“India has
zero tolerance against wildlife crimes”: Javadekar
Third Asian
Ministerial Conference on Tiger Conservation inaugurated
The Prime Minister, Shri
Narendra Modi, has said that there is a need to consider Tigers as our
“natural capital” and to define conservation as a means to achieve development,
rather than considering it to be anti-growth. In his
inaugural address at the 3rd Asian Ministerial Conference on Tiger
Conservation here today, the Prime Minister said that Tiger conservation, or
conservation of nature, is not a drag on development and that both can happen
in a mutually complementary manner. He emphasized the need to “smartly”
integrate the Tiger and wildlife safeguards in various infrastructures at the
landscape level. The Prime Minister called for the need to involve business
groups through corporate social responsibility for various initiatives towards
Tiger conservation.
The Prime Minister said that Tiger
Range Countries are signatories to other international conventions to address
international trade on endangered species. “We are moving towards formally
adopting the statute of South
Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network”, he said.
Expressing concern over trafficking of
body parts and derivatives of Tigers, the Prime Minister emphasized the need to
collaborate at the highest levels of Government to address this serious issue. He said that Tiger Reserves
also provide a range of economic, social, cultural and spiritual benefits “This calls for factoring in the
value of the ecosystem in the economic arithmetic of development and growth”, the
Prime Minister said. He added that the
use of modern technology, including intelligent, infrared and thermal
cameras on a 24x7 basis is being promoted for surveillance against poaching in
sensitive Tiger Reserves.
The Prime Minister
released a joint report on “Status of Tigers in the Sunderban Landscape – India
and Bangladesh” on the occasion. He also presented awards in various
categories for Tiger conservation to representatives from Tiger Reserves. The
award-winning Tiger Reserves include: Periyar Tiger Reserve for Best
Anti-poaching practices; Satpura Tiger Reserve for Village Relocation and
Settlement; Kanha Tiger Reserve for Active Management; Parambikulam Tiger Reserve for
Community Participation in Eco-Tourism and Kaziranga Tiger Reserve for
Conservation of Species other than Tigers.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion,
Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Environment, Forest and Climate
Change, Shri Prakash Javadekar strongly emphasized that India has ‘Zero Tolerance’
against wildlife crimes such as poaching. He said that the recent case of
poisoning of Tigers in Pench Tiger Reserve is unacceptable and that all the
culprits have been arrested and will be severely punished. “We lead by
example and are committed to cooperate with other Tiger countries”, Shri
Javadekar said.
The Environment Minister highlighted the
need to protect Tiger corridors. “We will incentivize project proponents to
give land for Compensatory afforestation in Tiger corridors”, Shri Javadekar
said. Pointing out that Tiger is an epitome of ecosystem and if conservation
of Tiger is successful, it means that the whole ecosystem is improving, the
Minister said that as per the Tiger count conducted in 2014, India had 2, 226
Tigers. In the last two years, the number has been rising and according to rough
estimates, there are nearly 2, 500 Tigers in the country. Shri Javadekar also
said that as per WWF estimates, the Tiger population the world over has grown
from 3, 200 to 3, 890 in the last five years, which is a 22% increase. He said
that six countries in the world have shown an increase in the number of
Tigers. “We have started a unique experiment in new Standard Operating
Procedures (SOPs) for orphaned Tiger cubs. This has started yielding results
and four such orphaned Tigers have been released back in the wild after proper
care in “In situ” enclosures.
Shri Javadekar lauded the Prime
Minister’s commitment for Tiger conservation and that he adopted best
conservation practices of nature and wildlife as Chief Minister of Gujarat. “The
growing number of Lions in Gujarat is a testimony to his efforts”, the Minister
said. He also referred to the increase in the budget for Project Tiger from
Rs 185 crore to Rs 380 crore, and that with 60:40 participation of states, this
increase translates into Rs 500 crore in one year for Tiger protection.
Chairman Global Tiger Forum and
Minister of Agriculture & Forests, Bhutan, Mr Yeshey Dorji, also addressed
the gathering. Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change,
Shri Ashok Lavasa, delivered the vote of thanks. Director General of Forest
& Special Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change,
Dr. S.S Negi and Shri B.S Bonal, NTCA were among those present on the
occasion.
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HK