GLOBAL TIGER FORUM IS AN INTER-GOVERNMENTAL AND INTERNAL BODY FOR THE CONSERVATION OF THE TIGER IN THE WILD GLOBAL TIGER FORUM NEWS Volume 4 No 9 June 2011 Payment to GLOBAL TIGER FORUM The payment to Global Tiger Forum may be made through an Account Payee Cheque or Demand Draft in US dollar payable to Global Tiger Forum at New Delhi Or Please transfer the fee amount to ABN AMRO NY, Swift Code ABNAUS33 for Credit to 574079107542 A/c Bank of Maharastra, Mumbai, under advice to Bank of Maharastra, Connaught Place, New Delhi, Swift Code MAHBINBBCPN for further credit to FCA - A/c 60001719391 of Global Tiger Forum, New Delhi GLOBAL TIGER FORUM AN INTER-GOVERNMENTAL AND INTERNAL BODY FOR THE CONSERVATION OF THE TIGER IN THE WILD GTFNEWS Volume 4 No 9 June 2011 Edited by S P YADAV Design Coordinator ANANDA BANERJEE TIGER DRAWINGS IN CHARCOAL BY CHARUMATI NIRWAN Global Tiger Forum Secretariat D-87, Lower Ground Floor, Amar Colony, Raghunath Mandir Road, Lajat Nagar IV New Delhi 110024 GTFNEWS Contents 1. Note from the Secretary General (05) 2. International Conference on Tiger Conservation (06) 3. 5th General Assembly of the Global Tiger Forum (08) 4. Action Tiger: Tiger Action Plans of 13 Tiger Range Countries (09) 5. Tiger Watch Programme 2010-11 (12) 6. News from Countries: (13) Bangladesh Bhutan China India Indonesia Lao PDR Malaysia Nepal Thailand Myanmar Vietnam 7. News from International NGOs/Agencies: (22) A) TRAFFIC B) INTERPOL C) International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) 8. News from National NGOs: (26) A) Wildlife Conservation Nepal (WCN), Nepal B) The Corbett Foundation C) Wildlife Trust of India D) Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI) 9. Of the GTF (31) 04 June 2011 GTFNEWS NOTE FROM THE SECRETARY GENERAL In the first half of the year (28-29 March, 2011) the Global Tiger Forum, in collaboration with the Government of India and the Global Tiger Initiative, organized an international Conference on Tiger Conservation and Global Workshop on Implementation of the Global Tiger Recovery Programme, at New Delhi, India. This was attended by delegates from all the Tiger Range Countries, besides scientists, conservationists, activists and NGOs. The Conference discussed plans, priorities and challenges for implementing the Global Tiger Recovery programme, which aims to double the wild tiger population by 2022. The Tiger Range Countries also presented their National 'To-Do List' of priority actions. The Indian Minister for Environment and Forests announced the results of the "2010 All India Tiger Estimation", which showed a12% increase in the Indian tiger population. The 2nd edition of "Action Tiger" a compilation of updated National Tiger Action Plans (NTAPs) of all 13 tiger range countries, compiled by the GTF, International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) , was also released during the conference. The Global Tiger Forum held its 5th General Assembly on 30th March 2011, at New Delhi, India, which was attended by all its members and several observers. The Assembly approved the membership of eight National NGOs, amendments to the Statutes and Regulations of GTF and proposed governance structure of GTF. India was unanimously elected as the Chair of the Forum for the next three years. The GTF signed a grant agreement with the World Bank to facilitate the Global Tiger Recovery Programme, which is to be a Tiger Range Countries' driven process. Bhutan hosted the 2nd meeting of the e South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network (SAWEN) from 29th to 30th January 2011. The SAWEN has been formed to curb the illegal trade of wildlife in the region. It is a joint effort of all the eight SAARC countries based on a model similar to that of ASEAN-WEN formed by the ten South East Asian countries. Bhutan also hosted a workshop on 'Smart Green Infrastructure (SGI)' in Tiger Conservation Landscapes. Practitioners from six tiger range countries, a team from the World Bank and Global Tiger Initiative, met in Thimphu between 30-31 May 2011. The workshop addressed the multispectral implications for planning and implementing of SGI tools with application to roads, hydroelectric projects, ecotourism development and land use planning that can poten- tially impact tiger conservation landscape. SAWEN, in collaboration with the GTF and TRAFFIC-India, organized a capacity building/training programme of frontline staff of member countries on forensic/investigation of wildlife crimes at Gandhinagar, India. It is our hope that the output of these meetings/workshop will commensurate with the efforts and tiger will get a renewed lease of life and their population will recover by 2022, for the wellbeing of ecosystems in tiger range countries. Dr. RAJESH GOPAL Secretary General June 2011 05 GTFNEWS INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TIGER CONSERVATION An International Conference on Tiger Conservation and The publication, compiled by the GTF, IFAW and WTI, Global Workshop on Implementation of the Global will be useful for stakeholders including funding agen- Tiger Recovery programme was organized by the cies, supporting non-tiger range countries, NGOs, and Government of India in collaboration with the Global concerned individuals to identify areas requiring focus Tiger Forum (GTF) and the World Bank's Global Tiger for appropriate interventions. Initiative (GTI) on 28th & 29th March, 2011. The Conference was attended by delegates from all the The second day of the Conference was devoted to dis- Tiger Range Countries, non-tiger range Countries, cussion of GTRP implementation in 2011. The Tiger Scientists, Conservationists, International and National Range countries presented an impressive National 'To- NGOs. The Conference was organised to discuss chal- Do lists' of priority actions to be completed by the first lenges, plans and priorities for implementing the Global GTRP review in December. Tiger Recovery Program, which aims to double the wild tiger population by 2022. The countries have already made impressive progress since the St. Petersburg Tiger Summit. A few of their Mr Jairam Ramesh, Indian Minister of State for achievements are highlighted below: Environment and Forests, Indian Minister for Corporate Bangladesh - The Cabinet approved the new Wildlife Affairs, Mr Salman Khursheed, and Deputy Chairman (Conservation) Act, significantly tightening penalties for of the Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia, tiger killing, and the Wildlife Victim Compensation Government of India, formally opened the conference, Policy. A new World Bank IDA project ($36 million) was and were joined by Isabel Guerrero, World Bank Vice negotiated. The Cabinet acknowledged the St. President for the South Asia Region. Petersburg Declaration and provided full support to implement it. Indian Minister of Environment and Forests, Mr Jairam Ramesh announced the results of the "2010 All India Bhutan - The Cabinet acknowledged the St. Petersburg Tiger Estimation". "The number of 1411 is now Declaration with full support for implementation. An replaced by 1636, if we see like for like it is a 12% independent Forest Protection and Surveillance Unit was increase" said the Minister. He also added that the created to monitor wildlife crime. number 1706 came from new areas included in this sur- vey, which significantly includes Sunderbans which has Cambodia - Progress was made on completing the first an average population of 70 tigers. Cambodia Tiger Action Plan. Authorities have attributed the increase in tiger popula- China - The State Council acknowledged the GTRP and tion to a number of factors including better enforce- approved the National Plan for Recovery of Wild Tiger. ment and habitat protection, as well as greater aware- SFA included wild tiger actions in the 12th five-year ness. Additionally, some more areas including plan and developed a proposal for GEF 5. Sunderbans in the East Indian state of West Bengal and northeast Indian states, which were excluded in the India - $20 million equivalent was allocated for reloca- 2008 estimation, were covered in the latest census. The tion of villages from 8 tiger reserves. The Special Tiger methodology used was more scientific and uniform Protection Forces was authorized in 17 reserves. throughout the country, and was coordinated by the Funding was earmarked for 8 new tiger reserves. National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the Economic valuation studies of tiger reserves were Wildlife Institute of India (WII). approved. In addition to the release of the tiger estimation report, Lao PDR - GEF-5 project concept note for protected the first day of the ICTC also saw the launch of the sec- area management was developed. ond edition of the Action Tiger, a compilation of updat- ed National Tiger Action Plans (NTAPs) of all 13 tiger Malaysia - New Wildlife Conservation Act of 2010 range countries (TRC). The NTAPs establish holistic but increased penalties for tiger poaching 30-fold. focussed and achievable conservation strategy which Development of a wildlife corridor based on principles lays out specific action plans towards an overarching of Smart Green Infrastructure was initiated. vision of securing viable tiger populations in the respec- tive TRCs. Myanmar - The Ministry of Forestry provided full sup- 06 June 2011 GTFNEWS port to implement the St. Petersburg Declaration and preparation. approval from Cabinet is under process. Thailand - The Cabinet approved the GTRP and Nepal - The Wildlife Crime Control and Coordination acknowledged the St. Petersburg Declaration. A GEF-5 Committee and Wildlife Crime