Context: Earlier this year, an Indo-French initiative was announced regarding the adoption of various new measures at the Kaziranga National Park in Assam. 

• Agence Française de Développement (AFD) of France has committed funding of €80.2 million for a 10-year period, between 2014-2024.

Kaziranga Project

• The Kaziranga project is a part of a larger Assam Project on Forest and Biodiversity Conservation (APFBC).

• The Assam government, with the support of AFD, launched the APFBC in 2012, to restore forest ecosystems, protect wildlife and enhance the livelihood of the forest-dependent communities.

• The project conceptualised the reforestation of 33,500 hectares of land and the training of 10,000 community members in alternate livelihoods by 2024.

• APFBC Society was created by State Government of Assam as a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.

• The Society has the mandate for planning, implementation, monitoring, coordination and management of all the activities proposed under the project.

• With French and Indian technical and financial support, the Indo-Pacific Parks Partnership will facilitate partnership activities for interested natural parks of the Indo-Pacific region. These activities include biodiversity conservation, wildlife management and engagement with local communities.

Kaziranga National Park

• Located in the State of Assam it is the single largest undisturbed and representative area in the Brahmaputra Valley floodplain.

• It is inhabited by the world's largest population of one-horned rhinoceroses, as well as many mammals, including tigers, elephants, panthers and bears, and thousands of birds.

Protection status

• It was declared a national park in 1974.

• UNESCO declared it a world heritage site in 1985.

• It became a Tiger Reserve in 2006.

• It is also recognized as an ‘Important Bird Area’ by BirdLife International for the conservation of avifaunal species.