The first National Wildlife Action Plan (NWAP) was
adopted in 1983, based upon the decision taken in the XV meeting of the Indian
Board for Wildlife held in 1982. The
plan had outlined the strategies and action points for wildlife conservation
which are still relevant. In the
meanwhile, however, some problems have become more acute and new concerns have
become apparent, requiring a change in priorities. Increased commercial use of
natural resources, continued growth of human and livestock populations and
changes in consumption patterns are causing greater demographic impacts. Biodiversity conservation has thus become a
focus of interest. The National Forest
Policy was also formulated in 1988, giving primacy to conservation. Hence this
new National Wildlife Action Plan.
Overview
·
The term wildlife encompasses all uncultivated flora and undomesticated
fauna. Every species has the right to live and every threatened species must be
protected to prevent its extinction.
·
Water, wilderness and wildlife are irrevocably interlinked. With mounting agricultural, industrial and
demographic pressures, wilderness areas, which are the richest repositories of
wildlife and biodiversity have either shrunk or disappeared. Their continued
existence is crucial for the long-term survival of the biodiversity and the
ecosystems supporting them.
·
Effective ecosystem conservation is the foundation of long-term
ecological and economic stability.
Natural processes, forests and other wild habitats recharge aquifers,
maintain water regimes and moderate the impact of floods, droughts and
cyclones. Thereby they ensure food
security and regulate climate change.
They are also a source of food, fodder, fuel and other products
supplementing the sustenance of local communities.
·
·
National planning has not taken into account the adverse ecological
consequences of shrinkage and degradation of wilderness from the pressures of
population and commercialisation. As a result, we have witnessed the alarming
erosion of our natural heritage, which comprises rivers, aquifers, forests,
grasslands, mountains, wetlands, coastal and marine habitats, arid lands and
deserts. This has also affected natural phenomena such as breeding, ranging and
migration of wildlife and geomorphological features.
·
The increased frequency and intensity of natural disasters, the
plummeting fertility of our soils and the accelerated degradation of our fresh
water resources have imposed a crippling financial burden on the nation. This
underscores the need to realign development priorities to take into account
ecological imperatives including the protection of wild species, which sustain
and enhance natural habitats, even as they depend on such areas for their
survival.
·
Rural development for communities inhabiting forestlands and other
wilderness regions suffers both from inadequate resources and inappropriate
measures. It has failed to address their strong dependence upon natural biomass
resources vis-à-vis the shrinking and degrading resource base. Farm
productivity has also declined due to lack of proper support, causing
impoverishment and enhanced pressures upon natural areas. Resource impoverished
communities have therefore begun to place even greater
pressure on the biomass of our forests and has led to widespread
alienation of people from the goals of nature conservation efforts.
·
Habitat loss caused by developmental projects such as dams, mines, etc. compound the problems of wildlife conservation.
·
The constraining impact of habitat loss has been compounded by illegal
trade fuelled by a rising demand of wildlife products and their lucrative
prices in the international market.
Ecological Security: To
protect the long-term ecological security of
Priority to Conservation: Assigning conservation a
high priority both at the level of central and state governments is an
imperative. Its integration in all development programmes, evolving appropriate
funding mechanism, enhancement of financial allocations and provision of
adequate personnel with requisite expertise has to be ensured, to arrest the
ongoing trend of degradation and to restore wildlife and its habitat.
Primacy for Water and
Sustenance: Water must be recognised as a prime produce of natural forests.
Forests must be managed to optimise and protect hydrological systems. The
National Forest Policy of 1988, which emphasises conserving our natural
heritage in the form of natural forests, flora and fauna, is in consonance with
this imperative. A critical imperative is also to recognise forests, wetlands
and other natural habitats as a source of survival for millions of people, in
particular as a source of NTFP and aquatic resources.
In situ Conservation: Primacy must be accorded to
in situ conservation, the sheet
anchor of wildlife conservation. Ex situ measures in zoological parks and gene banks may supplement
this objective, without depleting scarce wild resources.
