Project Tiger

India Eco Development Project

The World Bank aided India Eco-development Project is an externally aided Centrally Sponsored Plan Scheme, for carrying out eco-developmental works in and around Tiger Reserves and Protected Areas. The Project is financed by the International Development Association (IDA) loan and Global Environment Facility (GEF) grant, apart from Government of India, States & Project beneficiaries. With the approval of Expenditure Finance Committee, the agreement with IDA and GEF was signed on 30.9.1996 and the project was made effective by the World Bank from 27.12.96. The approval of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs was accorded on 14.10.97. The project was being implemented in seven protected areas till last financial year, viz; Palamau (Jharkhand), Buxa (West Bengal), Nagarhole (Karnataka), Periyar (Kerala), Pench (Madhya Pradesh), Gir (Gujrat) and Ranthambhore (Rajasthan). However, as decided by the World Bank, it is currently on going in six sites except Nagarhole National Park (Karnataka).

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the extension of the project up to 30.6.2004 on 23.09.2003.


Description of the Scheme and its objective
The Project aims at conserving bio-diversity through eco-development. The major components of the project are as under:

• Improved Protected Area management to assist in the improvement of Protected Area planning processes and building capacity, protecting and managing ecosystem and habitats with in Protected Areas, and to upgrade Protected Area amenities for field staff.

• Village eco-development to reduce negative interaction of local people on biodiversity and increased collaboration by local people in conversation by participatory micro-planning and provision of implementation support, implementing reciprocal commitments from villagers that foster alternative livelihoods and resource uses to be financed by a village eco development program and specify measurable actions by local people to improve conversation.

• Education, awareness, impact monitoring and support for conversation through environmental education and awareness campaigns, and impact monitoring and research to understand issues and solutions relevant to Protected Area management.

• Overall Project Management.


Implementation Mechanism
The scheme is being implemented as a Centrally Sponsored Plan Scheme of the Ministry of Environment & Forests (Project Tiger Office) through the state Wildlife Wings of the Projects states. All funds to the Protected Areas flow through the State Governments. The Chief Wildlife Wardens / Fields Directors incur the expenditure and therefore submit reimbursement claims to the office of the Controller of Aid, Accounts and Audit, Ministry of Finance, Department of Economic Affairs, New Delhi in the manner and in the forms prescribed by the World Bank to the extent permissible under the agreement signed with IDA and GEF. In respect of the National Level Activities, expenditure is incurred by the Project Tiger Office and is claimed from the World Bank in the same manner as prescribed for the states. The project is being executed through Annual Plan of operations (APOs) that are prepared by the Project States for each management program. The log-frame matrix that lists activities in chronological order on priority basis provides the basis for Annual Plan of Operation, which are adjusted to available man power and funds. The annual Plan of operations prepared by the Project States are sent to the Government of India and to the World Bank for approval. Based on the cost of Annual Plan of Operations, the World Bank prepares cost tables for the respective State and of the total project. The revised costs are reconciled by Government of India for the preparation of necessary budget and release of funds to the Project States.

The progress of implementation of the project by Project States is reviewed periodically by the Review Missions of the World Bank which visits selected sites each time. Normally two such Missions are sent by the World Bank in a year. The progress is simultaneously watched by the Project Tiger Office through the visits of the IGF & Director, Project Tiger and the Addl. Director, India Eco development Project. As mandated in the Project, national level consultants have also been appointed to carry out an intensive review of project performance by the various States by actual visits to the sites. They submit half-yearly progress report containing their findings on each site. The report is discussed in the Steering Committee of the India Eco-development Project chaired by the Secretary (E&F).

Achievements
The India Eco-development Project is being implemented with the basic objective of improving the capacity of Protected Areas (PAs) to conserve Bio-diversity, and increase opportunities for local participation in management activities and decision, thereby to reduce the negative impact of local people on Protected Areas and vice-versa. The India Eco-development Project has covered seven Protected Areas falling in seven different States. So far 572 micro plans have been prepared have been prepared, which take into account 75,600 households for getting the benefits of eco-development to elicit support for conservation. Other achievements of the Project include: capacity up gradation of all Protected Areas under the project, community-oriented works undertaken for rural employment generation in many villages having Eco-development Committees, introduction of fuel saving devices which have reduced wood consumption from Protected Areas. Further, site specific awareness and education strategy have been developed and implemented, apart from both short and long term studies including research projects in various disciplines of eco-development. The total expenditure under the project up to 2002-03 is Rs. 162.89 crores, against a release of Rs. 192.75 crores, with the Central Assistance (includes SAR, GEF & GOI share) amounting to Rs. 200.97 crores.