The Global Tiger Forum organised the 3^rd Stocktaking Conference on 28 – 29 January, in collaboration with Global Tiger Initiative Council (GTIC), National Tiger Conservation Authority (Government of India), Wildlife Conservation Trust (WCT), Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), and WWF. This is the latest collective step in the process that began at the 2010 St Petersburg Tiger Summit – where 13 tiger-range governments committed to Tx2 – an ambitious goal to double the global wild tiger population by 2022.

The conference was inaugurated by the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Dr. Harsh Vardhan. “Conservation of tigers is a duty which has to be meticulously pursued and more innovative ways need to be devised so that we can better the targets adopted by tiger range countries in 2010 at St. Petersburg, Russia”, said Dr Vardhan.

“We must take concerted action to revive tiger populations globally, and this can only happen with long-term investment and the utmost commitment of government leaders, especially from Southeast Asia where there is a risk of losing wild tigers altogether,” said Mr. Rajesh Gopal, Secretary General, Global Tiger Forum.

Over one-third of tiger conservation sites in the world are severely at risk of losing their wild tigers – the majority of which are in Southeast Asia. Many of these areas lack basic plans for effective management, with over 60 per cent of the sites facing several limitations in anti-poaching, according to a first-ever global survey of tiger sites.[1]

Governments reported on the current status of national tiger recovery efforts, highlighting challenges and sharing best practices. Increasing challenges with poaching, lack of capacity, and habitat loss were highlighted as key barriers to tiger recovery among Southeast Asian governments

The two day conference included country updates on the key performance indicators, KPIs of their National Tiger Recovery Programs (NTRP), and the technical presentations on themes such as protection, habitat/ prey/ tiger recovery, management of human wildlife interface issues, smart green infrastructure, habitat and field management, conservation finance and partnerships. Apart from this, there were also four Side Events, including the reviewing of the Sub continental level Tiger estimation for India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal, maximizing synergies of partnerships for tiger conservation, combating wildlife trafficking issues and finally a discussion on the contours of strategy for convention (CITES).

We are pleased to inform you that the 3^rd Stocktaking conference on tiger conservation relating to GTRP/NTRP implementation would be held from 28-29 January 2019 at the SCOPE Complex, New Delhi. This is organized by the Global Tiger Forum, as an implementing arm of the Global Tiger Initiative Council (GTIC), in collaboration with the National Tiger Conservation Authority (Government of India), WWF, Wildlife Conservation Trust (WCT) and Wildlife Trust of India (WTI).

(Entry by invitation only)

For more information on the same, contact: admin@globaltigerforum.org

The Global Tiger Forum in association with WWF-India and Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) has conducted the Security Audit of 25 Tiger Reserves for the NTCA.
This exercise is based on a validation study at Kanha and Satkosia Tiger Reserve that led to development of the Security Audit protocol and is now being used as the baseline document for conducting the audit in 25 tiger reserves.
By regular evaluation of security status of the tiger reserve, manager of the TRs will be able to assess current status of enforcement efforts, assess gaps and undertake necessary field actions to enhance protection.
The Security Audit exercise is being implemented in following Tiger Reserves:
Navegaon-Nagzira , Tadoba , Melghat , Pench (Maharasha) , Pench , Satpura, Panna , Bandhavgarh , Sanjay Dubri , Rajaji , Ranthambhore , Mukundara Hills , Sariska , Corbett , Similipal , Biliguri-Ranganatha Temple , Sathyamangalam , Bandipur , Valmiki , Dudhwa , Pilibhit , Kaziranga, Sunderbans , Manas and Orang.

The GTF in association with NTCA & Uttar Pradesh forest department initiated a project to combat human wildlife conflict (HWC) in U.P (Bijnore, Pilibhit, Lakhimpur Kheri, Kushinagar districts). Under the said project, Phase 1 included vulnerability assessment of the landscape, strengthening capacity to address HWC and sensitization of stakeholder agencies. Phase 2 of the project would involve preparation of a consolidated Master Plan (encompassing all 5 districts), capacity building and green investment.

In December, 2018, an expert team from GTF visited the sites to assess the factors responsible for exacerbating the human-wildlife interface in the region and to subsequently come up with measures to mitigate them. The team suggested regular elephant patrolling, e-surveillance and camera trapping for mapping the movement of the tigers.

U.S. Tiger University Consortium in partnership with the Global Tiger Initiative Council and the Global Tiger Forum is announcing the 2nd Call for Applications for the PhD programme. 

