Wildlife Protection Act

What is it?

• Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 is an Act of the Parliament of India enacted for protection of plants and animal species.

Salient provisions:

• It extends to the whole of India, except the State of Jammu and Kashmir which has its own wildlife act.
• It provides for the establishment of protected areas - Sanctuaries, National Parks etc.
• The Act provides for the protection of wild animals, birds and plants and prohibits the capturing, killing, poisoning or trapping of wild animals.
• It has six schedules which give varying degrees of protection.
• It regulates and controls trade in parts and products derived from wildlife.
• It provides for protection of hunting rights of the Scheduled Tribes in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• It also provides for the management of zoos.

Schedules under WPA 1972:

• Species listed in Schedule I and part II of Schedule II get absolute protection — offences under these are prescribed the highest penalties.
• Species listed in Schedule III and Schedule IV are also protected, but the penalties are much lower
• Schedule V includes the animals which may be hunted (vermin).
• The plants in Schedule VI are prohibited from cultivation and planting.

Protected areas under WPA 1972:

• Wildlife Sanctuaries - Notified by State or Central Government.
• National Parks - Notified by State or Central Government.
• The main difference between a wildlife sanctuary and a national park is that human activities are not at all allowed in a national park. On the other hand, rights of some limited human activities are provided within the boundary of a sanctuary.
• Conservation Reserves - The State Government after consultations with local communities can declare any area owned by the Government, particularly areas adjacent to national parks or sanctuaries, as conservation reserves.
• Community Reserves - The State Government can, in consultation with the community or an individual who have volunteered to conserve wildlife, declare any private or community land as community reserve.
• Tiger Reserve - The State Government on the recommendation of the Tiger Conservation Authority may notify an area as a tiger reserve, for which it has to prepare a Tiger Conservation Plan.

PRELIMS QUESTION

Consider the following statements regarding Wildlife protection Act:
1.It was enacted in the year 1972.
2.It provides for protected areas like National parks and Wildlife sanctuaries.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1 only
(b)2 only
(c)Both 1 and 2
(d)Neither 1 nor 2

Answer to prelims question