Conserving Tigers Has Economic Benefits, Too

Saving tigers in their biggest home is not just a moral call—it has immense economic value.

A comprehensive study by the Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal, conducted in two phases over five years, has attempted to put an economic valuation to 16 tiger reserves in India.

The second part of the study, released recently, showed that just ten tiger reserves ensure flow of economic benefits worth up to Rs 16,202 crore every year. Not just that, these reserves also conserve “enormous stock” of timber and carbon that is valued up to Rs 96,745 crore.

“The study findings also indicate that a sizeable proportion of flow benefits (as well as stock) are intangible and hence are often unaccounted for in the socio-economic scenario and policy formulation,” the report said. “Economic valuation helps in recognising these benefits and internalise them into policy actions.”

The report assumes significance with India witnessing a 33 percent rise in tiger population—the most on record since it started the big cat’s census in 2006. India’s tiger conservation efforts that go back to the 1970s when Project Tiger was started and was also lauded by the United Nations as the population of apex predator doubled in less than fifteen years. India is also home to three out of four tigers in the world.

IIFM suggests that there are number of intangible economic benefits that come from tiger reserves. They can create jobs, promote soil conservation, help in pollination, water purification, and serve as a habitat for large variety of species. Besides, it helps protect gene-pool of innumerable organisms.

Not only that, the report suggest that human beings’ health can benefit from being in proximity to natural reserves and forests.