Now a Stimulus Package for Tigers
Packages and Money alone Cannot Ensure the Protection of Tigers
Feb 27, 2009
The new initiative with a commitment of $2.8 million towards tiger conservation across the globe is great, but unless they stick to and resolve the basic issues, no amount of money ploughed in will bring the desired results. The problem with tiger conservation is not money alone. It is the hackneyed, lackadaisical attitude of the Governments in facing and resolving some ground realities.
Cornerstones of Conservation
The cornerstones of conservation, particularly in developing countries, should be live wire frontline staff, dedicated officers, welfare of the people living in and around reserves and the politicians not interfering in the day-to-day affairs of the parks.
The Hype
Much hype has been created in the past about effective protection in reserves. This remains a half-baked cake. Even now we can see men who are passé, past their prime, working in many reserves, with no special interest in wildlife. To add insult to injury some of them sport a potbelly. Unless we hand pick dedicated men and instill in them empathy and reverence for wildlife, things will not move in the desired direction. Genuine love for wildlife is the crying need of the hour.The bedrock of conservation is committed front line staff led by able dedicated officers.
Genuine Needs of The People
Taking care of the needs of the people living in and around the reserves endear the park officials to them. A very good example comes from Periyar Tiger Reserve in Kerala, India. Great strides have been made in community participation in conservation there. But behind all that nice façade there are jarring notes. Interference from politicians is creating a dichotomy in many spheres. This severely erodes the confidence of the officers.
Hands Off Policy
If tiger conservation is to be a success there has to a consensus that politicians will keep their hands off, from day to day affairs of the park. Funding agencies should stick to and insist on this. They should also insist on posting of dedicated officers with adequate and appropriate training.
Intelligence Gathering
Intelligence gathering in wildlife reserves is a neglected field. The methods used are archaic. The poachers are well equipped with sophisticated tools. They have their own system to keep a tab on officers.This calls for toning up of intelligence gathering with scientific inputs and dovetailing it to community participation in conservation.
Effective Outreach
Effective liaison with countries like China who are big time consumers of tiger derivatives has to on the forefront of efforts. Unless we can devise ways and means to slow down and gradually stop the demand, shady operators will continue to flourish. The role played religious leaders like Dalai Lama in propagating the nuances of conservation is commendable. This needs to be carried forward with a missionary zeal.
Be Wary
It is a fact that when money flows some people suddenly develop a passion for wildlife. We have to be on our guard against such wily people. They operate with political patronage. If a situation arises where it becomes imperative to post one such guy send him straight for wildlife training. Institutions like Wildlife Institute of India have done an admirable job in transforming many officers without any interest in wildlife conservation into protagonists of wildlife.
Looking Ahead
As part of the new package the World Bank has offered to host a meeting of tiger experts from around the world for a “Year of the Tiger Summit" in 2010. Well and good. But there has to be a rider here. Unless organizations like the World Bank take off the blinkers and face the ground realities, no conferences are going to help tigers. We have had plethora of conferences in the past. The decisions of many of those conferences have vanished into thin air. The needs of the hour are dedicated efforts spearheaded by men with that burning zeal to conserve.
Reference
Science Daily dated 27th February 2009
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