Supreme Court directs Uttarakhand to reinstate Corbett Tiger Reserve

The Supreme Court has directed all States to implement efficient, inclusive compensation mechanisms for crop loss and fatalities involving both humans and livestock. It emphasised that quicker resolution of human–wildlife conflict requires strong coordination among various responsible departments and agencies. The observations were made while the court was hearing a plea alleging illegal tree-felling and unauthorized constructions inside the Corbett Tiger Reserve, one of India’s oldest protected forests. Holding Uttarakhand fully accountable for the ecological damage in Corbett, the court ordered the State to work with the Central Empowered Committee to draft a restoration plan within two months. It must also begin demolishing illegal structures within three months and submit a compliance report within a year. In a judgment authored by Chief Justice Gavai, the bench instructed all States to formally demarcate the core and buffer zones of their tiger reserves within six months and to prepare Tiger Conservation Plans within three months. The court clarified that eco-sensitive zones should extend beyond sanctuaries and national parks to include the buffer and peripheral regions around tiger reserves. States were therefore asked to notify ESZs around these reserves, including fringe areas, within a year. Tiger safaris, the court said, must not take place in core or critical tiger habitats. They may be set up only on non-forest or degraded forest land in buffer zones, and not in tiger corridors. Such safaris must operate in conjunction with a fully functional rescue and rehabilitation centre for injured, conflict-affected, or abandoned tigers. Revenue generated from safaris must be reinvested in tiger conservation. The court stressed that ecotourism must not resemble mass tourism and should strictly follow National Tiger Conservation Authority guidelines. While new eco-friendly resorts may be permitted in buffer areas, no such development can occur in designated corridors, and night tourism should be completely prohibited. Noting that India shelters over 80% of the world’s wild tiger population, the Supreme Court said the country carries a significant responsibility toward their protection.