Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary

Context:

The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) chief recently said that the Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary would soon be notified as a tiger reserve.

Relevance:

GS III: Environment and Ecology

Dimensions of the Article:

1. About Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary:
2. About the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)

Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary:

• Location: Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary is situated near the Anini district in Arunachal Pradesh.
• It derives its name from the Dibang River, which is a tributary of the Brahmaputra River.
• The sanctuary is spread across the Eastern Himalayas, featuring majestic mountains, snow-covered peaks, deep gorges, lush forests, and sparkling rivers.
• The altitude of the sanctuary varies between 1800m and 5000m.

Flora:

• The sanctuary is home to two primary types of vegetation, including temperate broad-leaved forests and temperate conifer forests (Rhododendra, Bamboo, Gregaria, Tsuga, etc.). Alpine vegetation, consisting of herbs, stunted trees, and dwarf bushes, is found at higher altitudes.

Fauna:

•  Some of the notable wildlife species found in the sanctuary are the Mishmi takin, Asiatic black bear, tigers, Gongshan muntjac, Red panda, Red goral, and Musk deer.

About the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)

• The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) was established in December 2005 following a recommendation of the Tiger Task Force, constituted by the Prime Minister of India for reorganised management of Project Tiger and the many Tiger Reserves in India.
• The Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 was amended in 2006 to provide for constituting the National Tiger Conservation Authority responsible for implementation of the Project Tiger plan to protect endangered tigers.
• The National Tiger Conservation Authority is set up under the Chairmanship of the Minister for Environment and Forests.
• The Authority will have eight experts or professionals having qualifications and experience in wildlife conservation and welfare of people including tribals, apart from three Members of Parliament of whom two will be elected by the House of the People and one by the Council of States.
• The Authority, interalia, would lay down normative standards, guidelines for tiger conservation in the Tiger Reserves, apart from National Parks and Sanctuaries.
• It would provide information on protection measures including future conservation plan, tiger estimation, disease surveillance, mortality survey, patrolling, report on untoward happenings and such other management aspects as it may deem fit, including future plan for conservation.
• The Authority would also facilitate and support tiger reserve management in the States through eco-development and people’s participation as per approved management plans, and support similar initiatives in adjoining areas consistent with the Central and state laws.
• The Tiger Conservation Authority would be required to prepare an Annual Report, which would be laid in the Parliament along with the Audit Report.
• Every 4 years the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) conducts a tiger census across India.

-Source: The Hindu