Wildlife conservation

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Siberian tiger is a subspecies of tiger that is endangered; three subspecies of tiger are already extinct.

Wildlife conservation is the practice of protecting wild plant and animal species and their habitats.
The goal of wildlife conservation is to ensure that nature will be around for future generations to
enjoy and also to recognize the importance ofwildlife and wilderness for humans and other species
alike.[1] Many nations havegovernment agencies and NGO's dedicated to wildlife conservation, which
help to implement policies designed to protect wildlife. Numerous independent non-profit
organizations also promote various wildlife conservation causes. [2]
According to the National Wildlife Federation, wildlife in the United States gets a majority of their
funding through appropriations from the federal budget, annual federal and state grants, and
financial efforts from programs such as theConservation Reserve Program, Wetlands Reserve
Program and Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program.[3][4] Furthermore, a substantial amount of funding
comes from the state through the sale of hunting/fishing licenses, game tags, stamps, and excise
taxes from the purchase of hunting equipment and ammunition, which collects around $200 million
annually.[5]
Wildlife conservation has become an increasingly important practice due to the negative effects of
human activity on wildlife. An endangered species is defined as a population of a living species that
is in the danger of becoming extinct because of several reasons.Some of The reasons can be, that
1. the species have a very low population, or 2. they are threatened by the varying environmental or
prepositional parameters.
Contents
[hide]

1Major dangers to wildlife

2Wildlife conservation as a government involvement

3Non-government involvement

4Active non-government organizations

5See also

6References

7External links

Major dangers to wildlife[edit]

Fewer natural wildlife habitat areas remain each year. Moreover, the habitat that remains has often
been degraded to bear little resemblance to the wild areas which existed in the past.Habitat loss
due to destruction, fragmentation and degradation of habitatis the primary threat to the survival of
wildlife in the United States. When an ecosystem has an ecosystem are some of the ways habitats
can become so degraded that they no longer support native wildlife.

Climate change: Global warming is making hot days hotter, rainfall and flooding
heavier, hurricanes stronger anddroughts more severe. This intensification of weather
and climate extremes will be the most visible impact of global warming in our everyday lives. It is
also causing dangerous changes to the landscape of our world, adding stress to wildlife species
and their habitat. Since many types of plants and animals have specific habitat requirements,
climate change could cause disastrous loss of wildlife species. A slight drop or rise in average
rainfall will translate into large seasonal
changes. Hibernating mammals, reptiles, amphibians and insects are harmed and disturbed.
Plants and wildlife are sensitive to moisture change so, they will be harmed by any change in
moisture level. Natural phenomena like floods,earthquakes, volcanoes, lightning, forest fires.[6][7]

Unregulated Hunting and poaching: Unregulated hunting and poaching causes a

major threat to wildlife. Along with this, mismanagement of forest department and forest
guards triggers this problem.

Pollution: Pollutants released into the environment are ingested by a wide variety of
organisms. Pesticides and toxic chemical being widely used, making the environment toxic
to certain plants, insects, and rodents.

Perhaps the largest threat is the extreme growing indifference of the public to wildlife,
conservation and environmental issues in general. [8] Over-exploitation of resources, i.e.,
exploitation of wild populations for food has resulted in population crashes (over-fishing and
over-grazing for example).

Over exploitation is the over use of wildlife and plant species by people for food,
clothing, pets, medicine, sport and many other purposes. People have always depended on
wildlife and plants for food, clothing, medicine, shelter and many other needs. But today we
are taking more than the natural world can supply. The danger is that if we take too many
individuals of a species from their natural environment, the species may no longer be able to
survive. The loss of one species can affect many other species in an ecosystem. The
hunting, trapping, collecting and fishing of wildlife at unsustainable levels is not something
new. The passenger pigeon was hunted to extinction, early in the last century, and overhunting nearly caused the extinction of the American bison and several species of whales.

Deforestation: Humans are continually expanding and developing, leading to an

invasion of wildlife habitats. As humans continue to grow they clear forested land to crewe
more space. This stresses wildlife populations as there are fewer homes and food sources
to survive off of.

Population: The increasing population of human beings is the most major threat to wildlife. More
people on the globe means more consumption of food,water and fuel . Therefore,more waste is
generated. Every major threat to wildlife as seen above, is directly related to increasing population of
human beings. If the population is altered so is the amount of risk to wildlife. The less is the
population, less is the disturbance to wildlife.

Today, the [Endangered Species Act] protects some U.S. species that were in danger from over
exploitation, and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora
(CITES) works to prevent the global trade of wildlife. But there are many species that are not
protected from being illegally traded or over-harvested.

