Protected area network in India

Protected Area network in India: Key highlights for UPSC IAS exam

Bio-Diversity

It can be defined as the variability among the living organisms from all the sources including terrestrial, marine along with the other aquatic ecosystems and also the ecological complexes. It also includes the diversity that exists within the species, along with that of ecosystems.

Services which are provided by Biodiversity

• Ecosystem Services- It includes soil formation along with nutrient storage and ecosystem maintenance.
• Biological services- It involves food, products of wood, medicinal resources along with future resources.
• Soil Services- This covers Research, Education and monitoring, tourism, cultural values.

Due to the above-mentioned benefits, one cannot deny the fact that there lies a need to conserve biodiversity.

Biodiversity Conservation

• It can be carried out in two ways including In-situ conservation and Ex-situ Conservation.
• In situ Conservation: It involves the conservation of plants and animals in their natural habitat.
• Ex-situ Conservation: It means conserving biodiversity outside the areas where they naturally occur.
• By taking into consideration the In-situ Conservation, we can divide it among the Indian and the global level.
• Global Initiative involves Biosphere Reserves, Biodiversity Hotspots, World Heritage Sites.
• Indian initiative involves Protected areas.

Protected Areas

This involves National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Conservation Reserves, and the Community Reserves.

National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries

• India is one of the 17 Mega-diverse countries as India covers 2.8% land area of the world. Thus, about 7-8% of species of the world are available in India.
• In 1988, 54 National Parks existed in India but in the Present times, the number has escalated, and now, there are 104 National Parks. Thus, the increase in the number of the National Parks itself depicts that path of India in conserving biodiversity.
• National Parks along with the Wildlife Sanctuaries can be defined as those areas that have adequate ecological, geomorphological, and natural significance.
• In 1972, the Wildlife Protection Act took place according to which, it is the responsibility of the State government to declare the National Parks along with the declaration of Wildlife Sanctuaries.
• But the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 did not differentiate between the National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary, in terms of its conservation value.

List of National Parks in India:

