Telangana Yet to Unlock Tiger Reserve Economy Despite Vast Forest Wealth

Hyderabad: Despite being home to two of India's largest tiger reserves, Telangana is yet to harness the full economic potential of wildlife conservation, even as studies by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) show that tiger reserves generate economic returns through ecosystem services, tourism and rural livelihoods.

Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand have transformed their tiger reserves into thriving eco-tourism destinations that support thousands of jobs and contribute substantially to local economies. In contrast, Telangana's Amrabad Tiger Reserve and Kawal Tiger Reserve continue to witness limited tourist footfall, inadequate safari infrastructure and relatively low eco-tourism activity despite their rich biodiversity and vast forest cover.

According to an economic valuation conducted jointly by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM), the combined economic value of 16 tiger reserves across India is estimated at `5.96 lakh crore. The assessment accounted for ecosystem services including carbon sequestration, water purification, climate regulation, soil conservation, biodiversity conservation, ecotourism and livelihood generation.

The study estimated that tiger reserves generate ecosystem benefits worth `30,000 to `1 lakh per hectare annually, demonstrating that their value extends far beyond tourism revenues.

A senior forest official told Deccan Chronicle that Telangana has immense untapped potential to build a wildlife-based economy. "The state needs to create sustainable employment around tiger reserves. When local communities benefit economically through tourism, guiding, hospitality or conservation work, they become active stakeholders in protecting wildlife. This reduces conflict and encourages people to conserve rather than retaliate when incidents involving wild animals occur," the official said.

The NTCA study cites Bandipur Tiger Reserve in Karnataka as one of the country's most successful conservation models. Bandipur alone generates annual ecosystem service benefits estimated at `6,406 crore, while its ecosystem assets are valued at nearly `14,966 crore.

The report found that every ₹1 invested in managing the reserve generates an estimated `716 in economic returns, making wildlife conservation among the highest-return public investments. Then there is the tourist traffic that follows tigers that become popular or famous because of stories woven around them, or their frequent sightings. Tourists who flock to tiger reserves with such big cats go to see such tigers — for instance, Gabbar, the large male in Dudhwa, or Matkasur male in Tadoba — contributing direct revenues to the reserve and local communities.

Telangana possesses comparable natural assets. Amrabad Tiger Reserve, spread across nearly 2,611 sq km, and Kawal Tiger Reserve, covering about 2,015 sq km, together form one of central India's largest forest landscapes. However, the state has yet to develop tourism infrastructure comparable to reserves such as Bandipur, Nagarhole, Kanha, Pench, Ranthambore or Corbett, all of which have well-established safari circuits, eco-lodges, trained local guides and community-based tourism initiatives.

Another forest official said efforts are now underway to improve visitor infrastructure, particularly in Kawal. "Tourist inflow has remained low, but the forest department is working to change that. NTCA has prioritised Kawal for strengthening tiger populations, and proposals including animal exchange have been submitted. The Telangana Forest Development Corporation has also partnered with Deccan Woods and Trails to develop innovative homestays, safari experiences and other eco-tourism facilities. It will take years to turn profitable," the official said.

The official added that creating employment opportunities around tiger reserves is essential for long-term conservation. "In several successful tiger reserves, local communities have become partners in conservation because tourism supports their livelihoods. Telangana is also moving in that direction."

Wildlife conservationists, however, believe stronger measures are needed alongside tourism promotion.

Mirza Kareem, of the Forests and Wildlife Protection Society (FAWPS), said the state must strengthen monitoring and interstate coordination to ensure tiger conservation succeeds in Kawal.

"Introducing more tigers alone is not enough. Their protection, habitat management and coordination with neighbouring Maharashtra are equally important. At the same time, relocation and livelihood programmes for tribal communities should be planned carefully so that people are not displaced without sustainable employment opportunities," he said.

Conservationists also point to the increasing number of tiger sightings in Amrabad Tiger Reserve as an opportunity to position Telangana as an emerging wildlife tourism destination.