Conservationists urge NTCA to review Maharashtra's tiger corridor mapping

The Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra. PIC COURTESY/Maharashtra Tourism

Warning that India's tiger corridors could be compromised by an oversimplified mapping approach, a coalition of 20 leading conservationists and wildlife organisations has urged the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) member secretary to intervene.

In a July 24 letter to the apex tiger conservation body, the group has raised concerns over Maharashtra's decision to rely on the Least Cost Path (LCP) model for corridor demarcation, arguing that it ignores key scientific parameters and could weaken habitat connectivity for tigers and other wildlife.

Update existing corridor maps

The group has requested the NTCA to update corridor maps hosted on its website using the latest information from the India Tiger Estimation (2022) report, tiger conservation plans, and other studies. They have also urged for directions to all states to follow the complete set of NTCA's multi-criteria guidelines instead of relying only on the LCP model.

The signatories have offered technical support to the NTCA in preparing corridor chapters for tiger conservation plans and in developing updated connectivity maps using the latest scientific methodologies.

Scientific data cited

The letter cites the India Tiger Estimation (2022) report and several peer-reviewed scientific studies, stating that updated field data, remote sensing information, and advanced connectivity models should form the basis of corridor mapping.

What is LCP?

The Least Cost Path (LCP) model is a computer-based method used to predict the most efficient route an animal, such as a tiger, is likely to take between two habitats.

Flaws with LCP model

The conservationists contend that the LCP model identifies only a narrow pathway between protected areas and fails to account for factors such as tiger movement, genetic connectivity, available habitat, forest cover, and barriers created by human activity. They warn that depending solely on the LCP approach could leave critical connectivity areas vulnerable to unplanned land use changes and increase the risk of human-wildlife conflict.

Multi-criteria approach

Rohan Bhate Shah, Honorary Wildlife Warden of Satara
‘The NTCA's 2023 guidelines recommend a multi-criteria approach that combines six different datasets, including telemetry, genetics, occupancy surveys, camera-trap data, habitat assessments, and human impact evaluations to accurately identify wildlife corridors. This method offers stronger protection for habitats and ecological connectivity. I had also written to NTCA on April 20'

Letter endorsed by...

Organisations
>> Conservation initiatives
>> Foundation for Ecological Research, Advocacy and Learning
>> Holématthi Nature Foundation
>> Last Wilderness Foundation
>> The Corbett Foundation
>> The Shola Trust
>> Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy
>> WCB Research Foundation
>> Wildlife Conservation Society-India
>> Wildlife Conservation Trust
>> Wildlife Research and Conservation Society
>> Wildlife Trust of India
>> World Wide Fund for Nature-India

Experts
>> Abishek Harihar
>> Amrita Neelakantan
>> Divya Ramesh
>> Milind Pariwakam
>> Prachi Thatte
>> Prajakta Hushangabadkar
>> Sarika Khanwilkar

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