PTR FOUNDATION

PTR FOUNDATION

The Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2006 mandated the creation of Tiger Conservation Foundations in the Tiger Reserves of the Country. This was done with the intent of providing additional institutional support to strengthen the management of Tiger Reserve for addressing existing and emerging challenges to conservation in view of the rapid changes taking place in the demographic, socio- political and economic landscape.


Role of the Foundation

The main aim of the Foundation is to facilitate and support the Tiger Reserve management in biodiversity conservation efforts through multi- stakeholder participation consistent with the national and state Policies, Acts, Rules and Legislations. The scope of the Foundation is not the Tiger Reserve alone but the landscape in which it is embedded.

The Foundation is envisaged as a ‘Government owned Public Trust’ by combining the authority of the Government and flexibility of a good Non- Governmental Organization (NGO). This amalgamation of authority and flexibility has to be one of the core values of the Tiger Conservation Foundation.

In addition, the Foundation can also act as the ‘think tank’ for the Tiger Reserve along with maintaining the ‘institutional memory’ for the Tiger Reserve and the landscape. The foundations can also collaborate and strike strategic partnerships with other organizations and agencies like Wildlife Institute of India, the Crime Control Bureau, NGOs etc.

This collaboration shall be mutually benefiting and invigorating to all the parties. Needless to mention, the potential of this institutional arrangement with forward and backward linkages between field units and apex organizations are immense.


Structure of the Palamau Tiger Conservation Foundation

Palamau Tiger Conservation Foundation was established on 20-01-2014 and has been registered as a Trust. Its Governing body is headed by Hon'ble Minister of Forest, Environment and Climate Change, Jharkhand and Executive Body is headed by Field Director of Palamau Tiger Reserve.

As per Section 38-X of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, objectives outlined for Tiger Conservation Foundations are:

  • To facilitate ecological, economic, social and cultural development in the tiger reserves;
  • To promote eco-tourism with the involvement of local stakeholder communities and provide support to safeguard the natural environment in the tiger reserves;
  • To facilitate the creation of, and or maintenance of, such assets as may be necessary for fulfilling the above said objectives;
  • To solicit technical, financial, social, legal and other support required for the activities of the Foundation for achieving the above said objectives;
  • To augment and mobilize financial resources including recycling of entry and such other fees received in a tiger reserve, to foster stake-holder development and eco-tourism;
  • To support research, environmental education and training in the above related fields.

National Tiger Conservation Authority vide gazette notification dated 22nd June 2007 has issued guidelines on the formulation of trust deed of the Foundations as these have to be registered as independent Trust.