Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday, 29 July announced a new five-point tiger conservation plan at an International Tiger Day conference held at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Nagpur, organised by the state's Forest Department. The Chief Minister stated that the state's tiger count had risen from 190 in 2014 to 444, with expectations that the latest census would push the figure beyond 600.

Key Developments at the IIM Nagpur Conference

Addressing the gathering, Fadnavis underscored that tigers were central to the ecosystem and the food chain, and that their conservation directly safeguarded forests and the broader environment. He emphasised the government's commitment to a scientific, value-based approach to conservation that simultaneously preserved natural habitats.

Notably, 11 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed in the presence of the Chief Minister to advance forest conservation and sustainable development. Fadnavis also presented the Asiatic Big Cat Society National Awards to individuals who made outstanding contributions to tiger conservation.

What the Five-Point Plan Covers

The new conservation framework will focus on five priority areas: mitigating human-wildlife conflict, promoting green livelihood initiatives, establishing a dedicated CSR policy for conservation funding, driving sustainable tourism and job creation, and generating dedicated revenue streams for forest protection. According to the Chief Minister, planned interventions around reserves will include AI-based early warning systems and camera tracking in villages adjacent to tiger reserves — tools already deployed to reduce human-wildlife conflict.

Relocation, Buffer Zones, and Conflict Mitigation

Fadnavis noted that villages in the core areas of the state's six tiger reserves had been relocated, creating new buffer zones. He said local villagers had voluntarily come forward for rehabilitation and relocation under the Forest Department's revised policies — a shift that officials credit with enabling a more stable habitat for tigers and biodiversity. Structured conflict-mitigation methodologies have been extended to villages on the periphery of reserves, supporting both wildlife safety and eco-tourism growth.

Maharashtra's National and Global Standing

India currently harbours 75 per cent of the world's tiger population, according to the Chief Minister, with Maharashtra ranked third nationally. Fadnavis said that conservation measures implemented over the past two decades were now positioning the state to challenge for the top rank.

Forest Minister Ganesh Naik noted that under Fadnavis's leadership, the Forest Department was undergoing a major transformation, including an ambitious target of planting 300 crore trees and the establishment of five tissue culture laboratories across Maharashtra to produce high-quality saplings at scale. Minister of State for School Education Pankaj Bhoyer expressed confidence that such conferences would boost eco-tourism and expand regional employment in the years ahead.

What Comes Next

The conference featured expert presentations on community-based livelihood initiatives, the green economy, CSR investment strategies for tiger conservation, and human-tiger coexistence models. With the latest census results awaited and the five-point plan now formalised, Maharashtra's conservation trajectory will be closely watched as the state eyes a move to the national top rank.