GS III – Environment
Context
Rajasthan has proposed redrawing the Critical Tiger Habitat (CTH) of the Sariska Tiger Reserve, potentially benefiting over 50 mines in the region.
About Critical Tiger Habitat (CTH):
- Legal Basis:
- Defined under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, post its 2006 amendment.
- Purpose:
- Ensures an inviolate area free of human activity for the long-term conservation of tigers and their prey.
- Regulations:
- No mining, grazing, or tourism is permitted in CTH areas.
- Surrounding buffer zones allow limited human use to reduce pressure on core habitats.
- Monitoring Agencies:
- National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)
- State Forest Departments
Process of Notification and Alteration:
- Identification:
- Done by State Forest Department with NTCA and expert consultation.
- Gazette Notification:
- Issued by the State Government after expert review.
- Gram Sabha Consultation:
- Mandatory under the Forest Rights Act, 2006.
- Boundary Change Process:
- Initiated by the State Government
- Reviewed by the State Wildlife Board
- Final approval by the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SC-NBWL)
CTH vs CWLH:
- CTH:
- Applies only to tiger reserves under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
- CWLH (Critical Wildlife Habitat):
- Applies to all protected areas, notified under the Forest Rights Act, 2006, after settling local rights.
Sariska Tiger Reserve
- Location: Rajasthan, within the Aravalli Hills.
- Landscape: Rocky hills, scrublands, dry deciduous forests, grasslands.
- Climate: Semi-arid.
- Flora: Dominated by dhok trees (90% of forest cover).
- Fauna: Tigers, leopards, sambars, four-horned antelopes, etc.
- River: Ruparel River flows through the reserve.
- Historic Site: Kankarwadi Fort, where Aurangzeb imprisoned Dara Shikoh, lies within the reserve.
- Corridor: Part of the Northern Aravalli Wildlife Corridor, crucial for leopard movement.
- Mineral Deposits: Nearby areas have marble, dolomite, limestone, and masonry stone.
- Conservation Milestone:
World’s first tiger reintroduction after local extinction—initiated in 2008 with tigers from Ranthambore.