Peoples’ Support for Wildlife: Local communities traditionally depend on natural biomass and they must, therefore, have the first lien on such resources. Such benefits must be subject to assumption of a basic responsibility to protect and conserve these resources by suitably modifying unsustainable activities. Conservation programmes must attempt to reconcile livelihood security with wildlife protection through creative zonation and by adding new Protected Area (PA) categories in consultation with local communities, such as an inviolate core, conservation buffer, community buffer and multiple use areas.
Man-Animal
Conflict: While increasing man-animal conflict is an outcome of
shrinkage, fragmentation and deterioration of habitats, it has caused
destruction of wildlife and generated animosity against wild animals and
protected areas. This is a crucial management issue, which needs to be
addressed through innovative approaches.
Adopting and implementing
strategies and needs outlined above will call for action covering the following
parameters:
I Strengthening
and Enhancing the Protected Area Network
II Effective Management of Protected Areas
III Conservation of Wild and Endangered Species and Their Habitats
IV Restoration of Degraded Habitats outside Protected Areas
V Control of Poaching, Taxidermy and Illegal
Trade in Wild Animal and
Plant Species
VI Monitoring and Research
VII Human Resource Development and Personnel Planning
VIII Ensuring Peoples’ Participation in Wildlife Conservation
IX Conservation Awareness and Education
X Wildlife Tourism
XI Domestic Legislation and International Conventions
XII Enhancing Financial Allocation for
Ensuring Sustained Fund Flow to the
Wildlife Sector
XIII Integration
of National Wildlife Action Plan with Other Sectoral Programmes
I.
Strengthening and Enhancing the Protected Area Network
In
case readjustment of legal status and boundaries of existing and proposed PAs
is required to be done, the same must be done on the basis of ecological,
natural boundaries and features. Denotifications and deletions of areas from
PAs to accommodate commercial or non-forest activities must be avoided.
Action required
1. Statewise review of the PA network to identify
the gaps with reference to the parameters mentioned above and to rectify the
inadequacies.
2. Create a series of inviolate areas in
representative biogeographic zones and provide linkages between all PAs within
biogeographic sub-divisions.
Priority projects
1.1 Complete the review and publication of the 1988 WII report on Protected Area Network.
Timing: To complete by the year 2002.
Responsibility: MoEF and WII.
1.2 Develop guidelines and identify sites that can potentially be declared as Conservation Reserves and Community Conserved Areas under Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
Timing: To start in 2002 and complete by the year 2005.
Responsibility: MoEF, WII and scientific institutions.
1.3 Follow up with all States/Union Territories, for establishment of new Protected Areas including the proposed Conservation Reserves and Community Reserves. Implementation of the recommendations given in WII’s PA network report.
Timing: To start in 2002 and complete by the year 2007.
Responsibility: MoEF and State Governments.
2.1 Complete legal procedures for final notification of existing and new PAs. Readjustments of boundaries of NP/WLS if required should be done according to ecological and natural physical features.
Timing: To start in 2002 and ongoing.
Responsibility: MoEF and State Governments.
2.2 Prepare a time bound programme to assist voluntary relocation and rehabilitation of people living in national parks and sanctuaries and get it implemented through State Governments.
Timing: To start in 2002 and complete by the year 2011.
Responsibility: MoEF, State Governments, UT, Ministry of Tribal Welfare, Ministry of Rural Development and NGOs.
2.3 Institute a five-year review of the existing
Protected Area Network in
Timing: To start in 2002 and complete by the year 2003. To be repeated every five years.
Responsibility: MoEF, State Governments, assisted by WII and other scientific institutions.
Overview and objectives
Each PA should have its own management plan, based on sound scientific and ecological data. Strict conservation zones will require more protection than management. These areas should be free of all urban facilities, tourism and public thoroughfare. Degraded habitats, or areas where conditions need to be created to favour endangered species, will also need extra-careful managing and monitoring.
The guiding principle
for PA managers should be to minimise the adverse impact on natural processes
by human acts. These may include existence of exotics, monocultures, fires,
poaching, diseases, timber felling, removal of dead wood, contamination from
toxics and pollution. Management plans should be based on scientific knowledge,
adequate field data and traditional knowledge and expertise. They should also
include periodic assessment of the contribution of PAs towards augmenting water
resources of the region.