The PhD fellowship is available in Louisiana State University (LSU) and the University of Missouri.

Last date for submission of Application to the Global Tiger Forum will be 15 January, 2019.

For more information click on the link: PhD advertisement

Under the ongoing USAID-WCT-GTF engagement for strengthening conservation efforts in Tiger Range Countries, a trans-boundary consultation between India and Myanmar on addressing illegal wildlife trade and trafficking was held on 6 and 7 December 2018 at Hotel Royal Plaza, New Delhi. The meeting was attended by representatives from Indian and Myanmar Government agencies, including Nature and Wildlife Conservation Division (Myanmar), Myanmar Police, Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (India), National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), and Wildlife Institute of India. Additionally, senior officials from conservation agencies, such as WWF, WCS and TRAFFIC participated in the said consultation.

The meeting focused on discussions pertaining to the latest bilateral MoU between India and Myanmar on combating timber trafficking, tiger and other wildlife conservation. Representatives from both the Governments agreed to expedite the signing of this MoU in order to formalize joint action on addressing illegal trafficking. The two-day consultation included presentations on country level wildlife trade status, international ramifications, trans-border trade hotspots, modus operandi of wildlife crime, species recovery, and advanced technology for protection.

Based on the inputs from each agency, the Global Tiger Forum presented a set of recommendations highlighting immediate and long-term goals towards addressing wildlife trafficking and joint action between India and Myanmar, including development of a regional project for the Htamanthi – Naga Hills transboundary landscape.

The participating agencies also proposed to develop an action plan for streamlining data sharing, species in trade and their recovery, gap analysis, multi-tier and multi-department capacity building and initiating a dialogue with the heads of state and concerned ministries for generating political will and support to reduce poaching and trafficking of wildlife.

Courtesy: The Telegraph

A study conducted by scientists of Wildlife Institute of India (WII) released the first photographic record of tiger presence at Dibang Valley in Arunachal Pradesh at a height of 3,630m, the highest range in the Indian part of Eastern Himalayas for big cats to be found.

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Joint statement by GTF and WWF-India on reversal of ban relating to use of Tiger and Rhino body parts in medicine by China

The reversal of a long-standing ban on the commercial trade of tiger bone and rhino horn for medicinal purposes could have devastating impacts on the efforts to conserve tigers and rhinos in the wild across their range globally. Though an internal trade issue for China, the international ramifications of such a reversal, vis-à-vis the thriving illegal market for body parts and derivatives of the tiger and rhino, would result in decimation of wild populations of the two species across their range. We apprehend that tiger bones and rhino horns procured from wild populations would find their way into illegal markets in the guise of legal trade.  In the context of tiger, this has been much debated in CITES, and its Resolution 12.5 (Rev. COP 17) and Decision 14.69, inter alia, have directed for voluntary prohibition of internal trade, working towards strategies for reducing, eventually eliminating use of body parts and derivatives of Asian Big Cats, besides restricting captive populations to a level supportive only to conserving wild tigers, while not breeding tigers for trade in their parts and derivatives. As per vote at COP 14, Decision 14.69 applies to both internal and international trade.  These would become meaningless in the wake of the recent ban reversal by China. Coming at a time when Tiger Range Countries (TRCs) have committed to doubling wild tiger populations under the Global Tiger Recovery Program (GTRP), this commercial trade ban reversal would have huge implications on reaching the TX2 goal. India, with approximately 60% of the global population of wild tigers and 80% of the greater one-horned rhino population, will be under the greatest threat from legalising trade in tiger bone and rhino horn in neighbouring China. India will need to further strengthen collaboration with range state governments, particularly enforcement agencies for increasing protection of wild tiger and rhino populations and enhancing vigilance against illegal wildlife trade.

International Tiger Day: We need new age Tiger champions

Written by Rajesh Gopal and Mohnish Kapoor

Source: The Indian Express

The striped cat may not be looking down the barrel but only a right balance between conservation and development can secure its future. We are a long way from achieving the ambitious target set in 2010 of doubling the global tiger numbers by 2022.

The world commemorates Global Tiger Day on July 29. This occasion is as good an opportunity as any to take stock of the status of the striped stalker in the wild.

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This Global Tiger Day take a pledge to be a Tiger Champion. The video gives a glimpse into the efforts taken by the GTF, along with tiger range countries and partners on the tiger front. The conservation agenda needs new age “tiger champions”. It is our collective responsibility to protect nature and its magnificent species, as it is key to our own survival. #TigerChampions