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Edited by:
S. C. Dey
• INNIGIlRII. SESSWi Of THE fiRST GENER ~L ISSEIIBL1 ~EE1ING Of THE GI.OBIL UG!I\ fOIIlN
Chili Gust: Syeda Sajeda Cholld h II r \ K,nl, ~I"'I". ~1"SIII ,I fl "·"o,,I' ,."1'. ;,1\. ~ tho P .. ~,,.R'1'.~lt 01 ~ ChIllI"" ' : Mr. Babulal Marandi ~ •. '" ~",:'I ,I llit •. MI"" '1 ,,,,I,, •• ,, 1,.,,11 Got\..1 tllll
(~I'" ,
1st General Assembl y meet of GTF at Dhaka
Global Tiger Foru An Inter-government I' m
body for the co . a and International nservatlon of the t' . Iger In the wild
Global Tiger Forum S ParYdvaran Bh ecretariat
Lodh; Road Ne D Ihavan
. CG.O. Complex . w e i ' 11 000 ' 3. Telefax; 4363661
JUNE,2000
AWARD OF COURSE DIPLOMA TO PARTICIPANTS
A Trainee from Bangladesh receiving wildlife diploma at Wlf.
A trainee from Nepal receiving wildlife diploma at Wlf.
A Iralnee from Vietnam receiving remote al /IRS Oehradun
NEWS
Edited by:
s.c. Dey
Global Tiger Forum An inter-governrnental and international
body for the conservation of the tiger in the wild
Global Tiger Forum Secretariat Paryavaran Shavan, C.G.O. Cornplex,
Lodhi Road, New Delhi - 110 003. Telefax: 4363661
JUNE, 2000
mDU NEWS
FOREWORD
Minister Ministry of Environment & Forest
Dhaka
Dated 05.07.2000
The present Newsletter of GTF, which is 3'· in the series, is its 151 Newsletter after GTF has been formally constituted. Incidentally it is also the 151 Newsletter after I have taken over the .responsibilities of GTF as Chairperson.
I am glad that 10 tiger range countries have contributed materials for this Newsletter. I am hopeful that in future all the tiger range countries will contribute materials 'in time so that we can publish the Newsletter regularly on six monthly basis as decided in the 151 General Assembly Meet of GTF held at Dhaka in January, 2000.
I also appeal to all other countries & International NGO's who are Interested/concerned with tiger conservation to contribute materials for this Newsletter regularly. So that every aspect 6f tiger conservation can be reflected in the Newsletter properly to make it an useful document for taking appropriate actions by relevant sectors in time, to save this magnificent animal for posterity.
(Syeda 5ajeda Chowdhury) Minister
Ministry of Environment & Forest Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh
and Chairperson, Global Tiger Forum
June, 2000: Page (i)
16.Tf NEWS June 2000
Contents Page
Foreword (i)
Note from the editor
First General assembly 2 meet of GTF
CITES Matter 3
Country News
Bangladesh 4
Bhutan 8
Cambodia 9
tndia 11
Indonesia 13
Laos 15
Myanmar 17
Nepal 18
Russian Federat ion 20
Thailand 20
Vietnam 22
of the G.T.F. 26
NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
In the 1 st General Assembly meeting of Global Tiger Forum (GTF) held at Dhaka, Bangladesh on 18th to 20th January, 2000, it was decided that GTF Secretariat will produce a newsletter every six months based on information submitted by range states and other organisations . Accordingly all range states were requested to send the information by 30th April , 2000. While reports have been received from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Russian Federation, Thailand and Vietnam, no information was received from other range states.
The present newsletter covers the issues reported by ten tiger range states as well as some information prepared with respect to one other viz. Laos based on submissions made by their representatives in the Regional Conservation Forum for IUCN/Asia, held at New Deihl in march, 2000. Other issues include the General Assembly meeting of the GTF, at Dhaka, CITES matter and activities of GTF itself.
Since we propose to bring out another newsletter in December, 2000, our earnest request to all tiger range states, non tiger range states and other organisations connected with tiger conservation is to forward to us any matter which may be significant for tiger conservation for any specific issue or country or global matters within 30.11.2000. We would be interested in information which are current and which have not been reported earlier in the format circulated already. The information should not only include success and achievements but also constraints, problems and failures, so that the newsletter depicts realistic position of issues connected with conservation of tiger as relevant currently.
(s .C. Dey) Secrelary General
June, 2000: Page 1
filDIl NEWS
FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING OF THE GLOBAL TIGER FORUM AT DHAKA,
BANGLADESH
The first General Assembly meeting of the Global Tiger Forum was held at Dhaka, Bangladesh between period 18th to 20th January, 2000 followed by a field visit to Sundarbans (Bangladesh) on 21 st and 22nd January, 2000. The countries which participated in the meeting and post conference field trip were Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Malaysia, Nepal, Russian Federation, Vietnam and U.K. In addition, the meeting was also attended by representatives of WWFInternational, CITES, IFAW and EIA and lot of other off icers and National N.'G.O.'s of Bangladesh. The meeting was chaired by Mr. Babulal Marandi, Minister of State, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Govemment of India. Mrs. Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Minister, Environment and Forest, Bangladesh was Chief Guest.
The main gain of the conference, apart from the output of the conference in terms and experience sharing and stock tacking, which are detailed in the Dhaka Declaration on tiger conservation were:-
(a) United Kingdom formally joined the forum as the 1 st non tiger range country, paving. way for other non tiger range countries to join the forum.
(b) IFAW an N.G.O. based in USA and U.K. also joined the forum formally paving way for other international NGO's to join the forum.
The Minister incharge of Environment and Forest, People's Republic of Bangladesh was chosen as the chairperson of the forum till the next General Assembly meeting, which was proposed to be held in Novemberl December, 2001 . The secretariat of the forum was however decided to be kept in New Delhi, India. An executive committee comprising of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, U.K. and WWF-Intemational W8', formed to steer the works of the forum till the n&AI General Assembly meet.
The Statutes and Regulations of Global Tiger Forum was reviewed in the meetting based on suggestions received earlier from tiger and non tiger range countries and appropriate amendments made. The annual membership fee for GTF was refixed as follows:-
Category A-Tiger Range Countries:
(i) China, India, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Russia
(ii) All other countries
Category B-Non Tiger Range Countries
@US$5000
@US$1000
(i) OECD Countries @US$15,OOO
(ii) Non OECD Countries
Category C-N.G.O.'s & I.G.O's
@US$7,500
@ US$1,000
A copy of the Dhaka declaration on tiger conservation adopted in the meeting is reproduced below:-
"The Dhaka declaration on Tiger conservation"
At the first General Assembly of the Global Tiger Forum held in Dhaka, 18-20 January, 2000, the country and other members of the Forum confirmed their joint commitment to conserve tigers through national action and intemational co-operation. The forum identified four key issues affecting the future of tigers:
(i) the loss and degradation of habitat
(ii) the ret' _ction of the prey base
(i ii\ ~aching and illegal trade
(I .econciling human development needs and tiger conservation.
Th", _eting agreed to a 10 point action plan as follows:
1. The GTF will build a baseline set of data on the distribution and estimated population size of the tiger. Each tiger range country will be requested to submit data to the Secretariat by December 2001.
2. Each tiger range country will be requested to prepare or update prioritised and costed Tiger Action Plans and submit them to the Secretariat by January 2001.
