Tiger Landscapes to Drive Conservation, Livelihoods and Ecotourism: Bhupender Yadav
New Delhi, September 2, 2026: Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav on Wednesday inaugurated a two-day international workshop in New Delhi focusing on the role of tiger landscapes in conservation, bioeconomy, ecotourism and sustainable livelihood generation.
The workshop, being held on September 2–3, 2026, is jointly organised by the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
Human–Nature Coexistence Must Guide Conservation
Addressing the inaugural session, Yadav said ecological conservation must be built around harmony between people and nature. He stressed that tiger conservation cannot be viewed only through the protection of a single species, as the survival of tigers is closely connected with healthy forests, grasslands, rivers, prey populations, wildlife corridors and surrounding communities.
The Minister described tiger landscapes as valuable natural capital, supporting essential ecosystem services including water security, carbon sequestration, climate regulation, biodiversity protection and livelihoods.
He called for a shift from species-focused conservation towards integrated landscape management, combining ecological protection with sustainable socio-economic development. Nature-based solutions, innovative financing and community-led ecotourism, he said, can play an important role in achieving this balance.
Traditional Knowledge to Inform Conservation Policy
Yadav also drew attention to growing global challenges such as desertification, declining soil moisture and deterioration of soil quality. He said conserving land and maintaining food quality are fundamental to human survival, making the protection of tiger landscapes increasingly important.
He urged participants to explore ways of documenting traditional and indigenous knowledge and incorporating it into policymaking related to conservation, bioeconomy and ecotourism.
According to the Minister, the workshop should strengthen knowledge sharing, capacity building and the exchange of native community experience. He also called upon IBCA to take a leading role in bringing together traditional knowledge from countries of the Global South to help shape future ecological conservation policies.
IBCA and ADB Sign MoU
A major development during the programme was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between IBCA and ADB. The partnership is intended to strengthen cooperation in landscape conservation, sustainable development, capacity building, knowledge exchange and nature-positive financing initiatives.
Yadav highlighted the expanding role of IBCA as an international platform for cooperation among countries and institutions working towards the conservation of the world’s seven big cat species, under the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
ADB Country Director for India Mia Oka noted that 2026 marks 40 years of ADB’s partnership with India. She said India’s experience in ecological conservation and sustainable socio-economic development could provide valuable lessons for big-cat range countries, while ADB can contribute by facilitating cooperation and developing sustainable financing opportunities for conservation.
Experts From Six Tiger-Range Countries Participate
The workshop has brought together government representatives and experts from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Malaysia, Nepal and Vietnam, along with officials from the Environment Ministry, State Forest Departments and Tiger Reserves across India.
Researchers, conservation practitioners, development partners and other stakeholders are also participating in the discussions, which aim to promote regional cooperation and identify innovative approaches that can protect tiger landscapes while supporting sustainable development and local livelihoods.
IBG NEWS | New Delhi
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