This document summarizes the Indian government's response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2351, concerning the safeguarding of endangered species, community participation in biodiversity conservation, and funding for protected areas and wildlife corridors.
The government outlines several key measures:
1. **Protected Areas:** Establishment and management of National Parks, Sanctuaries, Community Reserves, and Conservation Reserves under the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972, to conserve wildlife and habitats.
2. **Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs):** Notification of ESZs around National Parks and Sanctuaries under the Environment Protection Act, 1986.
3. **Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification, 2019:** Focus on conservation and management plans for Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs) such as mangroves, seagrasses, sand dunes, coral reefs, mudflats, turtle nesting grounds, and horseshoe crab habitats, as promulgated under the Environment Protection Act, 1986.
4. **Financial Assistance:** Provision of financial aid to State Governments and UT Administrations under centrally sponsored schemes like Development of Wildlife Habitats, Project Tiger, and Elephant. These schemes support local community engagement in activities such as protection, wildlife monitoring, human-wildlife conflict mitigation, ecotourism management, and awareness campaigns.
5. **Afforestation and Forest Conservation:** Financial assistance for promoting afforestation and forest conservation, including the National Mission for a Green India (GIM), aimed at protecting and enhancing India's forest cover and addressing climate change.
6. **Recovery Programme:** A specific component under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme 'Development of Wildlife Habitats' focuses on conservation actions for 24 identified critically endangered species and their habitats.
7. **Biological Diversity Act, 2002:** Mandates the creation of Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) and the preparation of People's Biodiversity Registers (PBRs) to document biological resources and traditional knowledge, involving local communities in biodiversity conservation.
Key Entities Referenced
Wild Life Protection Act, 1972: An act of the Parliament of India enacted in 1972 to provide for the protection of wild animals, birds and plants.
Environment Protection Act, 1986: An Act of the Parliament of India. Enacted in 1986, it authorizes the central government to protect and improve environmental quality, control and reduce pollution from all sources, and prohibit or restrict the setting and /or operation of any industrial facility on environmental grounds.
Coastal Regulation Zone CRZ Notification, 2019: A notification promulgated under the Environment Protection Act 1986, with focus on conservation and management plans of Ecologically Sensitive Areas.
Development of Wildlife Habitats: A Centrally Sponsored Scheme by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to provide financial assistance to State Governments and UT Administrations for management of wildlife and development of its habitat.
Project Tiger: A Centrally Sponsored Scheme for the conservation of tigers and their habitats.
National Mission for a Green India GIM: A mission to protect, restore and enhance India's forest cover and respond to climate change.
Biological Diversity Act, 2002: An Act of the Parliament of India enacted in 2002 to provide for the conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of its components and fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the use of biological resources.
SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH: Minister of State in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
` GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2351
TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.08.2025
Safeguard of Endangered Species
2351. SHRI RAO RAJENDRA SINGH:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) the steps taken/being taken to safeguard endangered species in the country,
particularly in the context of climate change;
(b) the steps taken/being taken in order to encourage local communities to participate in
biodiversity conservation;
(c) whether there is any devolution of funds, specifically for increasing protected areas
and wildlife corridors in critical ecosystems; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) to (d) The Government has taken various measures for protection and conservation of
wildlife including endangered species. The important measures are as follows:
i. Creation of Protected Areas (National Parks, Sanctuaries, Community Reserves
and Conservation Reserves) under the provisions of the Wild Life (Protection)
Act, 1972 for the conservation of wildlife and its habitats.
ii. Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) have been notified around National parks and
Sanctuaries under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
iii. The Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification, 2019, promulgated under
Environment (Protection) Act 1986, has special focus on conservation and
management plans of Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs), like mangroves,
seagrasses, sand dunes, corals and coral reefs, biologically active mudflats, turtle
nesting grounds, and horse shoe crabs’ habitats.
iv. Financial assistance is provided to State Governments and UT
Administrations for management of wildlife and development of its habitat under
the Centrally sponsored scheme ‘Development of Wildlife Habitats’, ‘Project
Tiger and Elephant’. The local communities are engaged in activities supported
under the schemes such as protection, monitoring wildlife, human wildlife
conflict mitigation, management of ecotourism, awareness campaigns, etc.v. The Ministry also provides financial assistance for promoting
afforestation and forest conservation in the country, which include the National
Mission for a Green India (GIM), which aims to protect, restore and enhance
India’s forest cover and respond to climate change.
vi. A specific component of ‘Recovery programme for saving critically
endangered species and habitats’ is provided under the Centrally Sponsored
Scheme ‘Development of Wildlife Habitats’ for focused conservation action on
identified 24 critically endangered species.
vii. Biological Diversity Act, 2002, provides for creation of Biodiversity
Management Committees (BMCs) and preparation of People’s Biodiversity
Register (PBR) for documentation of biological resources and traditional
knowledge involving local community in biodiversity conservation.
****