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Global Tiger Day: Securing the future of tigers with Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities at the heart – News
Under the theme “Securing the future of Tigers with Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities at the heart,” this year’s international campaign highlights a growing recognition that conservation efforts are most effective when they are inclusive, equitable, and led by those who know the land best.
Tigers are powerful indicators of ecosystem health. As apex predators, they help maintain balance in nature, which in turn supports biodiversity, regulates climate, and ensures the integrity of rivers and forests. But these tiger habitats are not untouched wilderness. They are home to IPLCs whose knowledge, traditions, and rights must be honoured as part of any lasting solution.
Since 2014, IUCN’s Integrated Tiger Habitat Conservation Programme (ITHCP), supported by the German Cooperation via KfW Development Bank, has invested €47.5 million across 33 projects in key tiger range countries, including Bhutan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, Indonesia, and Thailand. This rights-based approach has placed communities at the centre of tiger conservation, ensuring their voices are heard, their livelihoods supported, and their leadership recognized.
The impact is significant. The programme has contributed to the estimated 40% increase in tiger numbers globally between 2015 and 2022. Over 10,500 hectares of tiger habitat have been restored, with more than 500,000 trees planted to help rewild degraded landscapes.
Over 95,000 people—more than half of them women—have directly benefited from the programme, which supports sustainable livelihoods, clean energy solutions, conflict mitigation, and local stewardship of tiger habitats. In addition, over 10,000 people have been trained to strengthen law enforcement and improve the management of tiger habitats, and more than 675,000 people have been reached through awareness-raising activities that promote conservation and human-wildlife coexistence. By aligning conservation goals with community needs, ITHCP is helping to create conditions for long-term coexistence between people and wildlife.
Last October, IUCN marked a major milestone with the release of its 10 Years of Tiger Conservation Action report, reflecting on a decade of achievements under ITHCP and the critical role of IPLCs in delivering conservation success.
A new video launched today showcases these efforts in action, capturing stories from the field and amplifying the voices of IPLC leaders. Their testimony underscores the importance of respecting traditional knowledge, community rights, and cultural ties to the land.
“Tigers play a crucial role in maintaining the health of our ecosystems. Their decline signals deeper ecological imbalances that affect all life, including our own. Through the ITHCP, we are working in partnership with Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities to conserve and restore tiger habitats in ways that also deliver tangible benefits for communities,” said IUCN Director General, Dr Grethel Aguilar. “As we look to the future, our resolve remains stronger than ever. Together, we can protect this majestic species and the world we share.”
ITHCP has become a model for community-based conservation, demonstrating how inclusive approaches lead to measurable conservation outcomes and stronger community resilience. Its multidimensional approach— protecting species, preserving habitats, and supporting people —drives lasting, holistic impact. With continued and expanded support, these efforts can go further, supporting both tiger recovery and sustainable development across Asia’s biodiversity strongholds.
As we mark Global Tiger Day 2025, IUCN reaffirms its commitment to rights-based, inclusive conservation. By working in partnership with IPLCs, governments, donors, and conservation organizations, we are building a future where both tigers and the people who protect them can thrive.
“Global Tiger Day is a powerful reminder that with dedication, coordination, and sufficient funding, it is indeed possible to halt the loss of biodiversity,” said Christiane Laibach, Member of the Executive Board, KfW. “Tiger conservation goes beyond protecting a single species—it strengthens entire ecosystems, supports local communities, and fosters more peaceful human-wildlife coexistence. We are proud to continue this work alongside IUCN and our many committed partners.”
Together, we can ensure that tigers—and the communities who protect them—thrive for generations to come.
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