Executive SummaryIntroduction and Overview: If current trends persist, tigers are likely to be the first large predator species to vanish in historic times. Tiger subspecies and populations have already disappeared from Java, Bali, and Central Asia and throughout much of China. Protected areas, the stronghold of tiger conservation efforts in South and East Asia, are rarely large enough to ensure their survival, and the animals must also be protected from poaching. Actions by any country in isolation will not be adequate to save tigers and a genuine commitment and partnership is needed to achieve this goal. This report outlines an action plan to save the tiger.
Chapter 1Introducing the Problem: Poaching and habitat loss are the greatest challenges to tiger survival. Well-intentioned international, national, and regional support for tiger conservation efforts over the last decade has been inadequate to halt the decline in tiger populations. To secure their future in the wild they must both be protected from poaching and given adequate land with sufficient prey. This requires financial and material resources and a strong policy commitment to conservation.
Chapter 2The Current State of Tiger Conservation: Challenges and Opportunities: The challenges of conserving tigers are daunting. Any effective solution will require reorienting economic incentives in ways that shift the balance from degradation to conservation. The accumulated experience suggests that there is no universal formula. Rather, flexible strategies should suit local conditions.
Chapter 3Options for the Way Forward: Any solution would need to tackle three often intertwined problems: poaching and the trade that drives it, habitat fragmentation, and the degradation of habitats through overuse. The aim of this chapter has been to outline some of the strategies available for achieving this, among them: creating direct incentives to conservation and refining tiger tourism.
Chapter 4Conclusions: This chapter identifies priority areas for action. These include: a) creating and implementing a conservation paradigm that enlists incentives; b) providing adequate funding; c) developing biodiversity-friendly infrastructure; and d) tackling illegal trade to control poaching.
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