3. GTF will promote protocols to protect tigers in trans boundary areas giving initial priority to the following areas:
i. Royal ChitwanlValmikilParsa and Bardial Sohelwa
ii. Sundarbans
iii. The May-U range and Chin Hills
iv. Royal Manas and Phipsoo
4. All countries should be asked to eradicate the
June, 2000: Page 2
trade in tiger products in accordance with CITES and where necessary dispose of existing stockpiles by January, 2001.
5. GTF Secretariat will produce a newsletter every six months based on information submitted by range stales and other organisations. Subject to availability of funds the Secretariat will establish a GTF websile by January, 2001.
6. GTF will facilitate training for wildlife managers and researchers to enable the exchange of lessons learned In tiger conservation in other countries; also secondments of experienced officers to raise enforcement standards.
7. GTF should raise awareness and promote action in the international community in particular by presenting the views of members at the forthcoming COPs of CITES and CGO, and in the GEF. In addition, GTF will organise a major international conference on tiger conservation in association wilh its next general Assembly.
8. GTF will approach donors to provide funding assistance with:
I. conservation action in range states
ii. to strengthen the operational activites of GTF
and also to promote improved co-ordination of international funding for tiger conservation.
9. GTF will strengthen the technical and scientific capacity of the Secretariat.
10. Members of the forum will assist the Secretariat in encouraging all tiger range states and key developed countries to jOin the forum.
CITES MATTER
Technical mission of CITES visited 14 countries in the year 1999 which included 9 tiger range states and 5 consumer states. A report of more than 100 pages was submitted by them to each of the range and consumer states visited by the team as well as major inter,national conservation organisations in the area of tiger conservation including the GTF. The technical mission's report was largely applauded by most of the countries with some comments and suggestions for amendments by countries like Canada, India, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, Russian Federation and United Kingdorn. The report of the technical team mission was also presented to the 42nd meeting 01 the standing committee of CITES.
The political mission of CITES headed by the chairman of the standing committee of CITES, Secretary General of CITES and leader of the technical mission visited India, Japan and China, during early part of the year 2000, The mission submitted their report to the 11 th Conference of Parties to CITES under document No. 11.30. The report was also circulated earlier directly to the three countries visited by the mission. In addition to specific observations With respect to each of the 3 countries visited, there were 17 recommendations included under item 83 of the document-bearing senal No. a to q.
The report of the political miSSion of CITES was discussed in the committee I on 11 th April, 2000, where lot of concerns were expressed by USA, Congo, Israel and India, especially with respect to some of the items of recommendations. After a lot of debate, the chairman of Ihe committee agreed to form a working group as suggested by India consisting of representatives of Canada, China, India, Israel and USA. USA was asked to chair the working group. The working group also included 5 observers viz. WWF, TRAFFIC, EIA, Ranthambhore Foundation and Global Tiger Forum.
The working group met 7 times during the conference beyond the conference hours and made substantive changes in the old paragraphs 83(b) & 83(d) which included recommendations to refrain from providing financial support for tiger conservation in India until some conditions are satisfied, as well as not to authorise exportlre-export to or import from India of any CITES listed specimens until certain conditions are fulfilled.
The working group also made cosmetic changes In Items 83(c), item 83(1), item 83(i), and item 83(n).
The working group further suggested certain changes in the revised resolullOn of conference 9.13 (Rev.) as under:-
"all parties and non-parties, especially tiger range and consumer States, to adopt comprehensive legislation and enforcement controls as a matter of urgency, with the aim of eliminating trade in tiger parts and derivatives, in order to demonstrably reduce the illegal trade in tiger parts and derivatives by the 12th meeting of the conference of the Parties:"
The working group also fine tuned the CITES document 11.30 annex. A (Rev). regarding CITES enforcement tusk forces.
The recommendations of the working group were placed in Committee-II and adopted in the plenary on 19th of April,2000.
June, 2000: Page 3
HIlII NEWS
BANGLADESH
HOSTING OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEET OF GTF
Bangladesh was the host country for 1 st General Assembly meeting of Global Tiger Forum, which offered a lot of scope to the forum to discuss Issues of tiger conservation in Bangladesh at length with Government representatives, NGO's and Institutions that partiCipated in the meeting.
IUCN BANGLADESH
As per the report of the world conservation union of Bangladesh, submitted in the aforesaid meeting, tiger conservation of Bangladesh remains still at preliminary level. The forest department had so far prepared at least 3 projects for tiger conservation in Sundarbans. However, none could be placed for proper implementation due to lack of fund. According to them Bangladesh needs a training institution for tiger/wildlife conservation manned by professional wildlife personnel. Further the country also do not have a national strategy or policy for wildlife conservation including tiger, for which conservation of tiger do not find a high priority in the overall set up of Government. IUCN , Bangladesh has identified four major approaches for conservation of tiger. These are: -• Adoption of a strategic plan for a minimum
period of seven years.
• Establishing data base, based on information, for scientific planning and management of tiger and its habitat.
• Adoption of a national policy for management of tiger in in-situ and ex-situ situation.
• Creation of assets and employment opportunities for the fringe people living around the tiger habitats through conservation activities.
It has also been reported that IUCN, Bangladesh has been implementing a small grant study project in Sundarbans on ecology of tiger from the beginning of 1999. Another project for tiger conservation and management is likely to start by mid 2000 with financial support from WWF.
A field forest check station in Sundarbans (Bangladesh)
TIGER ACTION PLAN FOR BANGLADESH
Bangladesh has since prepared its tiger action plan with the following objectives:-
• Conservation of Bengal tiger in the Sundarbans .
• Conservation and development of habitats for tigers as well as prey species in Sundarbans.
• Conservation and development of habitats for tigers as well as prey specie.s in other forest areas of the country.
• Creation of ex-situ populations of tiger in other forest areas after having developed suitable habitat conditions for tigers and its prey species and by introducing tiger into the restored habitat.
Forest of Sundarbans (Bangladesh)
June, 2000: Page 4
~I]DNEws
• Capacity building of officers and staffs of Forest department.
• Training and education .
• Creation of awareness among the people fo r tiger conservation and need of tiger for maintenance of balanced environment.
The action plan for future includes the following:-
• To undertake study regarding generation of authentic information on the population of tiger in Sundarbans and continuous research on ecology and biology of tiger. Requirement for 5 years, US$ 100,000.
• Continuous research and monitoring of habitat for ascertaining the current capacity of forest. Requirement for 5 years, US$ 100,000 .
Continuous monitoring and regeneration of mangrove including aided re-generation where required . Requirement for 5 years, US$ 500,000 .
• Creation of ex-situ propagation facility for tiger outside Sundarbans with ultimate objective of rehabilitating them in the restored habitat of Chittagong hill tracts, Syhlet and Cox bazar areas. Requirement , US$ 300,000.
• Creation of ex-situ facilities for prey animal for re-stocking the tiger habitat specially the tiger areas outside Sundarban, before reintroduction of tiger. Requirement , US$ 150 ,000.
• Protection and development of habitat in Chittagong, Syhlet and Cox bazar areas for re-introduction of tiger population . Requirement for 5 year, US$ 5QO,000.
•
•
Undertaking training programmes on wildlife management for the forest staff from the level of officers down to forest guards . Requirement for 3 years, US$ 500,000 .
Launching mass scale motivation and public awareness programmes to sensitise people for getting th eir cooperatio n for tiger conservation. Requirement for 5 years , US$ 500,000.
