SUSTAINABLE FINANCE FOR TIGER LANDSCAPES CONFERENCE (SFTLC)

• The Sustainable Finance for Tiger Landscapes Conference (SFTLC) was held in Bhutan, under the leadership of the Royal Government of Bhutan.
• It was supported by the Tiger Conservation Coalition (TCC) a group of international conservation organizations and experts dedicated to the preservation of tigers and their habitats.

Objectives of SFTLC

• The main aim of the conference was to explore and launch innovative financial solutions that could:
  • Strengthen long-term support for tiger conservation efforts.
  • Mobilize an additional US$1 billion in funding by 2034.
  • Encourage public-private partnerships and nature-positive investments to support tiger landscapes.
  • Address the funding gap in conservation by using market-based tools and institutional financing.
• The conference emphasized the importance of treating tiger habitats not as cost centres but as ecological assets, which, if conserved, can yield economic, climate, and biodiversity benefits.

Tiger Conservation Coalition (TCC)

What is TCC?

• The Tiger Conservation Coalition is a collective of leading organizations and professionals working on tiger protection. It aims to align global conservation efforts by:
  • Providing scientific guidance
  • Sharing conservation expertise
  • Promoting financial and political commitment
• Key Members:
  • IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature)
  • UNDP (United Nations Development Programme)
  • WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature)
  • Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)
  • Panthera
  • Zoological Society of London
  • Fauna & Flora
  • TRAFFIC
• These organizations work in coordination to set global benchmarks, assess threats, and recommend action plans.

Innovative Financing Tools for Conservation

Tiger Landscape Investment Fund

• Launched by UNDP at the SFTLC.
• Aims to attract long-term investment in tiger habitats.
• Focuses on nature-positive business models—that is, models that generate profits without harming biodiversity.
• Promotes community involvement and equity-based finance for sustainable habitat management.

Tiger Bonds

• Introduced by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
• These are impact investment instruments that allow private investors to fund tiger conservation projects.
• In return, investors receive returns based on ecological success metrics.
• Bridges the gap between ecological outcomes and market-driven funding.

These tools represent a paradigm shift from traditional grant-based conservation funding to investment-driven, measurable outcomes.

Tiger Conservation in India: A Broader Perspective

Species Profile

• Species: Panthera tigris tigris (Royal Bengal Tiger)
• Status: Endangered (EN) – IUCN Red List
• Listed under:
  • Schedule I of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 (India)
  • Appendix I of CITES
• India’s National Animal

Distribution and Habitat

• Tigers are found across 13 Tiger Range Countries (TRCs):
  • Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Russia, Thailand, Vietnam.
• In India, they are distributed across five major landscapes:
  • Shivalik and Gangetic Plains
  • Central India and Eastern Ghats
  • Western Ghats
  • North-Eastern Hills and Brahmaputra Floodplains
  • Sundarbans (mangrove ecosystem)
• Madhya Pradesh has the highest number of tigers, followed by Karnataka and Uttarakhand.

Major Threats

• Habitat loss due to deforestation and infrastructure development.
• Decline in prey base (deer, wild boar, etc.).
• Poaching and illegal wildlife trade for skins, bones, and body parts.
• Human-tiger conflict, especially in areas bordering protected reserves.
• Fragmentation of tiger corridors, affecting genetic diversity and movement.

Conservation Initiatives in India

Project Tiger (1973)

• A centrally sponsored scheme launched by the Government of India.
• Aimed at in-situ conservation by creating dedicated Tiger Reserves.
• Started with 9 reserves; currently over 50 reserves exist across India.

NTCA (National Tiger Conservation Authority)

• A statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
• Created by amending the Wildlife Protection Act in 2006.
• Oversees the Project Tiger, sets protocols for management, monitoring, and anti-poaching.

M-STRIPES (Monitoring System for Tigers – Intensive Protection and Ecological Status)

• A digital monitoring tool.
• Used by forest guards to track tiger movements, habitat health, and law enforcement activities.

CA|TS (Conservation Assured | Tiger Standards)

• A global certification system for tiger conservation areas.
• Ensures best practices in reserve management.

WWF Tigers Alive Initiative

• Aims to double the global tiger population (TX2 goal) by 2022 (starting from 2010 levels).
• Promotes landscape-level planning, policy advocacy, and transboundary cooperation.

Wildlife Protection Amendment Act, 2022

• The Wildlife Protection (Amendment) Act, 2022 came into force on April 1, 2023, marking a significant step towards strengthening wildlife conservation and aligning India's policies with international standards.
• It is a significant legislative update to India's primary wildlife conservation law, the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. 
• Enacted to align domestic wildlife protection measures with international standards, particularly the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the amendment introduces several key changes:

Key Provisions

Alignment with CITES

• The amendment incorporates provisions to regulate the international trade of endangered species, as mandated by CITES.
• A new Schedule IV has been introduced, listing all CITES-listed species, thereby bringing them under the purview of Indian law. 

Rationalization of Schedules

• The number of schedules in the Act has been reduced from six to four:
  • Schedule I: Species requiring absolute protection.
  • Schedule II: Species requiring special protection.
  • Schedule III: Protected species not included in Schedules I and II.
  • Schedule IV: CITES-listed species.
• The previous Schedule V, which listed vermin species, has been removed. 

Regulation of Invasive Alien Species

• The Act empowers the Central Government to regulate or prohibit the import, trade, possession, or proliferation of invasive alien species that may threaten native biodiversity. 

Designation of Authorities

• The Central Government is authorized to designate:
  • A Management Authority: Responsible for granting export or import permits for trade of specimens.
  • A Scientific Authority: Provides advice on aspects related to the impact on the survival of the specimens being traded.

Empowerment of Enforcement Agencies

• The amendment extends enforcement powers to the Customs and Coast Guard authorities, enabling them to act against wildlife trafficking, especially concerning exotic species. 

Regulation of Exotic Species

• Provisions have been added to regulate the possession, trade, and breeding of exotic species listed under CITES.
• Individuals in possession of such species are required to register them and report any changes, such as birth or death, to the authorities. 

Voluntary Surrender of Captive Animals

• The Act allows individuals to voluntarily surrender captive animals or animal products to the Chief Wildlife Warden without any compensation. 

Declaration of Conservation Reserves

• Both State and Central Governments are now empowered to declare areas adjacent to national parks and sanctuaries as conservation reserves for protecting flora and fauna and their habitats.

What is a Tiger Landscape?

• A Tiger Landscape includes large, ecologically connected habitats where tigers can live and breed.
• These areas support stable prey populations, allow genetic exchange, and ensure long-term viability.
  • Tiger Landscapes in India:
  • Shivalik-Gangetic Plain
  • North Eastern Hills and Brahmaputra Floodplains
  • Sundarbans Mangrove Forests
  • Central India and Eastern Ghats
  • Western Ghats Forests
• Currently, tiger landscapes comprise less than 8% of their historical range in Asia.