Only half of India's 58 tiger reserves have officially notified eco-sensitive zones (ESZs), according to a status report released by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). The report reveals that 29 reserves have completed ESZ notifications, while the remaining 29 are still awaiting final approval.
ESZ Notification Status Across Tiger Reserves
The NTCA report highlights that several tiger reserves, including Manas, Indravati, Udanti-Sitanadi, Madhav, Sahyadri, Dholpur–Karauli, Kalakad-Mundanthurai, and Kawal, have submitted ESZ proposals to their respective state governments or the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. However, these proposals have not yet been finalized.
Other reserves such as Dandeli-Anshi (Kali), Nagarahole, Parambikulam, Periyar, Ranthambore, Sariska, Ramgarh Vishdhari, Anamalai, Dudhwa, Pilibhit, and Sundarbans have reported that draft notifications have been issued or that their proposals are at various stages of processing, public consultation, or consideration by expert committees.
Additionally, Veerangana Durgavati and Ranipur Tiger Reserves noted that while ESZs for their constituent protected areas have been notified, the reserves as a whole have yet to receive separate ESZ notifications.
Village Relocation and Critical Tiger Habitats
The report also provides data on villages within notified critical tiger habitats (CTHs). It states that 1,040 villages are situated within these areas, of which 298 villages have been voluntarily relocated, while 742 villages continue to remain within the core areas. At the household level, the notified CTHs comprise 129,984 families, of which 32,198 families have been relocated, leaving 97,786 families still residing within the core areas.
The central government runs a voluntary relocation programme to create inviolate spaces for tigers. According to the report, "Village relocation has been undertaken in 27 tiger reserves, while 40 tiger reserves reported that villages continue to remain within their notified Critical Tiger Habitats. Eighteen tiger reserves reported that no villages currently remain within their notified core areas."
Among the tiger reserves, Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve reported the highest number of villages relocated (43 villages), followed by Kanha (37 villages), Satpura (36 villages), Sahyadri (29 villages), Melghat (25 villages), Sanjay-Dubri (19 villages), Panna (13 villages), and Bhadra, Nagarahole, and Madhav (10 villages each).
Implications for Tiger Conservation
The delay in notifying ESZs for half of the tiger reserves raises concerns about the effectiveness of buffer zones in mitigating human-wildlife conflict and preserving tiger habitats. Eco-sensitive zones act as a transition area between protected areas and human-dominated landscapes, regulating activities that could harm wildlife. The NTCA's findings underscore the need for expedited notifications and continued relocation efforts to ensure the long-term survival of tigers in India.
