CA|TS Lite
CA|TS Sites
CA|TS Lite is a simplified version of CA|TS and comprises of 40 questions based on the CA|TS standards. Each question is scored to reflect the status of the action described at the site (see box 1).
CA|TS Lite Questionnaire
| # | CA|TS standard/criteria | Example of Evidence in Place |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tiger conservation is an important target and value for the site (Standard 1.1) | Tiger action plan or specific section in management plan/species plan. |
| 2 |
The tiger conservation areas (e.g. protected areas, buffer zones, conservation corridors, forest area etc.) are considered important in terms of value for tigers and are either a: • Viable tiger population: 80+ tigers and a minimum of 20 breeding females (i.e. females with cubs) • A significant tiger population: 20+ tigers and a minimum of five breeding females (i.e. females with cubs) and a maximum of 19 and the area has connectivity to a protected area/s with a viable tiger population; or is part of a conservation landscape (e.g. of protected areas and other lands with suitable tiger habitat) which in total contains a viable or significant population. • Recovering tiger population: fewer than five breeding females (i.e. females with cubs); or evidence of historical tiger presence. The area has the potential to recover significant or viable populations because natural recovery (i.e. absorbing tiger overflow from connected protected areas) or reintroduction is feasible and planned or in progress. • Low density population: evidence of a sustainable tiger population (typically between two and five breeding females). The area has connectivity to a protected area/s with a viable tiger population; or is part of a conservation landscape (e.g. of protected areas and other lands with suitable tiger habitat) which in total contains a viable or significant population (Criteria 1.1.2) |
Monitoring records, Management plan, Maps |
| 3 | Social, cultural and spiritual values and/or benefits of the tiger conservation area have been identified (Criteria 1.2.7) | Planning system. |
| 4 | Core tiger areas are recognized, acknowledged, managed and maintained (Standard 2.1) | Planning system |
| 5 | Areas critical to tigers outside the protected area are identified and opportunities to engage in tiger conservation are maximized (Standard 2.4). | Planning system |
| 6 | The site has legal status and is gazetted (Standard 3.1) | Legislation |
| 7 | Legal frameworks and regulations meet the requirements of management (Standard 3.2) | Legislation and evidence of implementation of legislation |
| 8 | Up-to-date management plans/systems are in place (Standard 4.1) | Management plan |
| 9 | Annual operational plans are in place (Standard 6.1) | Annual operational plans. |
| 10 | Management planning is developed with stakeholder involvement (Standard 4.2) | Management planning process |
| 11 | Systems for assessing management effectiveness are in place (Standard 4.4) | ME system and results |
| 12 | The management plan/system forms the basis for mplementation of conservation activities (Standard 5.1) | Management plan and annual operational plan |
| 13 | The physical boundaries of the site are managed (Standard 5.2) | Management/ annual operational plan, evidence of boundary markers, patrolling plans and records |
| 14 | Budget and financial disbursement systems are in place (Standard 6.2) | Budget systems |
| 15 | Administrative systems are in place, including: human resources management, health and safety systems, operational controls, financial management stock control, asset management, green management policies and pollution control and complaints procedures (Standard 6.4 and 6.5) | Administrative systems |
| 16 | Staff are employed and trained to operationalize the annual operational plan/management plan (Standard 7.1 and 7.2) | Staff needs assessment, records, job descriptions, staff CVs and training programmes |
| 17 | Staff insurance and remuneration systems are in place (Standard 7.3) | Insurance scheme operations |
| 18 | Management infrastructure is in place and operational (Standard 8.1, 8.4 and 8.5) | Management infrastructure records/pictures |
| 19 | Staff facilities are in place and operational (Standard 8.3) | Evidence of facilities |
| 20 | Finances are sustainable and additional revenue streams are maximized, and are linked to management priorities (Standard 9.1, 9.2 and 9.3) | Fundraising and budget processes |
| 21 | Management is adaptive (Standard 10.1) | Management effectiveness assessment and management/ annual plan revision |
| 22 | Effective management strategies (e.g. policy, prevention, mitigation, responses and understanding the conflict) for human-wildlife conflict (HWC) are in place and implemented (Standard 11.1). | HWC strategies and implementation |
| 23 | Conflicts or tensions related to the site are acknowledged and addressed (Standard 12.1) | Processes for monitoring and managing conflict |
| 24 | Communities are involved and engaged in appropriate areas of site management (Standard 12.4) | Governance arrangements and public availability, stakeholder involvement in management planning and management processes |
| 25 | Benefit-sharing/alternative livelihood mechanisms are in place and monitored (Standard 12.5) | Benefit-sharing/alternative livelihood strategies, plans and implementation |
| 26 | A protection strategy is included in the management plan/system and is implemented according to the annual operation plan (St27andard 15.1) | Protection systems and protection audit results |
| 27 | Legal infringement (threats) are known, understood and monitored (Standard 15.312) | Records of infringements |
| 28 | Protection staff are sufficient in number and training for tiger protection (Standa33rd 15.3 and 15.5) and patrols effectively cover the site (15.7) | Staffing records, job descriptions, training records and patrolling plans |
| 29 | Infrastructure and equipment needs for tiger protection are in place (Standard 15.4 and 15.6) | Equipment inventories, ranger stations |
| 30 | Law enforcement monitoring systems are in place (Standard 15.11) | Software-based law enforcement monitoring systems such as SMART, MIST or MSTRiPES. Training records |
| 31 | Protection efforts are intelligence driven (Standard 15.12) | Protection strategy |
| 32 | Tiger and prey habitat management systems are in place (Standard 16.2) | Tiger and/or management plans and annual operational plans |
| 33 | Tiger and prey species distribution should be mapped and monitored (Standard 16.2) | Maps, monitoring protocols and research results |
| 34 | Tiger monitoring systems are in place (Standard 17.1) | Monitoring protocols |
For each question, five options are given for the responses (summarised names of these options are given in brackets and are used in the figures in the report below): 1 = recognized and action implemented (implemented); 0.75 = recognized and action initiated (initiated); 0.5 = recognized and action being planned (planned); 0.25 = recognized but no action initiated (planning required); and 0 = not recognized and absent (no action). Data are primarily collected as part of a wider survey of over 100 tiger conservation areas using this questionnaire approach based on CA|TS, carried out by the CA|TS Support Group to provide an overview of how well sites measure against CA|TS (CA|TS, 2018b). The data* is provided by site managers and in some cases facilitating NGO field staff (in consultation with site managers) who know the site well.