- The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) was established in 2005 following the recommendations of the Tiger Task Force.
- Its formation is in accordance with Section 38 L (1) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972.
- The NTCA is a body that oversees and ensures the protection of tigers and their habitats in India.
- The composition of the NTCA includes the Minister in charge of the Ministry of Environment and Forests as the Chairperson, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Environment and Forests as the Vice-Chairperson, three Members of Parliament, the Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, and other members.
- Operating under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the NTCA fulfills its mandate by providing oversight through advisories and normative guidelines.
- These guidelines are based on assessments of the tiger’s status, ongoing conservation initiatives, and recommendations from specially constituted Committees.
- To execute its responsibilities effectively, the NTCA has established conservation units. These units, led by a field director and supported by technical experts, work towards the protection and conservation of tigers.
- The NTCA conducts a comprehensive country-level assessment of the status of tigers, co-predators, prey, and habitat every four years.
- This assessment follows the methodology approved by the Tiger Task Force, ensuring a systematic and periodic evaluation of the conservation efforts and the state of tiger populations in India.
OBJECTIVES OF NTCA
- Statutory Authority for Project Tiger:
- Granting statutory authority to Project Tiger, ensuring that compliance with its directives becomes legally binding. This legal framework enhances the effectiveness of tiger conservation measures.
- Center-State Accountability:
- Fostering accountability in the management of Tiger Reserves by establishing a foundation for Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with States within the federal structure of India. This collaboration between the central and state authorities ensures coordinated efforts in tiger conservation.
- Parliamentary Oversight:
- Providing a mechanism for parliamentary oversight to ensure transparency and accountability in the implementation of tiger conservation policies. This ensures that the conservation efforts are subject to scrutiny and evaluation at the national level.
- Addressing Local Livelihood Interests:
- Recognizing and addressing the livelihood interests of local communities residing in areas surrounding Tiger Reserves. Balancing conservation objectives with the well-being of local people helps foster community support and cooperation in tiger conservation initiatives.
POWER AND FUNCTIONS OF NTCA
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is endowed with specific powers and functions under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, as amended in 2006. These powers and functions are vital for effective tiger conservation in India:
Approval of State Tiger Conservation Plans:
- Approving the tiger conservation plans prepared by State Governments under Section 38 O (1) (a) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act.
Ecological Assessment and Regulation:
- Evaluating and assessing various aspects of sustainable ecology within tiger reserves.
- Prohibiting ecologically unsustainable land uses such as mining, industry, and other projects within these reserves.
Normative Standards for Tourism:
- Establishing normative standards for tourism activities in tiger reserves and regularly updating project tiger guidelines for conservation in buffer and core areas.
Conflict Resolution and Coexistence:
- Providing measures in the working plan code to address conflicts between humans and wild animals.
- Emphasizing coexistence in forest areas outside National Parks, sanctuaries, or tiger reserves.
Information Dissemination:
- Providing information on protection measures, including future conservation plans, population estimates of tigers and prey species, habitat status, disease surveillance, mortality surveys, patrolling, and reports on unusual events.
Research and Monitoring:
- Approving, coordinating, and evaluating research and monitoring efforts related to tigers, co-predators, prey, habitat, and socioeconomic parameters.
Protection of Tiger Reserves:
- Ensuring that tiger reserves and connecting areas are not diverted for ecologically unsustainable uses, except in the public interest with the approval of the National Board for Wild Life.
Support for Biodiversity Conservation Initiatives:
- Facilitating and supporting the management of tiger reserves for biodiversity conservation through eco-development and public participation.
Capacity Building:
- Facilitating ongoing capacity-building programs for the skill development of tiger reserve officers and staff.
Comprehensive Functions:
- Performing any other functions necessary to carry out the purposes of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, specifically related to tiger and habitat conservation.
INITIATIVES OF NTCA
Monitoring Tigers, Co-predators, Prey, and Their Habitat:
- The national tiger assessment conducted by India stands as the world’s largest biodiversity survey.
- The fourth cycle, carried out in 2018 and 2019, utilized advanced science, technology, and tools.
- Digital recording of primary field data through mobile applications like M-STrIPES enhanced accuracy.
- Automated classification of camera trap photos using artificial intelligence and neural network models was introduced (software CaTRAT).
Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE):
- In collaboration with global experts, NTCA and Wildlife Institute of India developed an independent evaluation procedure for Tiger Reserves.
- The MEE Framework assesses design issues, adequacy of management systems, and achievement of conservation objectives.
- India formalized the MEE Process in 2006, conducting four repeat cycles from 2006 to 2018 every four years.
M-STrIPES for Tiger Reserves:
- M-STrIPES (Monitoring System for Tigers: Intensive Protection and Ecological Status) employs cutting-edge technology for effective patrolling.
- The program collects information using GPS, GPRS, and remote sensing, aiding in ecological assessment and conflict reduction.
- Modules include Patrol for spatial database logs, Ecological for standardized monitoring protocols, and Conflict for addressing human-wildlife conflict details.
Reintroducing Tigers in Tiger Reserves:
- NTCA initiated “active managerial interventions” to reintroduce tigers in areas where they became locally extinct.
- Successful collaboration between MoEF (via NTCA), state governments, and Wildlife Institute of India.
- Tigers reintroduced in Sariska (Rajasthan) and Panna (Madhya Pradesh) Tiger Reserves since June 2008.
Constituting Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF):
- Acknowledging the importance of ‘tiger protection’ in biodiversity conservation, the STPF was proposed and approved.
- Operational in selected tiger reserves with central assistance under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Project Tiger.
Voluntary Village Relocation Program:
- Recognizing the tiger as an “umbrella species” with its protection ensuring the survival of other wildlife and the forest.
- Aligns with wildlife protection and forest rights acts, recognizing people’s rights and providing inviolate spaces for wildlife.
- A comprehensive village relocation/rehabilitation package designed to address challenges involved in relocating people from forest areas.
- These initiatives collectively underscore NTCA’s commitment to advanced conservation strategies and the holistic well-being of India’s tiger population and their ecosystems.
FAQs – NATIONAL TIGER CONSERVATION AUTHORITY (NTCA)
1-What is the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), and when was it established?
A: NTCA was established in 2005 based on the recommendations of the Tiger Task Force, following Section 38 L (1) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972.
2-What is the primary mandate of NTCA?
A: NTCA oversees and ensures the protection of tigers and their habitats in India, providing a statutory framework for tiger conservation.
3-Who heads the NTCA, and what is the composition of the authority?
A: The NTCA is chaired by the Minister in charge of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, with the Vice-Chairperson being the Minister of State in the Ministry. It also includes Members of Parliament, the Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, and other members.
4-What role does NTCA play in Project Tiger?
A: NTCA grants statutory authority to Project Tiger, making compliance with its directives legally binding, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of tiger conservation measures.
5-How does NTCA foster accountability in Tiger Reserve management?
A: It fosters accountability by establishing Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with States, ensuring coordinated efforts in tiger conservation within India’s federal structure.
6-What is the significance of parliamentary oversight in NTCA’s functions?
A: NTCA provides a mechanism for parliamentary oversight, ensuring transparency and accountability in the implementation of tiger conservation policies at the national level.
In case you still have your doubts, contact us on 9811333901.
For UPSC Prelims Resources, Click here
For Daily Updates and Study Material:
Join our Telegram Channel – Edukemy for IAS
- 1. Learn through Videos – here
- 2. Be Exam Ready by Practicing Daily MCQs – here
- 3. Daily Newsletter – Get all your Current Affairs Covered – here
- 4. Mains Answer Writing Practice – here