Wildlife conservation as a government involvement[edit]

In 1972, the Government of India enacted a law called the Wildlife Conservation Act. Soon after
enactment, a trend emerged whereby policymakers enacted regulations on conservation. State and
non-state actors began to follow a detailed "framework" to work toward successful conservation. The
World Conservation Strategy was developed in 1980 by the "International Union for Conservation of
Nature and Natural Resources" (IUCN) with advice, cooperation and financial assistance of the
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Wildlife Fund and in collaboration
with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco)"[9] The strategy aims to "provide an
intellectual framework and practical guidance for conservation actions." [9] This thorough guidebook
covers everything from the intended "users" of the strategy to its very priorities. It even includes a
map section containing areas that have large seafood consumption and are therefore endangered
by over fishing. The main sections are as follows:

The marking off of a sea turtle nest. Anna Maria, FL. 2012.

The objectives of conservation and requirements for their achievement:

1. Maintenance of essential ecological processes and life-support systems.
2. Preservation of genetic diversity that is flora and fauna.
3. Sustainable utilization of species and ecosystems.

Priorities for national action:

1. A framework for national and sub-national conservation strategies.

2. Policy making and the integration of conservation and development.

3. Environmental planning and rational use allocation.

Priorities for international action:

1. International action: law and assistance.
2. Tropical forests and dry lands.
3. A global programme for the protection of genetic resource areas.

Map sections:
1. Tropical forests
2. Deserts and areas subject to desertification.

Non-government involvement[edit]
As major development agencies became discouraged with the public sector of environmental
conservation in the late 1980s, these agencies began to lean their support towards the private
sector or non-government organizations (NGOs).[10] In a World Bank Discussion Paper it is made
apparent that the explosive emergence of nongovernmental organizations was widely known to
government policy makers. Seeing this rise in NGO support, the U.S. Congress made amendments
to theForeign Assistance Act in 1979 and 1986 earmarking U.S. Agency for International
Development (USAID) funds forbiodiversity.[10] From 1990 moving through recent years
environmental conservation in the NGO sector has become increasingly more focused on the
political and economic impact of USAID given towards the Environment and Natural Resources.
[11]
After the terror attacks on the World Trade Centers on September 11, 2001 and the start of former
President Bushs War on Terror, maintaining and improving the quality of the environment and
natural resources became a priority to prevent international tensions according to the Legislation
on Foreign Relations Through 2002[11] and section 117 of the 1961 Foreign Assistance Act.
[11]
Furthermore, in 2002 U.S. Congress modified the section on endangered species of the previously
amended Foreign Assistance Act.

Active non-government organizations[edit]

Many NGOs exist to actively promote, or be involved with wildlife conservation:

The Nature Conservancy is a US charitable environmental organization that works to

preserve the plants, animals, and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on
Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive. [12]

World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is an international non-governmental organization

working on issues regarding the conservation, research and restoration of the environment,
formerly named the World Wildlife Fund, which remains its official name in Canada and the
United States. It is the world's largest independent conservation organization with over 5 million
supporters worldwide, working in more than 90 countries, supporting around 1300[4]
conservation and environmental projects around the world. It is a charity, with approximately
60% of its funding coming from voluntary donations by private individuals. 45% of the fund's
income comes from the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States. [13]

WildTeam

Wildlife Conservation Society

Audubon Society

Traffic (conservation programme)

Born Free Foundation

WildEarth Guardians

Wildlife of India
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Part of a series on the

Wildlife of India

Biodiversity[show]

Protected areas[show]

Conservation[show]

Organisations[show]

Related topics[show]

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The wildlife in India comprises a mix of species of different types of organisms.[1]Apart from a
handful of the major farm animals such as cows, buffaloes, goats, poultry, and camels, India has an
amazingly wide variety of animals native to the country. It is home to Bengal tigers, Indian
lions, deer, pythons, wolves, foxes, bears, crocodiles,wild dogs, monkeys, snakes, antelope species,
varieties of bison and the Asian elephant. The region's rich and diverse wildlife is preserved in
120+ national parks, 18Bio-reserves and 500+ wildlife sanctuaries across the country. India has
some of the most biodiverse regions of the world and hosts three of the worlds 35 biodiversity
hotspots or treasure-houses that is the Western Ghats, the Eastern Himalayas and Indo-Burma.
[2]
Since India is home to a number of rare and threatened animal species, wildlife management in
the country is essential to preserve these species.[3] India is one of the seventeen megadiverse
countries. According to one study, India along with other 16 mega diverse countries is home to about
60-70% of the world's biodiversity.[4]India, lying within the Indomalaya ecozone, is home to about
7.6% of all mammalian, 12.6% of avian, 6.2% of reptilian, and 6.0% of flowering plant species.[5]

A female Indian elephant inNagerhole National Park. India has the largest population of Indian elephants.