State	S.No.	Name of State/ Protected Area	Year of Establishment	Area (km2)
Andaman & Nicobar Islands	1	Campbell Bay NP	1992	426.23
Andaman & Nicobar Islands	2	Galathea Bay NP	1992	110
Andaman & Nicobar Islands	3	Mahatama Gandhi Marine (Wandoor) NP	1983	281.5
Andaman & Nicobar Islands	4	Middle Button Island NP	1987	0.44
Andaman & Nicobar Islands	5	Mount Harriett NP	1987	46.62
Andaman & Nicobar Islands	6	North Button Island NP	1987	0.44
Andaman & Nicobar Islands	7	Rani Jhansi Marine NP	1996	256.14
Andaman & Nicobar Islands	8	Saddle Peak NP	1987	32.54
Andaman & Nicobar Islands	9	South Button Island NP	1987	0.03
Andhra Pradesh	1	Papikonda NP	2008	1012.86
Andhra Pradesh	2	Rajiv Gandhi (Rameswaram) NP	2005	2.4
Andhra Pradesh	3	Sri Venkateswara NP	1989	353.62
Arunachal Pradesh	1	Mouling NP	1986	483
Arunachal Pradesh	2	Namdapha NP	1983	1807.82
Assam	1	Dibru-Saikhowa NP	1999	340
Assam	2	Kaziranga NP	1974	858.98
Assam	3	Manas NP	1990	500
Assam	4	Nameri NP	1998	200
Assam	5	Rajiv Gandhi Orang NP	1999	78.81
Bihar	1	Valmiki NP	1989	335.65
Chhattisgarh	1	Guru Ghasidas (Sanjay) NP	1981	1440.705
Chhattisgarh	2	Indravati (Kutru) NP	1982	1258.37
Chhattisgarh	3	Kanger Valley NP	1982	200
Goa	1	Mollem NP	1992	107
Gujarat	1	Vansda NP	1979	23.99
Gujarat	2	Blackbuck (Velavadar) NP	1976	34.53
Gujarat	3	Gir NP	1975	258.71
Gujarat	4	Marine (Gulf of Kachchh) NP	1982	162.89
Haryana	1	Kalesar NP	2003	46.82
Haryana	2	Sultanpur NP	1989	1.43
Himachal Pradesh	1	Great Himalayan NP	1984	754.4
Himachal Pradesh	2	Inderkilla NP	2010	104
Himachal Pradesh	3	Khirganga NP	2010	710
Himachal Pradesh	4	Pin Valley NP	1987	675
Himachal Pradesh	5	Simbalbara NP	2010	27.88
Jammu & Kashmir	1	City Forest (Salim Ali) NP	1992	9
Jammu & Kashmir	2	Dachigam NP	1981	141
Jammu & Kashmir	3	Hemis NP	1981	3350
Jammu & Kashmir	4	Kishtwar NP	1981	425
Jharkhand	1	Betla NP	1986	226.33
Karnataka	1	Anshi NP	1987	417.34
Karnataka	2	Bandipur NP	1974	874.2
Karnataka	3	Bannerghatta NP	1974	260.51
Karnataka	4	Kudremukh NP	1987	600.32
Karnataka	5	Nagarahole (Rajiv Gandhi) NP	1988	643.39
Kerala	1	Anamudi Shola NP	2003	7.5
Kerala	2	Eravikulam NP	1978	97
Kerala	3	Mathikettan Shola NP	2003	12.82
Kerala	4	Pambadum Shola NP	2003	1.318
Kerala	5	Periyar NP	1982	350
Kerala	6	Silent Valley NP	1984	89.52
Madhya Pradesh	1	Bandhavgarh NP	1968	448.85
Madhya Pradesh	2	Dinosaur Fossils NP	2011	0.8974
Madhya Pradesh	3	Fossil NP	1983	0.27
Madhya Pradesh	4	Indira Priyadarshini Pench NP	1975	292.85
Madhya Pradesh	5	Kanha NP	1955	940
Madhya Pradesh	6	Madhav NP	1959	375.22
Madhya Pradesh	7	Panna NP	1981	542.67
Madhya Pradesh	8	Sanjay NP	1981	466.88
Madhya Pradesh	9	Satpura NP	1981	585.17
Madhya Pradesh	10	Van Vihar NP	1979	4.45
Maharashtra	1	Chandoli NP	2004	317.67
Maharashtra	2	Gugamal NP	1975	361.28
Maharashtra	3	Nawegaon NP	1975	133.88
Maharashtra	4	Pench (Jawaharlal Nehru) NP	1975	257.26
Maharashtra	5	Sanjay Gandhi (Borivilli) NP	1983	86.96
Maharashtra	6	Tadoba NP	1955	116.55
Manipur	1	Keibul-Lamjao NP	1977	40
Meghalaya	1	Balphakram NP	1985	220
Meghalaya	2	Nokrek Ridge NP	1986	47.48
Mizoram	1	Murlen NP	1991	100
Mizoram	2	Phawngpui Blue Mountain NP	1992	50
Nagaland	1	Intanki NP	1993	202.02
Odisha	1	Bhitarkanika NP	1988	145
Odisha	2	Simlipal NP	1980	845.7
Rajasthan	1	Desert NP	1992	3162
Rajasthan	2	Keoladeo Ghana NP	1981	28.73
Rajasthan	3	Mukundra Hills NP	2006	200.54
Rajasthan	4	Ranthambhore NP	1980	282
Rajasthan	5	Sariska NP	1992	273.8
Sikkim	1	Khangchendzonga NP	1977	1784
Tamil Nadu	1	Guindy NP	1976	2.82
Tamil Nadu	2	Gulf of Mannar Marine NP	1980	6.23
Tamil Nadu	3	Indira Gandhi (Annamalai) NP	1989	117.1
Tamil Nadu	4	Mudumalai NP	1990	103.23
Tamil Nadu	5	Mukurthi NP	1990	78.46
Telangana	1	Kasu Brahmananda Reddy NP	1994	1.43
Telangana	2	Mahaveer Harina Vanasthali NP	1994	14.59
Telangana	3	Mrugavani NP	1994	3.6
Tripura	1	Clouded Leopard NP	2007	5.08
Tripura	2	Bison (Rajbari) NP	2007	31.63
Uttar Pradesh	1	Dudhwa NP	1977	490
Uttarakhand	1	Corbett NP	1936	520.82
Uttarakhand	2	Gangotri NP	1989	2390.02
Uttarakhand	3	Govind NP	1990	472.08
Uttarakhand	4	Nanda Devi NP	1982	624.6
Uttarakhand	5	Rajaji NP	1983	820
Uttarakhand	6	Valley of Flowers NP	1982	87.5
West Bengal	1	Buxa NP	1992	117.1
West Bengal	2	Gorumara NP	1992	79.45
West Bengal	3	Jaldapara NP	2014	216.51
West Bengal	4	Neora Valley NP	1986	159.89
West Bengal	5	Singalila NP	1986	78.6
West Bengal	6	Sunderban NP	1984	1330.1

In the protected areas, some of the activities involving the hunting of wild animals, encroachments, destruction of natural habitat are prohibited.

The major difference between the National Park and the Wildlife Sanctuary is that the National Park involves the conservation of only animals in the protected area where human interference of any kind including timber harvesting along with the Private ownership rights is not allowed. On the other hand, the Wildlife Sanctuary, which is also a protected area as it is for the conservation of animals. But it permits human activities as long as they do not interfere with the well-being of animals.

Thus, it can be said that the Wildlife Sanctuary involves fewer restrictions as compared to the National Park.

As there lie most of the common provisions among the National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary but, there also exist major differences among them. The 4 key differences are described as under:

• National Parks restricts the rights of people as interference of any kind is prohibited. But, in Wildlife Sanctuary, some rights can be allowed.
• National Parks prohibits livestock grazing but Wildlife Sanctuary permits grazing, although, in a regulated manner.
• National Parks are not created for a particular species whereas, the Wildlife Sanctuaries are created for a particular species.
• A Wildlife Sanctuary can be upgraded to a National Park, but, a National Park can never be degraded into the Wildlife Sanctuary.

