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Wild tigers are the top predators that keep our ecosystem machine running smoothly so that ecosystem services continue to flow. This makes them the single most important species for rendering sound livelihood opportunities for humans especially those living in natural resource dependents areas. They are also cultural and religious icons of millions of people especially in the range countries. However, with 3 of its sub species gone extinct, this magnificent icon is heading for extinction unless the global conservation community unanimously takes aggressive actions. Once widespread wild population of over 100,000 animals has plummeted to a mere 3500 today with its habitat reduced to only 7%of its original habitat. If tigers became extinct, it will be the strongest evidence or our natural heritage for the benefit of communities. 
Lyonpo (Dr.) Pema Gyamtsho with other AMC participants The first Asian Ministerial Conference (AMC) for tiger conservation: enforcement, trade and innovative financing held from 27th – 30th January,2010, at Hua Hin ,Bangkok, was part of an ongoing process to form an international alliance to revert the decreasing tiger populations in the 13 Tiger Range Countries (TRC). It reviewed priorities and the draft regional and national wildlife protection program that emerged from the two proceeding workshop held in Pattaya (April 2009) and Kathmandu (October 2009) and laid important stepping stone towards Global Tiger Summit to be held in Vladivostok, Russia sometime this fall. His Excellency, Dr. Pema Gyamtsho, the Hon’ble Minister of Agriculture and forests led a 5 member delegation consisting of Mr. Karma Dukpa, the Director of Forests and Park Services (DoFPS); Mr. Karma Dorji, Executive Director of Bhutan Agriculture and Food Regulatory Authority (BAFRA); Mr. Rinchen Wangdi, Chief Program Officer from the Gross National Happiness Commission; Dr. Sonam Wangyel Wang, Chief Forest Officer of the Nature Conservation Division under DoFPS who is also the National Focal Person for tiger conservation) and Mr. Lhendup Tharchen , Carnivore Conservation program NCD. His Excellency briefed the AMC participants on Bhutan top priorities for tiger conservations as follows: 1. Securing Bhutan’s Tiger habitat fragmentation through strong policy and management. Such policies will be geared towards: ensuring all smart infrastructures that comply with EIA; Recruiting additional staff, developing ,capacity and strengthening the institution of nature conservation; Mitigating human/wildlife/tiger conflict; Involving local communities and national and international conservation advocates; Generating baseline estimates for tiger and prey in Pas and Government Reserved Forests) 2. Establish trans-boundary ecological and administrative linkages to maintain a tiger meta-population in the Manas complex, Toorsa complex by closely collaborating with authorizes in India to curb illegal trade. 3. Create sustained funding by: engaging international donor and conservation communities in supporting tiger conservation ;generating immediate funds to continue tiger works while long term funding mechanisms are being sorted out; In the long run create a dedicated trust fund for tiger conservation; exploring innovative financing from REDD/PES; Build Community based enterprises ( eco-tourism) H.E made a special request to tiger range countries to invest in tiger conservation and work seriously on sustainable funding mechanisms so that TRCs can become donor free. H.E. also informed the distinguished gathering that while Bhutan is a small country, when it comes to commitment to conservation Bhutan is not smaller than any other country. This, H.E. mentioned is clearly manifested in declaring 51% of Bhutan as protected areas with Bhutan’s constitution requiring 60% forest cover for all times to come. Bhutan is the best available wildlife linkage between East and West Asia. H.E. was also requested a side meeting by the World Bank’s team for development of smart infrastructure, which resulted in development of a smart infrastructure framework for Bhutan by the World Bank. This framework will then used as model for other countries. The outcomes from the first AMC and Pattaya pledge and Kathmandu declarations will be summated to the head s of the TRG Governments for their endorsement. Compiled by: Dr. Sonam Wangyel Wang, Head, NCD, DoFPS.
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