• “Framing development policies and programmes with conservation lens can lead to a win-win situation for tigers and people”

Kathmandu, April 15

The 3rd Asia Ministerial Conference on Tiger Conservation concluded in New Delhi yesterday with tiger countries adopting the New Delhi Resolution on Tiger Conservation.

The resolution aligns tiger conservation and economic development, inspired by the inaugural speech of the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who spoke of the need to see tiger landscapes as ‘natural capital’.

“Guided by the Prime Minister Modi’s speech, this resolution is a positive game changer for conservation,” said Ravi Singh, secretary general and CEO, WWF-India. “Framing development policies and programs with a conservation lens can lead to a win-win situation for tigers and people.”

The 13 tiger range countries, including Nepal, committed to accelerating implementation of the global and national tiger recovery programmes, align economic development and tiger conservation, leverage global and national funding and technical support, recognise the value of tiger habitats for ecosystem services and climate change, emphasise recovery of tiger populations in areas with low tiger densities, strengthen co-operation at the highest levels of government and increase knowledge sharing and use of technology, including smart tools.

“I am happy with the commitment shown by the 13 tiger range countries,” said Dr Rajesh Gopal, secretary general, Global Tiger Forum. “We look forward to working together in the new paradigm to double wild tiger numbers with renewed energy and resources.”

Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change of India, Prakash Javadekar, presided over the closing ceremony and spoke of the need for sustained efforts and mutual cooperation amongst tiger range countries. The resolution, which sets the pathway for the next six years of the Tx2 goal to double wild tiger numbers by 2022, builds on the former commitments of tiger range countries in Hua Hin, St Petersburg, Thimphu and Dhaka.

It also recognises the Global Tiger Forum and the Global Tiger Initiative Council as the coordinating bodies for the Tx2 goal over the next six years, formally taking over from the role previously held by the Global Tiger Initiative. The conference opened with news that global wild tiger numbers have increased for the first time from 3,200 in 2010 to 3,890.

This updated minimum figure, compiled from IUCN data and the latest national tiger surveys, can be attributed to multiple factors, including increases in tiger populations in India, Russia, Nepal and Bhutan, improved surveys and enhanced protection.

The National Tiger Conservation Authority hosted the conference on behalf of the Government of India, in collaboration with the Global Tiger Forum, WWF and other partners, said WWF Nepal.