Audit of conservation impact at 58 Indian tiger reserves begins

India has begun the sixth Management Effectiveness Evaluation of Tiger Reserves to gauge conservation impact on tigers across 58 reserves, NTCA announced. The National Tiger Conservation Authority, together with the Wildlife Institute of India, is coordinating the exercise, which must finish by Dec 31. Four‑member independent expert teams are assessing each of the 14 clusters, including Dudhwa, Pilibhit and Ranipur in Uttar Pradesh and Rajaji and Corbett in Uttarakhand, with Pilibhit and Dudhwa slated for the third‑fourth weeks of November, Pathak said. He added, “this framework evaluates whether reserve management is achieving tangible ecological objectives despite pressures such as habitat alteration and wildlife crime.” The revised framework will judge reserves on six parameters – ecological status and threats, long‑term planning, resource availability, management implementation, immediate outputs like patrolling and habitat work, and long‑term outcomes such as tiger population trends and connectivity – and will also review law enforcement, fire control, wildlife health and community participation. Results are expected to inform future policy and funding decisions.