In all situations, the
prime management objective must be to protect the PA from adverse impacts and
thus promote natural regeneration, as this is the surest way to ensure the
perpetuity or return of wild indigenous flora and fauna. The introduction of
exotic species, or planting monoculture harms the
interests of wildlife conservation and must be prohibited.
From their inception,
management plans should seek to involve local communities and make them aware
of PA objectives including the control of fire, prevention of overgrazing,
disease and poaching. Their involvement in the enhancement of exploitable
biomass, including wild foods, fodder and fuelwood in areas outside the PAs should be sought. This
would serve the dual objectives of reducing biotic pressures on the PAs and to
buffer the impact of wildlife on humans, crops and livestock. Since activities
that are not in the interest of wildlife conservation are not permissible,
populations within the existing PAs, desirous of availing civic and other
amenities should be encouraged and aided to move out.
1. Preparation
of scientific, ecologically-sound, PA-specific management plans by teams of
officials, experts and local community representatives, incorporating case
studies of past management successes and failures. Strict conservation zones
and degraded habitats to be identified for each PA and special management
measures to be formulated for these areas.
2. Consolidate management practices and
infrastructure of existing PAs and provide linkages between management actions
of all PAs within the biogeographic sub-division.
3. Man-animal conflicts to be mitigated in and
around PAs.
4. Restoration and enhancement of water sources to
be done in all terrestrial PAs. Listing of streams and rivers in these
terrestrial PAs, with estimates of flow and seasonal duration must also be
done.
5. Periodic SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses,
Opportunities, Threats) to be undertaken for each Protected Area.
Priority
projects
1.1
Review and revise existing manuals on preparation of management plans and
forest division working plans to emphasise biodiversity conservation, landscape
level planning and local community participation.
Timing: To start in 2002 and
complete by the year 2003.
Responsibility: MoEF, WII and State
Governments.
1.2
Preparation of scientific and ecologically sound management plans should be
finalised for all Protected Areas.
Timing: To be completed by 2002.
Responsibility: MoEF and State Governments.
1.3
Set up a central monitoring mechanism to ascertain timely preparation of
management plans/schemes, to review quality of PA management plans and monitor its
implementation
Timing: 2002
Responsibility: MoEF.
1.4
Institute rewards for PA staff for successful restoration of habitat and
conservation of threatened species/communities.
Timing: To start in 2002 and
ongoing.
Responsibility: MoEF and State Governments
2.1
Review management practices and infrastructure of all national parks and
sanctuaries, hold workshops for training field personnel and local people in
forest, wetland, desert, mountain and marine PA management with the aim of
capacity building in habitat management and monitoring.
Timing: To start in 2002 and
complete by the year 2016.
Responsibility: MoEF, WII, State
Governments and scientific institutions.
2.2
Institutionalise a five-year periodic review of Protected Areas on parameters
such as status of management, protection, habitat restoration, diversity
indices, conservation of threatened and indicator species, adequacy of
infrastructure, staff and financial resources and socio-economic status of
local communities.
Timing: To start in 2006, repeated
every five years.
Responsibility: MoEF, Scientific
Institutions, NGOs and HWLWs.
3.1
Development and standardisation of techniques for capture, translocation and
rehabilitation of species (including mass capture), and dissemination of
knowledge and training therein.
Timing: To start in 2002 and
ongoing.
Responsibility: MoEF and WII.
3.2
Help evolve innovative techniques, including change in cropping pattern for
prevention and diversion of crop raiding wildlife populations.
Timing: To start in 2002 and
ongoing.
Responsibility: MoEF, State Governments and
Scientific Institutions.
3.3
Timely and adequate compensation to prevent revenge killings of wild animals
and initiation of crop insurance scheme.
Timing: To start in 2002 and
ongoing.
Responsibility: MoEF and State Governments.
4.1
Demonstrate the hydrological contribution of the PA network by measuring the
lean season flow of water from PAs. Illustrate how wildlife conservation
through natural regeneration in catchment areas of water bodies and reservoirs
can reduce siltation and regulate year round water flow.
