Countries pledge to double tiger population by 2022
15/07/2010 15:39:30
Bid to save world's tigers gets a boost in Bali
July 2010: Thirteen countries that are home to the world's diminishing population have been holding a criticial meeting in Bali to try agree a global plan to double tiger numbers in the wild.
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RARE SIGHT: A Bengal tiger. Picture: lookinglost.com
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The work this week lays the foundation for a meeting of world leaders later this yeat at a Tiger Summit in St Petersburg, Russia. This is the Chinese Year of the Tiger, and the broad shared aim is to double the world population of tigers by 2022 - the next Year of the Tiger.
‘While there's still work to be done in the coming weeks, this has been a crucial meeting ahead of the Tiger Summit,' said Michael Baltzer, leader of WWF's Tiger Programme. ‘These countries have worked together to lay down solid plans to double the number of tigers in the wild by 2022 - a critical goal to save this endangered animal.
‘Governments will now take these proposed commitments to St Petersburg and world leaders will consider backing them with the political it will take to save tigers in the wild.'
Baltzer added: ‘Coming to this meeting and agreeing to some key plans represents a strong indication that these 13 governments are ready to make commitments and be held accountable for their efforts to save tigers, and sets clear goals for how to do that.
‘The outcomes of this meeting will provide a foundation for success at the Tiger Summit in Russia.'
'When we save the tiger, we save so much more'
In Bali this week, tiger range governments presented individual national plans to protect tigers, that will be put into a Global Tiger Recovery Programme - essentially an overarching plan to double the number of tigers in the wild - which will then be approved at the Tiger Summit.
In his welcome address, the Governor of Bali stated that the extinction of the Bali tiger in 1940s should be used as a marker to motivate all to conserve the remaining tiger sub-species as well as other endangered species. Referring to the recent forest climate change process, in which Indonesia had closely engaged, Indonesia's Minister of Forestry in his opening speech, expressed the hope that tiger habitats would benefit from efforts to mitigate climate change. ‘It is critical that leaders remember that when we save the tiger, we save so much more. A strong tiger population is a good indicator of a healthy forest,' he said.
Overall, the 13 tiger range states' national plans likely will cost more than $356 million for immediate implementation.
‘Now that these countries have shown their willingness to act, the success of any global plan launched in St Petersburg will depend on financial support from the international community and the tiger nations themselves,' Baltzer said.
Governments also agreed to elements for a Leader's Declaration, a document that will include joint commitments by the 13 tiger range states.
Calling the Tiger Summit ‘unprecedented', the Declaration will include agreement that:
- Tigers are key to healthy ecosystems;
- Tiger conservation efforts are primarily a national responsibility, but that "financial and technical support of the international community " is still needed to save wild tigers;
- The 13 governments will collaborate on issues that affect tigers across borders, including ensuring the uninhibited movement of tigers and the management of joint tiger conservation areas;
- Enforcement efforts are increased to help eradicate poaching, the main driver of tiger loss, and to reduce the trafficking of tiger parts;
- Better identification and protection of key tiger habitats - such as critical breeding areas -are needed;
- Protection efforts can be improved by implementing systematic patrols of tiger areas, and protecting their prey.
‘Hosting this meeting in Bali - where the Balinese tiger went extinct in the 1940s - is a symbol of Indonesia's commitment to help with this global effort to protect tigers and bring them back from the brink of extinction,' said WWF Indonesia CEO Dr Efransjah. ‘We commend Indonesia for its leadership at this meeting, and ask for the same level of commitment and passion leading up to and during the Tiger Summit.
‘We are committed to supporting these ongoing efforts and to working with the Indonesian government for the conservation of tigers.'
World tiger experts and representatives from other NGOs, including the Global Tiger Initiative, also are attending. The meeting is a prelude to the Heads of Government Tiger Summit, scheduled to be held in St. Petersburg, Russia in September.
Igor Chesting, head of Russia's delegation said: ‘The fate of the world's tigers is in our hands. We must not squander away this opportunity to collectively do all it takes to ensure its survival and double its number in the wild.'
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