Tiger safari on non-forest land, no night tourism: SC, Pg11

Key Highlights:

• The Supreme Court mandated that tiger safaris be established only on non-forest land or degraded forest land in buffer zones, excluding tiger corridors.
• The court prohibited tiger safaris in the core or critical tiger habitat areas, allowing them only with a full-fledged rescue and rehabilitation center.
• Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) for tiger reserves must adhere to the MoEF&CC guidelines, with a minimum area comprising the buffer or fringe area, and all reserves must notify ESZs within one year.
• The court banned activities like commercial mining, sawmills, and major hydroelectric projects in the buffer and fringe areas of tiger reserves.
• Night tourism is completely banned, and strict regulations on road widening and vehicular traffic at night will be imposed in core tiger habitats.

Detailed Insights:

• The ruling emphasizes reversing ecological damage within tiger reserves, accepting recommendations from an expert committee that examined violations in the Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve.
• ESZs are crucial for regulating activities around protected areas; the Environment (Protection) Act 1986 governs the development of tourism infrastructure in these zones.
• Ecotourism should be regulated to prevent mass tourism, with new eco-friendly resorts allowed in buffer zones but not in identified corridors, promoting homestays and community-managed establishments.
• States are required to prepare or revise Tiger Conservation Plans within three months and notify core and buffer areas within six months to enhance tiger conservation efforts.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Tiger Corridor: A stretch of land linking tiger habitats, facilitating tiger movement and genetic exchange.
• Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ): Areas around protected areas where certain activities are regulated to minimize environmental impact.
• Buffer Zone: An area surrounding a protected area that helps to minimize external pressures on the core zone.