Timing: To start in 2002 and
complete by the year 2007.
Responsibility: MoEF and Scientific
Institutions.
5.1
Provide to each PA technical assistance for restoration of degraded habitats,
control and eradication of exotic invasive species. Restoration
processes and ecology to be monitored and documented.
Timing: To start in 2002 and
ongoing.
Responsibility: MoEF, BNHS, SACON, WII and
Universities.
5.2
Provide effective prevention of fire as well as ecologically unsustainable
grazing and other exploitation in national parks and sanctuaries by involving
local communities through incentives and alternatives.
Timing: To start in 2002 and
ongoing.
Responsibility: State Governments.
6.1
Annual Report of all PAs to be prepared and placed before the State Wildlife
Advisory Boards. These should include management achievements and also
principal threats to the PA or wildlife, including those from sources such as
dams, mines, roads, tourism projects, chemical pollution, etc., and measures
taken to redress the threats. Views of the Honorary Wildlife Wardens may also
be taken into account while preparing the Annual Reports.
Timing: To start in 2002 and
ongoing.
Responsibility: PA managers and State Governments.
The aim of the NWAP is to conserve in situ all taxa of flora and fauna along with the full range of ecosystems they inhabit. The ecological requirements for the survival of threatened, rare and endangered species, together with their community associations of flora and fauna, must be ensured.
The isolation of animal species due to fragmentation of habitats reduces relict populations to unviable levels, leading to local extinction. For highly endangered species like the Great Indian Bustard, Bengal Florican, Asiatic Lion, Wild Buffalo, Dugong, the Manipur Brow Antlered Deer and the like, alternative homes are imperative. Where in situ conservation efforts are unlikely to succeed, ex situ captive breeding and rehabilitation measures may be necessary, in tandem with the preparation of their wild habitats to receive back captive populations, specially in respect of lesser-known species where status and distribution of wild animals are not fully known.
Alteration of genetic purity of certain wild species through inbreeding with domesticated, feral counterparts is yet another grave impending threat, seriously jeopardising genetic purity of species like the Wild Buffalo, Wild Pig and Jungle Fowl. It must be ensured that natural phenomena involving inter alia pollination, breeding, feeding, movements and migrations are not hampered but assisted.
1. To identify all endangered species of flora and fauna, study their needs and survey their environs and habitats to establish the current level of security and the nature of threats. Conduct periodic reviews of flora and fauna species status, and correlate the same with the IUCN Red Data List every three years.
2. Invest special care and resources to protect habitats that harbour highly endangered species especially those having single population and a high degree of endemism.
3. Initiate action to prevent the “genetic swamping” of wild species.
4. To undertake a programme of ex situ captive breeding and rehabilitation in the wild for critically endangered species in accordance with IUCN guidelines, after developing requisite techniques and capabilities in this regard.
5. To publish flora and fauna species status papers periodically, which should be translated into local languages.
6. To declare identified areas around Protected Areas and corridors as ecologically fragile under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, wherever necessary.
1.1 Initiate a time-bound plan to identify and
conduct status surveys of all endangered species covering all groups of rare
and threatened species of flora and fauna. Provide protection to the environs
and habitats of all rare and threatened species of flora and fauna under PAs.
Timing: To start in 2002 and
complete by the year 2009.
Responsibility: MoEF and Scientific Institutions.
1.2
Identify for each threatened species the key threats to survival and develop an
action plan to deal with the problems. Due priority to be
given to conservation of less charismatic species of both flora and fauna,
especially about which little information exists.
Timing: To start in 2002 and
ongoing.
Responsibility: MoEF, State Governments,
IIT, Scientific Institutions and NGOs.
1.3
Review and update flora and fauna species status every three years to correlate
with the IUCN Red Data List.
Timing: To start in 2002 and
ongoing.
Responsibility: MoEF, ZSI and BSI.
2.1
Creation of a new Centrally Sponsored Scheme for assisting the State
Governments in protection of wildlife and its habitat outside Protected Areas.
Timing: To start in 2002 and
ongoing.
