rotected Areas

In simplest terms, Protected Areas are regions or zones of land or sea which are
given certain levels of protection for conservation of biodiversity and socio-
environmental values. In these areas, human intervention and exploitation of
resources are limited.
Protected Areas are the principal mechanism of conservation of biodiversity on
Earth and serve as the most important units for in-situ biodiversity conservation.
In India, there are four major categories of Protected areas. These protected areas
are constituted under the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
The four categories of protected areas are:
Wildlife Sanctuaries
National Parks
Community Reserves
Conservation Reserves
Apart from these protected areas, India also has the following:
Biodiversity Reserves
Tiger Reserves
Elephant Reserves
Marine Protected Areas
Forests and wildlife are included in the Concurrent List of the Indian
Constitution. Therefore, the Union government makes the policies and plans for
Wildlife Conservation. On the other hand, the State Forest Departments are the ones
implanting those national policies and plans at the state level.
National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) puts forward a policy framework for wildlife
conservation in India. The Board was constituted under Wildlife (Protection) Act,
1972. It is chaired by the Prime Minister.
National Board for Wildlife:
It is a “Statutory Organization” constituted under the Wildlife Protection Act,
1972.
Its role is “advisory” in nature and advises the Central Government on framing
policies and measures for the conservation of wildlife in the country.
The primary function of the Board is to promote the conservation and development of
wildlife and forests.
It has the power to review all wildlife-related matters and approve projects in and
around national parks and sanctuaries.
No alternation of boundaries in national parks and wildlife sanctuaries can be done
without the approval of the NBWL.
Composition: The NBWL is chaired by the Prime Minister. It has 47 members including
the Prime Minister. Among these, 19 members are ex-officio members. Other members
include three Members of Parliament (two from Lok Sabha and one from Rajya Sabha),
five NGOs, and 10 eminent ecologists, conservationists, and environmentalists.
National Board for Wildlife may make recommendations on the setting up of and
management of national parks, sanctuaries, and other protected areas and on matters
relating to restriction of activities in those areas.
The State Board for Wildlife shall advise the State government on the selection and
management of areas to be declared as protected areas.
Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 (with Amendment Acts of 2003 and 2006)
It provides for the protection of plants and animals in India. The aim of the Act
is to ensure the ecological and environmental security of India.
It is the principal act that contains provisions for setting up and managing
national parks, sanctuaries, and other protected areas.
Protected Areas of India (As of Jan 2023)
Protected Areas No. Coverage % of Country
National Parks (NPs) 106 1.35
Wildlife Sanctuaries (WLSs) 567 3.73
Conservation Reserves (CRs) 105 0.16
Community Reserves 220 0.04
Total Protected Areas (PAs) 998 5.28
As of Jan 2023, there were 998 notified protected areas covering 5.28% of India’s
land area. This is far below Target 11 of the Aichi Targets – which states that by
2020, at least 17% of terrestrial and inland water areas should be conserved under
Protected Areas.
There are several kinds of protected areas, which vary by level of protection.
Examples include national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, marine protected areas,
community reserves, etc.
In terms of protection, National Parks > Wildlife Sanctuary > Reserved forests >
Protected forests

Different IUCN categories of Protected areas

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), through its World
Commission on Protected Areas, has put forward Six Protected Area Management
Categories. The categories are as follows:
Category I a– Strict Nature Reserve: Protected areas managed mainly for science and
receives the least human intervention. E.g. Urwald Rothwald in Austria
Category I b – Wilderness Area: Wilderness protection. E.g. wilderness areas in the
Sami native region in Finland
Category II – National Park: ecosystem protection and recreation
Category III – Natural Monument or Feature: Conservation of specific natural
features. E.g. cliffs, caves, forest groves. E.g. Cono de Arita in Argentina.
Category IV – Habitat/Species Management Area: Conservation of specific species
that require protection.
Category V – Protected Landscape/Seascape: Conservation of entire area. It permits
the surrounding community to interact. Example: Great Barrier Reef in Australia
Category VI – Protected Area with sustainable use of natural resources:
Conservation of ecosystem and habitats together with associated cultural values and
traditional natural resource management systems.
Protected Areas in India

