ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
Environment is being conserved in two ways:
- In-situ conservation (On site): Conservation of species in their natural habitat
- Ex-situ conservation (Off site): Conservation of species in non-native habitat
Examples of In-situ conservation are: Biosphere Reserves (18), National Parks (103), Wildlife Sanctuaries (536), Conservation Reserves (67), Community Reserves (26), Elephant Reserves (32), Tiger Reserves (49)*
* The bracket values shows their numbers in India
Examples of Ex-situ conservation are: Zoological Garden, Botanical Garden, Aquarium, Seed bank, Gene Bank, Cryo preservation
PROTECTED AREAS
Under Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, only four, i.e. National Park, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Conservation Reserves and Community Reserves are considered as protected areas
BIOSPHERE RESERVES
- The principal aim is conservation of plant species, animal species, landscape/seascape, local culture and values
- It is divided into three zones
- Core Area
- Based on first aim of CBD (Convention on Biological Diversity)
- Minimally disturbed area
- Effectively protected area
- Outside activities not allowed
- Buffer Area
- Based on 2nd aim of CBD
- Activities not having net negative impact on the surroundings allowed
- Research & education promoted ecotourism allowed
- Sustainable use principle is followed
- Aim is to enhance the conservation impact on core area
- Transitional zone
- Aim is to have balance between conservation of biodiversity and protection of local culture and values
- Human settlements allowed
- Activities regulated
- Extensive tourism can be allowed
In 1986, GOI launched Man & Biosphere (MAB) Reserve Programme
Under this, India’s 18 sites are declared as Biosphere Reserves
| Year | Name | Location | States | Type | Key Fauna |
1 | 1986 | Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve | Part of Waynad, Nagarhole, Bandipur and Mudumalai, Nilambur, Silent Valley | Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka | Western Ghats | Nilgiri tahr, lion-tailed macaque |
2 | 1988 | Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve | Parts of Chamoli District, Pithoragarh District & Bageshwar District | Uttarakhand | Western Himalayas | Snow Leopard, Himalayan Black Bear |
3 | 1989 | Gulf of Mannar | Indian part of Gulf of Mannar extending from Rameswaram island in the North to Kanyakumari in the South of Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka | Tamil Nadu | Coasts | Dugong |
4 | 1988 | Nokrek | In west Garo Hills | Meghalaya | East Himalayas | Red panda |
5 | 1989 | Sundarbans | Part of delta of Ganges and Brahmaputra river system | West Bengal | Gangetic Delta | Royal Bengal tiger |
6 | 1989 | Manas | Part of Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Barpeta, Nalbari, Kamrup and Darrang Districts | Assam | East Himalayas | Asiatic Elephant, Tiger, Assam roofed turtle, hispid hare, Golden Langur, pygmy hog |
7 | 1994 | Simlipal | Part of Mayurbhanj district | Odisha | Deccan Peninsula | Gaur, royal Bengal tiger, Asian elephant |
8 | 1998 | Dihang-Dibang | Part of Siang and Dibang Valley | Arunachal Pradesh | Eastern Himalaya | Mishmi Takin, Musk Deer |
9 | 1999 | Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve | Parts of Betul District, Hoshangabad District and Chhindwara District | Madhya Pradesh | Semi-Arid | Giant squirrel, flying squirrel |
10 | 2005 | Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve | Part of Annupur, Dindori and Bilaspur districts | Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh | Maikala Hills | Four-horned antelope, Indian wild dog, Sarus crane, White-rumped vulture, Philautus (Sacred grove bush frog) |
11 | 2008 | Great Rann of Kutch | Part of Kutch, Morbi, Surendranagar and Patan Districts. It is the largest Biosphere Reserve in India. | Gujarat | Desert | Indian wild ass |
12 | 2009 | Cold Desert | Pin Valley National Park and surroundings;Chandratal and Sarchu & Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary | Himachal Pradesh | Western Himalayas | Snow leopard |
13 | 2000 | Khangchendzonga | Parts of Kangchenjunga | Sikkim | East Himalayas | Snow leopard, red panda |
14 | 2001 | Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve | Neyyar, Peppara and Shenduruny Wildlife Sanctuaryand their adjoining areas | Kerala, Tamil Nadu | Western Ghats | Nilgiri tahr, elephants |
15 | 1989 | Great Nicobar | Southern most islands of Andaman and Nicobar Islands | Andaman and Nicobar Islands | Islands | Saltwater crocodile |
16 | 1997 | Dibru-Saikhowa | Part of Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts | Assam | East Himalayas | white-winged wood duck, water buffalo, black-breasted parrotbill, tiger, capped langur |
17 | 2010 | Seshachalam Hills | Seshachalam Hill Ranges covering parts of Chittoor and Kadapa districts | Andhra Pradesh | Eastern Ghats | Slender Loris |
18 | 2011 | Panna | Part of Panna District and Chhatarpur District | Madhya Pradesh | Catchment Area of the Ken River | Tiger, chital, chinkara, sambhar and sloth bear |
Out of these, 11 sites have been included in the UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves
They are
Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve | Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka | 2000 |
Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve | Tamil Nadu | 2001 |
Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve | West Bengal | 2001 |
Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve | Uttarakhand | 2004 |
Nokrek Biosphere Reserve | Meghalaya | 2009 |
Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve | Madhya Pradesh | 2009 |
Simlipal Biosphere Reserve | Odisha | 2009 |
Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve | Great Nicobar | 2013 |
Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve | Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh | 2012 |
Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve | Kerala and Tamil Nadu | 2016 |
Khangchendzonga National Park | Sikkim | 2018 |
NATIONAL PARK AND WILDLIFE SANCTUARIES
- Under section 18 of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, State govt. declare Wildlife Sanctuaries. Under section 35 of the same act, state govt. declares National Park
- The main aim is to protect & improve environment in the areas having significant floral, faunal, natural or ecological significance
- In NP, private activities not allowed, in WLS, it may be allowed
- For modification of boundary of NP, an approval from the law is required
- WLS can be promoted to NP, but NP cannot be demoted to WLS
- In WLS, private properties may be allowed to continue but not in NP however no new right can be acquired in NP and WLS
CONSERVATION AND COMMUNITY RESERVES
- Located on the outskirts of NP and WLS
- Private rights are not adversely affected
- In case of conservation reserve, land is owned by the govt. & in case of community reserve, land is surrendered by people
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