Project Tiger

International Efforts

The Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Peoples' Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as "the Parties").,

Aiming to consolidate and further promote the friendly and cooperative relations between the people of the two countries.,

Being Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora: and

Endeavouring to enhance the cooperation on the protection of tiger and making joint efforts to halt the trend of decimation of tiger population to ensure the survival and sustainable development of the species;

Having agreed on the following:

Article I
The Parties shall take measures jointly to crack down on the illegal activities of poaching of tiger, smuggling and selling tiger, tiger bones and other parts of tiger as well as its derivatives.

Article II
The Parties shall launch a national and worldwide educational programme to stop the illegal activities of poaching, smuggling and selling tiger, tiger bones and other parts of tigers as well as its derivatives.

Article III
The Parties shall establish bilateral research and training programme and exchange between the two parties appropriate technologies and research data for scientific wildlife management, especially the management of the tiger and its habitat.

Article IV
Encourage on an experimental basis, captive breeding activities with a view to release of the species into the wild.

Article V
The Parties shall provide reports to each other on measures taken to stop the current trade in the parts and derivatives of tiger.

Article VI
The Parties shall review and assess periodically the impact of the measures taken for the protection of the species.

Article VII
The Protocol shall enter into force upon signature by both Parties and shall remain in force for a period of five years and shall be automatically renewed for a subsequent period of five years at a time unless either Party gives to the other a written notice six months in advance of its intention to terminate the Protocol before the date of its expiry.

The present Protocol may be modified or amended by mutual agreement.

Done at Beijing on this 2nd day of March, 1995 in two originals each in the Hindi, Chinese and English languages, all the texts being equally authentic. In case of any doubt, the English text will prevail.


In pursuance of the joint statement made by the representatives of Nepal and India at the 9th Conference of the parties to CITES at Fort Lauderdale, USA in November, 1994, the representatives from the Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India (in the Department of Forests and Wildlife) and His Majesty's Government of Nepal, Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation (Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation) met at Kathmandu from 3rd to 5th January, 1997 for the 1st transboundary consultative meeting on biodiversity conservation and resolved the following:

Aware of the existence of illegal trade of timber, wild flora and fauna including their parts and products.

Realizing the importance of transborder protected area network for comprehensive ecosystem protection.

Considering various steps taken by both India and Nepal with respect to extension of protected area network and control of illegal trade in flora and fauna in their respective countries.

Noting that there are still some gaps in the methods and systems to address the transborder illegal trade of wild flora and fauna and their products.

Appreciating the necessity of a comprehensive transborder protected area network and installation of suitable mechanism for effective control of illegal trade in timber, wild flora and fauna and their products.

The parties from the Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India (in the Department of Forests and Wildlife) and HMG of Nepal, in the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation (Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation) agreed by consensus to :

1. Request all countries to promote a worldwide campaign for conservation of species and ecosystem for long term human welfare.
2. Urge the International communities to abandon the use of illegally obtained timber, wild flora and fauna and their products.
3. Request the support of governments of other countries, inter governmental bodies, international organisations/ communities and agencies to boost up the programmes of ecosystem conservation and control of illegal trade in timber, wild flora and fauna and their products.

The meeting further resolved the following for promoting bilateral cooperation between India and Nepal on the issue of transboundary protected area system and control of illegal trade in timber, flora and fauna and their products.

1. Improve their respective national legislations to address the requirement of CITES.
2. Encourage establishment of transboundary protected areas complementary to each other, wherever possible.
3. Maintain appropriate database system and share information relevant for biodiversity conservation.
4. Establish complementary anti-poaching mechanism and units for prevention of crimes related to forest and wild flora and fauna and prevent illegal trade and encroachment on forest land.
5. Study and monitor the trade routes and species in trade including seasons of trade.
6. Monitor the transboundary movement of wild animals and establish locally a system of early exchange of information.
7. Promote mutual cooperation in the sphere of research, training and visit programmes.
8. Undertake public awareness programmes at national, regional and local levels to involve people in conservation through mass media and local interactions.
9. Establish in-country mechanism to involve all relevant departments and agencies linked with and interested in control of illegal trade in wild flora and fauna.

And in pursuance of these:
Hold regular meetings of this consultative committee to review the progress made and improve the future actions based on experience gained.


The establishment of the Global Tiger Forum was a major recommendation of the Delhi Declaration adopted at the International Symposium on the Tiger held at New Delhi from 22-24 February 1993. An outline of the mandate for the Global Tiger Forum is reproduced below.

India being custodian of more than 60% of the world's tiger population will take a leading role in coordinating the setting up of Global Tiger Forum and the Voluntary Participative Fund for protection of the tiger.

Considering that the tiger, throughout its range in India, Nepal, China, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Mynamar, Thailand, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Russia is threatened and in some places is becoming critically endangered.

The principal cause of the decline of the population is organised poaching for skins, bones and other tiger derivatives. This seriously undermines the dedicated efforts of range countries to preserve their population. The survival of the tiger now is a matter of international concern.

The Government of India, therefore, proposes the setting up of a Global Tiger Forum of range countries and other international organizations working for tiger conservation to embark on a world-wide campaign to save the tiger.

India as the initiating country offers itself as the first chair of such a Forum. The chair may be rotated amongst the member countries.

The meetings of the Forum are to be held at regular intervals (not exceeding 12 months).

The Forum will:
1. monitor the problems facing the tiger in the world and work out effective strategies and solutions for future implementation for the survival of the species.
2. co-ordinate multi-pronged research efforts across tiger range countries to generate a proper database accessible to all range states.
Help the countries to develop and exchange among themselves appropriate technologies and training programmes for scientific wildlife management.
3. embark on an international publicity campaign against the use of tiger bones and skins either for medicinal derivatives or fashion throughout the world.
4. Develop an effective intelligence system to obtain information about poaching, poacher and their network leading to capture and conviction of key persons involved throughout the globe.

It is required to set up a participative fund of an appropriate size from donors to be placed at the disposal of the Forum to meet its expenses and fund its commitments towards its objectives.

It is proposed that the first meeting of the member countries and institutions be held in New Delhi in the month of November-December 1993 to discuss in addition to the above mentioned points the articles of association, rules of business and setting up of a Secretariat.