POPULATION ESTIMATES OF TIGERS IN THE SUNDARBANS
Year of Organisation/Author Population Remarks Estimation Number
Estimated
1971 Handrichs, a German 350 Individuals The estimate was based on Scientist worked for (100 were mature information from sighting, office three months in the families) records, interview of people Sundarbans conducted for 3 months in the
Sundarbans in the first quarter of 1971 .
1982 Forest Department 450 individuals Projected from 15 individuals and Department of counted from pugmarks observa-Zoology of University tion in 111 -Km2 area in the South of Dhaka Wildlife Sanctuary.
I 1992 Forest Department 359 individuals Forest staff of the Sundarbans made , I the estimates by interviewing people
, working in the Sundarbans.
I 199:- T Dr Klrtl M. Taman£ , 362 Individuals The estlamte was made based on
, I FAO/UNDP Project
I pugmarks studies in an area of
BGD/84/Q56 350 Km 2 In the Wildlife Sanctuary I
Ju~e, 2000 Page 5
ItlDIi NEWS • Creating veterinary facilities for treatment of
diseased and injured tiger and its prey on rescue. Requirement, US$ 200,000.
• Strengthening anti-poaching measures to eliminate the illegal poaching and trade in tiger and its prey animals. Requirement, US$ 200,000.
• Training of magistrates and other enforcement officers on the issue of eco-system and wildlife conservation. Requirement, US$ 500,000.
Undertaking research and documentation on tiger population to ascertain its range areas, breeding behavior etc. Requirement, US$ 100,000.
Chronological statistics
The country paper on tiger conservation submitted by Bangladesh Government in the 1 st General Assembly meeting has given a lot of interesting statistics. These are re-produced below for proper understanding of various issues involving protection and management of tiger in Bangladesh (Sundarbans) .
Different Occupational Groups of People dependant on Sundarbans
Occupation Number of People
Fisherman 3,96,202
Bawali 15,403
Bawali Worker 92,412
Timber & Fishing merchants 472
List of suits instituted in the Court for Tiger Poaching in Sundarbans from 1981 to 1998
Year Number Offence of suits
1981 - Poaching
1982 1 "
1983 3 "
1984-85 - -
1986 2 Poaching
1987-88 - -1989 2 Poaching
1990 2 One poaching and one man-eater killed by local people
1991 2 Poaching
1992 1 "
1993 3 "
1994 2 "
1995 - -1996 1 One poaching and one
man-eater killed by local people
1997 1 Poaching
1998 1 Man-eater killed by people
List of suits instituted in the Court for Deer Poaching in Sundarbans from 1981 to 1999
Year Number of suits Offence
1981-85 57 Poaching
1986-90 98 " 1991 -95 46 " 1996-99 28 "
Total 229
June, 2000: Page 6
I!]()I] NEWS
Statement of tiger deaths/poaching in Sundarbans from 1981 to 1999
Year Number of Causes Year Number of Causes Tiger Dead! Tiger Dead! Poaching Poaching
1981 Nil - 199? 1 Shooting 1982 1 Shooting 1993 3 " 1983 3 "
1994 2 " 1984-85 Nil -1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
SI No.
1995 Nil -2 Shooting
Nil - 1996 1 Poaching
9 8 tigers killed due to cyclone and one by
1997 1 Beaten to death people
Shooting 1998 1 Natural death
1 Shooting 1999 4 -2 "
2 " Total 33
Numerical densities and biomass weights (KG) of ungulates per square kilometer in Sundarbans forest division, 1993
Spices Average Sundri Gewa Goran Keora, Combined weight Mixed Mixed Mixed Grass Areas (KG) Forest Forest Forest Mixed
Type I Type II Type II I Forest Type IV
by
Numbers Weights Numbers Weights Numbers Weights Numbers Weights Numbers Weights
1. Axis axis 50 24 1200 23 11 50 16 800 56 2800 23 1150
2. Munliacus 17 14 238 7.4 126 muntljak
3. Sus scrofa 50 12 600 11.5 575 6 400 26 1400 11 550
Tolal 50 2,038 34 .5 1.725 24 1.200 R4 4.200 41.4 1,626
Sunderbans Forest Area 3,955 km Sundari, Sundari With Gewa and Sundari with Passur and Gewa (Type I) = 2,062 Km2 Gewa, Gewa Sundri, Gewa Goran (Type II) 1, 143 Km2 Goran-Gewa and Goran (Type III) 665 Km2 Keora, Grassland other mixed (Type IV) 65 Km2
June, 2000: Page 7
rnUU NEWS
BHUTAN
STATUS OF HABITAT
The latest report from Bhutan indicates that it has more then 72% of its land area under forest cover. The Royal Government of Bhutan with strong support from its national assembly has committed itself to its people, and to the world community at large, that Bhutan will maintain atieast 60% of its total area under forest cover at all times. 26% of the total land area continue to be maintained under national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.
CORRIDOR DEVELOPMENT
At present most of the protected areas are linked by natural forest corridors, but the legal postiorl of these corridors was not clear and thus their future uncertain. Realizing this , in November, 1999 coinciding with the 25th anniversary reign of King Jigme Singye Wang chuck, Bhutan presented as gift to the earth an area totaling 3828 Sq. Km. linking all the protected areas of the country, and at the same time granting these corridors a legal status for protection.
CAPACITY BUILDING
Like most other developing countries Bhutan faces a serious shortage of trained human resources at various levels in the field of conservation. In spite of that they have been able to carry forward their
conservation activities including protection of overall landscape and esosystem. In addition they have also launched strong on going conservation programmes for certain species including Royal Bengal Tiger with financial assistance of World Wide Fund for nature Bhutan through which they have not only trained some of the conservation staff but also exposed them to the conservation programmes in India and Nepal.
HUNTING AND POACHING
Hunting of any wild animal is illegal. Therefore organised hunting is absent. Earlier there used to be killing of some tigers through laying of traps by the cattle ownerslherders in retaliation of killing of their live stock by tiger. In 1999, however, there was no report of such incidence.
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
Bhutan recognises that main threat to the survival of the wild tiger is the intemational market force. Therefore support and cooperation among the tiger range states, consumer states and the donor states/agencies are essential to secure the future of tiger for all times. They also feel that key elements for successful conservation of tiger, apart from sharing of resources, is expertise and information sharing. Bhutan as a nation and as a tiger range state is committed to do its share, and would hope that other states, especially consumer states will also make similar efforts.
June, 2000: Page 8
CAMBODIA
1. Status of Habitat: See attached Figure 2 Map for location of the nine known tiger populations in Cambodia. Quality of habitat remains high, with some disruption due to logging and refugee resettlement.
2. Tiger conservation units : As a resu lt of extensive camera trap and other surveys in the Elephant Mountains, WCS indicates the tiger is probably now extinct there, including two protected areas previously thought to contain tiger Bokor and Kirirom National Parks.
3. Status of tiger population: See Table 1 below for estimate of range of tiger numbers for each of the nine tiger populations shown on Figure 2 map. The range of the number of tigers for Region 3, Elephant Mountains should be changed from 14-1 9 to 0-2.
4. Progress of tiger action plan: The Communitybased monitoring and conservation of tiger project are establishing offices in three of the nine tiger regions In June 2000: Cardamom Mountains, Northern Plains, and South of Sre Pok.
