Global tiger conference starting Tuesday

Tiger experts from around the world are gathering in Nepal for a four-day Global Tiger Workshop, which is slated to start from Tuesday to discuss the declining situation and find the ways to save wild tigers.

According to Deepak Bohara, Minister for Forest and Soil Conservation, more than 200 tiger experts will discuss the challenges and strategies for wild tiger conservation in the 14 Tiger Range Countries (TRCs) and to identify priority actions to be taken up by the member states.

“The workshop will come up with Kathmandu Declaration with TRCs´ commitment to support development and conservation strategy for tigers," said Bohara addressing a press conference in the capital on Sunday. He also said that talks on control of trans-border trade in animal parts are in progress with both India and China.

The workshop wills also review existing plans, integrate new ideas and start the process of creating a platform for sustained worldwide cooperation to save wild tigers.

The workshop also aims at designing effective ways to monitor indicators for conservation and management of tigers, its prey and habitat, including trans-boundary cooperation requirements and define strategic actions to save tiger population from extinction. Besides the participants from TRC countries, representatives from CITES secretariat, Global Tiger Forum, Global Tiger Initiative, World Bank, Save the Tiger Fund, National Trust for Nature Conservation and WWF-Nepal are participating in the conference.

The workshop is said to contribute to developing the country´s National Input Action to save tigers. it will also prepare for the Asia Ministerial Conference in Thailand in January 2010 followed by the 2010 Tiger Summit next year.