Many Indian species are descendants of taxa originating in Gondwana, to which India originally
belonged. Peninsular India's subsequent movement towards, and collision with,
the Laurasian landmass set off a mass exchange of species. However, volcanismand climatic
change 20 million years ago caused the extinction of many endemic Indian forms.[6] Soon thereafter,
mammals entered India from Asia through twozoogeographical passes on either side of the
emerging Himalaya.[7] As a result, among Indian species, only 12.6% of mammals and 4.5% of birds
are endemic, contrasting with 45.8% of reptiles and 55.8% of amphibians.[5] Notable endemics are
the Nilgiri leaf monkey and the brown and carmine Beddome's toad of the Western Ghats. India

contains 172, or 2.9%, of IUCN-designated threatened species.[8] These include theAsian elephant,
the Asiatic lion, the Bengal tiger, the Indian rhinoceros, the mugger crocodile, and the Indian whiterumped vulture, which suffered a near-extinction from ingesting the carrion of diclofenac-treated
cattle.
In recent decades, human encroachment has posed a threat to India's wildlife; in response, the
system of national parks andprotected areas, first established in 1935, was substantially expanded.
In 1972, India enacted the Wildlife Protection Act andProject Tiger to safeguard crucial habitat;
further federal protections were promulgated in the 1980s. Along with over 515 wildlife sanctuaries,
India now hosts 18 biosphere reserves, 10 of which are part of the World Network of Biosphere
Reserves; 26 wetlands are registered under the Ramsar Convention.
The pipal fig tree, shown on the seals of Mohenjo-daro, shaded Gautama Buddha as he sought
enlightenment. The varied and rich wildlife of India has had a profound impact on the region's
popular culture. The common name for wilderness in India is jungle, which was adopted into the
English language. The word has been also made famous in The Jungle Book byRudyard Kipling.
India's wildlife has been the subject of numerous other tales and fables such as the Panchatantra.
Contents
[hide]

1Fauna

2Flora

3Conservation
3.1Recent extinctions

4National symbols (animals)

5Biosphere reserves

6Fungi

7Species examples

8See also

9References

10External links

Fauna[edit]
Main article: Fauna of India

The Hanuman langur with newborn. At least seven species of grey langurs are found in India out of which five
are endemic.

One of the world's rarest monkeys,Gee's golden langur typifies the precarious survival of much of India'smega
fauna.

The Indian rhinoceros in theKaziranga National Park. Kaziranga in Assam, India is home to two-thirds of the
one-horned rhinoceros population.

India is home to several well-known large mammals, including the Asian elephant, Bengal
tiger, Asiatic lion, leopard, sloth bear and Indian rhinoceros. Some other well-known large Indian
mammals are: ungulates such as the rare wild Asian water buffalo, common domestic Asian water
buffalo, gail, gaur, and several species of deer and antelope. Some members of the dog family, such
as the Indian wolf, Bengal fox andgolden jackal, and the dhole or wild dogs are also widely
distributed. However, the dhole, also known as the whistling hunter, is the most endangered top
Indian carnivore, and theHimalayan wolf is now a critically endangeredspecies endemic to India.[citation
needed]
It is also home to the striped hyena, macaques, langurand mongoose species.

India has the largest population of tigers in the world

Flora[edit]
Main article: Flora of India

The Valley of Flowers National Park in Uttarakhand, India.

There are about 17500 taxa of flowering plants from India. The Indian Forest Act, 1927helped to
improve protection of the natural habitat. Many ecoregions, such as the sholaforests, also exhibit
extremely high rates of endemism; overall, 33% of Indian plant species are endemic.[9][10]
India's forest cover ranges from the tropical rainforest of the Andaman Islands, Western Ghats,
and Northeast India to the coniferous forest of the Himalaya. Between these extremes lie the saldominated moist deciduous forest of eastern India; teak-dominateddry deciduous forest of central
and southern India; and the babul-dominated thorn forest of the central Deccan and western
Gangetic plain.[7] Important Indian trees include the medicinal neem, widely used in rural
Indian herbal remedies.

Conservation[edit]

The Indian leopard is found across the Indian subcontinent. Poaching for its skin is a serious threat to the
leopard.

The need for conservation of wildlife in India is often questioned because of the apparently incorrect
priority in the face of direct poverty of the people. However, Article 48 of the Constitution of India
specifies that, "The state shall endeavor to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard
the forests and wildlife of the country" and Article 51-A states that "it shall be the duty of every citizen
of India to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers, and wildlife
and to have compassion for living creatures."[11] The committee in the Indian Board for Wildlife, in
their report, defines wildlife as "the entire natural uncultivated flora and fauna of the country" while
theWildlife (protection) Act 1972 defines it as "any animal, bees, butterflies, crustacea, fish, moths
and aquatic or land vegetation which forms part of any habitat." [12]
Despite the various environmental issues faced, the country still has a rich and varied wildlife
compared to Europe.[12] Large and charismatic mammals are important for wildlife tourism in India,
and several national parks and wildlife sanctuaries cater to these needs. Project Tiger, started in
1972, is a major effort to conserve the tiger and its habitats.[13] At the turn of the 20th century, one
estimate of the tiger population in India placed the figure at 40,000, yet an Indian tiger census
conducted in 2008 revealed the existence of only 1,411 tigers. 2010 tiger census revealed that there
are 1700 tigers left in India.[14] As per the latest tiger census (2015), there are around 2226 tigers in
India. By far, there is an overall 30% increase in tiger population. [15] Various pressures in the later
part of the 20th century led to the progressive decline of wilderness resulting in the disturbance of
viable tiger habitats. At the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural
Resources (IUCN) General Assembly meeting in Delhi in 1969, serious concern was voiced about
the threat to several species of wildlife and the shrinkage of wilderness in India. In 1970, a national
ban on tiger hunting was imposed, and in 1972 the Wildlife Protection Act came into force. The
framework was then set up to formulate a project for tiger conservation with an ecologicalapproach.
However, there is not much optimism about this framework's ability to save the peacock, which is the
national bird of India. George Schaller wrote about tiger conservation:[16]

