LIVING WITH TIGERS

The report examines the challenges and opportunities for human-tiger coexistence in Asia, emphasizing that long-term tiger recovery depends on the support of approximately 47 million people living within tiger ranges. It proposes shifting from top-down conservation to inclusive partnerships that respect human rights and provide tangible socio-economic benefits. The document details strategies for managing human-tiger conflict (HTC) through the 'Safe Systems Approach,' explores sustainable financing models like Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) and conservation performance payments, and advocates for the recognition of 'Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures' (OECMs) to expand protected habitats beyond traditional reserves.

• In 2020, an estimated 47 million people lived within the boundaries of the tiger range, with another 85 million residing within 10km of these landscapes. These populations are increasing, with a 7.5 per cent rise in tiger landscapes since 2015.
• Human population density acts as a threshold for tiger survival; when density exceeds 400 persons/km2, there is a local extinction probability of over 60 per cent within 50 years.
• Infrastructure development, particularly roads, severely fragments tiger habitats. Approximately 57 per cent of tiger landscapes fall within a 'road-effect zone' (less than 5km from the nearest road), which can decrease tiger and prey abundance by more than 20 per cent.
• Climate change is projected to cause a 23 per cent loss in suitable tiger habitat by 2050 under certain scenarios. In the Bangladesh Sundarbans, models suggest no suitable tiger habitats may remain by 2070.
• Conservation effectiveness is often hindered by a lack of community integration; a 2018 survey found only 30 per cent of tiger conservation sites involved stakeholders in management planning, and only 58 per cent had benefit-sharing or alternative livelihood mechanisms.
• Cultural and spiritual beliefs significantly influence local tolerance of tigers. In some communities, tigers are viewed as sacred or as enforcers of moral codes, which can foster coexistence even when conflict occurs.
• Gender disparities exist in the experience of human-tiger conflict; women often bear a disproportionate burden of costs and risks, such as threats to personal safety during daily activities, yet are frequently excluded from decision-making processes.
• The 'Safe Systems Approach' to human-tiger conflict (HTC) management integrates six essential elements: understanding the conflict, prevention, response, mitigation, monitoring, and policy.
• Prey depletion is a primary driver of livestock predation. Maintaining wild prey populations is a critical preventative measure to reduce human-tiger conflict.
• Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) are vital for reducing the escalation of conflict and preventing retaliatory killings by providing immediate verification of incidents and emergency assistance.
• Traditional compensation schemes often fail because they address symptoms rather than root causes and are frequently plagued by bureaucratic delays and lack of transparency.
• Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) provide a mechanism to recognize and protect biodiversity in areas outside formal protected areas, such as Indigenous territories or managed forests, which is essential for achieving the '30x30' global conservation goal.
• Sustainable financing can be achieved through 'payments to encourage coexistence,' which reward communities for conservation success (e.g., verified sightings) rather than merely compensating for losses.
• Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES), including REDD+ carbon credit schemes, offers a way to fund tiger conservation by valuing the carbon storage and water regulation services provided by tiger habitats.

APA

Belecky, M., Dahal, S., Stolton, S., Dudley, N., Hebert, C., & Li, M. F. (2022). LIVING WITH TIGERS. WWF International. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/760/8gubd3v4q_LIVING_WITH_TIGERS_high_res_.pdf

Chicago

Belecky, Mike, Smriti Dahal, Sue Stolton, Nigel Dudley, Chaitanya Hebert, and Ming Fei Li. LIVING WITH TIGERS. WWF International, 2022. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/760/8gubd3v4q_LIVING_WITH_TIGERS_high_res_.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Belecky |first1=Mike |last2=Dahal |first2=Smriti |last3=Stolton |first3=Sue |last4=Dudley |first4=Nigel |last5=Hebert |first5=Chaitanya |last6=Li |first6=Ming Fei |title=LIVING WITH TIGERS |publisher=WWF International |date=2022 |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/760/8gubd3v4q_LIVING_WITH_TIGERS_high_res_.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{belecky2022living, author = {Belecky, Mike and Dahal, Smriti and Stolton, Sue and Dudley, Nigel and Hebert, Chaitanya and Li, Ming Fei}, title = {{LIVING WITH TIGERS}}, institution = {WWF International}, year = {2022}, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/760/8gubd3v4q_LIVING_WITH_TIGERS_high_res_.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }