16 September 2014: The thirteen tiger range States met to evaluate progress on the 2013-2014 phase of the Global Tiger Recovery Program (GTRP) Implementation Plan, which was launched in July 2013 in Kunming, China. The meeting concluded with range countries agreeing that, while progress has been made, critical areas of concern remain.

New figures released in Malaysia reveal that the tiger population there may be only 250 to 340 individuals, considerably lower than the previous estimate of 500, which, if confirmed, represents a setback towards achieving the goal of a 1,000 Malaysian tigers by 2022.

Further to the political mandate from the International Tiger Forum in Saint Petersburg, Russia, and the 2nd Asian Ministerial Conference on Tiger Conservation in Thimphu, Bhutan, tiger range States have committed to implementing the activities outlined in the 2013-2014 GTRP Implementation Plan with a view to doubling the wild tiger population by 2022.

The Conference also adopted the Dhaka Recommendations, which set the priorities for the next two years, including: completing national tiger monitoring and assessment of all tiger habitats by 2016; restoring areas with low tiger density; and enhancing capacity to deal with human-tiger conflict. Range countries also agreed on the need for urgent assistance in the development of a Global Support Programme to reduce demand for tiger products.

The Second Stocktaking Conference was held from 14-16 September 2014 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It was organized by the Bangladesh Forest Department, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Bangladesh, World Bank Global Tiger Initiative (GTI) and the Global Tiger Forum (GTF) Secretariat.

Tiger Range States include Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, the Russian Federation, Thailand and Viet Nam. [IISD RS sources] [TRAFFIC News] [World Bank GTI website]