Responsibility: MoEF, State Governments and
NGOs.
2.2
Identify suitable alternative homes for single isolated populations of species
such as Jerdon’s Courser, Asiatic Lion, Manipur Deer, Wroughton’s Free Tailed
Bat and the like, and manage the same as Protected Areas effectively.
Timing: To start in 2002 and
ongoing.
Responsibility: MoEF, State Governments,
Scientific Institutions and NGOs.
2.3
Special schemes for the welfare of local people outside PAs to be taken up on
priority basis where critically endangered species are found. These Centrally
Sponsored Schemes will be for helping the local people to get better access to
health, education and alternate ways to meet their everyday livelihood needs.
Timing: To start in 2002 and
ongoing.
Responsibility: MoEF, State Governments and
NGOs.
3.1
Take immediate steps for preventing the entry of domestic and feral species
that may lead to genetic swamping. Safeguards have to be taken to prevent wild
populations of such species from straying out of their habitats.
Timing: To start in 2003 and
ongoing.
Responsibility: MoEF, State Governments and
NGOs.
3.2
Genetically pure populations to be safeguarded from future genetic
contamination and where genetic swamping has occurred, to phase out such
swamping.
Timing: To start in 2002 and
ongoing.
Responsibility: MoEF and scientific
institutions.
3.3
Take preventive action against the introduction of related species which may
cause interbreeding among taxa and hybridisation. Further introductions of
floral and faunal species exotic to the locality must not be permitted in
Protected Areas, nor in areas from where they are
likely to invade protected areas.
Timing: To start in 2003 and
ongoing.
Responsibility: MoEF, State Governments,
Scientific Institutions and NGOs.
4.1
Develop capabilities for planned breeding and reintroduction of captive bred
populations of identified endangered species in accordance with IUCN
guidelines.
Timing: To start in 2003 and
ongoing.
Responsibility: CZA, State Governments and
Scientific Institutions.
4.2
Develop the technical expertise for capture, translocation, rehabilitation
of species at 10 selected sites.
Timing: To start in 2002 and
complete by the year 2007.
Responsibility: WII, State Governments and
Scientific Institutions.
5.1
Publications of species status papers periodically covering all rare,
endangered and vulnerable species of flora and fauna. Translation of these
papers in relevant local languages will also be done.
Timing: To start in 2002 and
ongoing.
Responsibility: MoEF, BSI, ZSI and
Scientific Institutions.
5.2
All identified areas around Protected Areas and wildlife corridors to be
declared as ecologically fragile under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
Timing: To complete by the year
2004.
Responsibility: MoEF.
The restoration and management of degraded habitats outside PAs is a vital objective, both to provide sufficient habitat for spatial movement of spill-over species outside PAs, and to provide biological resources needed by the local communities to prevent their dependency on PA resources. This is also critical to the linking of PAs with effective wildlife corridors to provide for genetic continuity and prevention of insular wild animal populations. Land use policies in keeping with the objectives of biodiversity conservation are vital in such zones.
Degraded habitats outside PAs and their needs must urgently be identified for restoration, which would involve a combination of protection, soil and water conservation and planting of local species, coupled with the removal of exotics. The primary strategy for restoration should be through natural regeneration with the help of wild pollinators and seed dispersal. Grasslands, wetlands and common grazing lands are extremely valuable for wildlife conservation. Their productivity potential needs to be restored urgently. Incentives to promote wildlife conservation on private lands also need to be given.
2. The policies of other ministries require to be assessed and suggestions/changes be recommended, so that budgets allocated by different sectors can be harmonised and used to enhance the process of natural regeneration outside PAs through carefully monitored soil and water conservation works and effective protection activities. Plantations of appropriate indigenous species should be done wherever necessary, apart from working with scientific institutions specialising in ecological restoration of degraded ecosystems.
1.1 Identify degraded habitats including forests, grasslands, wetlands, around each Protected Area and in potential ‘wildlife corridors’ where protection and restoration will yield best results. Identify key factors responsible for degradation and prepare recovery plans to restore degraded areas.
Timing: To start in 2002 and
complete by the year 2004.