Recent extinctions[edit]

Illustration of a Himalayan quailfrom A. O. Hume's work. Last seen in 1876

The exploitation of land and forest resources by humans along with hunting and trapping for food
and sport has led to the extinction of many species in India in recent times. These species include
mammals such as the Indian/Asiatic cheetah,wild zebu, Indian Javan rhinoceros, and Northern
Sumatran rhinoceros.[17] While some of these large mammal species are confirmed extinct, there
have been many smaller animal and plant species whose status is harder to determine. Many
species have not been seen since their description.

Adult male Indian lion at Gir Forest. Gir forest in India has the only surviving population of Asiatic lions in the
world.

Some species of birds have gone extinct in recent times, including the pink-headed
duck (Rhodonessa caryophyllacea) and the Himalayan quail (Ophrysia superciliosa). A species of
warbler, Acrocephalus orinus, known earlier from a single specimen collected by Allan Octavian
Hume from near Rampur in Himachal Pradesh, was rediscovered after 139 years in Thailand. [18][19]

National symbols (animals)[edit]

National animal: royal Bengal tiger

National heritage animal of India: Elephant

National mammal of India: Hanuman langur

National aquatic animal: Ganges river dolphin[20]

National bird: peacock

Biosphere reserves[edit]

The Sundarbans in Bengal, India

The Indian government has established eighteen biosphere reserves of India which protect larger
areas of natural habitat and often include one or more national parks and/or preserves, along buffer
zones that are open to some economic uses. Protection is granted not only to the flora and fauna of
the protected region, but also to the human communities who inhabit these regions, and their ways
of life.

Valley of flowers National Park,Uttrakhand, India is part of the Nanda Devi Bio-reserve.

The bio-reserves in India are:

Achanakmar-Amarkantak

Agasthyamalai

Dibru Saikhowa

Dihang Dibang

Great Nicobar

Gulf of Mannar

Kachchh

Kangchenjunga

Manas

Nanda Devi

The Nilgiris

Nokrek

Pachmarhi

Simlipal

Sundarbans

Cold Desert

Seshachalam hills

Panna

Gulf of Mannar fromRameshwaram, Tamil Nadu, India.

Ten of the eighteen biosphere reserves are a part of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves,
based on the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB) list.[21]

Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve

Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve

Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve

Nokrek National Park

Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve

Simlipal National Park

Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve

Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve

Nicobar Islands

Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve

Fungi[edit]
The diversity of fungi[22] and their natural beauty occupy a prime place in the biological world and
India has been a cradle for such organisms. Only a fraction of the total fungal wealth of India has
been subjected to scientific scrutiny and mycologists have to unravel this unexplored and hidden
wealth. One-third of fungal diversity of the globe exists in India. The country has an array of 10
diverse biomes including Trans-Himalayan zone, Himalaya, Desert, Semi-Arid zone, Western Ghats,
Deccan Peninsula, Gangetic Plain, North-Eastern India, Coasts and Islands where varied
dominating regimes manifest. This enables the survival of manifold fungal flora in these regions
which include hot spot areas like the Himalayan ranges, Western Ghats, hill stations, mangroves,
sea coasts, fresh water bodies etc. Many fungi have been recorded from these regions and from the
country in general comprising thermophiles, psychrophiles, mesophiles, aquatic forms, marine
forms, plant and animal pathogens, edible fungi and beneficial fungi and so on. The number of fungi
recorded in India exceeds 27,000 species, the largest biotic community after insects. The true fungi
belong to the Kingdom[23] Fungi which has four phyla, 103 orders, 484 families and 4979 genera.
About 205 new genera have been described from India, of which 32% were discovered by C. V.

Subramanian of the University of Madras.[24][25] These features indicate a ten-fold increase in the last
80 years.

Species examples[edit]

Indian elephant

Royal Bengal tiger

Asiatic lions

Himalayan Brown Bear

Sloth bear

Asian Black Bear

Indian leopard

Snow leopard

Clouded leopard

Indian rhinoceros

Gaur

Yak (Bos grunniens and Bos mutus)

Indian wild ass

Indian wolf

Golden jackal

Indian wild dog (dhole)

Striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena)

Rhesus macaque

Gray langur

Lion-tailed macaque

Red panda

Smooth-coated otter

Indian crested porcupine

Blackbuck

Sangai or Thamin

Sambar deer

Nilgai(Boselaphus tragocamelus)

Chital

A Nicobar pigeon.

