Union Minister delivers India’s statement at the Fourth Asia Ministerial Conference on Tiger Conservation

What is the News?

The Union Environment Minister has addressed the Fourth Asia Ministerial Conference on Tiger Conservation.

What is the Fourth Asia Ministerial Conference on Tiger Conservation?

It was organised by the Government of Malaysia and the Global Tiger Forum(GTF).

At the conference, the 13 Tiger Range Countries(TRC) adopted the Kuala Lumpur Joint Statement on Tiger Conservation, which emphasised joint commitments towards tiger conservation.

Note: The 13 Tiger Range Countries(TRC) consist of Malaysia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Russia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

What are the key highlights of the Union Environment Minister address at the Conference?

Firstly, India will facilitate Tiger Range Countries towards the finalisation of the New Delhi declaration for the Global Tiger Summit to be held at Vladivostok, Russia.

Note: A “Pre-Tiger Summit” meeting was held at New Delhi in 2010, wherein the draft declaration on tiger conservation for the Global Tiger Summit was finalised.

Secondly, the minister highlighted the achievements of India in Tiger Conservation:

– India has achieved a remarkable feat by doubling the tiger population four years ahead of its goal. 

– Conservation Assured |Tiger Standards (CA|TS) accreditation has already been awarded to 14 tiger reserves in India.

– India’s success with the tiger relocation could be replicated elsewhere. It has successfully translocated a tiger in the western part of the Rajaji Tiger Reserve. Similar reintroduction has been planned for Kanha Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh. 

– Frontline staff constitute an important pillar of tiger conservation and hence India has extended Rs 2 lakh life cover to each contractual/temporary worker under e-Sharm, a recent initiative of the Ministry of Labour and Employment and Rs 5 lakh health cover under Ayushman Yojana.

Source: This post is based on the article ‘Union Minister delivers India’s statement at the Fourth Asia Ministerial Conference on Tiger Conservation’ published in PIB on 22nd January 2022.