New research from the University of Minnesota has found that endangered tiger populations could double over the next six years.
As one of the world's most endangered species, tigers risk extinction with the poaching of hundreds each year. In fact, current estimates show as few as 3,200 left in the wild in the forests, swamps and jungles of 13 Asian countries. Using satellite imagery collected from 2001 through 2014, researchers found tiger habitat is being lost but at a far slower rate than anticipated.
With a decline of 7.7 percent over the 14 years of data they analyzed, researchers concluded there was enough remaining wild habitat to allow populations to double to as many as 6,400 tigers by the year 2022, but only if those forested areas remain intact.
"When we did this study, we thought there would be a lot more forest loss because these are some of the fastest growing economies in the world, the tiger range countries," explained Anup Joshi, lead author of the study from the University of Minnesota. "What we found was that in most tiger conservation landscapes ... it was pretty intact. That is because the protection is pretty good, the people on the ground are protecting the core tiger reserves."
What's more is India and Nepal have seen their tiger populations increase 61 percent and 31 percent respectfully, thanks to a combination of reforestation programs, increased protection, active community involvement and the success of nine interconnected corridors linking protected areas in both countries.
"In Nepal and India, conservation is going pretty strong and a lot of the community are involved," Joshi added. "What this shows is that if there is a will and good protection is going on, we can still meet the goal of doubling wild tigers by 2022."
However, countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia and Laos have suffered a staggering 98 percent of the forest loss. Researchers say this is likely due to a combination of lax law enforcement and the expansion of oil palm plantations linked to widespread deforestation.
Furthermore, tiger habitats in Taman Negara-Belum in Malaysia and Kerinci Seblat and Bukit Tigapuluh on the island of Sumatra saw a 67 percent decrease of forest cover. And in a region known as the Cambodian Northern Plains landscape, which contains five large reserves of tropical dry forest, there is only enough forest cover left to support 174 tigers.
"We need more conservation efforts there and we must influence policy makers," Joshi continued. "Where loss has taken place to palm oil or other causes, it's devastating ... It's not all a rosy picture."
Therefore, researchers warn that regular monitoring every two years is needed in 29 of the crucial tiger conservation landscapes identified, as well as $750 billion expected to be invested annually for infrastructure projects over the next decade in tiger range states.
Their findings were recently published in the journal Science Advances.
