CONSERVATION OF WILDLIFE IN INDIA

CONSERVATION OF WILDLIFE IN INDIA Due to continuous increase in the number of endangered species, many steps have been taken to protect and manage the wildlife of the country. Governmental and non-governmen­tal organisations at Centre and state levels have been set up to protect the wildlife. The wildlife management in India aims at (i) protection of natural habitats through a controlled and limited exploitation of species; (ii) maintenance of the viable number of species in protected areas (national park, sanctuary, biosphere reserve, etc.); (iii) establishment of biosphere reserves for plant and animal species; and (iv) protection through legislation.
Wildlife Conservation Programmes A number of Wildlife Acts have been made from time to time by the Union and the state governments. Important among them are:
(i) Madras Wild Elephant Preservation Act, 1873 (ii) All India Elephant Preservation Act, 1879
(iii) The Wild Birds and Animals Prohibition Act, 1912 (iv) Bengal Rhinoceros Preservation Act, 1932
(v) Assam Rhinoceros Preservation Act, 1954
(vi) Indian Board for Wildlife (IBWL), 1952
(vii) Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
Indian Board for Wildlife (lBWL) The IBWL IS the apex advisory body in the field of wildlife conservJtion in the country and is headed by the prime minister of India. Its main functions are:
. to advise the Central and state governments for promotion of conservation and effective control of poach­ing of wildlife;
. to advise on the setting up of national parks sanctuaries and zoological gardens;
. to advise on the policy regarding export of living animals, skins, furs, feathers and other wildlife products;
. to review the progress in the field of wildlife conservation and suggest measure for its improvement;
. to promote public interest in wildlife and on need of its preservation in harmony with natural and human environment;
.. to assist in the formation of wildlife societies;
. to act as central coordinating agency for these
societies; and
. to advise the union government on any matter that it may refer to the Board.
Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 The Act, accepted by all states except Jammu and Kashmir which has its own Act, governs wildlife conservation and protection of endan­gered species. The Act prohibits trade in rare and endan­gered species. The 1992 Act has been amended to make the provisions more effective. Endangered species of plants and animals have been brought under the purview of the Act.

Wildlife Institute of India (WII) The WII was estab­lished in 1982 under the Ministry of Agriculture and subsequently brought to the Ministry of Environment and Forest. The main mandate of this institute is to impart training to government and non-government personnel, to carry out research and training activities and advise on matter of conservation and management of wildlife re­sources.
Central Zoo Authority (CZA) The CZA with its headquarters in New Delhi was established in 1992 under the provisions of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 to upgrade the management of zoos in the cOlmtry with a view to enhance their role in conservation. It has 10 members and one whole time member secretary and is chaired by the Union minister for environment and forest.

National Zoological Park, New Delhi It is spread over an area of 176 acre and houses about 1200 animals and birds of 135 species. The effort at the Park is to maximise the visitor satisfaction by maintaining a healthy collection of a variety of endangered as well as common fauna.
Protected Areas Network Conservation of wildlife is a comprehensive system of protected areas. There are different categories of protected areas with different objec­tives. These include: national parks, sanctuaries, biosphere reserves, nature re'serves, natural monuments, cultural ,landscapes, etc.

There are 92 national parks and 500 wildlife sanctu­aries in the country covering an area of 1.56 lakh sq km. The Union government provides 100 per cent assistance to the states for non-recurring items of expenditure for national parks and sanctuaries, whereas 50 per cent assis­tance is provided for recurring items of expenditure also in case of national parks.