ALL INDIA MEETING OF FIELD DIRECTORS OF TIGER RESERVES

Ministry of Environment and Forests

ALL INDIA MEETING OF FIELD DIRECTORS OF TIGER RESERVES CONCLUDED IN RANTHAMBORE ALL STATES WILL FOLLOW MAHARASHTRA, MADHYA PRADESH AND WEST BENGAL IN COMPENSATION PROCEDURE OF MAN -ANIMAL CONFLICT SPECIAL RECRUITMENT DRIVES TO FILL UP POSTS IN TIGER RESERGE AREAS

All India meeting of field directors from all the tiger States resolve to strengthen field production in tiger reserves in protected areas. This will form agenda for the forthcoming meeting of National Board for Wild Life. Two days deliberations under National Tiger Conservation Authority at Ranthambhor, Rajasthan, adopted resolutions to consolidate and strengthen the resource populations of tiger in tiger reserves and protected areas. Government of concerned states of all tiger bearing states will immediately take up special recruitment drives for filling up of all front line vacant posts. In cases where there is major gap between sanctioned posts and actual requirements of posts , like the namdapha tiger reserve; the sanctioned strength should be increased accordingly without loss of time. Eco-tourism with involvement of local people to be given priority. Large number of tourists will generate considerable revenue. In few States, such tourism receipts are recycled back for the benefit of local communities and eco-tourism. However, in most of the States such funds are not available to protected areas. A portion of such funds may also be used for providing ecologically sustainable livelihood options to local people to reduce their dependency on the protected area resources. The recent amendments to the Wildlife (Protection) Act in 2006 has made enabling provision for creating 'Tiger Conservation Foundation' in tiger reserves, which would facilitate the process. Source populations of tiger will be consolidated and management of source-sink dynamics will be taken up. All the staff members and others who are deployed in front line areas will be given proper facilities and special provision for free ration, medical facilities and insurance cover. Relocation of villagers from crucial habitats in tiger reserves will be concluded within two years with settlement of rights. The compensation pattern and the simplified procedure will be followed as being practiced in the States like of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal. Villagers also will be compensated for crop damage caused due to recurrent depredations by wide herbivores. Corridor beyond buffer between two source tiger population will be managed. A site specific redressal strategy will be developed for the Tiger Reserves which are affected by extremists' activities. A Committee will formed to advice a solution for this problem. Wherever relocation of human population is proposed on forest lands outside protected areas, the provision of modification /acquisition of rights on such forest lands will be made. Relocation can be done either on forest land, or on revenue land or a cash compensation may be given.