The Sundarbans, the world’s only mangrove tiger habitat, is set to become India’s second-largest tiger reserve after the National Board of Wildlife (NBWL) approved an expansion of over 1,000 sq km on Monday.
At the NBWL meeting in New Delhi, the Centre cleared the West Bengal government’s proposal to include three additional forest ranges—Ramganga, Raidighi and Matla—into the Sundarbans Tiger Reserve (STR).
With this expansion, STR’s area will increase from 2,585 sq km to 3,629 sq km, placing it just behind Andhra Pradesh’s Nagarjuna Sagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve (3,727 sq km).
Currently, STR comprises four ranges—National Park (East), National Park (West), Sajnekhali and Basirhat. The new additions will function as both core and buffer areas, details of which will be specified in a forthcoming state government notification.
Boost to conservation and staff safety
The Sundarbans currently hosts 101 tigers, including those from the newly added ranges. Until now, forest staff in Ramganga, Raidighi and Matla worked under high risk without the benefits available to tiger reserve personnel.
“With the expansion, they will receive specialised training, modern equipment and allowances, including risk pay. STR will also qualify for enhanced central funding and CSR support for conservation and eco-tourism,” a forest department official said.
Experts hail a ‘turning point’
Former and current conservation experts welcomed the move as historic. Soumitra Dasgupta, former head of the Bengal Forest Department said, “Be it core or buffer, once these ranges become part of the Critical Tiger Habitat, there will be a radical change in conservation. Forest workers will finally get proper facilities and human-tiger conflict incidents should reduce.”
Pradeep Vyas, former Chief Wildlife Warden, said, “This is a long-standing dream. Strict adherence to tiger conservation protocols will now be crucial.”
“All Sundarbans tigers will now come under the national protocol. The responsibility of ensuring proper conservation is immense,” said Joydeep Kundu, wildlife expert.
Local economy to benefit
Officials said the expansion would not only strengthen conservation but also boost the local economy. With new areas eligible for CSR funds and private assistance under the Tiger Reserve Foundation, the Sundarbans is expected to see fresh investments in eco-tourism and community development.
The proposal to expand STR was first floated in 2014. It was approved by the State Wildlife Board in September 2023 and cleared by the National Tiger Conservation Authority earlier this year. Monday’s nod from the NBWL has finally paved the way for the Sundarbans to emerge as the country’s second-largest tiger reserve.