National Parks in India

National Parks in India act as an apt place for preserving animals by providing
natural habitat and prey. Anthropogenic activities like developmental activities,
industrial activities, forestry, poaching, hunting, and cultivation are not
permitted.
The boundaries of National Parks are well defined and no private activities are
allowed inside the National Park.
A national park has more restrictions as compared to a wildlife sanctuary. Their
boundaries are fixed and defined.
Here, no human activity is allowed. They cannot be downgraded to the status of a
‘sanctuary’. National parks can be declared both by the Central Government and
State governments.
National parks in India are IUCN category II protected areas. India’s first
national park was established in 1936 as Hailey National Park, now known as Jim
Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand.
By 1970, India only had five national parks. In 1972, India enacted the Wildlife
Protection Act and Project Tiger to safeguard the habitats of conservation-reliant
species.
As of June 2023, there were 106 national parks encompassing an area of 40,501.13
km2, under-protected areas of India category II comprising 1.33% of India’s total
surface area.
The Chief Wildlife Warden shall be the authority who shall control, manage, and
maintain all protected areas.
Declaration of the Protected Area by the State government:

Initial notification: The State government may, by notification, declare its

intention to constitute any area within or outside any reserve forest as a
sanctuary/national park if it considers that such area is of adequate ecological,
faunal, floral, geomorphological, natural, or zoological significance, for the
purpose of protecting, propagating or developing wildlife or its environment.
Final notification: After the initial notification has been issued and the period
for preferring claims has elapsed, the State government may issue a notification
specifying the limits of the area which can be comprised within the sanctuary and
declare the said area shall be a sanctuary/national park from such date as may be
specified in the notification.
Declared by the Central government:

The Central Government may declare an area to be a sanctuary/national park if it is

satisfied that the area is of adequate ecological, faunal, floral,
geomorphological, natural, or zoological significance, for the purpose of
protecting, propagating or developing wildlife or its environment.
Largest National Park of India: Hemis National Park, Ladakh
Smallest National Park: South Button Island National Park, Andaman, and Nicobar
Island
First Marine National Park: Gulf of Kutchh National Park
Floating National Park: Keibul Lamjao National Park, Manipur
Origin of National Parks
The history and evolution of national parks in India have been shaped by a growing
awareness of the need to preserve the country’s rich biodiversity and natural
heritage.
The idea of national parks in India started to take root in the early 20th century,
driven by the recognition of the threats posed by deforestation, hunting, and
habitat destruction.
The first major milestone in the development of national parks in India was the
establishment of India’s first national park, Jim Corbett National Park, in 1936,
originally named Hailey National Park.
Located in Uttarakhand, it was created to protect the dwindling population of
Bengal tigers and to conserve the area’s diverse ecosystems.
This marked the beginning of a formalised approach to wildlife conservation in
India.
Over time, the number of national parks expanded, particularly after India’s
independence.
Adopting the Wildlife Protection Act in 1972 was a watershed moment in conservation
history.
The Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 provided a legal framework for wildlife
protection and established the rules for creating national parks, wildlife
sanctuaries, and conservation reserves.
Global conservation movements have also heavily influenced India’s national park
system. The rise of global awareness about environmental degradation and
biodiversity loss, particularly after the 1972 Stockholm Conference on the Human
Environment, prompted India to enhance its efforts to protect its ecosystems.
International conservation bodies like the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) have also guided policies and
supported conservation initiatives in India.
India’s commitment to global conservation goals, including the Convention on
Biological Diversity, has further reinforced its efforts to expand and strengthen
the management of national parks.
Today, India is home to over 100 national parks, each critical to protecting
diverse species and ecosystems.
Objectives of National Parks
The objectives of National Parks are as follows:
To protect endangered and threatened species and their habitats and provide safe
sanctuaries for wildlife to thrive and reproduce.
To maintain the genetic diversity of plant and animal species.
To maintain the ecological balance of the region and regulate ecosystems, prevent
soil erosion, and protect water resources.
To serve as natural laboratories for scientific research and study the behavior of
wildlife, monitor ecosystems, and conduct research on conservation strategies.
To promote environmental education and awareness among visitors.