Kolkata, 21 August (H.S.).
After 11 years of deliberations, the Sundarbans Tiger Reserve (STR) has received a major boost as the National Board for Wildlife has approved its long-pending expansion proposal. With this, Sundarbans is set to become the second-largest tiger reserve in India.
The reserve, which earlier spanned 2,585 sq km, has now been expanded by 1,044 sq km to a total of 3,629 sq km. Post-expansion, only Andhra Pradesh’s Nagarjunasagar–Srisailam Tiger Reserve, spread over 3,727 sq km, will remain larger.
As per the new decision, three ranges of the South 24 Parganas Forest Division—Raidighi, Ramganga, and Matla—will be incorporated into the Sundarbans Tiger Reserve. Until now, the reserve comprised four ranges: National Park–East, National Park–West, Sajnekhali, and Basirhat. The newly added 1,044 sq km area will be designated as the buffer zone.
With the inclusion of these ranges, the tiger population in the Sundarbans has reached 101. Experts believe the expansion will ensure more scientific management of tiger conservation, while also providing forest personnel with better resources and facilities.
The expansion proposal was first submitted in 2014. It received clearance from the State Wildlife Board in 2023, followed by approvals from the state government and the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). The final nod came from the National Board for Wildlife in its latest meeting.
A senior state forest department official said the government will now decide the division of the new area into core and buffer zones, after which a formal notification will be issued to operationalize the expanded reserve.
--------
Boost for Forest Staff and Local Economy
With the new ranges added, forest workers will receive specialized training, modern equipment, legal awareness, and risk allowances similar to other tiger reserve employees across the country.
The expansion is also expected to benefit the local economy through enhanced eco-tourism. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives and contributions via the ‘Tiger Reserve Foundation’ are likely to bring in additional private support for conservation and tourism.
Former Sundarbans Field Director Soumitra Dasgupta said, “Once these ranges become part of the critical tiger habitat, there will be a paradigm shift in wildlife protection. Forest workers will now get equal opportunities and recognition.”
Former Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Pradeep Vyas, hailed the move as “a dream come true for tiger conservation”, while wildlife expert Jaydeep Kundu cautioned that “with all tigers now falling under the national conservation protocol, both state and central authorities must ensure proper execution of conservation strategies.”
Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh
