save the endangered wild tigers.

Click to view/download GTRP 2.0 Document

Malaysia organised the 1st Pahang Tiger Summit at Kuantan, Malaysia on 28-29 July 2023 to “Understand Malaysia’s Holistic Approach for the Malayan Tiger Crises Action Plan (MTCAP) 2021-2030.

The Summit was attended by the King of Malaysia, the Crown Prince of Pahang, Ministers from the Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change (NRECC) Malaysia, senior officials of the Pahang State Executive Council, Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN), Royal Belum State Parks, representatives/delegates from India, Thailand, and Singapore among others.

King of Malaysia, Al-Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah launched the first Tiger Reserve of South-East Asia: Al-Sultan Abdullah Royal Tiger Reserve, Pahang, Malaysia on International Tiger Day 2023 during the second day of the Summit.

The Royal Government of Bhutan launched its National Tiger Survey (2022) report at the Global Tiger Day 2023 event in Thimphu, Bhutan.

Bhutan recorded an increase of 27% in tiger numbers from 103 in 2015 to 131 in 2022.

King of Malaysia, Al-Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah launched the first Tiger Reserve of South-East Asia: Al-Sultan Abdullah Royal Tiger Reserve, Pahang, Malaysia on International Tiger Day 2023 during the 1st Pahang Tiger Summit at Kuantan, Malaysia.

The Summit was attended by the King and the Crown Prince of Pahang, the Minister from the Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change (NRECC) Malaysia, senior officials of the Pahang State Executive Council, Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN), Royal Belum State Parks, representatives/delegates from India, Thailand, and Singapore among others.