Perspective : Protected Areas In India

Wildlife Protection Act 1972 - Provisions Chapter IV 

Image: Dharamagiri

In order to save the vanishing tiger and other life forms Wildlife Protection Act was constituted in India. This was in the year 1972 and thenceforth hunting of all wild species became illegal and punishable.  Hunting is permitted in extraordinary circumstance especially when an animal has become threat to human lives. Another reason for allowing hunting is in case of excessive damage caused to crops in agriculture fields. This permission is mired in  controversy but instances have occurred wherein it has been granted.    

The act also outlays the concept of National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary. Often known as protected areas, set of rules and regulations apply to both. Many amendments have taken place since the legislation, but only the concept in brief has been described here.   

Apart from protecting wildlife, the objective through conservation of habitats is to preserve all life forms in India.   

Wildlife Sanctuary 

In case of a Wildlife Sanctuary, the State Government will notify its intent if the area under consideration is of ecological and geological importance with prevalence of diverse life forms that constitute flora and fauna. The notification also specifies the area to be brought under the Wildlife Sanctuary.  

After notification powers are vested with the collector for land acquisition or rights. Continuation of rights under some circumstances with the permission of the Wildlife Warden is possible.    

The status of most of the wildlife sanctuaries in India is anywhere from being protected. Relocation requires political and administrative will which is severely lacking in this context. One of the largest wildlife sanctuary in MP, Nauradehi has more than sixty villages within the confines but no relocation has taken place so far.

In many of the cases there is a lack of funding, or the relocation itself is an immense exercise, hence the status is far away from the protection that is required. As compensation substantial amount is given to evacuee or in lieu a suitable land is awarded.      

Cattle grazing intrusion, illegal logging, poaching and even land use in these sanctuaries is rampant causing disturbance to wildlife which perhaps will never recover until unless corrective steps are taken with urgency. Although there is no dearth of conservation practices wherever enthusiastic staff prevails, increasing population and the uncontrolled resource utilization encumbers protected areas with biotic pressures. Immunization of livestock is also vested in the act. 

National Parks

NPs are notified in the same manner as the wildlife sanctuary, most of the conditions remain the same. Both types of protected areas may also be notified by the Central Government. This type of protected areas are symbol of National pride hence greater degree of protection is accorded to them.

No livestock grazing or other such activities that may be allowed in a sanctuary are permitted in NPs. Land acquisition and translocation are executed with greater urgency in National Parks. They have been better protected as well. The areas that have substantial tiger population have been brought under the aegis of Project Tiger Conservation Programme initiated by the Central Government.      

The success of conservation programs in India is checkered with some areas doing better than before. However large number of areas are facing immense problems as mentioned above. While the tiger population has risen marginally many species of plants and animals are still under the brink of extinction.     

Sentinels of the Wild

Recently the Karnataka Government has instituted a special task force to protect the tigers in the reserves. The need for specialized and highly trained task force has become imperative in order to deliver physical protection to tigers and other animals in their natural home. 

I emphasize on the words training and hence acclimatization. I have heard of an incident in Kanha whence a force constituting retired soldiers lost their wits whence accosted by a tiger. Some firing out of fear is also said to have taken place.  I do not know how far this is true but nevertheless such a situation can be visualized easily. 

Since the inception of protected areas protection has been the biggest farce. On my recent visit to Nauradehi WLS I could see intrusion at number of places, and there are fearless wood smugglers involved in felling and smuggling teak.    

The present infrastructure at our tiger reserves is weak the forest guard is a helpless entity and easily succumbs to local pressure or lucrative liaisons. In absence of higher support he merely does his duty without any intervention. I have rarely seen presence of high officials in neighboring reserve forests, same may apply to many protected areas in India. The forest guard are easily overpowered by poaching mafia and wood smugglers in protected areas hence a more supportive mechanism has to come into picture.     

The delay in relocation process is another disabling factor since intrusion and illegal activities in the forests  are done at the behest of criminals from neighboring communities. There are some gangs based in neighboring districts and states who regularly poach in nearby protected areas. These groups are more professional and armed and ruthless towards their objective.

An armed force with war front capability is the need of the day if debacle like Sariska and Panna have to be avoided. 

Festival Time at Tiger Parks

Festival times at Indian tiger reserves is an event of mad rush. The National Parks in India are subject to traffic beyond carrying capacity. All over there is a hustling bustling crowd of tourists and tourist mongers. Service providers and seekers. The poor animals suffer!

This is a perfect example of lack of foresight. Number of times forest officials and perhaps tourism managers have been advised to open up infrastructure in other wildlife places. This will, apart from bringing cost down for ecotourism, reduce pressure on major tiger reserves as Kanha National Park in Central India, Pench reserve, Corbett and Bandhavgarh National Park the most popular. Incidentally this is an earning time for wildlife resorts in National Parks. But than this is not responsible tourism.

Good thing that has happened is that number of entries into the park have been restricted in Central Indian National Parks. Similarly other keystone species should be highlight to take pressures off tiger parks. Few good examples are wild elephant safari at Corbett and Rhino tours at Kaziranga National Park in Assam state of India. Lion safari at Gir National Park should be promoted more. The list is endless. Even for birding there are lot other birding spots that need promotion. I have been to Nalsarovar and Thol at Gujarat near Ahmedabad they are prime birding areas but lack development.

There are lot of wildlife sanctuaries that can attract a large number of tourists - even those who cannot afford to visit major reserves due to high travel cost. This will benefit the locals in terms of employment and strengthen conservation effort.

The best that most wildlife sanctuaries in India offer are a rest house for accommodation which is not readily available to general public. The road and tourism infrastructure is in a mess here and organized wildlife safari is impossible here. These places offer good wildlife viewing and may harbor rare exotic wildlife. Tourism here will help in conservation as well as exploration of the forests.

Some ignored parks and sanctuaries are:

Sanjay National Park

Nauradehi Sanctuary

Bori Sanctuary

Satpura National Park

All in Madhya Pradesh

Achanakmar Sanctuary Chhattisgarh

Indravati National Park in Chhattisgarh.

and many many more in India where tourism can be developed.