5. Status of inf rastructure and s taff: The Communlty-baseo monitOring and conservation of tiger project currentlv employs full time six
Figure 2. Distribution of nine estimated tiger popUlations (described in Table 1). Forest areas shown are marc than 10 km dlstanl from Villages. Mosl of Ihese areas (appro • . 85%) were covered by our survey. Also Included are olher relaltvely remole forest areas (approx. 15%) where ligers are likely to occur but no interview data was available.
Estimated tiger poputations in Cambodia
Figure - 2
N
A
officers of the Wildlife Protection Office of the Department of Forestry and Wildlife, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries and one full time Cal Action Treasury Project Officer. Beginning in June, the project will begin to hire 3 Province OffiCials and 25 local wildlife technicians.
Table 1. Estimated number of tigers in Cambodia based on hunter interviews. Average of relati ve abundance estimates by hunters were converted to estimates of average potential liger densities. Two scales were used for potential ti ger denSHles: zero to a high of 1.5 reslden! adul t tigers per 100 km, and zero to two resident adult tigers per l00krn'.
Region Avg I1ger Area In km Density scalo lero to 1.5 Density scale zero 10 two (n Interviews) abundance residenl adul t 11gers/100 kml' resident adull Ilgers/1 00 km~
(scale 0·3) Estd. density ESld. no tigers Estd. density Estd. no. tigers
1 Cardamom Mountains (3 t) 2.74 11 .846 1.37 162 1.83 2 17
2. Pilnom Oral (9, 6,079 0.50 30 0.67 41
3. Elephanl Mountains (12) 1 33 2. 176 0.66 t4 0.89 19
4 Kampong Thom (1 t) 0.82 5,794 O.4t 24 0.55 32
5. South 01 Sre Pok (37) 1.95 14,971 0.98 147 1.3 195
6 Nortl1easl Buffer (8) 0.88 5,082 0.44 22 0.59 30
7 Vlrachey (12) 2.08 4.787 1.04 50 1.39 67
8 Northern Plains (17) 1.18 10,736 0.59 63 0.79 85
9. Pailln (16) 1.25 3,771 0.62 23 0.83 3 1
Tota ls 65,242 535 717
June, 2000: Page 9
ltlllliNEWS
6. Legal provision and enforcement details: There is currently no formal enforcement of the provisions of the Act. However, underway is a great deal of training, draft law and regulation preparation , fund raising and planning for CITES Office, and coordination between the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries that are leading towards a formal enforcement program operational within six months to a year.
7. Major poaching and illegal tiger trade cases: An extensive interview survey of hunters and an extensive investigation of wildlife trade shops and international border crossings at Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos indicated that about 70 to a hundred tigers were killed and sold in Cambodia each year for the past few years. There have not been any formal enforcement actions taken to date. However, in June 2000, a team of 8 Wlidlife Protection Officers, Province and District officials and police investigated a hunter who killed a tiger with a mine in May 2000 and sold it for $3200 across the border in Vietnam. This case is the beginning of case development, investigation, and ultimately law enforcement related to tiger hunting and trade in Carnbodia.
8. Financial support received during the year: Th e Community-based monito ring and conservation of tigers in Cambodia project has received funding of $90,980 frorn EXXON Save the Tiger Fund, $36,450 from the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and $11 ,000 from the University of Minnesota. The project is being implemented by the Cambodia Wildlife Protection Office, with technical support from the University of Minnesota and the Cat Action Treasury. There are other funding sources for other works related to tigers by other organizations in Cambodia, but this project is the only major full time tiger program underway with discreet, identifiable funding sources and amounts.
9. Activities of NGO's. The primary current
tiger project is discussed in (8) . However, the Wildlife Conservation Society and the World Wide Fund have jointly conducted training in tiger surveys for national and province staff and have conducted extensive surveys, including camera trapping, in Virachey, ElepHant Bokor, and Kirirom National Parks and in forest concessions in the South of Srepok region. These efforts have substantially increased Cambodian capacity to conduct field surveys, and have provided significant scientific data on wildlife populations, including the first photos of a live tiger in Cambodia and the first actual sightings of a tiger by Cambodian researchers.
10. Progress made on transboundary cooperation: Significant surveys were conducted in 1999 of wildlife markets and border crossings with Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam, as discussed in (7) . The surveys were conducted by the Wildlife Protection Office and funded by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Cat Action Treasury. The results were published in the most recent TRAFFIC report "Far from a Cure: The Tiger Trade Re-visited".
11. Public awareness and education programme: In 1999 tiger cOr:1servation workshops were conducted for province and district officials in six key province capitalsKratie, Stung Treng, Mondulkiri, Preah Vihear, Koh Kong, and Pursat. Five thousand tiger conservation posters in the Khmer language were distributed at these workshops. The posters were then distributed to villages. Field surveys a year later revealed many of these posters displayed in town and village homes, shops, post offices etc. This project was implemented by the Wildlife Protection Office with technical support from the Cat Action Treasury, and funded by EXXON Save the Tiger. The posters were partially funded by the Taiwan Council. This project resulted in the development of the Community-based tiger monitoring and conservation project that will conduct dozens of village-level workshops in 2000-2001.
June, 2000: Page 10
INDIA
STATUS OF TIGER
The year 1999-2000 was an important year for tiger conservation in India as a lot of events took place during this period. Out of approximate 3800 tiger population estimated in 1997, the population inside the tiger reserves was approx. 1500 being nearly 40% of the total tiger population of the country. Balance 60% population occurred under 2 categories of areas (a). National parks and Sanctuaries outside tiger reserves and (b). General forest areas (reserve, protected and unclassed forests). While the tiger population inside the tiger reserves showed an increase by 8% after tile 1995 census, the population in other protected areas remained more or less stable, with declining trend In general forest areas.
CITES MISSION
CITES technical mission visited India between the period 28th May, 1999 to 3rd June, 1999, and political mission between the period 22nd January, 2000 to 29t11 January 2000. The technical mission of CITES analysed various tiger conservation issues of the country including legislative and enforcement control. conflict between habitat conservation With demand of high resource use, situation of illegal trade, education and awareness programmes and role of NGO's in tiger conservation. The team was largely Impressed with the dedication, enthusiasm and commitment of the staff employed at the field level for tiger conservation. It was however concerned about the bureaucratic structure which stood in the way of speedy Implementation of programmes. The team suggested creation of specialised enforcement units to tackle poaching and illegal trade in liger, which should be operational in the state level. supervised and co-ordinated at the federal level . It suggested inclUSion of representatives from main enforcement agencies to direct intelligence driven operations at national level as well as lalsion with counterpart enforcement agencies abroad .
The political mission of CITES recognised lot of initia tive put in place to address tiger conservation and protection in India. It was however concerned about large number of seizures of tiger & leopard skins, tiger bones and body parts of leopard (claws) which certainly indicated existence of organised wildlife crime network. Seizures also indicated a resurgence of the large cat skin trade that was previously thought to have been almost eleminated. The mission was also concerned about the issues of delayed release of fund to the field level, large number of vacancies In the enforcement level of staff in the field, and under spending of the fund released by government. The mission was purplexed about the conflicting figures claimed by government and NGO's regarding tiger population, poaching and seizure cases. The mission also noted considerable live stock grazing within tiger reserves and sanctuaries, inadequacies of vehicles, radio equlpments and modern weaponry with the protection staff in many areas specially outside the designated protected areas which still houses considerable tiger population. The mission felt that radical action was once again merited if the tiger populations of the country were to be safe guarded in the new millennium.
