Wild life conservation strategies in India:

Presently, there are 4 legally designated governance types in India as per the provisions of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 viz.:

1. National Park

2. Wildlife Sanctuaries

3. Conservation Reserves

4. Community Reserves

Sanctuary is an area which is of adequate ecological, faunal, floral, geomorphological, natural or zoological significance. The Sanctuary is declared for the purpose of protecting, propagating or developing wildlife or its environment. Certain rights of people living inside the Sanctuary could be permitted. Further, during the settlement of claims, before finally notifying the Sanctuary, the Collector may, in consultation with the Chief Wildlife Warden, allow the continuation of any right of any person in or over any land within the limits of the Sanctuary.

National Park is an area having adequate ecological, faunal, floral, geomorphological, natural or zoological significance. The National Park is declared for the purpose of protecting, propagating or developing wildlife or its environment, like thatof a Sanctuary. The difference between a Sanctuary and a National Park mainly lies in the vesting of rights of people living inside. Unlike a Sanctuary, where certain rights can be allowed, in a National Park, no rights are allowed. No grazing of any livestock shall also be permitted inside a National Park while in a Sanctuary, the Chief Wildlife Warden may regulate, control or prohibit it. In addition, while any removal or exploitation of wildlife or forest produce from a Sanctuary requires the recommendation of the State Board for Wildlife, removal etc., from a National Park requires recommendation of the National Board for Wildlife (However, as per orders of Hon’ble Supreme Court dated 9thMay 2002 in Writ Petition (Civil) No. 337 of 1995, such removal/ exploitation from a Sanctuary also requires recommendation of the Standing Committee of National Board for Wildlife).

Conservation Reserves can be declared by the State Governments in any area owned by the Government, particularly the areas adjacent to National Parks and Sanctuaries and those areas which link one Protected Area with another. Such declaration should be made after having consultations with the local communities. Conservation Reserves are declared for the purpose of protecting landscapes, seascapes, flora and fauna and their habitat. The rights of people living inside a Conservation Reserve are not affected.

Community Reserves can be declared by the State Government in any privateor community land, not comprised within a National Park, Sanctuary or a Conservation Reserve, where an individual or a community has volunteered to conserve wildlife and its habitat. Community Reserves are declared for the purpose of protecting fauna, flora and traditional or cultural conservation values and practices. As in the case of a Conservation Reserve, the rights of people living inside a Community Reserve are not affected.

Regulations/ laws relating to Protected Areas (PAs) 

The PAs are constituted and governed under the provisions of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, which has been amended from time to time, with the changing ground realities concerning wildlife crime control and PAs management. Implementation of this Act is further complemented by other Acts viz. Indian Forest Act, 1927, Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and Biological Diversity Act, 2002 and the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006. The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau of the Central Government supplements the efforts of provincial governments in wildlife crime control through enforcement of CITES and control of wildlife crimes having cross-border, inter-state and international ramifications. In order to strengthen and synergise global wildlife conservation efforts, India is a party to major international conventions viz. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora (CITES), International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, UNESCO-World Heritage Committee and Convention on Migratory Species (CMS).

Eco-Sensitive Zone

The XXI meeting of the Indian Board for Wildlife held in 2002, wherein a ‘Wildlife Conservation Strategy-2002’ was adopted i.e., “lands falling within 10 Kms of the boundaries of National Parks and Sanctuaries should be notified as ecofragile zones.

Eco-sensitive zones around Protected Areas will have to be kept flexible and Protected Area specific.

• The width of the Eco-sensitive Zone and type of regulations will differ from Protected Area to Protected Area.
• In general the width of the Eco-sensitive Zone could go up to 10 Kms around a Protected Area (or beyond 10 Kms, where sensitive corridors) are present as provided in the Wildlife Conservation Strategy-2002.

WHAT ARE ECOLOGICALLY SENSITIVE AREAS (ESA)?

ESA is a fragile ecosystem area where conservation or preservation of natural environment is made with the help of state grants and intervention. It involves banning mining, quarrying, thermal power plants and polluting industries over the entire range. Various projects can be implemented only with the permission of Gram Sabha (village councils) under strict Forest Rights Act & permission will be given only after studying impacts of projects in the region. Any activity in this region is categorized under three heads, namely – Prohibited, Restricted with safeguards & Permissible.

Restricted with safeguards:

• Felling of trees
• Establishment of hotels and resorts
• Widening of roads
• Use of polythene bags by shopkeepers
• Permissible Activities
• Ongoing agriculture and horticulture practices by local community
• Rainwater harvesting, organic farming
• Use of renewable energy source

Restricted Activities

• Commercial mining
• Setting up of saw mills
• Commercial use of firewood
• Establishment of major hydroelectric projects
• Discharge of effluents and solid waste into natural water bodies or the terrestrial area
• Use or production of hazardous substances

Biosphere Reserves

• Areas rich in biodiversity and encompassing unique and representative ecosystems are identified and designated as Biosphere Reserves.
• The goal is to facilitate conservation of representative landscapes and India’s immense biological diversity which is estimated to be over 47,000 plant species and 81,000 animal species, representing about 7% of the world’s flora and 6.5% of world’s fauna respectively.
• Task of conserving ecological diversity under mounting pressures. The emphasis of the programme is on conservation of landscapes, ecosystems, species and genetic variations: promote economic development which is culturally, socially and ecologically sustainable and to provide support for research, monitoring, education and information exchange related to local, national and global issues.
• The  18 Biosphere Reserves set up so far not only aim at protecting representative ecosystems, but also serve as laboratories for evolving alternative models of development.