Discovery India and World Wide Fund (WWF) India have joined hands with the Government of West Bengal and local communities to save the world’s sole mangrove tiger habitat in the Sundarbans. The project aims to establish climate-smart villages using technological initiatives, enhancing agricultural productivity and protecting endangered species within the ecosystem, such as the Asian elephants and the Royal Bengal Tiger. The endeavour is part of a global movement, Project CAT (Conserving Acres for Tigers) which seeks to conserve around six million acres of protected land across four countries including India.
The Concept of Climate-Smart Villages
Climate Smart Villages are a collaboration between farmers, researchers, local government, and the private sector. These parties come together to understand the climate-smart agriculture practices best suited for a specific location. The initiative in the Sundarbans aims to leverage technology to address various challenges faced by the region, including climate change’s impact on the estuarine ecosystem. Two ecological observatories will be established in partnership with the West Bengal Forest Directorate and Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Kolkata. Each observatory will house data loggers, monitoring buoys, and an onsite laboratory.
Enhancing Farmland Productivity
This joint endeavour also prioritizes increasing farmland productivity via cost-effective measures and modifies crop calendars to accommodate climate change effects. Along with focusing on the agricultural front, the initiative includes efforts to secure habitats for tigers and other prey species.
| Organizations | Project | Focused Area | Objective |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discovery India, WWF India, Government of West Bengal | Climate-Smart Villages Project | Sundarbans | Creating climate-smart villages, Protect mangrove tiger habitat |
| Discovery Communications, World Wildlife Fund, others | Project CAT (Conserving Acres for Tigers) | Global | Doubling the number of tigers in the wild by 2022 |
Project CAT and Tiger Conservation
Project CAT is a joint venture by Discovery Communications and World Wildlife Fund along with other stakeholders aiming to double the number of tigers in the wild by 2022. The project’s mission ensures a future for tigers and other endangered wildlife by conserving nearly a million acres of protected land along the border of India and Bhutan. Tigers are an umbrella species and play a key role in maintaining a healthy ecosystem. By preserving them and their habitat, we indirectly protect other animals that cohabit this space.
Umbrella and Keystone Species: Role in Ecosystem
An Umbrella Species is selected for conservation decisions to indirectly affect the preservation of other species within the ecosystem. This species helps choose potential reserve locations and determining the reserve’s composition. Conservation of an umbrella species extends protection to other species sharing the same habitat.
Alternatively, a Keystone Species is an organism that defines an entire ecosystem. Without its keystone species, the ecosystem would significantly differ or potentially cease to exist. Any organism, from plants to fungi, can be a keystone species. Their absence might allow new, and possibly invasive, species to populate the habitat.
The Sundarbans Mangrove Forest: A Unique Ecosystem
The Sundarbans mangrove forest, one of the world’s largest, is spread across India and Bangladesh on the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna rivers’ delta. It houses a range of fauna, including 260 bird species, the Bengal tiger, and other threatened species such as estuarine crocodile and Indian python. This globally significant habitat is home to rare and endangered wildlife species, emphasizing its need for conservation.
