Why in News?

• Union Environment Ministry released a report on Status of Tiger Habitats in high altitude Ecosystems.

Highlights:

• The study is led by the Global Tiger Forum (GTF), with range country governments of Bhutan, India and Nepal, along with WWF.
• It has been supported by the Integrated Tiger Habitat Conservation Programme (ITHPC) of the IUCN.
• This provides the action strategy for a high-altitude tiger master plan, with gainful portfolio for local communities.
• It ensures centrality of tiger conservation in development, through an effective coordination mechanism, involving stakeholders and line departments operating within the landscape.

Why Such Report?

• Various studies reveal that even ecology at high altitude is compatible for the tiger growth.
• The habitat of tiger of varied, encompassing several biomes and ecological conditions.
• However, most of the high-altitude habitats, within the range have not been surveyed for an appraisal of tiger presence, prey and habitat status.
• Tiger habitats in high altitude require protection through sustainable land use, as they are a high value ecosystem with several hydrological and ecological processes providing ecosystem services.
• Several high-altitude habitats in South Asia have the spatial presence of tiger, active in-situ efforts are called for ensuring their conservation.

Global Tiger Forum:

• The GTF was formed in 1993 on recommendations from an international symposium on Tiger Conservation at New Delhi, India.
• The GTF is the only intergovernmental international body established with members from willing countries to embark on a global campaign to protect the Tiger.
• Utilizing co-operative policies, common approaches, technical expertise, scientific modules and other appropriate programmes and controls the GTF is focused on saving the remaining 5 sub-species of Tigers distributed over 13 Tiger Range countries of the world.