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Conserving Tigers in the Wild - a WWF Framework and Strategy for Action 2002-2010

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Conserving Tigers in the Wild - a WWF Framework and Strategy for Action 2002-2010 Conserving tigers in the wild - A WWF framework and strategy for action 2002-2010. Norbu, U. 2002. Report: 1-32. Gland, Switzerland, Species Programme, WWF International. Keywords: anti-poaching/CCT/cct_cs/conservation/conservation strategy/distribution/landscape conservation/monitoring/Panthera tigris/poaching/protected area/status/threat/tiger/trade/WWF Abstract: Drawing upon four decades of tiger conservation work with partners around the globe, WWF has developed this far-reaching strategy. It is based on a landscape-based approach to tiger conservation and the identification of focal tiger landscapes. The importance of strong international cooperation is emphasised. The document formulates a vision, a long-term goal and targets in support of the goal. An overview of tiger status, key threats and a categorization of focal tiger landscapes are presented. Actions needed to fulfill goal targets and actors responsible for programme implementation, coordination, funding and monitoring are identified. A WWF Framework and Strategy for Action 2002 – 2010 Species Programme WWF International February 2002 Credits for photographs on the cover: Amur (Siberian) tiger on iced lake: WWF/ Klein & Hubert Sumatran tiger cubs: WWF-Canon/ Alain Compost Bengal tiger: WWF-Canon/ Martin Harvey Layout and design: Ugen Norbu Document produced by: Species Programme, WWF International, Avenue du Mont Blanc, Gland, Switzerland TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements i Executive Summary ii Introduction: A New Approach to Tiger Conservation 1 Tigers: A Short Background 2 r Current status and distribution of tigers in the wild 2 r Conservation significance of the tiger 3 r WWF and tiger conservation 3 The Challenge — Key Threats 4 r Poaching driven by illegal wildlife trade 4 r Habitat loss and fragmentation 4 r Reconciling tiger conservation and human needs 5 r Insufficient capacity for conservation 5 r Inadequate international cooperation 5 r Funding constraints 5 The Response — WWF Action 6 r Scaling-up to save tigers 7 r Vision of the future — goals for today 8 r Focal tiger landscapes — scaling-up… focusing down 9 r Trade in tiger parts and products — a ``global´´ landscape 10 r Planning at the landscape level 10 Programme Implementation and Coordination 11 r Focal landscape coordinators 11 r Tiger Programme Coordinator 11 r Tiger Working Group 11 Monitoring and Evaluation 11 Funding 12 r Future needs 12 r Tiger Emergency Fund 12 Partnership 13 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This strategy is largely the result of a Hemley, Ben Hodgdon, Mohd. Anwarul Is- workshop held in September 2000 in lam, Peter Jackson, Jikkie Jonkman, Ullas Anyer, Java, hosted by WWF-Indonesia Karanth, Elizabeth Kemf, Sue Lieberman, and organized by WWF International and Anil Manandhar, Judy Mills, Manoj Mishra, WWF-United States, with support from John Newby, Sally Nicholson, Steve WWF-Netherlands. At the workshop, Osofsky, Marieke Postma, John WWF benefited from the counsel of some Seidensticker, Dionysius Sharma, Ranjit of the world’s most respected tiger ex- Talwar, Seng Teak, Lic Vuthy, and Eric perts and other specialists, including: John Wikramanayake. Seidensticker, chairman of the Save the Tiger Fund and curator of mammals at the The publication of this strategy would not Smithsonian National Zoological Park, have been possible without the tireless ef- Margaret Kinnard and Tim O’Brien of the forts of Ugen Norbu, Species Programme Wildlife Conservation Society, Susan Officer at WWF International. Its quality Lumpkin of the Friends of the National Zoo derives not only from the inputs of the (Washington, DC), and Sarah Christie of many people mentioned above but also the Zoological Society of London. from the diligence of Ugen in the research, coordination and drafting required to bring Numerous people contributed information, it all together. comments and advice during the drafting and review of the plan. Their names are: Thank you one and all. Tariq Aziz, Mike Baltzer, Stuart Chapman, Sarah Christie, Yuri Darman, Roland Eve, Species Programme Nazir Foead, Miriam van Gool, Ginette WWF International Participants of the WWF Global Tiger Conservation Strategy Workshop at Anyer, Indonesia. i EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Drawing upon four decades of tiger con- WWF’s Programme Goal (to the year servation work with partners around the 2010): globe, WWF has developed this new and To improve the protection and manage- far-reaching strategy. Its cornerstone is ment of key tiger populations and their based on a landscape-based approach to habitats in top priority conservation land- tiger conservation and the identification of scapes, through