Responsibility: MoEF, State Governments,
Scientific Institutions, NGOs and local people.
1.2
Identify areas outside the present national park and sanctuary network, sites
of community managed areas like sacred groves and tanks, pasture lands, etc.
where
endemic or localised threatened species may continue to exist, and support
their
continued conservation.
Timing: To start in 2002 and
ongoing.
Responsibility: MoEF, State Governments,
NGOs and Scientific Institutions.
2.1
Develop time-bound recovery plan for degraded ecosystems and areas in non-forest
lands, in consultation with other ministries and implement the same.
Timing: To start in 2002 and
complete by the year 2011.
Responsibility: MoEF, Rural Development
Ministry, Agriculture Ministry, Ministry of Water Resources, Planning
Commission, State Governments, Scientific Institutions, NGOs and local people.
V. Control of Poaching, Taxidermy &
Illegal Trade in Wild Animal & Plant Species
Overview and objectives
Poaching and illegal trade in wild animals and plants and their parts and products has emerged as one of the most serious threats to wildlife in the country. If not controlled effectively, it has the potential to substantially nullify achievements in other fields of wildlife conservation. It may even result in extinction of some plants and animals and substantial decline in the wild prey populations leading to crop raiding by wild ungulates, increased incidences of livestock predation and sometimes loss of human life by carnivores. This has alienated the communities in several locations and they tend to resort to revenge killings and sometimes connive with poachers. Man-animal conflict situations require urgent amelioration to avoid these becoming a source of retaliatory action against the animals in question by the affected people, and later foci of illegal trade in animals parts and products. This trend has to be reversed. Although some efforts have been made for better coordination between wildlife managers and law and order enforcement agencies, yet prevention of wildlife crime remains a priority area in wildlife conservation and related law enforcement.
India, as a signatory to CITES, is obliged to take all necessary steps to implement the provisions of the treaty to ban international commercial trade in Appendix-I species of plants and animals and regulate trade in Appendix-II and III species.
Requisite information
and database on wildlife offences is scanty. Resultantly, there is little scope
to devise suitable strategies to combat it effectively. Wildlife crime
detection and follow-up is conducted in an ad hoc manner by most enforcement
agencies due to lack of investigation skills and infrastructure.
Large number of court cases
dealing with wildlife crime continue to remain
pending over long periods. Even the cases that get decided do little to deter
offenders,
as punishment awarded is often meagre. Slow rate of conviction in court
proceedings
leads to the accused getting easy exemption from appearances, thus prolonging
the evidence stage. Insufficient or badly presented evidence often coupled with
non-availability of witnesses, frivolous appeals and interim orders stall most
cases at trial courts. There is urgent need to provide adequate professional
skills in prosecution matters related to wildlife offences for the frontline
staff.
Wildlife forensics as a science and tool for wildlife crime prevention and control needs to be fostered.
Commercially valuable
animals and plants are more vulnerable to poaching and smuggling. Some examples
are poaching of tiger, elephant, leopard, rhino, bear, musk deer, snakes,
turtles and their eggs, monitor lizards, mongoose, jackals, pangolins, otters,
several fish and marine invertebrates, butterflies, birds like pheasants,
Edible-nest Swiftlet and plants like orchids.
Some regions, specially international borders of India are vulnerable to illegal trade in wildlife. Lucrative prices offered for wild animal skins, bones, ivory, musk, bear bile and other wildlife products as well as endangered species of butterfly, birds and plant products has significantly enhanced the pecuniary gains of illegal trade. This has led to the growth of a large number of mafia-like operations, which the present staff and infrastructure find difficult to counter. The Judiciary and the Police also do not have the desired sensitivity to appreciate the need for timely apprehension and disposal of cases relating to wildlife offences. A number of such cases pending in courts remain untried for several years. The Subramanian Committee and the High Court Committee have made certain relevant recommendations in this regard, and efforts are on at the centre and state to implement these.
Media, has of late started taking welcome interest in wildlife issues for a well-researched and responsible coverage.
Action required
1. Effective prevention of poaching and illegal
wildlife trade.
