ASIA MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE ON TIGER CONSERVATION

• India has hosted the Pre-Summit meeting of Tiger Range Countries (TRCs).
• The Tiger Range Countries Summit is scheduled to be held at Vladivostok, Russia on 5th September 2022.
• In January 2022, the 4th Asia Ministerial Conference on Tiger conservation was held.
• India’s National Tiger Conservation Authority has also decided to introduce guidelines for the reintroduction of tigers that can be used by other Tiger Range Countries.

Highlights of the Meeting

• The meeting was attended by 12 tiger range countries except for China and Indonesia.
• There are 13 Tiger Range Countries (TRC): India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Lao PDR (People’s Democratic Republic), Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Russia, Thailand, Viet Nam, China and Indonesia.
• India is committed to bringing all potential tiger habitats within the country under the tiger reserve network.
• The meeting aims to finalise the declaration on tiger conservation to be adopted at the Summit.

Significance of Tiger Conservation:

• Tigers, the top predators in the ecosystem, are vital in regulating and perpetuating ecological processes.
• Forests are known to provide ecological services like clean air, water, pollination, temperature regulation etc.
• It is a top predator which is at the apex of the food chain and keeps the population of wild ungulates (primarily large mammals) in check.
• Thus, Tiger helps in maintaining the balance between prey herbivores and the vegetation upon which they feed.

SOURCE: THE HINDU,THE ECONOMIC TIMES,MINT