In the light of the All India Tiger Estimation Report 2018, critically evaluate the Project Tiger.

Question

Ghissu Editorial · Accepted Answer

Judged by the 2018 estimation, Project Tiger has largely succeeded in reversing tiger decline through protection and scientific monitoring, though habitat shrinkage, uneven reserve management and human-wildlife conflict persist. Tiger numbers rose to 2,967 in 2018, from a low of 1,411 in 2006.

**Introduction**

Project Tiger⟦1⟧, launched in 1973, is India’s flagship tiger conservation program. The All India Tiger Estimation Report 2018, recording 2,967 tigers, provides a benchmark to assess its achievements and challenges. This evaluation is crucial given the ecological importance of tigers and the socio-economic implications of their conservation.

**Assessing Achievements and Challenges**

1. **Population Recovery Success**: Tiger numbers increased from 1,411 in 2006 to nearly 3,000 in 2018, showing Project Tiger’s impact through protection, habitat management, and anti-poaching. This rise reflects improved scientific monitoring and enforcement under the project’s framework.

2. **Protected Area Expansion and Limitations**: Tiger reserves grew from 9 in 1973 to 50 by 2018, covering over 70,000 sq km, but this is only about 2.2% of India’s land, insufficient for tiger range needs. Moreover, Management Effectiveness Assessment Framework (MEAF) reports reveal uneven governance and resource allocation across reserves, affecting conservation outcomes.

**Context of the 2018 Report**

4. **Data-Driven Monitoring and Community Role**: Use of scientific methods like camera traps and MSTRIPES aligns with Project Tiger’s evolving monitoring; integrating panchayats through tools like the Panchayat Development Index can improve governance and local participation. However, gaps in data from some states indicate the need for capacity building and more inclusive conservation models.

**Way Forward**

5. **Enhance Connectivity and Capacity**: Strengthen corridors linking reserves and build state-level capacity, especially in ==Andhra Pradesh==, for better enforcement and habitat management. This will reduce human-wildlife conflict and support sustainable tiger populations.

**Conclusion**

Project Tiger has reversed tiger decline but must address habitat loss, uneven management, and human-wildlife conflict through holistic, community-inclusive approaches. Strengthening landscape connectivity and data-driven adaptive management will ensure long-term tiger conservation success.

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