Report of the Tiger Task Force - PRS

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TIGER TASK FORCE REPORT JOINING THE DOTS ■DISSENT NOTEANNEXURE-AA PLAN OF ACTION TO ENSURE THE LONG TERM SURVIVAL OF TIGERSINTRODUCTION1. The Sariska tiger crisis happened because (a) theTiger Reserve was completely mismanaged therebyleaving the field open for poachers; (b) the actualnumber of tigers was much less than that reflected inthe earlier census figures because the census was notparticipatory, transparent and scientific, the totalcount pugmark census methodology used since the1970s has been proven inaccurate; and (c) excessivehuman and livestock disturbance right across thearea.2. The Sariska tiger crisis is symptomatic of most ofIndia. In 2004-2005 local extinctions have takenplace not only in Sariska Sanctuary but also in KelaDevi Sanctuary in Rajasthan. These two sanctuariesbetween them lost 24 tigers. There was also a sharpdecline of 21 tigers in Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve.All the seven tigers in the Palpurkuno Sanctuary andall the six tigers in Rani Durgawati Sanctuary inMadhya Pradesh have been wiped out and are nowlocally extinct. The decline across the North Eastincluding Namdapha and Dampha Tiger Reservescoupled with the declines in places like PalamauTiger Reserve, Valmiki Tiger Reserve, Dudhwa TigerReserve, Indrawati Tiger Reserve, Panna TigerReserve and Nagarjuna Sagar Tiger Reserve reflectthe grim national scenario. The States have obviouslynot given the required priority to the issue ofconservation and protection of tigersnotwithstanding the existence of many reports,recommendations and the Wildlife Action Plan thatare drawn up from time to time after involvingexperts at the national level. The nonimplementationof the National Wildlife Action Plan(2002-2016) particularly stands out starkly in thisregard.3. The tremendous pressure on forests and theunsustainable levels of biomass removals by localpeople as well as by the forest department andrampant grazing have adversely affected the NationalParks/sanctuaries/reserve forests. The State of theForest Report, 2003, clearly brings out that the forestshaving more than 70 per cent density is only 51,285sq. kms. (1.56 per cent of this country’s geographicarea). Further, an area of 26,245 sq. kms (0.75 percent of country’s geographic area) of dense forestshaving more than 40 per cent density has been lost injust two years. Out of this area of 26,245 sq. kms ofdense forests, a total of 23,140 sq. kms is inpotentially rich tiger habitats and includes, amongothers, States like Assam, Jharkhand, Karnataka,Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh andUttranchal. The trends revealed in this latest reportare exceedingly grave and disturbing and, if notreversed, could have serious consequences for thetiger’s forests. There would be 300,000 sq. kms ofpotential tiger habitat. Less than 10% containbreeding population.4. The unregulated biotic pressure has resulted in aconflict of interests between the local population andthe forest management with the real threat of largescale destruction of wildlife habitat looming on thehorizon. Encroachments, delayed settlement of rightsof the people and the diversion of forests for illconceived projects have compounded the problems.In this background the populist approach of liberallyregularizing encroachments and grant of pattas inforest areas and management interventions in theform of dry bamboo extraction, underplanting, etc.will both mean further fragmentation invitingirreversible ecological disaster. Ultimately the tigeritself will be on the brink of extinction.5. Tiger populations breed well and grow rapidlyin population in habitats without incompatiblehuman uses. They cannot co-exist with peopleparticularly in a situation where both human impactsand livestock grazing are continuously on theincrease. In the Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve thetiger has gone locally extinct in Kela Devi Sanctuaryand Sawai Mansingh Sanctuary in the year 2005.The reason for this is the presence of 52,510 goats,10178 buffaloes, 4928 cows and even 37 camels. Notto talk of 40 villages and their ever increasing humanpopulation. One wonders whether this sanctuaryhas been declared to protect forest and wildlife orcattle? The long term survival of tigers will thereforedepend on how secure and inviolate are theprotected areas in which they live.6. In the above background an attempt has beenmade to highlight the problems (Part I) under sixheads as below :i) Forest Personnel;Annexures 167
■ JOINING THE DOTS TIGER TASK FORCE REPORTii) Infrastructure;iii) Biotic Pressure on the Wildlife Habitat;iv) Policy and Enforcement Issues;v) Research, Science and Monitoring ; andvi) Funds Related Issues7. Similarly, an attempt has also been made toprovide possible solutions to the problems listed inthe preceding para within the existing legal andadministrative framework that exists in India. Thesolutions suggested (Part II) have been indicatedunder the following heads :i) Manage the Protected Area with CompetentOfficials so that Problems are Resolved ;ii) Sensitize the Centre and StateAdministration to the Needs of the Tiger;iii) Prevent Destruction of the Tiger’s Habitat;iv) Strengthen Research and Training AcrossTiger Habitats;v) Provide Timely Funds to all SpeciallyDesignated Tiger Areas;vi) Legal Support; andvii) International Cooperation.8. The Plan of Action drawn up identifies theproblems and provide solutions without becomingencyclopedic. The problems have to be tackled on awar footing to ensure that the solutions are faithfullyimplemented in the field in a time bound manner.The need of the hour is implementation.9. Issues related to personnel matters need to begiven a very high priority because the officials whomanage the tiger’s landscape, and the local people,have to be committed and dedicated and trained tobe effective. This also raises issues like how do youcreate a system to ensure that the best person is onthe job and how do we make him fully effective inthat job? Particularly given that the StateGovernments really make the final decisions in allpersonnel posting in reserves. How do we attemptthis?10. Similarly, to minimize human disturbance howdo you involve the forest management and the localinhabitants? Ultimately both the forest managementand the local people have to develop a sense of prideand satisfaction in what they are doing if the forestsand wildlife are to be conserved and protected.Today the area in which tigers live undisturbed isgrossly inadequate and therefore the long termsurvival of the tiger hangs in the balance.11. There has to be close coordination anddovetailing of the activities initiated by the NationalLevel Committee headed by the Prime Minister, theState Level Committee headed by the Chief Ministerand the National Advisory Committee on Researchso that they all move and act in tandem and becomereceptive mechanisms for change.12. It is with all these factors in mind that this planof action has been spelt out in a simple and straightforward way without too much detail whichwherever further required has been left to theappropriate expert administrative and researchcommittees. This Plan of Action has been sostructured so as to ensure that the existing delicatebalance of responsibility and power between theCentre and the State is not disturbed.PART ITHE PROBLEMS1. FOREST PERSONNELi) Lack of professionally trained, committed,competent and physically fit FieldDirectors and other officials.ii)The Forest Department’s mindset is that ofan owner not a custodian.iii) There is no system of selectiveappointments to the sensitive posts atvarious levels in the PAs/Tiger Reserves.(Instead many are treated as punishmentpostings).iv) Vacant posts numbering nearly 5000 inPAs/Tiger Reserves.v) The average age of forest guards is above 50years.vi) No effective system of specialized training(induction stage, in service etc.)vii) Transfer policy – no fixed tenure.Irrational transfers on extraneousconsiderations.viii) Lack of incentives including special pay,housing, etc.ix) Insufficient promotion avenues –forestguards remain stagnant for years.x) Poor service conditions for front line staffin terms of provisions for ration, specialpay, family accommodation, workinghours, schooling, medical facilities,compensatory leave, life and other168 Annexures
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THE REPORT OF THE TIGER TASK FORCEJ
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ContentsIntroductionExecutive summa
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IntroductionThe Tiger Task Force wa
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Report of the Tiger Task Force - PRS

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