How tiger reserves benefit humans

Subject :Geography

Section: Physical Geography

Context:

Tigers have adapted to diverse habitats and thrive in areas with high human densities. The ability to breed well is one of the major reasons why this feline could beat extinction.
The Article 51 A(g) of the Constitution makes it our fundamental duty to protect species and their habitats.

Importance of tigers:

Tigers play a crucial role as top predators in maintaining trophic levels and ecological functionalities.
They ensure that we get clean water and air, provide natural resources, keep our economy running, food security, the list can go on and on.
Tiger reserves are home to nearly 50 per cent of threatened bird species of India and many other endangered species that find refuge within them.
These reserves, encompassing just 3 per cent of India’s landmass, are the origins of around 300 rivers, supplying water for hundreds of millions of people and irrigation purposes.

A 2019 report evaluating ten tiger reserves based on 27 ecosystem services estimated that their annual monetary value is up to ₹16,202.11 crore.
This means, for every rupee we spent on conserving tigers in these reserves, we received a benefit of up to ₹7,488.
Additionally, in terms of water provisioning, these tiger reserves provided benefits worth ₹330 billion.
A study published in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution revealed that of the 45 tiger reserves assessed, 11 collectively avoided carbon emissions of around 1.08 tonnes, which, if integrated into voluntary carbon markets, would be worth around $6.24 million.
Tigers and tiger reserves ensure security and well-being for all of us; not just the millions who live in and around these reserves but also across the country’s borders extending across the sub-continent.