Global tiger workshop to kick off on Tuesday

KATHMANDU, Oct 25: In order to assess the present situation, challenges and strategies for wild tiger conservation in the 14 Tiger Range Countries (TRCs) and to identify priority actions to be taken up by the member states, Kathmandu will host a four-day Global Tiger Workshop starting Tuesday.

To define strategic actions against trans-border poaching to save tiger from extinction

To aid National Input Action

Seek 14 Tiger Range Countries´ commitment

Urge China to halt tiger farming

Addressing a press meet on Sunday, Minister for Forest and Soil Conservation Deepak Bohara said, “The workshop is organized to review existing plans, to integrate new ideas and start the process of creating a platform for sustained worldwide cooperation to save wild tigers,” adding, “The workshop will come up with Kathmandu Declaration with TRCs´ commitment to support development of conservation strategy for tigers and pursue CITES clauses.”

He also said that talks on control of trans-border trade in animal parts are in progress with both India and China.

The workshop also aims at designing effective ways to monitor indicators for conservation and management of tigers, its prey and habitat, including trans-boundary cooperation requirements and define strategic actions to save tiger population from extinction. Besides the member states, participants include representatives from CITES secretariat, Global Tiger Forum, Global Tiger Initiative, World Bank, Save the Tiger Fund, National Trust for Nature Conservation and WWF-Nepal.

The workshop will also prepare for the Asia Ministerial Conference in Thailand in January 2010 followed by the 2010 Tiger Summit next year. The workshop, organized with a total budget of $120,000, is said to contribute to developing the country´s National Input Action to save tigers.

Nepal-China to sign MoU

Nepal and China have agreed to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) next month to control poaching and all other illegal trafficking in animal parts, especially targeted at poaching of tiger skins. Nepal government has initiated the MoU to urge the Chinese government to resolve issues related to captive breeding and tiger farming.

“China can contribute to raising tiger population without impacting its economy,” Mahendra Shrestha, the program director of Save the Tiger Fund, said.

Since China is a major player, it is important to get it to enter into the trans-boundary cooperation to help save the tigers in the region, said Shrestha, adding, “China can play a major role on its North-East, Russian Far-East and Myanmar border. We will urge the Chinese delegation to resolve tiger farming issue during the workshop.