Global Tiger Initiative, St. Petersburg Declaration, TX2

Launched in 2008, the Global Tiger Initiative (GTI) was initiated by key founding partners, including the World Bank, Global Environment Facility (GEF), Smithsonian Institution, Save the Tiger Fund, and the International Tiger Coalition (representing over 40 non-government organizations).
The GTI is overseen by the 13 countries that fall within the tiger range.
Functioning as a global alliance, the GTI brings together governments, international organizations, civil society, the conservation and scientific community, as well as the private sector.
This collective is dedicated to collaborating on a shared agenda aimed at preventing the extinction of wild tigers.
The GTI Secretariat, situated at the World Bank, plays a crucial role in supporting the 13 tiger range countries.
It assists in implementing their conservation strategies, driving the global tiger conservation agenda through meticulous planning, coordination, and ongoing communication.

In a collaborative effort to prevent the extinction of wild tigers, a coalition has been established, bringing together governments, international organizations, civil society, and the private sector.

Table of Contents

GOALS:

Capacity Building: Assist governments in enhancing their capacity to effectively combat the transnational challenge of illegal wildlife trade and implement scientifically informed management of tiger landscapes amid increasing and varied threats.
Demand Reduction: Reduce international demand for tiger parts and other wildlife, a factor contributing to significant declines in tiger populations.
Habitat Protection: Create mechanisms to safeguard habitats from development through the planning of “smart, green” infrastructure and environmentally sensitive industrial projects.
Funding Innovation: Develop innovative and sustainable funding mechanisms for tiger landscapes, including protected areas, ensuring long-term support.
Local Engagement: Establish strong local constituencies for tiger conservation by providing economic incentives and alternative livelihoods for local communities.
Awareness and Advocacy: Raise awareness among governments, international aid organizations, and the general public about the high-value, diverse ecosystems within tiger habitats, emphasizing their potential to yield substantial benefits, both tangible and intangible.

ST. PETERSBURG DECLARATION

In November 2010, leaders from 13 tiger range countries (TRCs) convened at the International Tiger Forum in St. Petersburg, Russia, where they collectively adopted a resolution.
The participating TRCs include Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Russia, Thailand, and Vietnam.
The resolution introduced the Global Tiger Recovery Program as its implementation mechanism.
The primary objective of this program is to achieve a substantial increase in the wild tiger population, aiming to double the existing number from approximately 3,200 to over 7,000 by the year 2022.

TX2

TX2: Doubling the World’s Wild Tigers by 2022

TX2 represents a global commitment to double the population of wild tigers by 2022.
The reference year for this commitment is 2006, serving as a baseline for assessing the progress toward doubling tiger numbers.
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) initiated the TX2 goal through collaborations with the Global Tiger Initiative, Global Tiger Forum, and other essential platforms.

TIGER CONSERVATION EXCELLENCE AWARD

Established in 2010 in St. Petersburg, Russia, the TX2 Global Award is a prestigious international accolade initiated by key organizations dedicated to tiger conservation.
These organizations include UNDP, Global Tiger Forum, International Union for Conservation of Nature, World Wide Fund for Nature, Conservation Assured/Tiger Standards, and the Lion’s Share.
Recipients of the TX2 awards not only receive recognition for their outstanding efforts but also benefit from a financial grant to support their ongoing conservation initiatives.

The award acknowledges sites that demonstrate excellence in at least two of the following five themes:

Monitoring and researching tiger and prey populations (including tiger translocation and prey augmentation).
Effective site management.
Strengthened law enforcement, protection, and improvements in ranger welfare.
Community-based conservation, benefits, human-wildlife conflict mitigation.
Habitat and prey management.
The 2023 TX2 Award for doubling the population of wild tigers has been jointly secured by the Pench Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh and its counterpart in Maharashtra.
Additionally, the Tiger Conservation Excellence accolade has been conferred upon the Satpura Tiger Reserve, situated within the expansive Central India Tiger Landscape – recognized as the largest continuous tiger habitat block in India.

FAQs – THE GLOBAL TIGER INITIATIVES, ST. PETERSBURG DECLARATION, TX2, TIGER CONSERVATION EXCELLENCE AWARD

1. What is the Global Tiger Initiative (GTI), and when was it launched?

A: The GTI was launched in 2008, serving as a global alliance to prevent the extinction of wild tigers. Key founding partners include the World Bank, GEF, Smithsonian Institution, Save the Tiger Fund, and the International Tiger Coalition.

2-Who oversees the GTI, and what role does the GTI Secretariat play?

A: The GTI is overseen by the 13 countries within the tiger range, and the GTI Secretariat at the World Bank supports tiger range countries in implementing their conservation strategies.

3-What are the primary goals of the GTI?

A: The goals include capacity building, demand reduction for tiger parts, habitat protection, funding innovation, local engagement, and awareness and advocacy for tiger conservation.

4-When and where was the St. Petersburg Declaration adopted, and which countries participated?

A: The St. Petersburg Declaration was adopted in November 2010 in St. Petersburg, Russia. Leaders from 13 tiger range countries, including India, China, Russia, and others, participated.

5-What is the primary objective of the Global Tiger Recovery Program introduced in the St. Petersburg Declaration?

A: The primary objective is to achieve a substantial increase in the wild tiger population, aiming to double the existing number from around 3,200 to over 7,000 by 2022.

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The Global Tiger Initiative, St. Petersburg Declaration, TX2, and Tiger Conservation Excellence Award – UPSC Environment Notes