**Executive Summary**
The 29th Meeting of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) was held on July 9, 2026, in Coimbatore to strengthen protection and improve management practices across India's tiger landscapes. Chaired by the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the meeting resulted in the release of strategic roadmaps for wildlife rescue and habitat assessment, the approval of the 2024–25 Annual Report, and the initiation of the 6th Cycle of Management Effectiveness Evaluation.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Strategic Publications Released**
* **Roadmap to Rescue:** A scientific framework for establishing temporary and transit facilities for the rescue, rehabilitation, and safe release of wild animals, aimed at addressing human-wildlife interactions.
* **STRIDES 2026:** A comprehensive assessment report on the infrastructure, development, ecology, and social parameters of Tiger Reserves to facilitate evidence-based planning and adaptive management.
* **Administrative and Policy Approvals**
* Formally approved the NTCA Annual Report for the 2024–25 period.
* Reviewed the Action Taken Report from the 28th NTCA meeting and considered recommendations from the Technical and Administrative Committees.
* Reaffirmed the government's commitment to science-based management and landscape-level conservation.
* **Future Initiatives and Resource Mobilization**
* **Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE):** Deliberated on the proposal for the 6th cycle of MEE to assess the effectiveness of management practices across Tiger Reserves.
* **Tiger Conclave:** Proposed as a national platform to mobilize financial resources for Tiger Reserves by fostering partnerships with corporate entities and philanthropic organizations via Tiger Conservation Foundations.
* **STRIPES Symposium:** Planned as a national forum for research, innovation, and policy to facilitate knowledge exchange and the replication of successful conservation interventions among managers and researchers.
**Impact Analysis**
**National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and Ministry Officials**
**Impact**
The Authority is now tasked with overseeing new strategic frameworks and managing the transition to the 6th MEE cycle.
**Action Required**
Implement the decisions of the 29th meeting, oversee the rollout of the "Roadmap to Rescue," and coordinate the upcoming Tiger Conclave and STRIPES symposium.
**Field Directors and Tiger Reserve Managers**
**Impact**
Field-level management will be subject to more rigorous evaluation through the 6th MEE cycle and supported by new evidence-based planning tools.
**Action Required**
Utilize the STRIDES 2026 report for decision-making and adopt the protocols for rescue and rehabilitation outlined in the new strategic roadmap.
**Corporate and Philanthropic Organizations**
**Impact**
These entities are identified as key stakeholders in the financial sustainability of tiger conservation through the proposed Tiger Conclave.
**Action Required**
Engage with Tiger Conservation Foundations to provide financial resources and foster conservation partnerships.
**Wildlife Researchers and Practitioners**
**Impact**
The establishment of the STRIPES platform provides a formal venue for disseminating research and influencing conservation policy.
**Action Required**
Participate in the symposium to share research findings and innovative practices for replication across different tiger landscapes.
Key Entities Referenced
National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA): The statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change responsible for overseeing tiger conservation and management across India's tiger landscapes.
Shri Bhupender Yadav: The Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Chairperson of the NTCA who chaired the 29th meeting and released key conservation frameworks.
STRIDES 2026: A comprehensive assessment report (Status of Tiger Reserves – Infrastructure, Development, Ecology & Social Parameters) released to support evidence-based planning and adaptive management.
Roadmap to Rescue: A strategic framework for establishing temporary and transit facilities for the rescue, rehabilitation, and safe release of wild animals to address human-wildlife interactions.
Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE): A cyclic assessment exercise used to evaluate the effectiveness of management practices and strengthen adaptive conservation strategies across Tiger Reserves.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Shri Bhupender Yadav chairs the 29th Meeting of
the National Tiger Conservation Authority at
Coimbatore
Deliberations focused on Strengthening Protection,
Improving Management Practices and enhancing
Conservation Outcomes across India's Tiger Landscapes
Posted On: 09 JUL 2026 6:49PM by PIB Delhi
The 29th Meeting of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) was held today at the Central
Academy for State Forest Service (CASFOS), Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. The meeting was chaired by Shri
Bhupender Yadav, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Chairperson, NTCA.
The meeting was attended by Members of Parliament, Shri Rajiv Pratap Rudy and Shri Harish Chandra
Meena, along with other Members of the Authority, besides senior officers of the Ministry, Chief Wildlife
Wardens of Tiger Range States and Field Directors of Tiger Reserves.
The meeting deliberated on key policy, management and institutional issues relating to tiger conservation
and wildlife management in the country. The deliberations focused on strengthening protection, improving
management practices and enhancing conservation outcomes across India's tiger landscapes. The
Authority reviewed the implementation of decisions taken during the previous meeting and considered
proposals aimed at further strengthening conservation of tigers and their habitats.During the meeting, the Minister released two important NTCA publications:
Roadmap to Rescue: Strategic Roadmap for Establishment of Temporary/Transit Facilities
for Rescue-Rehab-Release of Wild Animals in Tiger Landscapes: a scientific and strategic
framework to strengthen wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and safe release across India's tiger
landscapes. The roadmap will enhance preparedness for emerging conservation challenges and
human–wildlife interactions; and,
STRIDES 2026: Status of Tiger Reserves – Infrastructure, Development, Ecology & Social
Parameters: a comprehensive assessment of conservation and management interventions across
India's Tiger Reserves. The report will support evidence-based planning, adaptive management and
informed decision-making for strengthening tiger conservation.
The Authority considered and approved the Annual Report of the National Tiger Conservation Authority
for 2024–25 and review the Action Taken Report on the decisions of the 28th Meeting of the NTCA. The
meeting also considered recommendations of the Technical Committee and Administrative Committee of
the Authority.
Among the major agenda items, the Authority deliberated on the proposal for undertaking the 6th Cycle of
the Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) of Tiger Reserves, an important exercise for assessing
the effectiveness of management practices and strengthening adaptive management across Tiger Reserves.
The meeting also considered proposals for organising the Tiger Conclave as a national platform to
mobilise financial resources for Tiger Reserves through Tiger Conservation Foundations by fostering
partnerships with corporate entities, philanthropic organisations and other stakeholders.
In addition, the Authority deliberated on organising STRIPES (Symposium on Tiger Research, Innovation,
Policy, Ecology & Sustainability) as a national forum for disseminating research findings, sharing
innovative management practices and facilitating knowledge exchange among Tiger Reserve managers,
researchers and conservation practitioners to promote evidence-based management and replication of
successful conservation interventions across Tiger Reserves.Further, Members of the Authority were apprised of the recent initiatives and activities undertaken by the
National Tiger Conservation Authority and deliberate on matters relating to strengthening conservation
governance, scientific management and long-term protection of tiger habitats.
The 29th Meeting of the NTCA reaffirmed the Government of India's continued commitment to
strengthening tiger conservation through science-based management, collaborative governance and
landscape-level conservation, while furthering the objectives of biodiversity conservation and ecological
security across the country.
*****
VM
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