Protected Area Network National Initiative

Learning Outcomes:

1. Understanding the growth and structure of protected areas in India.
2. Differentiating wildlife sanctuaries, national parks, conservation reserves, and community reserves.
3. Exploring the criteria, functions, and characteristics of biosphere reserves.
4. Identifying the significance of biodiversity hotspots and coldspots.

Protected Areas (PAs): India’s adoption of the National Policy for Wildlife Conservation in 1970 and the Wildlife (Protection) Act in 1972 led to the expansion of protected areas, initially consisting of only 5 national parks and 60 sanctuaries. Presently, the network comprises 669 protected areas, covering 4.92% of the country’s geographical area. National conservation initiatives like Project Tiger and the Crocodile Breeding Project have further strengthened the network.

Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS) and National Parks

• The Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972 empowered the state to declare specific regions as wildlife sanctuaries due to their ecological or natural significance. Similarly, national parks can be declared under the Act without any specification differentiating them from sanctuaries.

Differences Between Sanctuaries and National Parks:

1. Protection: National parks have stricter protection measures than sanctuaries. Activities like livestock grazing are regulated in sanctuaries but are banned in national parks.
2. Focus: Wildlife sanctuaries may be species-specific, while national parks maintain a broader conservation focus.
3. Declaration Authority: Both sanctuaries and national parks can be declared by the Central Government under specific circumstances.

General Provisions for Sanctuary and National Park

Declaration by State Government:

1. Initial Notification: States can declare areas as sanctuaries or national parks due to ecological, geomorphological, or zoological significance.
2. Final Notification: Issued after the period for claims, specifying area limits.

Declared by Central Government:

1. The Central Government may declare areas as sanctuaries/national parks if deemed ecologically significant.

Boundaries:

1. Specified in notifications, involving the Chief Naval Hydrographer for territorial waters.
2. Boundary alterations require recommendations from the National Board for Wildlife.

Settlement of Rights:

1. States provide alternative fuel, fodder, and forest products to affected individuals.
2. A Collector inquires into rights over lands within protected areas.
3. New rights acquisition is restricted post-notification, except by inheritance.

Claims of Rights:

1. Claims are assessed by the Collector; if admitted, land can either be excluded, acquired, or rights may continue with government compensation.

Entry into Protected Areas:

1. Restricted to: public servants, residents permitted by the Chief Wildlife Warden, right holders over immovable property, and those passing through.
2. Entry permits are issued for purposes like research, tourism, and business transactions.

Important Note: The term “crocodilians” covers three families: Crocodylidae (crocodiles), Alligatoridae (alligators and caimans), and Gavialidae (gharials).

Conservation Reserves and Community Reserves

• Established through the 2003 Amendments to the Wildlife Protection Act, recognizing community-initiated conservation efforts.

Conservation Reserves:

1. Declared by state government consultations, adjacent to national parks and sanctuaries.
2. Managed by a Conservation Reserve Management Committee.

Community Reserves:

1. Notified on community or private land with agreement from landowners.
2. Aimed at enhancing socio-economic conditions while conserving wildlife.
3. Managed by a Community Reserve Management Committee.

Coastal Protected Areas

1. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs): Include national parks, sanctuaries, and ecosystems like coral reefs, mangroves, estuaries, and seagrass beds.
2. Categories:
3. Category-I: Intertidal or sub-tidal ecosystems.
4. Category-II: Islands with mixed marine and terrestrial ecosystems.
5. Category-IIIA: Sandy beaches beyond the intertidal line.
6. Category-IIIB: Evergreen or semi-evergreen forests on islands.

Sacred Groves of India

• Sacred Groves are forest patches dedicated to deities, protected by communities for religious beliefs.
• Ecological Significance:

1. Biodiversity: Preserve endemic species.
2. Water Recharge: Associated with water bodies aiding aquifer recharge.
3. Soil Conservation: Enhances soil stability and prevents erosion.

Classification:

1. Traditional Sacred Groves: Village deity resides here.
2. Temple Groves: Created around temples.
3. Groves around Burial Grounds.

Important Note: Sanskritisation and urbanization pose significant threats to sacred groves.

Biosphere Reserves (BR)

• Introduced by UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere (MAB) Programme in 1976 to integrate people and nature.
• Characteristics:

1. Protected areas with humans as an integral part.
2. Representative examples of biomes.
3. Include natural biomes, unique biodiversity, traditional landscapes, and areas for ecological restoration.

Functions:

1. Conservation: Ensure ecosystem integrity and monitor changes.
2. Development: Culturally and ecologically sustainable economic development.
3. Logistics Support: Facilitate research, monitoring, education, and knowledge-sharing.

Structure:

1. Core Zone: Non-disturbed habitat.
2. Buffer Zone: Surrounds the core; allows limited human activities.
3. Transition Zone: Outermost area supporting settlements, sustainable activities, and management practices.

Criteria for BRs:

1. Contain minimally disturbed core areas typical of a biogeographic unit.
2. Must include rare and endangered species.

Concept: World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) promotes collaboration among 610 reserves across 117 countries for sharing knowledge and best practices.

Biodiversity Hotspots

• Criteria:

1. Species Endemism: Over 1,500 endemic vascular plants.
2. Habitat Loss: At least 70% of original habitat lost.

India’s Biodiversity Hotspots:

1. Himalayas.
2. Indo-Burma.
3. Western Ghats & Sri Lanka.
4. Sundaland.

Biodiversity Coldspots:

• Areas with low diversity but unique species adapted to extreme environments, essential for conservation.

World Heritage Sites

• Sites listed by UNESCO for universal cultural or natural significance.
• Must meet criteria such as representing human creative genius, ecological processes, or conserving biodiversity.

Note: The International Day for Biological Diversity is observed on May 22 to increase awareness of biodiversity issues.

Interesting Fact: The oldest zoo in India, the Marble Palace Zoo in Calcutta, was established in 1854.

Multi-Column Table: Comparing Protected Areas

Type	Declared By	Focus	Management	Human Activity
National Park	State/Central Government	Broad Conservation	Chief Wildlife Warden	Strictly Prohibited
Wildlife Sanctuary	State/Central Government	Species-specific/Faunal	Chief Wildlife Warden	Regulated/Restricted
Conservation Reserve	State Government	Landscape Conservation	Conservation Mgmt Committee	Limited with Community Input
Community Reserve	State Government	Community-driven	Community Mgmt Committee	Integrated with Community Needs

Important Note: Biosphere Reserves focus on both conservation and sustainable development, differing from strictly protected areas like national parks.

MCQ: Which of the following is a key difference between a National Park and a Wildlife Sanctuary?

1. National Parks allow livestock grazing; sanctuaries do not.
2. Sanctuaries are species-specific, while national parks have a broader conservation focus.
3. National Parks are declared only by the Central Government.
4. Sanctuaries include marine ecosystems, national parks do not.
   Correct Answer: 2