China key to Tiger protection in India

With most of the demand for Indian tiger skin and parts being driven by Chinese consumption, India's MOEF Jairam Ramesh has been trying hard to get some sort of agreement going with the Chinese Govt camping down on the illegal wildlife trade mafia in that country. Though China has banned selling and consumption of tiger skin and parts it may be noted that according to some reports more than 5000 tigers exist across in China across Tiger Farms. Though legally not permissible these farms have not been shut down by teh govt in the face of lobbying by these farm owner who are expecting the ban to be lifted at some point in time. The existence of these farms lends legality to consumption of tiger parts in the country which is driving demand for wild tiger parts that is being fed by killing the beasts in forest across India. The minister's recent visit to China didnt end with an agreement on this front as China raised the issue of Tibetan Antelopes being killed and Shatoosh shawls being sold in INdia much like tiger being killed and their body parts being sold in China. It may be noted the tiger skins were much in demand across Tibet too till recently before teh Dalai Lama openly exhorted people of his country to shun the skins to stop killing of the big cats. Post his appeal demand for tiger skin from Tibet has dropped significantly whereas China keeps conuming ever more of the stuff.
India is execting China to help curbing the rampant trade of wild life across the border of teh two countries which might nip tiger trade. Though the agreement couldnt be signed on this trip the minister expressed hope that it will be done in October when a chinese delegation visits India and will become part of a larger agreement the neighbours are planning to sign on climate control.

India, China to collaborate on environment http://www.hindu.com/2009/08/27/stories/2009082754841100.htm

Local communities need to have a stake in well being of Forest reserves

All across tiger reserves in teh country reports are coming in of local communities facing displacement, hardship due to existence of notified forest areas in teh vicinities. In our zeal to protect forests and wildlife the govt is missing involving local communities and ensuring they have a stake in preservation of these areas. A recent news about villagers inside Tadoba being shifted out without being provided any means to decent livelihood is a story being repeated aross the country. Another case has come to light in Goa where a local activist whose efforts pushed the government to notify the Mhadei wildlife sanctuary in Goa is facing social ostracization for this initiative. Villagers around the sanctuary must be concerned the govt will soon throw them out after taking over their land without giving them fair compensation and whats more generations of tribals and locals who have lived in and around the park and survived on forest procude will suddenly be barred from entering the forest and be left to fend for themselves. Though the Minister MOEF Jairam Ramesh has after taking over articulated the need to involve local communities in the protection of tiger reserves and forest areas the thought has not been converted in to a concrete policy and ground level implementation is marred by corruption and caloussness. Cases like Tadoba and Goa will keep repeating themsevles over and over again till such time the govt realises the need to provide suitable alternate living conditions to displaced families and access to reasonable means to livelihood. A country which cant feed its population is unlikely to succed in saving its tigers.

Kerkar faces social boycott in Keri
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/city/goa/Kerkar-faces-social-boycott-in-Keri/articleshow/4938939.cms

NTCA teams on visit to Tiger parks in ciritcal condition

After the recent confesson by NTCA member secretary Rajesh Gopal during a meet in Sariska about the critical condition of many sanctuaries across the country owing to maoist trouble or other secutiry related problems a report in Telegraph cites NTCA teams visiting reserves across Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand & orissa. It may be noted that maoist trouble across the so called Red Corridor has virtually made it impossible for any census to be carried out across wide swathes of forest areas in these some of these states. Recently an NTCA team was also despatched to Similipal in Orissa to take stock of the situation there after it emerged that maoists and timber mafia had taken over the park and wildlife poaching was being carried out nside the sanctuary on a large scale.
Delhi teams on fact-finding mission to tiger reserves
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090826/jsp/northeast/story_11406634.jsp

Bandipur first reserve to get Tiger Protection force

Taking off from the recent initiative flagged off by Jairam Ramesh Minister MOEF Bandipur Tiger Reserve in Karnataka will be the first tiger reserve in the country to have its own dedicated protection force. A TOI report states Bandipur having witness numerous tiger deaths this year some apparently owing to poaching. It should be noted that the current protection forces across tiger sanctuaries comprise of ill paid and ill equipped ageing guards who niether have the training, resources nor requisite authority to control wildlife related crime inside the park. As per this new initiative NTCA has decided to initially set up a STPF across 13 out of the 37 tiger sanctuaries. NTCA will fund setting up of a dedicated protection force for tigers which will be backed by required equipment and have legal backing to enforce the rule of law. The force will comprise of well trained personnel with 30% of them being draw in from local comminities which will ensure they have a stake in protecting wildlife and forest areas they live in.

Bandipur to get country's first tiger protection force
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/city/bangalore/Bandipur-to-get-countrys-first-tiger-protection-force/articleshow/4934389.cms