Description

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Context

The Critical Tiger Habitat of Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan is likely to expand by approximately 4,500 hectares.

This expansion follows a rationalisation exercise mandated by the Supreme Court of India's Central Empowered Committee.

What is Critical Tiger Habitat (CTH)?

Feature	Details
Definition	Core areas within tiger reserves, identified scientifically under Wild Life Protection Act 1972 meant to be kept inviolate for tiger conservation.
Legal Basis	Section 38V of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (amended in 2006).
Purpose	Ensure undisturbed habitat essential for the survival and growth of wild tiger populations.
Rights of Forest Dwellers	Cannot be affected without recognition and settlement under the Forest Rights Act, 2006.
Inviolate Status	Human activities like grazing, tourism, resource extraction are restricted or removed.
Process of Declaration	State Government notifies CTH. Expert Committee constituted. In consultation with the Tiger Conservation Authority and Centre.
Relation with Buffer Zone	Areas surrounding CTH are declared as Buffer Zones where regulated human activities are allowed to reduce pressure on CTH.

Important Points to Remember

Inviolate areas are crucial for tiger breeding and minimizing human-wildlife conflict.

Only scientific evidence can determine CTH boundaries.

Resettlement of people (if any) must be voluntary with adequate compensation and alternative livelihood support.

Buffer Zones help absorb socio-economic pressures and create a transition space for tigers moving outside core zones.

Central Empowered Committee

Feature	Details
Established	2002 (reconstituted in 2008) by the Supreme Court of India.
Purpose	Act as a watchdog to monitor environmental violations and ensure compliance with court orders.
Recent Change	In 2023, Supreme Court transferred CEC to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to make it a statutory permanent body.
Composition (New Structure)	Chairman: 25+ years in environment/forests/admin, tenure of 3 years, max age 66 years. Member Secretary: Senior serving officer with 12+ years in environment/forests/wildlife. Three Experts: One each from environment, forests, and wildlife (20+ years experience).
Notable Change	NGOs are now excluded from the CEC's composition. Earlier they played a significant role.

Sariska Tiger Reserve

Feature	Details
Location	Alwar district, Rajasthan
Tiger Reserve Status	Declared in 1978 under Project Tiger
Unique Feature	First tiger reserve where tigers were reintroduced after local extinction (2004–2008)

Sources: TIMESOFINDIA

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Which of the following statements regarding Critical Tiger Habitat (CTH) is/are correct?

Critical Tiger Habitat can be declared by the Central Government without involving the State Government.
Critical Tiger Habitat is required to be kept inviolate for the purpose of tiger conservation.
Forest Rights of Scheduled Tribes and other forest dwellers must be settled before notifying a CTH.

Select the correct answer using the code below:

(a) 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (b)

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect. State Government notifies CTH after consultation with an expert committee and approval of the Central Government (not directly by the Centre).

Statement 2 is correct. CTH must be kept inviolate for tiger conservation.

Statement 3 is correct. Rights of Scheduled Tribes and other forest dwellers must be recognised and settled before the final notification of CTH under the Forest Rights Act, 2006.