Prime Minister of India - Dr. Manmohan Singh

Task Force to review management of Tiger Reserves

The Prime Minister has directed the constitution of a Task Force to review the management of the Tiger Reserves in the country.

The Task Force will be headed by Ms Sunita Narain , Director, Centre for Science and Environment. The members are;

1. Mr. H.S.Pawar, Former Chief of Project Tiger and Wild Life Institute of India,

2. Prof Madhav Gadgil, Member National Board of Wildlife Board,

3. Mr. Valmik Thapar, Member Board of Wildlife, and

4. Mr. Samar Singh, former Secretary Government of India and Member Board of Wildlife.

The Task Force will suggest measures to strengthen tiger conservation in the country and to improve the methodology of tiger counting and forecasting. The terms of reference include suggesting measures to incentivise the local community in tiger conservation and to incentivise local forest staff posted in sanctuaries and national parks and ensure an effective HR plan for tiger conservation and wild life managers. The Task Force will also suggest methods of transparent professional audit of wild life parks and placing data on tiger conservation in the public domain and outline a new wild life management paradigm that shares concerns of conservation with the public at large.

The Task Force is to submit its report within three months. The Ministry of Environment will take steps to constitute the Task Force at the earliest and will extend all assistance to Task Force so that it may discharge its functions effectively.