Wildlife Protection and Aquatic Ecosystems in India

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 The Central Government has enacted legislations like the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 for protection and conservation of Environment, Forest and Wildlife area of the country. The Government has also issued the Coastal Regulation Zone Notifications under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 with a view to inter-alia ensure livelihood security to the fisher communities and other local communities living in the coastal areas, to conserve and protect coastal stretches and its unique environment and its marine areas.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) implements Centrally Sponsored Schemes namely, ‘National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Eco-systems’ for conservation and management of wetlands; ‘Conservation and Management of Mangroves and Coral Reef’ for protection, conservation and management of mangroves and coral reef; and ‘Development of Wildlife Habitats’ for conservation and management of Protected Areas in the country.

National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems:

The goal of NPCA is to develop and maintain a network of healthy wetlands which contribute to human well-being through their diverse ecosystem services, as well as sustain diversity and populations of wetland-dependent species. The purpose is to mainstream full range of wetlands biodiversity and ecosystem services within developmental plans and programmes at various levels.

The NPCA aims to provide an integrated and scientific framework for conservation and sustainable management of wetlands in the country. 

The specific objectives of the plan are: 

1. Developing policy guidelines for conservation and sustainable management of wetlands; 

2. Supporting, promoting and strengthening conservation of prioritized wetlands through integrated management; 

3. Facilitating the development of a national inventory, and setting up an information decision support system for the management of wetlands; 

4. Strengthening the capacity of wetlands managers and stakeholders for effective management of wetlands; and

5. Strengthening the implementation of international commitments related to wetlands.

The Government under Centrally sponsored scheme for conservation & Management of Mangroves, extend assistance to Coastal State/UTs for implementation of action plans including survey and demarcation, alternation and supplementary livelihood, protection measures and education and awareness activities.

Similarly, the Government has also taken a number of steps to protect and conserve wild life and endangered species of flora and fauna. These,inter-alia, include:

1. Protected Areas, viz., National Parks, Sanctuaries, Conservation Reserves and Community Reserves covering important wild life habitats have been created all over the country under the provisions of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 to conserve wild animals and their habitats.

2. Rare and endangered species of animals found in India like Snow Leopard, Olive Ridley Turtles, Great Indian Bustard, Gangetic Dolphin, Dugong, etc. have been listed in Schedule-I of the WildLife (Protection) Act, 1972, thereby providing them highest degree of protection.

3. Wildlife Crime Control Bureau has been set up to gather intelligence about poaching and unlawful trade in wild animals and animal articles and to achieve inter-state and trans-boundary coordination in enforcement of wildlife laws.

4. The Ministry has formulated the 3rd‘National Wildlife Action Plan’ for a period of 2017 to 2031 to save wild animals in the country. The Plan focuses on landscape approach in conservation of all wildlife irrespective of where they occur. It also gives special emphasis to recovery of threatened species of wildlife

5. while conserving their habitats which includes terrestrial, inland aquatic, coastal and marine ecosystems.

6. Providing financial assistance under Centrally Sponsored Schemes viz. ‘Development of Wildlife Habitats’, ‘Project Tiger’ and‘Project Elephant.’

7. Providing financial assistance to States/UTs for the recovery programme of critically endangered species under the component Recovery programme for saving of critically endangered species and habitats under CSS- ‘Development of Wildlife Habitats’. Atotal of 22 critically endangered species have been identified under this programme.

8. A National Action Plan for conservation of migratory birds alongthe Central Asian Flyway has been launched.

9. Local communities have been involved in conservation of migratory species e.g. Amur Falcon in State of Nagaland; Whale Shark in Gujarat; Dugong in Tamil Nadu; Olive Ridley Turtles in Odisha.

10. India is a signatory to the Convention on Migratory Species(CMS). India has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding(MOU) on conservation of Siberian Cranes, Marine Turtles, Dugongs and Raptors.

11. In order to further strengthen conservation of wildlife, Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) are notified around National Parks and Sanctuaries under the provisions of the Environment (Protection)Act, 1986.

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1849868

http://moef.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/NPCA-MOEFCC-guidelines-April-2019-Low-resolution.pdf

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1797151

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1844643

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