Endangered Species
The Government has established a Protected Area (PA) Network (730 PAs
including 103 National Parks, 535 Wildlife Sanctuaries, 26 Community
Reserves, and 66 Conservation Reserves in different biogeographic
regions) towards conservation of threatened (including endangered and
vulnerable) species, which primarily covers habitats of threatened
megafauna, such as tiger, rhino, elephant, etc.
Biological Diversity Act, 2002, was inter-alia enacted to ensure
protection of threatened species and their habitats. Under the
provisions of Section 38 of the National Biodiversity Act, 2002, the
species which are on the verge of extinction or likely to become extinct
in near future as threatened species, are notified. Ministry has
already issued notifications for 14 states to this effect.
The Centrally Sponsored Scheme 'Integrated Development of Wildlife
Habitats' has been modified in 2008-09 by including a new component
namely 'Recovery of Endangered Species' and 17 species have been
identified for recovery viz. Snow Leopard, Bustard (including
Floricans), River Dolphin, Hangul, Nilgiri Tahr, Marine Turtles, Dugong
& Coral reefs, Edible Nest Swiftlet, Asian Wild Buffalo, Nicobar
Megapode, Manipur Brow-antlered Deer, Vultures, Malabar Civet, Indian
Rhinoceros, Asiatic Lion, Swamp Deer and Jerdon’s Courser.
The periodic assessments carried out in respect of identified species,
rhinoceros, Manipur Brow-antlered deer, Edible-nest Swiftlets and lion,
have indicated improvement in their population status.
The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 has been enacted for protection of
wild animals, birds and plants against hunting and commercial
exploitation. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been
empowered under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 to apprehend and
prosecute wildlife offenders. The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau has been
set up for control of poaching and illegal trade in wildlife and its
products.
The Assistance to Botanic Gardens scheme of the Ministry of Environment,
Forest and Climate Change is also mandated for conservation of endemic/
threatened plant species of the country; through this scheme the
MoEF&CC has supported many botanic gardens for conservation of
threatened plants in various institutions.
Botanical Survey of India has brought a number of threatened plants
under cultivation in its Acharya Jagdish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic
Garden in Howrah, Botanic Garden Indian Republic, Noida and other
associated botanic gardens of its regional centres for their ex-situ
conservation, thereby complementing the in-situ conservation of such
species in protected areas established in different bio-geographical
regions of the country.
Concurrent to India’s Presidency(2012-2014) of the Conference of the
Parties(COP) to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity
(CBD), Indian Companies have come together to address the critical issue
of biodiversity loss under a national initiative. The India Business
& Biodiversity Initiative (IBBI) serves as a national platform for
businesses and its stakeholders for dialogue sharing and learning,
ultimately leading to mainstreaming sustainable management of biological
diversity into businesses.
This information was given by Minister of State (Independent Charge) of
Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Anil Madhav Dave, in a
written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
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HK
(Release ID :148581)
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