Celebrating International Tiger Day

Amazon’s Right Now Climate Fund supports small-scale farmers and expands nature corridors and habitats for tigers and other species in India’s Western Ghats. 

India is home to 70% of the world’s wild tigers, according to the National Tiger Conservation Authority. Despite the size of this critical population, the Wildlife Institute of India notes that just over 5% of India’s land is set aside for conservation. The Western Ghats mountain range, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of India’s largest conservation areas for tigers and other species. It is a source of national pride for Indian communities across the country.
 

But the Western Ghats faces a critical challenge: How to balance wildlife protection with the needs of the local farming communities that live along its borders. Many of the farmers in the area rely on rice, bananas, and other cash crops, but these same crops are also a favorite for monkeys and elephants, who often damage or destroy the farmers’ fields.
 

To address this challenge, Amazon’s Right Now Climate Fund has collaborated with the Centre for Wildlife Studies (CWS), a world-renowned center for the conservation of tigers, elephants, and other iconic Indian species. The fund has issued a $1.1 million grant to help CWS establish the Wild Carbon program.
 

The Wild Carbon program offers an elegant solution by incentivizing rural farmers to create wildlife corridors by planting fruit, timber, and medicinal trees around conservation zone borders. The corridors are designed to support herbivore populations, which are necessary for a healthy ecosystem that supports larger mammals like tigers and elephants.
 

“By partnering with farms and farmers whose lands abut India’s premier tiger reserves, we are hoping to create space for wildlife movement and build long-term opportunities for vulnerable people to overcome human-wildlife conflict,” said Krithi Karanth, CEO of the Centre for Wildlife Studies.
 

In addition to larger mammals, the corridors support entire ecosystems; they facilitate buffer habitats for mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians that are endangered.

"Investing in nature and communities creates meaningful benefits for both people and the environment," said Justine Mahler, Director of Waste, Water and Biodiversity at Amazon. "It's important that we consider the whole picture, which involves working hand-in-hand with local communities every step of the way."

Remarkable progress

Since our first planting season in fall 2023, the numbers tell an inspiring story. So far, the Wild Carbon program has:

• Planted 173,520 saplings across 100 hectares.
• Supported 424 farming families in planting and maintaining fruit-bearing, timber, and medicinal trees, creating a wildlife corridor and benefitting over 2,080 people.
• Achieved an average survival rate of 82.7% for planted trees, reflecting active farmer participation, as the seedlings would not survive without participation from the farming families. The project has provisions to help farmers replant those trees that do not survive the sapling stage.
• Established vital wildlife corridors around Bandipur and Nagarahole National Parks.

Science meets community

What makes Wild Carbon special is its blend of scientific rigor and community engagement. The Centre for Wildlife Studies is using program funds to develop state-of-the-art monitoring systems using drone and remote sensing technology and on-the-ground surveys to verify program outcomes, advancing research on the potential positive impact of farmers on reforestation opportunities.
 

The project team includes 24 dedicated staff members, from program managers to drone pilots, working alongside local communities. Farming families participate in community consultations to determine which types of trees will produce the most useful products for their livelihoods (fruit, timber, and medicinal).

The program supports the farmers with technical assistance on tree cultivation and uses cutting-edge drone technology to monitor tree growth and survival. Doctoral students are also doing qualitative work with the farmers to better understand what types of incentives help make wildlife conservation worthwhile from their perspectives. These innovations ensure that both conservation goals and community benefits are being met.

Looking ahead

The Wild Carbon program continues to grow; it aims to support 2,000 farming households by the end of 2026, benefiting around 10,000 people. The program will also plant 300,000 trees by 2027.

This International Tiger Day, Wild Carbon reminds us that the best environmental solutions don't force us to choose between people and nature. Instead, they show us how communities and wildlife can thrive together, creating a future where both prosper.
 

Happy International Tiger Day!