Thus, it can be said that the National Park enjoys a greater degree of protection than the Sanctuaries.

The notification regarding the Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks is to be provided by the State Government but, there lie certain conditions where the Central government could also do the same although, for only National Park and not for the Wildlife Sanctuary.

Conservation Reserves

• The Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 was amended in 2003, according to which, both the Conservation Reserves along with the Community Reserves were formed.
• The area of Conservation Reserves is owned by the State government.
• This area covers the surrounding areas of National Parks along with the Wildlife Sanctuaries with the purpose of protecting the landscape along with the habitat of flora and fauna, etc.
• The land should be owned by the Government.
• All this is managed through a Committee named Conservation Reserve Management Committee.
• The area adjacent to National Park or Wildlife Sanctuary can be declared as Conservation Reserve by the State Government after consulting the local communities so as to conserve the flora and fauna.
• People living inside the Conservation Reserve are not affected.

Community Reserve

• It was formed by the Amendment Act of 2003.
• It includes any private or community land which is converted into Community Reserve by the State Government.
• It involves any kind of land which is not comprised of any National Park, Wildlife Sanctuary or a Conservation Reserve, where a community or an individual has volunteered to conserve the wildlife along with the habitat.
• Community Reserve is meant for the conservation of the flora and fauna along with the cultural values and traditional practices.
• The rights of the people are not affected by the Community Reserve.

• Special status is to be provided to the certain National Park along with the Wildlife Sanctuary having a good tiger population and are being provided with the designation of Tiger reserves.
• Such areas are provided with the highest level of protection.
• The concept of Tiger Reserve came into place after the Project Tiger in 1973.
• In contemporary times, there is a total of 50 Tiger Reserves in our country.
• The State Government is authorised to notify an area as Tiger Reserve on the recommendation of the National Tiger Conservation Authority.
• The latest Tiger Reserve of India is Kamleng Tiger Reserve which is in Arunachal Pradesh. It is the 50^th Tiger Reserve also.

List of Tiger Reserves in India (as on August 2019):

Sl. No.	Name of Tiger Reserve	State	Total area(In Sq.Kms.)
1	Nagarjunsagar Srisailam (part)*	Andhra Pradesh	3296.31*
2	Namdapha	Arunachal Pradesh	2052.82
3	Kamlang Tiger Reserve	Arunachal Pradesh	783.00
4	Pakke	Arunachal Pradesh	1198.45
5	Manas	Assam	3150.92
6	Nameri	Assam	344
7	Orang Tiger Reserve	Assam	492.46
8	Kaziranga	Assam	1173.58
9	Valmiki	Bihar	899.38
10	Udanti-Sitanadi	Chattisgarh	1842.54
11	Achanakmar	Chattisgarh	914.017
12	Indravati	Chhattisgarh	2799.07
13	Palamau	Jharkhand	1129.93
14	Bandipur	Karnataka	1456.3
15	Bhadra	Karnataka	1064.29
16	Dandeli-Anshi	Karnataka	1097.514
17	Nagarahole	Karnataka	1205.76
18	Biligiri Ranganatha Temple	Karnataka	574.82
19	Periyar	Kerala	925
20	Parambikulam	Kerala	643.662
21	Kanha	Madhya Pradesh	2051.791
22	Pench	Madhya Pradesh	1179.63225
23	Bandhavgarh	Madhya Pradesh	1598.1
24	Panna	Madhya Pradesh	1578.55
25	Satpura	Madhya Pradesh	2133.30797
26	Sanjay-Dubri	Madhya Pradesh	1674.502
27	Melghat	Maharashtra	2768.52
28	Tadoba-Andhari	Maharashtra	1727.5911
29	Pench	Maharashtra	741.22
30	Sahyadri	Maharashtra	1165.57
31	Nawegaon-Nagzira	Maharashtra	653.674
32	Bor	Maharashtra	138.12
33	Dampa	Mizoram	988
34	Similipal	Odisha	2750
35	Satkosia	Odisha	963.87
36	Ranthambore	Rajasthan	1411.291
37	Sariska	Rajasthan	1213.342
38	Mukandra Hills	Rajasthan	759.99
39	Kalakad-Mundanthurai	Tamil Nadu	1601.542
40	Anamalai	Tamil Nadu	1479.87
41	Mudumalai	Tamil Nadu	688.59
42	Sathyamangalam	Tamil Nadu	1408.4
43	Kawal	Telangana	2019.12
44	Amrabad	Telangana	2611.39*
45	Dudhwa	Uttar Pradesh	2201.7748
46	Pilibhit	Uttar Pradesh	730.2498
47	Amangarh (buffer of Corbett TR)	Uttar Pradesh	80.6
	Corbett	Uttarakhand	1288.31
48	Rajaji TR	Uttarakhand	1075.17
49	Sunderbans	West Bengal	2584.89
50	Buxa	West Bengal	757.9038
	TOTAL		71027.10

Marine Protected Area (MPA)

It is essentially a space in the ocean where human activities are more strictly regulated than the surrounding waters – similar to parks we have on land. These places are given special protections for natural or historic marine resources by local, state, territorial, native, regional, or national authorities.

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