CONSULTATIVE MEET ON SAVE TIGER ON 28.11.2010
ORGANISED BY
CELL FOR RESEARCH IN INTERNATIONAL LAW AND PRAYATNA
This meeting was attended by students from the GoGreen club of MANIT, Bhopal. It addressed the growing concerns of the efforts like Millenium Development Goals, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and sustainable development not being seriously acted upon. It also highlighted the clash between Tiger conservation and increasing commercial interest of the tourism industry where reserved forest area was being encroached upon because of the growth in tourism in forest areas. Mr. Dubey told us that an RTI Application has been filed against endangering of core reserve area for tiger habitat due to unsystemized and unrestricted tourism. The three major issues delved into: ® Tiger Protection ® Tiger Habitat ® Tigers in M.P. He further spoke of development at the cost of nature and how the state appears to support development of unrestricted tourism. He brought to notice that only 276 tigers left in M.P. 6 Tiger Reserves. The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 talks about 2 specific areas of a tiger reserve: ® An inner critical tiger reserve area ® Outer to it, a buffer zone. He highlighted the inaction of the State government despite disappearance of 35 tigers from Panna, M.P. No buffer zones had been created. Nor were later created in other reserves. It was alarming to note that only 1411 tigers left only in India
- International poaching should be checked
- Tourism should be stopped in Core Areas.
- Recurrent incidents of tigers (including the events at Panna and Bandhavgarh) being crushed by vehicles are not drawing any concern whatsoever from the authorities, despite media and citizen umbrage.
- Lack of conviction and intention to implement laws should be checked.
- Buffer Zone should be notified. Especially in context of:® Deforestation ® Illegal mining.
- A fresh special tiger conservation plan should be made in the event of non-existence or ineffectiveness of prior special packages by the Central government.
- The petition filed in the court had also asked for an audit report on the expenditures on tiger conservation. Discrepancies like expenditure of crores on tiger conservation while not spotting tigers for over 3 years in areas were observed.
- Citizens, especially the youth need to highlight their concern effectively and appeal and pressurize the government to take urgent and necessary measures to seriously enforce tiger conservation measures and go beyond mere speeches and conversations only. Urgent and immediate action is required.o Requirement of active participation of citizens.
- Misuse of money and non-enforcement of laws were primary reasons behind failure of the Tiger project.
- Corruption has an entrenched nexus in tiger poaching.
Our faculty in-charge Dr. Raka Arya observed:
- Sustainable development in general and harmonious development in particular require immediate attention.
- The entire concept of Tiger tourism at the cost of the lives of the tigers itself is absolutely absurd and draws much concern and anxiety.
- Duplicity and hypocrisy in a country like
- Original tribal/forest dwellers are well versed with the art of wildlife conservation. However, intruders and external forces lure them with money, benefits and/or other pressure tactics to indulge in poaching and selling of animal parts.
- It cannot be denied that poaching and selling of animal parts has become a huge and ever-increasing market.
- Apathy towards and interference in the lifestyle of both the tigers and the tribal/ forest dwellers has resulted in the ultimate deprivation of both.
- Original tribal/ forest dwellers have been outsmarted and displaced. Fake and ‘on paper’ dwellers have encroached their area.
- Accountability of the conservation system and the government is required. The values of environment worship cannot be ignored. Best means and ways to protect tigers should be seriously and urgently implemented.
- Effective implementation of existing laws needs to be done.
- Such nexus often involve powerful people from within and outside the government. Therefore, there’s more difficulty in catching and prosecuting the culprits.
The meeting ended with the following conclusions :
o Preparation of a memorandum of demands for conservation of tigers.
o Eco-march and arrangement of conversation with government officials.
o Formation of a citizens pressure group/ forum for interaction on this issue.
o Regular open to all interactive sessions on tiger conservation.
o ‘No’ to tiger tourism where the habitat to tigers are adversely affected.
o Candle-light march demanding saving of tigers.
o Conducting seminars, talks and like events across schools and colleges.
o Introduction of special events initiating debate, discussion etc., in college fests.
o Easy to understand Brochure of tiger conservation laws for circulation amongst the public.
o Full support of the existing legal movements for tiger protection and conservation.
o Tiger Protection integrity Pact – wherein government officials may be asked to sign an undertaking to show their solidarity, conviction and act towards tiger protection and conservation.
o Signatures of citizens on a similar pact.
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