2. Setting up of designated courts to try wildlife and forest-related offences.
3. Wildlife forensic lab at the WII needs to be strengthened. Regional forensic labs also need to be set up in states.
4. International land borders with Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and Bangladesh and coastal waters to be made more secure to prohibit smuggling of wildlife.
5. Setting up of a National Wildlife Crime Cell with links to such units to be established at the State level. A professional set-up for gathering intelligence on wildlife criminals for effective and timely action is urgently needed at the States as well as the GoI level.
6. Speedy and effective amelioration of man-animal conflict situations require professional and innovative approaches including recourse to suitable insurance schemes. This may require amendments in insurance laws.
1.1
Reorganise forest staff into viable units and arm them with sophisticated
weapons and other equipment to combat poaching and the illicit trade
effectively. This includes better and faster communication facilities.
Timing: To start in 2002 and end by
2003.
Responsibility: MoEF and States/UTs.
1.2
The forestry/wildlife personnel must have a status on par with the police in
the use of weapons and other equipment to enable them to combat poaching and
illicit trade effectively.
Timing: To complete by the year
2003.
Responsibility: MoEF and State Govts.
1.3
Institute awards for bravery and meritorious service. Necessary amendments in
the relevant rules and codes should be made to this effect.
Timing: To start in 2003 and
ongoing.
Responsibility: MoEF and State Govts.
1.4
State/UTs to provide all needed training assistance in their respective forest
and wildlife circles for an effective disposal of wildlife related cases
through special courts and public prosecutors especially assigned for the
purpose.
Timing: To start in 2002 and
ongoing.
Responsibility: MoEF and State Govts.
1.5
Provide for ‘Secret Funds’ to assist the state government for intelligence
gathering in cases of illegal trade and seizures of wildlife species and their
products.
Timing: To start in 2002 and
ongoing.
Responsibility: MoEF, State Governments and
Ministry of Finance.
1.6
Outreach of all enforcement agencies especially, police, paramilitary forces,
Customs, Coast Guard, Intelligence agencies and the like to be strengthened
through meetings and training programmes. To ensure priority action by them for
control of illegal trade in wildlife.
Timing: To start in 2002 and
ongoing.
Responsibility: MoEF, State
Governments/UTs, Home Ministry, Defence Ministry and Ministry of Finance.
2.1
To provide special Courts for effective implementation of the WLPA, 1972
especially in States or regions which have a large number of wildlife cases
pending in the courts of law.
Timing: To start in 2002 and
ongoing
Responsibility: State
Governments/MoEF/Ministry of Home/Ministry of Agriculture.
3.1
Wildlife forensic lab at WII to be strengthened. Regional forensic labs also
need to be set up in the States.
Timing: To start in 2002 and
complete by the year 2003.
Responsibility: MoEF, State Governments and
Scientific Institutions.
3.2
Prepare identification material of all restricted trade plant and animal
species and their products for use by all enforcement agencies.
Timing: To start in 2002 and
complete by the year 2003.
Responsibility: MoEF, NGOs and Scientific
Institutions.
4.1
Set up extra and specialised vigilance at exit points of illegal trade in
wildlife species
and their products with help from other enforcement agencies such as Customs,
Army, Coast Guard, Police
Timing: To start in 2002 and
complete by the year 2003.
Responsibility: MoEF, State Governments,
Home Ministry and Defence Ministry.
5.1 Set up special cell to formulate and disperse required information about wildlife species and the products in wildlife trade, consequence of such action on our national heritage and national economy through appropriate methods including the Internet. Emphasis should also be given on smaller animal species and plants.
Timing: To start in 2002 and
complete by the year 2009.
Responsibility: MoEF, NGOs and Scientific
Institutions.
6.1
Provide special funds to judiciously and effectively deal with compensation
payments in all States/UTs against assessed damage to life and property by wild
animals.
Timing: To start in 2002 and
ongoing.
Responsibility: MoEF and State Governments.
6.2
To initiate special schemes to assist in the rehabilitation of individuals who
continue to follow old, presently illegal and unsustainable practices of
wildlife use. Alternate livelihood practices need to be provided.
