IUCN celebrates 10 impactful years of tiger conservation with new report

Today at the Sixteenth Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Cali, Colombia, IUCN’s Tiger Programme has launched its brand-new report, “10 Years of Tiger Conservation Action”.

This comprehensive report celebrates a decade of success in protecting and restoring tiger habitats across Asia thanks to our implementing partners and funding from the German Cooperation via KfW Development Bank. It not only provides a detailed overview of key milestones in tiger conservation, but also emphasises the critical role of Indigenous Peoples and local communities in fostering sustainable stewardship of wildlife and their habitats.

Click here to read the report.

According to the report:

• A total of €47.5 million have been invested by the German Cooperation in tiger conservation
• The ITHCP contributed to the estimated increase of 40% in tiger numbers globally between 2015 and 2022
• More than 10,500 hectares of habitat have been restored, with over 500,000 trees planted
• More than 95,000 people benefitted from development of sustainable livelihoods, 54% of which were women
• More than 10,000 people have been trained to strengthen law enforcement and improve the management of tiger habitats

Through its projects, the ITHCP contributes to the targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). This includes reducing threats to biodiversity, meeting people’s needs through sustainable use, and implementing as well as mainstreaming key tools and solutions.

Furthermore, by safeguarding tiger populations in certain areas, ITHCP projects are directly enhancing climate resilience in Asian territories through innovative conservation approaches.

So far, the ITHCP has awarded a total of 32 grants and supported 16 different grantees throughout the implementation of the programme.

“This report marks a pivotal moment in tiger conservation. It allows us to look back at the past 10 years and be proud of the work we have achieved thanks to our implementing partners. However, it also forces us to look ahead and ask ourselves: are we ready to scale up our efforts, innovate in the face of new challenges, and ensure that tigers not only survive but thrive in a rapidly changing world? The Tiger Programme team is up to the task, but we cannot do it by ourselves. As shown by the results highlighted in the impact report, it is only by working together that we’ll achieve another successful decade,” said IUCN Director General Dr Grethel Aguilar.

“The progress made over the past 10 years is inspiring. We are proud to have supported a programme that has delivered all these benefits, not only to threatened tigers, but also their habitats and the local communities living alongside them. Our involvement in the ITHCP over the past decade has reaffirmed our belief that when we invest in conservation, we do not just invest in a species. We are also investing in a sustainable future for all of us” said Vibeke Christensen, Head of Division, Natural Resources and Climate Asia, KfW Development Bank.

The “10 Years of Tiger Conservation Action” report is accompanied by an op-ed from ITHCP Coordinator Phurba Lhendup, calling for collective action to secure a brighter future for this iconic big cat.