Indian peacock, India's national bird

Brahminy kite

Brown fish-owl

Ring-necked parakeet

Shikra

Saltwater crocodile

Indian cobra

Wildlife Conservation in India

Wildlife means all the flora and fauna, which are not
domesticated by humans. It includes animals, plants and
microorganisms. Wildlife tours in India is your chance to
explore some of the well known tiger reserves and national
parks sprinkled across different parts of the country.
+ Read More

Yes, Plan My Trip!

Wildlife Conservation in India

Conservation Centers in India

The term Conservation Areas in India refers to the well-demarcated large
geographical entities with an established conservation plan. In India, a
number of conservation plans have been set up for the purpose of
studying, conserving and spreading about the betterment of the highly
endangered species of wildlife.
Read More

NGOs In India
Owing to varying topography, India plays host to a good variety of plants,
land and marine life. The Wildlife Trust of India is a national conservation
dedicated to the effective plan for the conservation of animal species.
Read More

Project Elephant
Launched in February 1992 by the Government of India, Project Elephant
has been designed to combine the programs for the conservation of
elephant and its natural habitat. The project seeks to address the threats
to the survival of elephants in our country.
Read More

Project Tiger
Established in 1973 with 9 Tiger Reserves, Project Tiger covers an area of
16,339 square kilometers, which has dramatically increased upto 37,761
square kilometers in 27 Tiger Reserves.
Read More

Conservation History of Eravikulam Wildlife Sanctuary

One of the top holiday destinations in India, Eravikulam Wildlife Sanctuary
was established in 1978 as a part of the Idukki district of Kerala. The
wildlife sanctuary is known for its stark beauty and unpleasant climate.
Read More

Conservation History of Gir National Park

The conservation history of Gir National Park takes us back to the early
1990s when the population of Asiatic Lions dropped down to 15 due to
slaughter. It deals with the conservation of Asiatic Lions, whose population
had dropped tremendously.
Read More

India - Wildlife

POPULARWILDLIFE TOURS
Central India Wildlife Tour

Wildlife and Heritage of Gujarat

Bird Paradise Tour
Sunderbans Jungle Camp
Temple and Tiger Tour
Royal Tiger With Golden Triangle
Wild Adventure Tour
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WILDLIFE RESORTS

NATIONAL PARKS

WILDLIFE SANCTUARIES

PHOTO GALLERY

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Wildlife Conservation Efforts In India

India has been forerunning activities for the conservation of wildlife since the early
1930s with the establishment of Jim Corbett National Park. Jim Corbett himself saw the
catastrophic reaction man had bestowed upon wildlife and gave up hunting while dedicating
his life towards conservation of wild animals,especially Tigers. Wildlife is essentially
classified into flora and fauna which mean, in a broad sense of speaking plants and animals
respectively.
India has held a multitude of species within its varying topographies and climates. Some of
the species found in India are extremely rare and even considered endangered given their
declining numbers in the wild. A major step towards restoration of an animal populous
dawned with Project Tiger which was initiated as per the referendum under the Wildlife
Protection Act of 1972. Populations of endangered species have seen drastic improvements
in numbers ever since and efforts are maintained to prevent various harmful activities that
hinder in the growth of wildlife.

Wildlife Conservation Projects in India

1. Project Tiger

Photo by Sbj1976, CC BY-SA 4.0

After the sanction of Wildlife Protection act of 1972, Project Tigerwas initiated to help
repopulate Royal Bengal Tigers in the Indian subcontinent. The first estimate of tiger
population in India was speculated to be between 35,000 to 40,000 before the 20th century.
Man made conditions, poaching and encroaching on wild land led to a harrowing decline in
tiger populations over the century. Save the tiger project helped restore tiger populations
from around 1400 at its lowest to around 2300 in 2015.

2. Project Elephant

Photo by Honza Soukup, CC BY 2.0

In the year 1992, Project Elephant came into being. The Ministry of Environment and
Forests under the Government of India decided upon taking action against the declining
populations and disturbed migration of Asiatic elephants; hence initiating Project Elephant.
The initiative was implemented in sixteen Indian states namely Arunachal Pradesh, Andhra
Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra,
Kerala, Meghalaya, Orissa, Nagaland, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Tripura, West Bengal and
Uttar Pradesh. The primary objective of Project Elephant was to protect Wild elephants
from poaching. Besides helping Elephant populations in India grow, the project also
oversaw clearance of migratory Corridors for free passage of elephants. Project Elephant
also oversees the welfare of domesticated and captivated elephants across Indian states.

3. National Parks And Wildlife Reserves

Photo by JP Bennett, CC BY 2.0

The government of India has allotted vast spaces of green forests for wildlife to flourish in.
Several protected lands are decreed as wildlife sanctuaries, national parks and
biosphere reserves meant for the sole purpose of protecting wildlife against human
interference. There are 103 operational national parks in India as of 2015. The Ministry of
Environment and Forest has taken keen interest in active breeding programs, tracking and
protection against poaching of wildlife in the recent years. Several national parks harbor
exotic species of animals like Asiatic Lions in Gir National Park and Hoolock Gibbon
in Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary and protect them from extinction through concentrated
efforts.