Timing: To start in 2002 and
ongoing.
Responsibility: NGOs.
VI. Monitoring and Research
Overview and
objectives
Monitoring and research are tools for a better
understanding of nature, its functions and to enable optimum or sustainable
utilisation of its resources, as well as to evaluate the conservation status of
species and habitats and the extent of impact of conservation endeavours undertaken.
Such understanding will also help reduce man-animal conflicts. There is a
marked deficiency in baseline biological data and on information we need to
manage and monitor PAs. We know little about the impact of human activities on
wildlife habitats, or about the full range of benefits that flow from
biodiversity-rich old growth, natural forests and ecosystems. While we know,
for instance, that forests help to maintain water regime, no studies are in
place to quantify the lean season flows of water out of protected areas. Not
much is known about techniques, which could inter
alia help restore, at a very minimal cost, degraded habitats, whose run-off
are sedimenting reservoirs of most large dams, rivers and other wetlands.
Decisions to exploit resources in PAs are often
based on expediency rather than hard data and this sometimes results in
permanent damage to fragile ecosystems. Experimental research on alternatives
to resources from the wild habitats is vital. There is need to establish
benchmarks for measuring diversity and to monitor the status of
indicator/flagship/threatened species of flora and fauna and their breeding
biology. Applied research is also needed to help overcome specific management
problems in protected areas. Multi-disciplinary integrated research
encompassing scientific and socio-economic aspects related to PA management
needs to be encouraged.
Research for making use of ethnic knowledge in
wildlife conservation and management as well as in applied research to obtain
IPRs (Intellectual Property Rights) capable of benefiting the local communities
and country should receive special attention.
Action
required
1. Networking
between WII, BNHS, SACON, BSI, ZSI, IISC, Universities and other smaller
institutions should help evolve integrated, multi-disciplinary research in
representative ecosystems. This will require greater financial allocations for
field research and monitoring through centrally sponsored schemes.
2. Focus
research to acquire a better country-wide understanding of diversity indices,
populations of indicators and endangered species and habitat conditions.
3. Review current management practices and translate
research findings into management applications and effective monitoring
systems.
4. Study ethnic knowledge and apply it to wildlife
management and work with communities to obtain IPRs to benefit both the
communities and the nation.
5. Monitor and document the impact of human
activities on natural habitats, including the spread of disease, impact of
fires started to facilitate grazing and NTFP collections within and outside
PAs.
6. Document and assess damage done by large projects
and intrusions, such as dams, mines, canal systems, roads and the use of
pesticides and chemicals.
7. Prepare research priorities for PAs, which would
be consolidated into a State Wildlife Research Plan (5 year period).
8. Review present research approval procedures to
ensure research in biological conservation.
9. Identification of wildlife corridors between
important PAs harbouring endangered and long ranging species.
1.1
Establish a National Wildlife Research Coordination Committee to prioritise,
monitor and coordinate research needs and monitor and coordinate policy,
strategy and research undertaken by institutions and universities, particularly
those funded by the government.
Timing: To start in 2002 and
complete by the year 2004.
Responsibility: MoEF and WII.
2.1
To carry out research on various aspects for a better understanding of
diversity indices, populations of indicators
and endangered species and habitat conditions.
Timing: To start in 2002 and
ongoing.
Responsibility: WII and other scientific
institutions.
3.1
Undertake long-term projects to assess water contribution of PAs and connected
forests in terms of lean season flows, ground water recharge and flood and
drought mitigation.
Timing: To start in 2002 and
complete by the year 2007.
Responsibility: WII and Scientific
Institutions.
3.2
To acquire, evaluate and disseminate available scientific findings and data to
enable better management of species and habitats.
Timing: To start in 2002 and
complete by the year 2006.
Responsibility: MoEF, States/UTs and WII.
4.1
Coordinate the study of ethnic knowledge with anthropological/social science
institutions with a view to apply such knowledge to wildlife management and to
obtain IPRs to benefit local communities and the nation.
Timing: To start in 2002 and
ongoing.
Responsibility: WII and Scientific
Institutions.