India's 57th tiger reserve, Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh, highlights the country's commitment to tiger conservation under Project Tiger (1973). Spread across 82,000 sq km, India harbors over 70% of the global wild tiger population, emphasizing ecological balance, biodiversity preservation, and climate change mitigation through protected tiger reserves.
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India got its 57th tiger reserve in Madhya Pradesh’s Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary, after receiving in-principal approval from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change.
As per National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) currently, there are 57 tiger reserves in India, spread across around 82,000 sq kilometres and accounting for over 2.3 per cent of India’s geographical area.
Tiger reserves were established in India under the Project Tiger initiative of 1973.
The NTCA conducts the All-India Tiger Estimation to track the big cat numbers, usually in cycles of four years.
As per the 5th cycle summary report of 2022, India has a minimum of 3,167 tigers and is home to more than 70% of the world’s wild tiger population.
Location: Located in the Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh, in the Vindhya Range in central India. It is one of the finest teak forests in the state.
Major sites: Places include Bhimbetka, Delawari, Ginnorhgarh Fort, Ratapani Dam, KairiMahadeo and Kherbana Mandir. It has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Major waterbodies: Two large reservoirs, namely Barna Reservoir and Ratapani Dam (Barrusot lake) are among the major waterbodies adjacent to or inside the sanctuary.
Flora and Fauna: Carnivores in the sanctuary include the tiger, leopard, dhole, hyena, jackal and fox, and the herbivores include chital, sambar, nilgai, four-horned antelope, langur and wild boar, and primates: langur and rhesus macaque. Of the 59 bird species identified by BirdLife International (undated) in this biome, 33 are found in Ratapani.
Notification by the State government: As per section 38W of the Act, “no State Government shall de-notify a tiger reserve, except in public interest with the approval of the Tiger Conservation Authority and the National Board for Wild Life”
The state government identifies a suitable area for a tiger reserve based on the presence of a viable tiger population.
Ecological assessments, including studies on prey base, vegetation, and the area's potential to support tigers.
The state prepares a detailed proposal, including maps, ecological studies, and management plans.
Finally, a proposal is submitted to the NTCA, which studies and approves it and submits it to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change for further consideration.
The state government issues a preliminary notification under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, declaring the identified area as a tiger reserve.
After addressing any objections or modifications, the state issues a final notification under Section 38V of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, formalizing the reserve.
The reserve is brought under the Project Tiger initiative, entitling it to central funding and technical support for conservation activities.
A detailed management plan is developed, focusing on habitat improvement, anti-poaching measures, and community participation.
The NTCA conducts regular monitoring and evaluation.
A tiger reserve in India is a designated area established under the Project Tiger initiative of 1973 to ensure the conservation of tigers and their habitats. These reserves are part of the government’s efforts to protect the tiger population, maintain biodiversity, and restore ecological balance.
The core area is legally designated as a national park or a sanctuary. In contrast, the buffer or peripheral areas are a mix of forest and non-forest land, which is maintained as a mixed-use area. Buffer zones act as transition areas for wildlife.
In the mid-20th century, India’s tiger population rapidly declined due to hunting, habitat loss, and other human activities. Following Indian independence in 1947, this decline became even more pronounced.
In the first attempt to ensure the big cats were not poached, the Indian Government banned the export of wild cat skins, including of tigers, in 1969.
The Indian Board for Wild Life (IBWL) formed an 11-member task force to devise a comprehensive conservation strategy, marking the inception of Project Tiger.
The task force submitted its final report in August 1972, recommending that eight tiger forests across India be included in the project.
On April 1, 1973, Project Tiger was officially launched at the Corbett Tiger Reserve.
Tigers play an essential role in regulating and perpetuating ecological processes. Ensuring the conservation of this apex carnivore ensures the health of forest ecosystems, the biodiversity they represent, and the security of water and climate.
A 2023 study published in Nature (“Climate co-benefits of tiger conservation”) found that protecting tiger reserves has significant environmental benefits. Between 2007 and 2020, these reserves helped prevent the loss of over 5,800 hectares of forest. This, in turn, restricted the release of about 1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, contributing positively to combating the effects of climate change.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) was founded in India in December 2005, based on a recommendation put forth by the Tiger Task Force. The Prime Minister of India established the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) to streamline the management of Project Tiger and numerous Tiger Reserves in India.
Background: In 1973, the Government of India, in collaboration with the WWF, initiated a conservation program known as the Tiger Protection Program, commonly referred to as Project Tiger.
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PRACTICE QUESTION Q.Consider the following statements regarding the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA):
Which of the statements given above are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Answer: d Explanation: Statement 1 is correct: The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) coordinates tiger conservation efforts across India, ensuring the protection and preservation of tigers and their habitats. Statement 2 is correct: The NTCA operates under the administrative control of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), which oversees the implementation of conservation projects and policies. Statement 3 is correct: The NTCA is responsible for implementing Project Tiger, which was launched in 1973 to safeguard tigers and their habitats in India. |
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