4. NGOs For Wildlife In India

Several non-governmental bodies have stepped up to the demands of wildlife
conservation in India as well. Activism against poaching, encroachment of forest land and
habitat destruction is a common phenomenon in modern India. There are several volunteer
groups and corporations that take initiative towards maintaining undisturbed environments
for flora and fauna to flourish in. Some of the more renowned NGOs in India include Rhino
Foundation for Nature in Assam, Wildlife Society of Orissa, Friends of Forests in
Maharashtra, Natures Beckon in Assam, North Eastern Society for Preservation of Nature
and Wildlife in West Bengal, Nature Conservation Society of Amravati in Maharashtra, Bali
Nature and Wild Life Conservation Society in West Bengal and The Friends of the Doon in
Uttaranchal.

egal Framework for Wildlife Conservation in India

by Praveen Bhargav

A tiger caught in a trap

WPSI

The Wildlife (Protection) Act (WLPA), 1972, is an important statute that provides a powerful legal
framework for violations like hunting.

Reworked from Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) Report May 2007* with
inputs from Praveen Bhargav, Wildlife First.
Many people are under the impression that India does not have strong wildlife
conservation laws. On the contrary, we have some of the most stringent legislations to
protect wildlife and habitats. It is imperative that all conservationists familiarize
themselves with these laws, so that they can contribute effectively. It is also vital to
understand which institutions control land in India before any conservation interventions
can be attempted in any landscape. The legal status of the land must first be
ascertained so that one can engage with the correct authorities or agencies.
The Government of India has introduced various types of legislation in response to the
growing destruction of wildlife and forests. These are:

1. The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (Last amended in 2006)

The Wildlife (Protection) Act (WLPA), 1972 is an important statute that provides a
powerful legal framework for:

Prohibition of hunting

Protection and management of wildlife habitats

Establishment of protected areas

Regulation and control of trade in parts and products derived from wildlife

Management of zoos.

The WLPA provides for several categories of Protected Areas/Reserves:

National Parks

Wildlife Sanctuaries

Tiger Reserves

Conservation Reserves

Community Reserves

National parks and Tiger Reserves are by law more strictly protected, allowing virtually
no human activity except that which is in the interest of wildlife conservation. Grazing
and private tenurial rights are disallowed in National Parks but can be allowed in
sanctuaries at the discretion of the Chief Wildlife Warden. The amended WLPA does not
allow for any commercial exploitation of forest produce in both national parks and
wildlife sanctuaries, and local communities can collect forest produce only for their bona
fide needs.
No wild mammal, bird, amphibian, reptile, fish, crustacean, insects, or coelenterates
listed in four Schedules of the WLPA can be hunted either within or outside protected
areas. On conviction, the penalty for hunting is imprisonment for a period ranging from
a minimum of three to a maximum of seven years with fines not less than 10,000
rupees.
Community reserves and conservation reserves are two new categories of protected
areas that have been included under the WLPA. These two categories provide a greater
role for local communities, stakeholders and civil society as well as the opportunity to
protect many areas of conservation value that cannot be designated under strict
categories such as wildlife sanctuaries or national parks.

The statute prohibits the destruction or diversion of wildlife and its habitat by any
method unless it is for improvement or better management and this is decided by the
state government in consultation with the National and State Boards for Wildlife.
The WLPA contains elaborate procedures for dealing with legal rights in proposed
protected areas and acquisition of any land or interest under this law is deemed as an
acquisition for a public purpose. However, with the enactment of The Scheduled Tribes
and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006,
compliance of various provisions relating to tenurial and community rights must be
ensured.
Apart from protected area establishment, other important aspects of the WLPA include
procedures for the appointment of state wildlife authorities and wildlife boards, the
regulation of trade in wildlife products and the prevention, detection and punishment of
violations of the WLPA.
The 2006 amendment introduced a new chapter (IV B) for establishment of the National
Tiger Conservation Authority and notification of Tiger Reserves (before this amendment,
Tiger Reserves were not defined under the law, but were merely administrative
designations to enable funding under Project Tiger).
The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) was constituted vide the 2006 amendment to
monitor and control the illegal trade in wildlife products.
The WLPA provides for investigation and prosecution of offences in a court of law by
authorized officers of the forest department and police officers.

2. The Indian Forest Act (1927) and Forest Acts of State Governments
The main objective of the Indian Forest Act (1927) was to secure exclusive state control
over forests to meet the demand for timber. Most of these untitled lands had
traditionally belonged to the forest dwelling communities. The Act defined state
ownership, regulated its use, and appropriated the power to substitute or extinguish
customary rights. The Act facilitates three categories of forests, namely

Reserved forests

Village forests

Protected forests

Reserved forests are the most protected within these categories. No rights can be
acquired in reserved forests except by succession or under a grant or contract with the
government. Felling trees, grazing cattle, removing forest products, quarrying, fishing,
and hunting are punishable with a fine or imprisonment. Although the Indian Forest Act
is a federal act, many states have enacted similar forest acts but with some
modifications.