MEETING OF STEERING COMMITTEE OF PROJECT TIGER
36th meeting of the steering committee of Project Tiger was held on 08.05.2000 under the chairmanship of Minister, Environment and Forests, Government of India which discussed the present status of tiger management, vacancies in project tiger areas, mobilizing disbursement of funds, insurgency related issues, inclusion of new areas under project tiger and administrative issues of control of negative developmental activities Within project tiger areas. The issue of follow up of Indo-China protocol on tiger conservation 1995, transboundary conservation protocol 1997 with Nepal, and the proposed transboundary protocol between India and Bangladesh featured In the diSCUSSion .
June, 2000: Page 1 j
IfIDIi NEWS INTERVENTION BY SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
Hon'ble Supreme Court of India also took note of issues placed before it on the subject of tiger conservation and directed the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India to convene a meeting of the Chief Secretaries of the states which have tiger population to work out a joint strategy for protecting the tiger . The meeting took place on 24.05.2000. The main issues discussed in the meeting were (1). Current status of tiger in the states. (2) Poaching cases detected during last three years and action taken (3) . Removal of ban on recruitment for wildlife sector (4). Allocation of fund, its timely release and utilisation (5) . insurgency and law and order problems in tiger areas.
S. Aclivily No.
1. Habitat Management
2. Civi l Works
3. Communication Network
4. Antipoaching Activities
5. Compensation for human and caUle death
6. Relocation of Non-tribal families
7. Research, monitoring. evaluation and estimation
8. Public Awareness
9. Salary and Allowances
10. Project Tiger allowance
11 . Creation of new Tiger Reserves
12. Maintenance of existing infrastructure and assets
Total
TIGER ACTION PLAN
India has since drafted its national tiger action plan . The main theme 9f the scheme is comprehensive eco-system conservation wi th added input on habitat improvement, support to communica tion network, administrative infrastructu~e, antipoaching activities, creation of new tiger reserves and research , monitoring and evaluation of works. The tentative ou tlay under centrally sponsored scheme for tiger conservation during 9th plan is Rs. 75,00,00,000/- (US$ 17 million). The break up of allocations/proposed allocations are as follows :
(In Million Rupees)
From Proposed lor 1996-97 10 2001-2002 to 2000-2001 2005-2006
30.0 100.0
74.0 50.0
23.5 50.0
67.0 200.0
17.0 50.0
17.0 150.0
47.0 100.0
17.0 50.0
180.5 Nil
43.0 50.0
94.0 150.0
140.0 150.0
750.0 1100.0
In addition to the amounts 'proposed above from centra lly sponsored scheme of project tiger, roughly five times the amount would be spent on tiger conservation in the country from state plan and non plan budget, and other schemes of central Government for species conservation and conservation of protected area network.
June, 2000: Page 12
lII~HNEWS
INDONESIA
STATUS OF TIGER
There has been no recent development on the tiger population information in Sumatra since the estimation was made during the PHVA workshop in 1992. However results from research during the course of Sumatran Tiger Project indicate that at least in some areas the tiger population has been under-estimated. For example in Way Kambas National Park it was previously estimated to contain only 20 tigers (PHVA 1992); while the recent results from remote camera monitoring confirm that 37 tigers exist within 1,30,000 ha. of mixed grass and forest habitat, and it is estimated that the total population within the area may be more than 50 individuals.
The information of prey animals and others gathered during PHVA workshop in five protected areas of Sumatra, followed by vegetation analysis and GIS estimates suggested existence of 400 Sumatran tigers in 5 national parks and game reserves and possible another 100 tigers in un-protected forest fragments. The tiger estimates of these areas are given below:-
DISTRIBUTION OF TIGER
Tiger is reported to be existing in 26 areas of Sumatra, as per map shown. Solid shading indicates positive evidence of presence of tiger, while cross
hatching indicates the extent of additional sui table habitat where tiger may exists, but positive evidence is not available.
TIGER DISTRIBUTION IN INDONESIA
" " ,,,
'" '" -+-_I~_I~
• Black· Presence of tiger confirmed. D . Presence of tiger reported.
Fig. 1 Distribution of Sumatran ti ger (Panthera tigris surnatrae). Solid shading: positive evidence of presence of tiger. Cross hatclling: extent 01 additional suitable habitat but where posi tive evidence is not available. Numbers refer to the areas indicated in Table in next page.
Summary of tiger population estimates for five protected areas
Protecled Area Vegetation analysis Tiger distrib.
M F Tolal M
Barisan Selatan 16-18 33-35 49-53 9-13
Berbak 6-7 12-1 4 18-21 6-7
Gunung Leuser 36-39 74-77 110-116 33-36
Kerinci Seblat 44-47 89-92 133-139 40-41
Way Kambas 7-8 14-15 21-23 6-7
Kerumutan - - - -
Rimbang - - - -
Total 339-361'
" Does nol Include olher parks with tigers (Rimbang and Kerumutan) " Includes estimates lrom vegetation analysIs 01 Berbak National Park.
June, 2000: Page 13
F
18-22
12-14
69-72
80-82
13-14 -
-
from plots PHVA
Total Total
27-35 68
18-21 50
102-108 11 0
120-123 76
19-21 20 - 30 - 42
268-287',' 396
mOil NEWS
The list of areas showing distribution of tiger along with its legal status, total area coverage and altitudinal range are given in the table at the bottom of the page.
PROBLEMS FACING TIGER CONSERVATION
Main threats facing tiger conservation in Indonesia are:-
1. Fragmentation of habitat and prey decline. 2. Threats from poaching and illegal trade.
In absence of natural prey animals, often wild tigers wander out of forests for live stock. This is more pronounced in non-protected and low priority conservation areas. These areas are often flash points for conflict between man and tigers. Some time a few of such tigers have even turned into
"Man eater". These are basic causes of local animosity towards tiger conservation. The country recogn ises that if appropriate programmes are not immediately implemented to deal with the problem tigers, the ability to engender community support or wider political backing for tiger conservation will be extremely difficult.
Poaching of tiger takes place through pOlsloning and trapping by the villagers to deal with the problem tigers, as well as by organised criminals for illegal trade. The country identifies the need for sufficient forest guards and adequately trained personnel to deal with the issue. Further, identification of tiger bones and development of appropriate techniques are pre-requisites to deal with the situation.
List of areas having Tigers in Sumatra
No. Reserves/Parks/Forests Province Status Area (ha)
1 Gunung Leuser Aceh NP 792,675 2 Lingga Isaq Aceh HR 80,000 3 Dolok Sembelin N. Sumatra PFo 33,910 4 Sibolga N. Sumatra NR 20, 100 5 Kerinci Seblat W. Sumatra NP 1,484,650 6 Lembah Anai W. Sumatra pro 96,002 7 Lembah Harau W. Sumatra pro 23,476 8 Maninjau W. Sumatra Pto 22,106 9 Bkl. Sebelah/Pangean W. Sumatra pro 22,803 10 Bajang Air Terusan W. Sumatra pro 81,865 11 Kerumutan Baru Riau GR 120,000 12 D. Pulau BesarlBawah Riau GR 25,000 13 Seberida Riau NR 120,000 14 Bukit Rimbang Riau NR 146,000 15 Peranap Riau HR 120,000 16 Siak Kecil Riau NR 100,000 17 Air Sawan Riau GR 140,000 18 Berbak Jambi GR 190,000 19 Merangin Barat Jambi pro 64,600 20 Gumai Pasemah S. Sumatra GR 45,883 21 Isau-Isau Pase01ah S. Sumatra GR 12,114 22 Gunung Raya S. Sumatra GR 39,500 23 Rawas Hulu Latikan S. Sumatra GR 213,437 24 Padang Sugihan S. Sumatra GR 75,000 25 Bukit Barisan Selatan Lampung NP 365,000 26 Way Kambas Lampung NP 130,000
Total 4,564,121
NP=National Park; NR=Nature Reserve; HR=Hunting Reserve; GR=Game Reserve; pro=Protection Foresl.
