1. Critical Tiger Habitat (CTH)
Definition: CTHs are designated core areas of tiger reserves established under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, based on scientific evidence that they are vital for tiger conservation and require minimal human disturbance.
Legal Provision: Declared under Section 38V of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (amended in 2006). The declaration follows guidelines from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
Key Features:
- No human activity (except forest department operations) is permitted.
- Relocation of human settlements requires Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) and compensation.
Relevance: Part of India’s commitment to the Global Tiger Recovery Program (target: doubling tiger numbers by 2022, achieved in 2018 with ~3,167 tigers).
2. Dolomite
Definition: A sedimentary carbonate rock composed of calcium magnesium carbonate (CaMg(CO₃)₂).
Properties & Uses:
- Industrial: Used in steel production (as a flux), cement, glass, and ceramics.
- Environmental: Alkaline nature helps neutralize acidic water (e.g., in mining areas).
- Ecological: Found in forested regions; mining can threaten habitats (e.g., in the Aravalli Range, impacting wildlife corridors).
- UPSC Link: Often discussed in contexts like mining bans in eco-sensitive zones (e.g., Supreme Court bans in Aravallis) or habitat fragmentation in tiger reserves.
3. Sariska Tiger Reserve
Location: Alwar district, Rajasthan (part of the Aravalli Range).
Key Facts:
- Declared a Tiger Reserve in 1978 under Project Tiger.
- Famous for its historical ruins (e.g., Kankwadi Fort, ancient temples) alongside wildlife.
Wildlife: Bengal tigers, leopards, striped hyenas, golden jackals, and birds like the grey francolin.
Conservation Issues:
- Tiger extinction (2005): Due to poaching; later, tigers were reintroduced (e.g., ST1, the first relocated tiger in 2008).
- Human-Wildlife Conflict: Livestock depredation and habitat encroachment.
Recent Initiatives:
- Ecological restoration and anti-poaching measures.
- Part of the Aravalli Biodiversity Park project.
Interconnections for UPSC
CTH & Sariska: Sariska’s CTH was reconstituted post-tiger extinction, highlighting challenges in habitat management.
Dolomite & Sariska: Mining near the Aravallis threatens Sariska’s ecosystem, linking environment and economy.
Policy Angle: Forest Rights Act (2006) vs. CTH declarations, and Sustainable Mining practices.
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