3. The Forest Conservation Act (1980)

In order to check rapid deforestation due to forestlands being released by state
governments for agriculture, industry and other development projects (allowed under
the Indian Forest Act) the federal government enacted the Forest Conservation Act in
1980 with an amendment in 1988. The Act made the prior approval of the federal
government necessary for de-reservation of reserved forests, logging and for use of
forestland for non- forest purposes.
This powerful legislation has, to a large extent, curtailed the indiscriminate logging and
release of forestland for non-forestry purposes by state governments. While the federal
government imposed such strict restrictions, it did not simultaneously evolve a
mechanism to compensate state governments for loss of timber logging revenues. This
anomaly coupled with increasing pressure for land due to a burgeoning population has
generated considerable resentment within state governments resulting in growing
pressure to dilute the restrictive provisions of the Act. The Supreme Court of India has
currently imposed a complete ban on the release of forestland for non-forestry activities
without the prior approval of the federal government.

4. The Environment (Protection) Act (1986) The Environment Protection Act is

an important legislation that provides for coordination of activities of the various
regulatory agencies, creation of authorities with adequate powers for environmental
protection, regulation of the discharge of environmental pollutants, handling of
hazardous substances, etc. The Act provided an opportunity to extend legal protection
to non-forest habitats (Ecologically Sensitive Areas) such as grasslands, wetlands and
coastal zones.

5. The Biological Diversity Act (2002) India is a party to the United Nations
Convention on Biological Diversity. The provisions of the Biological Diversity Act are in
addition to and not in derogation of the provisions in any other law relating to forests or
wildlife.

6. National Wildlife Action Plan (2002-2016) replaces the earlier Plan adopted
in 1983 and was introduced in response to the need for a change in priorities given the
increased commercial use of natural resources, continued growth of human and
livestock populations, and changes in consumption patterns.
The Plan most closely represents an actual policy on protection of wildlife. It focuses on
strengthening and enhancing the protected area network, on the conservation of
Endangered wildlife and their habitats, on controlling trade in wildlife products and on
research, education, and training.
The Plan endorses two new protected area categories: conservation reserves,
referring to corridors connecting protected areas, and community reserves, which will
allow greater participation of local communities in protected area management through
traditional or cultural conservation practices. These new categories of protected areas
are likely to bring in corridor areas under protection. The Plan contains various
recommendations to address the needs of local communities living outside protected
areas and outlines the need for voluntary relocation and rehabilitation of villages within
protected areas. The Plan recognizes the need to reduce human-wildlife conflict and
emphasizes the establishment of effective compensation mechanisms. It includes the
restoration of degraded habitats outside protected areas as a key objective.

7.

National Forest Policy (1998) The National Forest Policy, 1988, (NFP) is

primarily concerned with the sustainable use and conservation of forests, and further
strengthens the Forest Conservation Act (1980). It marked a significant departure from
earlier forest policies, which gave primacy to meeting government interests and
industrial requirements for forest products at the expense of local subsistence
requirements. The NFP prioritizes the maintenance of ecological balance through the
conservation of biological diversity, soil and water management, increase of tree cover,
efficient use of forest produce, substitution of wood, and ensuring peoples involvement
in

achieving

these

objectives.

It

also

includes

meeting

the

natural

resource

requirements of rural communities as a major objective. The NFP legitimizes the

customary rights and concessions of communities living in and around forests, stating
that the domestic requirements of the rural poor should take precedence over industrial
and commercial demands for forest products.
As can be seen from this article, India has a strong set of laws, Acts and policies for the
protection of forests and wildlife. It is for citizens to study these carefully and apply
them appropriately while conducting conservation advocacy campaigns.

Wildlife conservation
in India,

safeguarding the
future
Posted By Dave and Deb 7 Comments India, Meaningful Travel

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Just picture a world drained of wildlife. Your first reaction may

be this is impossible or unimaginable, isnt it?

Tiger resting in a tree Bandhavgarh National Park, India

It is a shocking truth. Several animals and birds are standing on
the verge of destruction because of excessive poaching, illegal
trading, loss of habitat, pollution and deforestation. One of the
biggest challenges that the government, environmentalists and
private organizations are facing in India is to put a full stop on
the killing and trading of animals. The disturbing fact is that the
scientists have predicted if the concrete conservation methods
are not undertaken, then the next generation in India would be
only able to see the animals in their text books or movies.
However, as the famous idiom goes, it is better late than
never, the government of India, forest officials and many
wildlife conservation bodies are leaving no stone unturned to
safeguard the animals from extinction.
Read about Yala National Park in Sri Lanka, a great place
to see Leopards in Asia.