June, 2000: Page 14
All. (m)
0-3419 800-2823 150-1604 200-1230 500-3800 600-1811 600-1256 600-1724 600-1078 500-2000 0-0 0-0 150-830 200-1090 120-492 0-20 100-176 0-20 1000,1931 200-1776 500-1431 300-2232 300-2384 0-50 0-1964 0-50
NEWS
Based on intelligence information Sumatran tiger project in collaboration with special police and Rhino Protection Units undertook field operation in Lampang province from May 1998 and up to the end of 1999, 130 snares were found. It was predicted that 6 tigers might have been captured/ killed. One police officer was also involved in poaching activities.
To safeguard the habitat of tiger a Tiger protection unit (TPU) has been formed. The TPU consists of 4 officers from PKA's special police and 1 personnel from STP. The Tiger protection unit and the Rhino protection unit have very often encountered with "active snares" and many suspects have been arrested. These people were also found involved in illegal cutting of agar wood in the park.
LAOS
STATUS OF HABITAT
About 47% of Lao PDR is still under forest cover. The total area under protected area system of four categories is 22.23% of national land area, of which national bio-diversity conservation area covers 13.99% of the countries land area. A map showing national bio-diversity conservation areas of Laos is appended in the next page.
INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENT
The administration of protected areas of Laos involves 4 distinct levels of responsibilities and administration. These are national, provincial , district and village. While the national agency is responsible for policy development, coordination between projects, international co-operations; the province and districts are responsible for project
implementation, management strategy and methods. 14 National biodiversity conservation areas (N.B.C.A.) have some form of management, supported by donor projects. 4 more are likely to be covered soon. Additional supports for protected areas are also coming from NGO's and regional programme.
Largest International supports are coming from Lao-Swedish Forestry Co-operation programmes and the Global Environment Fund . World Conservation Union, Wildlife Conservation Society, WWF, Wet land International , Mekong River Commission etc are also providing funding support .
TIGER CONSERVATION
No specific action programme has yet been drawn up for tiger conservation. There is also no estimation about the tiger population including its death and poaching cases. In absence of proper study of the factors limiting the distribution of tiger, human tiger relationship is dwindling and specific protection measures are still to be taken.
PROBLEMS AND CONSTRAINTS
1. The level of professional training and capacity among staff is generally very low.
2. National funding for conservation is extremely poor.
3. National legislation and its implementation are awfully inadequate.
4. The country is neither a member of CITES nor the Global Tiger Forum, and is therefore not in a position to harness the benefits through these conventions properly.
5. NBCA's are requi red to be properly demarcated in the field with establishment of designated core areas and multiple use management zones.
June, 200G: Page 15
mWH NEWS
NATIONAL BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AREAS IN LAO PDR
.. ,,' ..... . " ., ' .. NI\Mf.f .... ( '
• " .. ,,. ........ J~~" ""I'M ~\
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Phou Ollie Olnh. 2U.000 11' Nthl· HAIIl ThQUI1- 323.000 h~
N,un It •• 240.000 h" Ilin ,,,,II1I1t1" 112.1100 lIn
Phou Xnng Ut -100.100 h.
(,hou loolty. 150.DUO hG OOIIU rhnu VlollU -197.000 II.
Un,,. )l.n .. , • 70.Uua h'" x" ""It" 1 :U.QnlJ lin
NIII .. t Phoul- 1lt.OOO ha Xtt Billig "oulln· 100.000 lin
PhOU r. Halll~. 70.COO h. Dong Jlu. Sao· ,,0.000 h.
rhou Khoo Kho8Y. 200.000 h~ rhot! XI_"Q lhau,,· 120.000 ha
N.,,, K.\Jlng • 1 GII.tlOD ha )t .. J'IDna " Z40.0DO lUI
PhOli til,. f'oun • 150.000 h. Donv An'pham • 200.000 h. _ .. _ .. ~"w._. __ ,~_.. . Ii r. __ •• _ ...... ":"".r-_~- .. . ... ........ ..- ... -'
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W-.-I', S
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I/"I!. ,.. , I 'V ... "A l1N'fU
onno Am"hftm
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_ Nallen.' Blodlver,lty Contervlllon Are ..
June, 2000: Page 16
~I]H NEWS
MYANMAR
TIGER STATUS
Even though no recent survey has been carried out al l over the country to ascertain the population of tiger. piece meal surveys carried out over years and observations of the forest and wildlife staff have identified following 1 st priority areas with expected population of tiger as given below:-
1. Alaungdaw Katllapa National Park (NP) and nearby RFs-est. pop 20-50.
2. TanlntharYI Yoma (Range) total est. pop50-100 IMintila RF-Boke)
3. Ta'..Jng area and proposed Mintha extension 'iF-est. pop. 5-10.
~. Helnze-Kalelnaung RF (Heinze BaslnlYapu areas) -est. pop. 5-15.
S. MYlnmo-let-Kat taung (proposed NP)-est. 20--10.
6. Bago voma-est. pop. 50-75.
Upper Chlndwin (Tamanthi WS)-est. pOP 25.
13. :"ower Shindwln IMahamyaing RF)-est. pop. '0-15
9. Kachin State (Training. MyitkYlna and Bhamaw -:ireas)-est. 50-75.
: O. Rakine Range (Southern Raklne range. PyeTaunggote Road and NW Pathein Div.)-est 'op. 150-200.
- "second onontv areas where Information collection " oe made for conmmatlon 0T Dopulation ?nd
;:smbutlon 01 the tiger are:-
\1 . Shan State/Mandalay Divison total est. pop. 25-40 IMomelk-Madava areas. Shwe-U-daung
'S ana Yevaman-SedawgYI areas I
,-ower -alntharYI drainage-est. pop. 20-35.
3. Aveyarwady Delta (presence/absence). Man state-est. pop. 5- t O.
4. Kayah-KaYln States-est. pop. 30-50.
TIGER ACTION PLAN
Myanmar had drawn up a tiger action plan a few years back with details of activities as given below:-
Cost break up in US$ million
Nos. Particulars Total
1 . Survey & Scientific research 1.50
2. Staff training, study tour 1.15
3. Public awareness. public 1.25 participation. eco-development
4. Species/Habitat management 1.10 planning. prolection & law enforcement
Grand Total 5.00
Government Input (20%) 6.50(k) @Kti.50 per 1 USS
I Donor Agency Input (80%) d.OO
I antiCipated)
The action plan was for the period 1996-2000. In absence of resource mobilisation. the plan remalnea largely unimolemented even though some outside fund was received from Wildlife ConservatIOn Society, Smithsonian Institute. DaVid Shepard Conservation Foundation. Global Survival Network and Woodlana travels. Efforts undertaken through these suOpOrtS nad been limited to certain areas and certain types ) f activities only. Wildlife being not a onority With the national Government. the flow ot fund to support the action plan from the country Government was Inadequate.
