Tiger Reserves
What are Tiger Reserves?
These are protected areas for the conservation of Tigers along with their habitat and prey. These reserves are administered by NTCA(National Tiger Conservation Authority) under powers derived from Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act of 2006.
“Project Tiger” was launched by the Government of India in the year 1973 starting with nine reserves, to save this endangered species.
According to the Section 38V in WLP(Amendment) Act of 2006, a tiger reserve must have a core or critical habitat and a buffer zone peripheral to it.
-The limits of the critical tiger habitat and the buffer zone should be determined on the basis of scientific and objective criteria in consultation with an expert committee constituted for the purpose.
Core or critical tiger habitat areas:
These areas are required to be kept as inviolate for the purposes of tiger conservation without affecting the rights of the Scheduled Tribes or such other forest dwellers.
These areas are notified by the State Government in consultation with an Expert Committee constituted for the purpose.
Buffer or peripheral area:
It consists of the areas peripheral to core area, where a lesser degree of habitat protection is required.
It aims at promoting co-existence between wildlife and human activity with due recognition of the livelihood, developmental, social and cultural rights of the local people.
The limits of such areas are determined on scientific criteria in consultation with the concerned Gram Sabha and an Expert Committee constituted for the purpose.
Alteration and de-notification of tiger reserves:
Section 38W in The WLP(Amendment) Act, 2006 talks about it. It states that-
- No alteration in the boundaries of a tiger reserve shall be made except on a recommendation of the NTCA and the approval of the National Board for Wild Life(NBWL).
- No State Government shall de-notify a tiger reserve, except in public interest with the approval of the NTCA and the NBWL.
List of Tiger Reserves in India:
At present India has 52 Tiger reserves.
Tiger Reserves
- Pakke(or Pakhui) Tiger Reserve
- Srivilliputhur-Megamalai Tiger Reserve
- Ramgarh Vishdhari wildlife sanctuary
Wildlife sanctuary
National Parks
