Context
- Nameri Tiger Reserve in Assam received CA|TS Approved status in September 2026, following an assessment and approval by the CA|TS International Executive Committee.
- With this recognition, all four tiger reserves in Assam—Kaziranga, Manas, Orang and Nameri—have achieved CA|TS Approved status.
About CA|TS
- Full Form: Conservation Assured | Tiger Standards.
- Type: Global framework for assessing the quality of tiger reserve management and protection.
- Launched: 2013, at the First Asian Parks Congress in Japan.
- Objective: To ensure that tiger conservation areas are managed effectively and provide safe habitats for tigers.
- It assesses wildlife protection, habitat management, monitoring, community participation and overall reserve management.
Assessment Structure
- CA|TS consists of 7 pillars and 17 elements, supported by standards and assessment criteria.
| Pillar | Focus |
| 1. Importance and status | Importance of the area for tiger conservation. |
| 2. Management | Planning and administration of the reserve. |
| 3. Community | Participation of local communities. |
| 4. Tourism (optional) | Management of tourism activities. |
| 5. Protection | Control of poaching and other threats. |
| 6. Habitat management | Conservation and improvement of tiger habitats. |
| 7. Tiger populations | Monitoring and conservation of tiger populations. |
- The first five pillars relate to general protected-area management and form the Conservation Assured (CA) component.
- The last two focus specifically on tiger conservation and form the Tiger Standards (TS) component.
Implementing Partners in India
The GTF and WWF-India are the implementing partners for CA|TS assessment in India.
- Global Tiger Forum (GTF): An international intergovernmental organisation working for tiger conservation.
- WWF-India: Supports wildlife conservation and tiger habitat protection.
Indian Tiger Reserves with CA|TS Recognition
| State | Tiger Reserves |
| Assam | Kaziranga, Manas, Orang and Nameri |
| West Bengal | Sundarbans |
| Bihar | Valmiki |
| Uttar Pradesh | Dudhwa |
| Madhya Pradesh | Kanha, Panna and Satpura |
| Maharashtra | Pench |
| Tamil Nadu | Anamalai and Mudumalai |
| Kerala | Parambikulam |
| Karnataka | Bandipur |
Significance of CA|TS
- Better protection: Encourages effective measures against poaching and other threats.
- Scientific management: Promotes systematic monitoring of tigers and their habitats.
- Community participation: Recognises the role of local people in conservation.
- Global benchmarks: Helps reserves identify weaknesses and improve their management practices.
- Biodiversity conservation: Supports the long-term survival of tigers and the protection of their ecosystems.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. What is CA|TS?
CA|TS stands for Conservation Assured | Tiger Standards. It is a global framework for assessing the quality of tiger reserve management and protection, launched in 2013 at the First Asian Parks Congress in Japan.
Q2. What are the seven pillars of CA|TS?
The seven pillars are:
- Importance and status
- Management
- Community
- Tourism (optional)
- Protection
- Habitat management
- Tiger populations
Q3. Which organisations implement CA|TS assessments in India?
The implementing partners are the Global Tiger Forum (GTF), an international intergovernmental organisation working for tiger conservation, and WWF-India, which supports wildlife conservation and tiger habitat protection.