CONSTRAINT IN IMPLEMENTATION OF 3UCCESSFUL TIGER CONSERVATION ;>ROGRAMME
Political wil l for tiger conservation in the highest eve l of Government is very low. ,he atti tude iowards tigers as dangerous pests. and the ignorance of the value of wildlife virtually result In IndiSCriminate destruction of the animal and their habitats. Little regard is given to the conservation of spec.?s and habitats. and Integrated approach is almost ni l in most of the development projects. Easy availability
:une, 2000: Page 17
DlDU NEWS of agricultural pesticides, mostly imported illegally, is another major threat for the tiger population since the carnivores easily fall prey to poisioned baits.
The worst constraints are limited institutional capability of responsible agencies, insufficiency of necessary inputs and support for capacity b,uilding, comprehensive planning , interdepartmental cooperation and effective management.
NEPAL
CURRENT STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION OF TIGER
Historically tigers were distributed continuously across the low land forests along Himalayan foot hills. However, currently only three isolated tiger populations remain in Nepal. The Chitwan population covering Chitwan National Park and Parsa Wildlife Sanctuary and adjoining areas occupies the largest area of 2543 Sq. Km. 75% of this population lives in the two protected areas while the remaining 25% lives in forest outside the protected area system. The Bardia population, 180 K.M. west of Chitwan, occupies a land base of 1840 Sq. Km. of which Royal Bardia National Park encompasses 51 % of this land base. The prey density is not adequate over many pockets of this area. The 3rd population resides in Shuklaphanta in western Nepal. The land base in only 320 Sq. Km. but the prey density is high. There is a proposal to extend this wildlife reserve to cover wider area both for ungulates and tigers (Map in next page).
Last regular census of tiger in Nepal was carried out between 1995 to 1996 in protected areas of Chitwan, Bardia and Shuklaphanta. The estimated tiger populations as per this census was 48-49, 30-32 and 15-16 breeding animals in these areas respectively.
THE TIGER CONSERVATION ACTION PLAN
Nepal has since prepared the tiger conservation action plan which has been published in September, 1999 by WWF-Nepal Programme. The goal of this
action plan is to preserve, recognise, restore and Increase the effective land base support for tiger in Nepal, in order to maintain a viable tiger population.
The premise of this action plan is that ecosystem management, with an e'mphasis on building partnerships with local people, is crucial for maintaining tiger habitats outside protected areas because:
• the existing protected areas, by themselves, are not large enough to maintain viable tiger population,
• there are extensive forest lands outside reserves where tigers currently occur,
• forests outside reserves are often degraded and need ecological restoration,
• the key to restoring habitat outside reserves is the inclusion of local people as stakeholders, who directly benefit through conservation actions, and contribute to management decisions.
The Tiger Conservation Action Plan outlines a number of objectives with associated rationales, outputs and activities. They are listed below:-
• Survey and Monitor the Status of Tiger and their Habitats.
• Identify Priority Tiger Habitats.
• Restoration and improvement of Priority Tiger Habitats.
• Continue Long Term Study of Tiger Biology.
• Educate the Public about the importance of Tiger Conservation.
• Improve Tiger-Human Relationship through Community Development Activities.
• Strengthen Anti-poaching Efforts.
• Strengthen Institutional Development.
• Coordinate Trans-boundary nger Conservation Actions.
• Develop a proposal to implement the Tiger Action Plan.
June, 2000: Page 18
~I]H NEWS
MAP OF PROTECTED AREAS IN NEPAL
o Royal Shuklaphanla
WR(155 <>q ll,m/
'00
I Shuklaphanln WA(l56 sq km)
India
India
o
China (Tibet)
100
'P Kathmandu
N
+
Patsa WR(499 sq km)
< " "., . .,....--- ------------' ~ ~ .~~ , ",
", ' .. ..
Tiger Areas ~
June, 2000: Page 19
I1DUNEws
VIETNAM
STATUS OF TIGER
Vietnam, which contain only Indo-Chinese subspecies of tiger, whose population was estimated to be anything between 200-300 in 1993 has suffered further decline in recent time as a result of habitat fragmentation, illegal trade and poaching of tiger. The current tiger population is estimated to be anthing between 150-200. Many of these are currently too small to have long term viability, Unless they are managed as entire population of ecosystem unit including prime habitat in protected areas with large tracts of adjacent forest habitat and corridors, extinction of tiger may happen in near future.
DISTRIBUTION OF TIGER
The distribution of tiger is basically confined to areas belonging to several provinces covering; Lai Chau, Son La, Tuyen Quang, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, ha Tinh, Thua Thien Hue, Quang Nam, Gia Lai, Kon Tum, Lam Dong, Oak Lak. The surveys conducted between 1990-99 documented that
atleast 12 isolated population remain in Vietnam. The information presented in Table below is a compilation of data gathered from surveys conducted between 1990-1999. Most of the surveys were conducted in short period and on biodiversity in general. Only in recent years some specific surveys on tiger were conducted which started in 1995. The survey was conducted on large camivores in Tay Nguyen Plateau with emphasis on Tiger (Panthera tigris corbetti) .
Later on during 1998-1999 Forestry Protection Department in cooperation with the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, Forestry College, Hanoi University, Forestry Protection Department, of the Quang Nam Province and some intemational experts from USA and Nepal conducted survey on Tiger in Quang Nam Province. The surveys were supported by Fish and Wildlife Service Department USA. The results of the surveys showed that the tiger population size in Quang Nam province is about 20 individuals. This distribution was primarily concentrated in 3 districts; The surveys also recorded at least 15 sam bar (Cervus unicolor), 40 Muntjak tracks, many wild boar (Sus scrofa) and other species.
TIGER DISTRIBUTION IN VIETNAM
No Location Area(ha) Province Sources
1. Muong Nhe 310612 Lai Chau 1991, Pham Giao, Vu Van Dung, Roger Cox 1993, Dang Huy Huynh
2. Hoang L Son 29,845 Lao Cai 1993, Ha Dinh Duc
3. Na Hang 30,000 Tuyen 1992, 1993, 1994, Le Xuan Canh, Quang Ramesh Boonratanna
4. Ben En 16,634 Thanh Hoa 1991, 1992, 1993, Pham Mong Giao, 1999 T.Q. Bao
5. Pu Mat 91,713 Nghe An 1993, 1994, Pham Mong Giao 6. Ke Bang 116700 Quang Binh 1992, 1996, 1997, Le Xuan Canh, Cao Xuan Chinh 7. Bach Ma 22,030 Thua Thien Hue 1995, Huynh Van Keo 8. Dakpring 93 ,000 Quang 1996, 97, 98, 99 Tran Quoc Bao,
River Thanh Nam Pham Mong Giao, Le Xuan Canh 9. Kon Cha 16,000 Gia Lai 1993, 1995, 1996, Le Xuan Canh, Do Tuoc,
Rang Le Trang T rai 10. York Don 58,200 Dak Lak 1987, 1988, 1993, 1995, 1998, Le Xuan Canh, Ho
Viet Sac, Anh Dung, Anh Ngoc 11. Bi Dup 73,91 2 Lam Dong 1995, Jonathan Earpes 12. Cat Tien 37,900 Dong Nai 1992, 1993, 1994, Pham Mong Giao
For location map see next page
June, 2000: Page 22
[J~Il NEWS
TIGER DISTRIBUTION IN VIETNAM
3
.' " j
5
LEGEND
- NatIonal border
c:::J Inlerpnlcd Tiger OistnbullOOS ~
_ Foracled land
10
/I
12
June, 2000: Page 2:1
mDIl NEWS PROBLEMS, NEEDS AND ACTION March, 1995 has prepared a consolidated document
of problems, needs and actions for the Indochinese tiger in Vietnam based on Vietnam tiger conservation strategy. A summary of which is given below:-
The tiger working group formed under the Guidelines of Memorandum of the Tiger meeting in Hanoi in
PROBLEMS, NEEDS AND ACTIONS FOR TIGER CONSERVATION IN VIETNAM
Problems
Not enough staff with tiger conservation knowledge and techniques
No standardization in Tiger methodology and census techniques.
