Terai Arc Landscape

The tiger has epitomised strength, beauty and vigor. No other animal of the jungle has evoked greater awe and admiration than the tiger. Unfortunately, it is in danger of extinction as never before. WWF-India has for long fought the crusade for the tiger's survival. Tiger conservation has always been the topmost priority. Our aim is to bring a synergy between people, government and natural resources.

WWF's tiger action plan has identified Terai Arc landscape as one of the seven 'priority one' landscapes. TAL is a 1,500 k.m. long stretch between river Bhagmati in the east to river Yamuna in the west. It comprises the Himalayan foothills, terai flood plains and the bhabar tracts.

WWF's vision and goal is holistic, self-explanatory and people centric.

Vision
"Tigers thrive in their natural habitat and people benefit as a result."

Programme goal
"To conserve viable tiger populations with public support and reduce trade in tiger parts and products to a level which is no longer threatening to the survival of tigers."

The approach for conservation work is participatory for generating goodwill and local people's faith for the project.

The Arc though endowed with rich wildlife species, is in the grip of serious conservation challenges. WWF's conservation strategy is to provide alternate means of income to the local inhabitants in a bid to reduce pressure on the natural resources. Efforts are ongoing to improve the conditions of the rural poor by encouraging eco-tourism, improved agricultural and animal husbandry.

What has been achieved in the targets set?
Connecting corridors have been considered vital for conservation. The TAL programme seeks to stop further loss of connecting tiger habitats. Corridor between Laldhang and Corbett tiger reserve and that between Lagga bagga and Dudhwa is also being secured for animal movement.

For tiger conservation poaching and man-animal conflict needs to be effectively reduced.

Local community's cattle is sometimes claimed by tigers, spurring off a wave of resentment. This has the potential for becoming a threat to the tiger. To counter this threat cattle compensation scheme has been effectively implemented. This relieves the anguish of the people, owing to quick compensation. Informers of cattle kills are also given an award. The result of the scheme has been in the tiger's favor. There has been a decline of tiger death by poisoning.

For preventing poaching, money has been utilized for strengthening infrastructure of the designated tiger reserves. Vehicles have been procured for patrolling, radio communications established and watch towers set up in projected areas.

Issues beyond boundaries

• To advocate with the government of India, protocols on conservation and illegal trade in wildlife products. Since, monitoring of clandestine wildlife trade is always intrinsic to conservation TCP has supported TRAFFIC- India in its monitoring of illegal trade.
• To develop a communication and educational strategy. A major hurdle to tiger conservation is public ignorance and lack of    awareness. Keeping in mind the effectiveness of education as a tool, programmes have been conducted for increasing the awareness of the general public on issues of tiger conservation.
• To develop benchmarks for monitoring of the landscape.

The threats to this noble endeavor are not one but many.

• Improper roadways leading to disturbances for the animals.
• Biotic pressures such as tree cutting, lopping and cattle grazing exercising pressure on linkage by local inhabitants
• Poaching is taking a heavy toll on animals 
• Large scale forest fires - both man made and accidental
• Lack of enforcement
• Lack of awareness
• Absence of inter-state co-operation
  

In-spite of the many challenges, Tiger conservation programme has been braving the storm and fighting like the soldier for the conservation of the 'large hearted gentleman' whose survival is linked to the health of this planet.