Survey by Conservation Assured | Tiger Standards

Why in news?

The Conservation Assured | Tiger Standards (CA|TS) recently published a report titled 'Safe Havens for Wild Tigers'.

What is the report on?

CA|TS report was on the results of a survey of site-based tiger conservation across Asia.
The survey assessed the current management methodologies at 112 sites located in 11 tiger-range countries, including India.
The survey is the first and largest rapid assessment of site-based tiger conservation across Asia.
It has been driven by 11 conservation organisations and tiger-range governments that are part of the CA|TS coalition.
The results show whether or not governments are investing sufficient funds into tiger conservation.
This study also shows the reality of the progress made under the St Petersburg Declaration.

What are the key findings?

Only 13% of the tiger conservation areas met the global standards of an accreditation system.
Of the 112 global sites surveyed, only 12.5% was currently able to meet the full CA|TS criteria.
Nearly half of the assessed sites reported fairly strong management, although improvements are needed.
South Asian and East Asian countries like Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Nepal and Russia had management plans.
The remaining 35% did not have management plans and showed relatively weak management.
Notably, a majority of these are in Southeast Asia, including Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar and Thailand.
Three of the 13 tiger range countries, Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia have lost all their tigers.

What are the concerns?

Basic needs remain weak for all tiger conservation areas surveyed.
These include enforcement of laws against poaching, engaging local communities and managing conflicts between people and wildlife.
Staff capacity to patrol the sites effectively and anti-poaching enforcement remain weak, despite the serious threat of poaching.
Only 16 of 112 sites had intelligence-driven anti-poaching processes in place.
Ineffective management of tiger conservation areas had led to the extinction of tigers from certain key areas.

What are the accredited sites?

Lansdowne Forest Division, Uttarakhand, accredited in May 2017, is the third CA|TS accredited site globally and the first in India.
It is significant since it is a crucial link between the Rajaji and Corbett tiger reserves.

What does it call for?

Low investment from governments in Southeast Asia was one of the reasons for the lack of management.
Thus, long-term investment in tiger conservation areas is called for.
This is absolutely essential to halt and reverse the decline of wild tigers.
The tiger-range governments should thus take the lead responsibility.

Source: Business Line, Indian Express

Quick Facts

Conservation Assured | Tiger Standards (CA|TS)

CA|TS is an important tool in the achievement of the Convention on Biological Diversity - CBD’s Global Aichi Targets.
CA|TS is a management tool which sets basic criteria such as the minimum standards for effective management of tiger conservation reserves.
It also applies to other conservation reserves and protected areas which have tiger populations.
It contributes to the implementation of the Programme of Work on Protected Areas.
The CA|TS team has been working closely with the IUCN.

St Petersburg Declaration

In November 2010, the first “Tiger Summit” in St Petersburg, Russia, endorsed a Global Tiger Recovery Programme.
The programme aimed at reversing the rapid decline of tigers, and doubling their numbers by 2022.
India was one of the 13 tiger range countries that participated in the gathering.
The leaders committed to drawing up action plans to -

Tiger Range Countries

The Tiger Range Countries (TRC) are the countries where tigers still roam free i.e. in the wild.

The 13 tiger range countries are Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Russia, Thailand and Vietnam.
Sometimes North Korea is also included.
While there have been no recent tigers sightings in North-Korea, it is the only country listed which has not ratified CITES.