A key feature of the scheme is the generation of over 50 lakh man-days of employment through direct involvement, with additional indirect jobs created through eco-tourism and related activities. The initiative includes vital subcomponents like Project Tiger, Project Elephant, and the Development of Wildlife Habitat. According to a statement by the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, these efforts were part of the government’s 100-day action plan.
The ministry highlighted plans to enhance the scheme’s core components while incorporating technological advancements into wildlife and forest management. This will be implemented over the current and upcoming financial years in key tiger and wildlife habitats.
One such technological advancement is the M-STrIPES mobile app (Monitoring System for Tigers, Intensive Protection, and Ecological Status), which is in alignment with the ‘Digital India’ initiative. This app was instrumental in collecting ecological data for the fifth cycle of the All-India Tiger Estimation in 2022.
Conservation genetics also plays a significant role in tiger conservation, with a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) issued for translocating tigers based on their genetic profiles. This technique has been used to estimate tiger populations in low-density areas and to study their feeding habits.
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Project Tiger will also continue to support Project Cheetah under the broader umbrella of the Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats. Additionally, Project Dolphin will be bolstered with advanced equipment such as Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) and passive acoustic monitoring devices to track dolphin populations and study their habitats.
Project Lion, which also falls under the Development of Wildlife Habitat scheme, will be further developed as outlined in the “Lion @ 2047: A Vision for Amrut Kaal” document. Meanwhile, efforts under Project Elephant will address human-elephant conflict, utilizing information and communication technologies that have already shown promise in pilot tests and will now be expanded nationwide.
