The Tiger Forum, which started Sunday, is set to adopt the Global Tiger Recovery Program (GTRP) on Tuesday seeking to empower the TRCs -- Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Nepal, Russian Federation, Vietnam -- to address the entire spectrum of threats, both domestic as well as those transboundary in nature, and work toward increased financial sustainability through the integration of conservation objectives into development.[break]
The GTRP has been formulated after two years of rigorous knowledge sharing and best practices and developing a common vision. Most importantly, it aims at doubling the number of wild tigers globally by 2022 (which is the next Year of the Tiger) through eradicating poaching, smuggling, and illegal trade of tigers and their parts, and effectively managing, preserving, protecting and enhancing tiger habitat. The wild tigers are on the brink of extinction with only about 3,200 to 3,500 surviving today.
Financing of $350 million
The GTRP calls for incremental financing of about US$350 million over the first five years of the program, over and above the domestic financing to be provided by individual TRCs, based on their ability.
The TRCs have already identified policy and institutional reforms to enhance the effectiveness of these proposed expenditures. Nepal is set to spend a total of $17.8 million for five years based on its national recovery program. Out of the fund, Nepal will spend $5 million in habitat management, $400,000 in controlling prey and tiger poaching, $5.6 million under institutional strengthening and capacity building, another $2.9 million to stop tiger-human conflict and for community engagement, $1.7 million in controlling illegal trade and reducing demand, $1.7 million in scientific monitoring, surveys and research and another $500,000 in trans-boundary management.
Twenty three percent of the total land area in Nepal has been designated as protected area with an increase of 5,000 sq km this year alone. With 60 breeding tigers in the year 2000, Nepal counted 155 breeding adults as of beginning of the year. Nepal has already signed a Joint Management Plan for wildlife conservation with India under which the Indian government has promised a grant of Rs 10 million. Nepal also signed a memorandum of understanding with China earlier this year to join hands to fight illegal trade in animal parts.
Head of states to address summit Tuesday
A number of head of the states are set to address the summit on Tuesday. Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal is scheduled to arrive in the city late Monday. He will be joined on Tuesday in the summit by the other heads of governments like Vladimir Putin, head of government of Russian Federation, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Chinese premier Wen Jiabao, and Lao PM Bouasone Bouphavanh, among others.
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