SC issues norms to conserve tigers and regulate reserves

Key guidelines for tiger reserves

- Abraham Thomas

In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court on Monday directed state governments to notify eco-sensitive zones (ESZ) around all tiger reserves, including buffer and fringe areas, not less than one kilometre from their outer boundaries, and formulate a policy to declare the entire tiger reserve as silence zone while prohibiting use of mobile phones or night tourism in the core or critical tiger habitat.

The court's comprehensive pan-India guidelines, aimed at conservation of tigers and regulation of protected areas, placed strict timelines on states, directing them to notify the buffer and core areas of tiger reserves within six months, come out with a tiger conservation plan (TCP) also within six months, and prescribe ESZ within one year.

“We direct the ministry of environment, forests and climate change (MoEFCC) as well as the various state governments to take necessary steps by notifying rules and/or by issuing memorandums or circulars for implementing the directions and recommendations issued hereinabove within a period of six months from the date of this judgment,” a bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Bhushan R Gavai said.

To bolster the defence of forests and wildlife in protected zones, the court issued a slew of directions in ‘with the employment, service conditions and other benefits for forest staffers, who are the persons on the frontline. Ina first, the bench directed the Centre to create separate policies on funding of tiger reserves, and staffing and cadre requirements. It also prohibited outsourcing of forest staff and directed that in no circumstance, the post of field director — in charge of the reserve — be kept vacant.