India got its 57th tiger reserve in the Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary of Madhya Pradesh, following in-principle approval from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change.
Key Takeaways
1. Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary of Madhya Pradesh has a core area of 763.8 sq km, buffer area of 507.6 sq km and total area of 1271.4 sq km. Now, there are Eight tiger reserves in Madhya Pradesh.
2. A tiger reserve in India is a designated area established under the Project Tiger initiative 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.
3. Tiger reserves consist of extensive areas of land that include both a core zone and a buffer zone. The core area is designated as a national park or sanctuary, providing strict protections for wildlife. In contrast, the buffer zone is a mix of forested and non-forested land that serves various uses. These buffer zones act as transitional areas that support wildlife movement and habitat.
4. Presently, 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, as per the National Tiger Conservation Authority.
National Tiger Conservation Authority
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change constituted under enabling provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, for strengthening tiger conservation, as per powers and functions assigned to it under the said Act.
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.
Process of Creating a Tiger Reserve
1. The state government identifies a suitable area for a tiger reserve based on the presence of a viable tiger population and appropriate habitat. Ecological assessments are conducted, which include studies on the prey base, vegetation, and the area’s potential to support tigers.
2. The state prepares a detailed proposal that includes maps, ecological studies, and management plans. This proposal is submitted to the NTCA, which reviews and approves it before forwarding it to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change for further consideration.
3. Once this process is complete, the state government issues a preliminary notification under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, declaring the identified area as a tiger reserve.
4. After addressing any objections or proposed modifications, the state issues a final notification under Section 38V of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, formalizing the establishment of the reserve. Notably, As per section 38W of the Act, once the notification comes “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”.