Not enough accurate Information on tiger status and distribution Little knowledge about tiger human interaction
Lack of coordination and communication between all tiger provinces
Lack of information on tiger densities in various habitat
Human settlements
Illegal activities within protected area due to insufficient income
Absence or insufficient buffer zones Fragmentation of tiger habitat
Low genetic diversity in wild and ex-situ tiger population
High demand for tiger
Misleading and misinterpretation of laws and regulations
Smuggling on tiger partsl products
Low level of community participation in conservation work
Needs
Training of University and foreslry staff
A hand book for all tiger conservation techniques.
Assess distribution of tigers, prey, habitat and threat
Better understanding of human-tiger inleraction and need for solution A network to allow efficient communication and coordination Intensive study for estimation of tiger density In various habitat types Reduce impacts, avoiding sensitive areas
Reduce impacts
Adequate buffer zones for each tiger conservation unit Linkage between tiger conservation unit, protected areas and buffer zones
Comprehensive and integrated management of ex-situ and insitu tiger population Raise public awareness for the endangered tiger population Common understanding .of law and regulations among law enforcers Joint cooperation in combating smuggling among countries
Mechanism for involvement of local people
June, 2000: Page 24
Actions
Training workshop for trainers, for forestry rangers
Produce draft document.
Train teams, implement survey, produce standardized froms and coordination Implementation research along forest boundary and pilots projects. Identify sites for investigation and coordination with other ongoing projects. Choose regions, coordinate with ongoing stUdies
Baseline studies, incentive for relocation Enforcement. education initiative
Identify buffer zone areas and needs Research to identify and map corridors and linkages, identify land use interest and activities
Integrate In-situ and ex-situ programs, study genetic diversity of wild population Intensive extension via multiformal and informal education. Dialogue and continuous relation with law enforcement agencies. Proposing resolution on pulling equal responsibility for smuggling on both sender and recipient countries to the next COP XI CITES Formalised public meetings and forums
la~H NEWS
Problems Needs Actions
Negative attitudes towards tiger conservation
Identify attidues at all level. Surveys, develop material pamphlets, posters, media and group forums.
Low capacity among staff Training , equipments, material, funding
Provide equipments training, workshop
Encroachment and illegal use of resources
Alternative income sources for local people
Support for patrols, buffer zone management
Poaching of tiger and prey Legislation, Anti-poaching team, training and equipments.
Law enforcement, support for anti-poaching team, training, patrols and monitoring
Fires Prevention of uncontrolled fires in tiger habitat
Fire control team, habitat improvement.
Short term plan , limited funds available
Require interrational support Partnership belween Vietnamese Government and International NGO's
Implement Vietnam's Tiger Conservation Strategy
Long term program
Lack of experience and skills to develop proposals for funding
Develop and sustain conservation programme Need to train/educate people how to draft and sell grant proposals
Ask support for training
The. tiger working group is charged with the responsibilities of facilitating. coordinating, implementing and monitoring the programmes. While the problems, needs and actions have been identified, not much has been done because of lack of man power and resources. The future of IndoChinese tiger in Vietnam will largely depend on the time frame in which the issues listed above are addressed properly.
MANAGEMENT PLAN
A rnanagement plan has also been drawn up for Ben En National Park in Than Hua Province of North Central Vietnam, which was reported to have significant tiger population, though the exact numbers of tigers are still unknown. The national park has got elephants, gaurs, gibbons, including 62 species of mammals, 183 species of birds, 40 species reptiles , 21 species of frogs and 35 species of fish , of which rare endangered and threatened species are mammals -25, birds -5, reptiles -10, frogs -4, fish -2.
The managment plan has identified priority areas for conservation and management, These includes:-
1. Protection of species and habitat through capacity building, support of vehicles, speed
boat~, and motor cycles, education and awarness prog l·amme.
2. Ecological restoration programme including forest protection, planting, in-situ and ex-situ conservation of both plants and animals.
3. Scientific research programmes by developing basic: level survey of habitat and population of rare and endangered species, research on fore~,t ecology, and plantation regeneration techniques for plants.
4. Con ,truction of in fra-structure like roads, buildings for staff, electric lines and inspection statiJns .
5. Tourism programmes including facilities for guest house and taking round tourist by mini bus, motor boats, busket boats etc.
6. Eco·development in buffer zone, covering activities like restoration of forest growth, providing alternatives to forest biomass use tn loca l people, farrn and agroforesty.
While some of the activities have been undertaken through national funding and funding provided by Global T ger Forum, but implementation of most of the activ ties will require considerable national and external funding which at present in very limited.
June, 2000: Page 25
mUU NEWS
OFTHE GTF (JUNE 1999-MAY 2000)
1 . One officer from Bangladesh and one officer from Nepal were trained In the Wildlife Institute of India at Dehra Dun in 9 months diploma course in Wildlife Management through SAARC Scholarship and GTF sponsorship.
2. Two officers from Vietnam were trained in Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, Dehra Dun India on habitat assessment through application of remote sensing and GIS, one in the 10 months course and another in the 4 months course sponsored by GTF.
3. The Secretary General of GTF attended the meeting of:-
(a) Regional conservation forum for Asia of IUCN held at New Delhi during 22nd and 25th March, 2000.
(b) Eleventh Conference of Parties to CITES at Nairobi, Kenya between 10th April, to 19th Apri l, 2000.
4. GTF received grants from:-
(a) United States of America through US Embassy in India for US$20,000 for training of Indian Officers, working for Wildlife Conservation in tiger areas, in 9th months diploma course and 3 months certificate course at the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehra Dun.
(b) DFID/UK provided a grant of US$10,449 (by way of reimbursement) for holding the 1 st General Assembly meet of Global Tiger Forum at Bangladesh In January, 2000.
(c) WWF-International provided a grant of US$10,000 for holding the 1 st General Assembly rneet of Global tiger Forum at Dhaka and also the post conference field trip to Sundarbans (Bangladesh).
(d) IFAW, U.K. provided a grant of US$8,950/- for purchase of a computer with accessories and establishment of E-mail and Web site for GTF Secretariat.
PAYMENT TO GTF MAY BE REMITTED TO THE ACCOUNT NUMBER GNEN HEREWITH
BANK OF NEW YORK, WALL STREET,
NEW YORK N.Y .. NC. BANK OF MAHARASHTRA,
BRANCH MUMBAI NO. 803-3165-537
WITH THE INSTRUCTION TO PASS ON THE CREDIT TO GLOBAL TIGER FORUM
FCA-l WITH THE BANK THE MAHARASHTRA, B-29, CONNAUGHT PLACE
NEW DELHI
June, 2000: Page 26
POST CONFERENCE FIELD TRIP TO S'JNDARBANS
Film show on tiger on board of steamer
Post-Conference trip of 1st G.A. Meet participants to Sundarbans.
