Ten nations recognized as the natural habitats of tigers have pledged to uphold current global initiatives aimed at bolstering tiger populations over the next decade, urging cooperation and increased funding to support conservation efforts.
In a joint statement issued after a conference in Paro, Bhutan, earlier this week, representatives from the nations gathered to advocate for an additional US$1 billion in funding for tiger conservation by 2034, aligning with the next Year of the Tiger. The commitment entails mobilizing fresh financial resources, leveraging the latest scientific advancements, and engaging technical expertise to fortify the Global Tiger Recovery Program 2.0 and beyond.
The declaration emphasizes the importance of Indigenous Peoples and local communities in conservation efforts and underscores the linkage between tiger preservation and broader agendas on biodiversity and climate change. The signatories also stressed the need for rigorous monitoring and evaluation to gauge conservation impact accurately.
“We call upon all Tiger Range Countries, non-range governments, public and private sector entities, financial institutions, civil society organizations, and individuals to join us in this historic endeavor,” the statement reads.
Nepal has emerged as a global success story in tiger conservation, with its tiger population nearly tripling from 121 in 2009 to 355 in 2022. It is one of the few countries to deliver on its commitment to doubling tiger numbers by 2022, as outlined in the St. Petersburg Tiger Summit’s ambitious 12-year goal set in 2010. Bhutan, Russia and China have also doubled the population of the tiger in the wild.
According to the World Wildlife Fund, approximately 3,900 tigers remain in the wild globally, marking a stark decline from an estimated 100,000 tigers in 1910.
However, the resurgence in tiger populations has also exacerbated human-wildlife conflicts. Official data from Nepal’s Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) suggests that at least 80 individuals have lost their lives in tiger attacks over the past five years. Almost all victims hail from indigenous communities residing near forested areas, heavily reliant on forest resources for sustenance.