THE BIG QUESTION: WHY PROTECTING WILDLIFE IS NEED

OF THE HOUR?
Why it is imperative to protect the wildlife in India? Well, it
cannot be debated that India is a storehouse of many animals
like the mighty Royal Bengal tigers, majestic Asiatic lions, huge
elephants, rare one-horned rhinos and birds. With plenty of
exotic animals to see, it becomes a duty of every citizen of
India besides the government to carve out various ways or
plans to protect wildlife, the integral heritage of India. Let us try
to gauge out certain dangers or reasons responsible for the
decreasing count of animals

The most vital reason largely responsible for the dwindling

wildlife count in India is illegal poaching and trading. Every
year, many innocent animals are killed by the greedy
poachers just to satisfy their lure for money. They slay down
the animals to trade their flesh, teeth, bone and skin in
exchange of for cash, gold and weapons.

In the western market, the demand for the products made

from their skin, fur or bone is very high. The horrifying fact
here is that the money involved in the black marketing of the
products is very high. The desire of making quick money in
short span of time drive poor and needy people to kill the
animals.

Many companies discharge harmful chemicals into the

rivers that the animals use for drinking. The deadly chemicals

poison the water that can prove fatal for the existence of
wildlife and most importantly aquatic animals.

A large part of the forest area is cleaned just to set up new

companies or homes. This act leads to loss of habitat for
animals. Sometimes, there have been instances when the
animals wandered into the cities or towns in search for food.
People get frightened after seeing the animals in their region
and kill them.

SIGNIFICANT STEPS INITIATED TO SAFEGUARD THE

WILDLIFE
To arrest the rising threat of wildlife poaching and trading, the
government and various organizations have taken some
noteworthy steps to protect diverse species of animals. Some of
the popular measures taken are mentioned below:
CREATING WILDLIFE SANCTUARIES AND NATIONAL
PARKS

Over the years, the government is making sure that there must
be a wildlife sanctuary or national park in almost every state of
India. Some of the parks or sanctuaries such as the Corbett
National Park, Kanha National Park and Sariska Wildlife
Sanctuary are pretty much big enough to accommodate several
species of animals. To prevent the poachers from entering the
parks, the concerned park authorities have taken several
actions which include fencing the park, regular patrolling and
setting up anti- poaching team undertaken by the forest
officials.
LAUNCHING OF PROJECT TIGER
It is a hardcore truth that only few numbers of tigers are left in
India. Several tiger conservation efforts have been done to

contain their shrinking numbers and the most popular one is

the Project Tiger rolled out in the year 1973. The main aim
behind starting the project was to set up the tiger reserves in
several parts of the country where they can feel safe from the
poachers and increase their count by way of breeding.
CURBING DEMAND FOR PRODUCTS MADE FROM ANIMAL
SKIN OR FUR

The government is starting many campaigns in various parts to

India to educate the people about the importance of wildlife.
People are also being urged not to purchase the products such
as the clothes, shoes, belts and various other items made from
animal skin or fur. If there is no or low demand for the products,
then eventually the hunting of animals will be contained to
some extent.
THE FINAL WORDS
The hunting and trading of animals are a growing menace that
needs to be controlled. If the animals are not protected, then it
can have a damaging effect on our earths ecosystem. Harsh
punishments must be given to the poachers for killing the
helpless animals. Every care must be taken to protect these
natural heritages of India so that they do not become a part of
history.
Note from Deb and Dave: Anshul was persistant in getting
us to publish this article and we do believe that poaching and
loss of habitat is a real threat in India and the rest of the world.
We feel that the more we can raise awareness and get the
word out, the more people will stand up and start taking action.
To find out more about how you can help, visit these
organizations:
The Nature Conservancy, World Wildlife Fund, Natural Defence
Council, The Sierra Club About.com has a great article breaking
down how money is spent by these organizations and more
at Top 10 Wildlife Conseration Organizations.

ANIMALS

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India has nearly 90,000 types of animals including over 350 mammals,
1,200 bird species and 50,000 plant species.
Many of these are only found on the subcontinent. These include the
Asian elephant, Bengal tiger, Asiatic lion, Indian rhinoceros and several
types of monkey.
There are also antelope, hyenas and jackals, and the increasingly endangered Indian wolf.

Male Asian Elephant

Asiatic lion

Indian rhinoceros

Lion-tailed Macaque

At last count, in 2008, there were only 1,411 Bengal tigers left in the wild. This is mainly because
of the destruction of their natural habitat and an exploding population. Project Tiger is trying to
conserve Indias national animal, which is the fastest mammal on earth.

Bengal Tiger

Each region in India has its own unique animals, birds and plants. In the deserts of Rajasthan
Indian gazelle and Asiatic wild assess roam. Monkeys swing from tree to tree in the tropical
forests. Shaggy yaks, blue sheep and musk deer scramble up the rocky Himalayan Mountains.

Macaque monkey

Himalayan Blue Sheep

Yaks in the Himalayas

Many different types of snake can be found in India. The most famous and feared is the the
King Cobra, it is very large and powerful. The Russell's Viper can also be found in India, it is
extremely poisonous.

Indian King Cobra

Russell's Viper

Did you know the national animal of India is the Tiger, its respected for its power and strength.

But there's only approximately 1000 tigers left in India today.

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