measures that can be focal tiger landscapes. In developing its sustained and supported over the long new programme, WWF is not only looking term by governments, local communities for greater effectiveness on the ground but and other stakeholders. also greater coherence, both within its own network, and also with its partners. Programme Targets (by the year 2010): The task at hand — ensuring the long- In support of WWF’s Programme Goal, term survival of the tiger — is far greater two programme-wide targets have been than any one organization's capacity to developed. The first focuses on the con- achieve. Focus, prioritization, strength of servation of tigers, their prey and their criti- purpose, long-term support, cooperation cal habitats in a small number of high pri- and partnership are all essential. WWF ority, focal landscapes selected from has chosen seven focal tiger landscapes, across the tiger’s range. The main indica- where the chances of long-term tiger con- tor of success (conservation impact) will servation are best and its involvement will be the presence, in each landscape, of at be most valuable. These are: least 100 contiguously distributed breeding female tigers. 1. Russian Far East (Russia) 2. Terai Arc (India, Nepal) Target 1: To establish well-managed net- 3. Satpuda-Maikal Range (India) works of core protected areas and con- 4. Sundarbans (Bangladesh, India) necting tiger-friendly buffer zones and cor- 5. Lower Mekong Forests (Cambodia, ridors in the focal tiger conservation land- Lao PDR, Vietnam) scapes selected from across the tiger’s 6. Taman Negara-Belum-Halabala range. (Malaysia, Thailand) 7. Kerinci Seblat/ Bukit Barisan Selatan The second target focuses on the highly (Indonesia) significant and global threat posed to ti- gers by the ongoing international and do- To complement the geographic focus of mestic trade in tiger parts and products. WWF’s Tiger Conservation Programme, Indicators of success will be developed on and in recognition of its tremendous m-i the basis of baselines established from pact on tigers, the international trade in ti- existing and ongoing research in coopera- ger parts and products has been selected tion with the TRAFFIC network and its for special attention. partners. This strategy is aligned behind and based Target 2: To reduce (with a view to its on the following vision and goals: elimination) the trade in tiger parts and products to a level which no longer threat- Vision: A world in which tigers thrive in ens the survival of tigers in the wild. natural habitats across their range and benefit humanity as a result. Prime responsibility for implementing the programme will lie with the relevant WWF Long-term Goal: To conserve viable popu- and TRAFFIC offices, Regional (Asia/ lations of tigers and their prey, across their Pacific, Europe/Middle East) and Ecore- entire range, in large, well managed net- gional Programmes, and coordinators for works of protected areas, buffer zones the focal tiger landscapes. Overall guid- and connecting tiger-friendly landscapes. ance, coordination and support will be pro- vided by the Species Programme, to- ii INTRODUCTION: A NEW APPROACH TO TIGER CONSERVA- The tiger, Panthera tigris, largest of all the habitat or by land-use that is tiger-friendly cats, is one of the most charismatic and in its status and management. Land- potent flagship species on the Earth; it is scape-based approaches not only recog- also one of the most threatened. Only nize the full spatial and ecological require- 6,000 or so remain in the wild, most in iso- ments of large predators like the tiger, but lated pockets spread across increasingly also the need for integrated land-use plan- fragmented forests stretching from India to ning and management that reconciles the south eastern China and from the Russian needs, on an appropriate scale, of all Far East to Sumatra. Across its range, stakeholders. this magnificent animal is being poisoned, electrocuted, blown up by land mines, In developing its new programme, WWF trapped, snared, shot, and captured as is not only looking for greater effectiveness cubs — the majority to meet the demands on the ground but also greater coherence, of the continuing illegal wildlife trade. Hunt- both within its own network, and also with ers and traders, and impoverished people its partners. The task at hand — ensuring whose main means of subsistence the long-term survival of the tiger — is far comes from the forest, are wiping out the greater than any one organization's ca- tiger and the natural prey upon which it de- pacity to achieve. Focus, prioritzation, pends. strength of purpose, long-term support, cooperation and partnership are all essen- While poaching for trade continues to tial. menace the tiger’s survival, the greatest long-term threats are the loss of habitat Whilst outlining an ambitious agenda for and the depletion of the tiger’s natural WWF for the coming years,
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