Unit 4: Protected Areas and Conservation Laws

Protected Areas (In-situ Conservation)

Protected areas are the cornerstone of in-situ (on-site) conservation. They are geographical spaces dedicated to the protection and maintenance of biological diversity.

National Parks

• Focus: Ecosystem protection.
• Protection Level: High/Strict. Set aside for the conservation of wildlife and their habitats.
• Rules: No human activities like forestry, grazing, or agriculture are permitted, except for specific management and research purposes.
• Example: Kaziranga National Park (Assam), Jim Corbett National Park (Uttarakhand).

Sanctuaries

• Focus: Species protection (particularly fauna).
• Protection Level: Moderate. A sanctuary is a place of refuge where endangered species are protected.
• Rules: Some human activities (like tourism, regulated grazing, or collection of minor forest products) may be allowed as long as they do not interfere with the well-being of the protected animals.
• Example: Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary (Assam).

Biosphere Reserves

• Focus: Reconciling conservation with sustainable human use.
• Protection Level: Zoned. These are very large, internationally recognized areas (under UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere - MAB programme).
• Rules: They have three distinct zones:
  1. Core Zone: Strictly protected, like a National Park. No human activity.
  2. Buffer Zone: Surrounds the core. Only research, education, and limited, non-destructive human activity are allowed.
  3. Transition Zone: The outermost area. Sustainable human settlements, agriculture, and other economic activities are encouraged and supported.
• Example: Manas Biosphere Reserve (Assam), Sunderbans Biosphere Reserve (West Bengal).

[Image of Biosphere Reserve zones diagram (Core, Buffer, Transition)]

Indian Conservation Laws

Wildlife Protection Act (1972)

• Objective: To provide a legal framework for the protection of wild animals, birds, and plants.
• Key Features:
  • Prohibits hunting and poaching of species listed in its Schedules (Schedule I provides absolute protection).
  • Provides for the establishment of National Parks, Sanctuaries, and other protected areas.
  • Regulates trade in wildlife products.

Forest (Conservation) Act (1980)

• Objective: To check deforestation and conserve forests.
• Key Features:
  • It makes it mandatory for the central government's approval before any forest land can be "de-reserved" or used for non-forest purposes (e.g., building a dam, mining, or establishing industries).
  • This act has been crucial in slowing down the rate of deforestation in India.

National Environmental Policy (2004)

• Objective: A comprehensive policy document to guide environmental management and sustainable development.
• Key Features: It aims to integrate environmental concerns into all development activities and promotes sustainable resource use, based on the principle that "Human Beings are at the centre of sustainable development concerns."

Biopiracy and The Biodiversity Act (2002)

Biopiracy

Definition: Biopiracy is the term for the uncompensated and often illegal use of a country's biological resources or traditional knowledge for commercial purposes.

• Famous Examples:
  • Neem: A US company was granted a patent on a fungicide derived from neem, a plant long used in India for its antifungal properties. India had to legally challenge and overturn the patent.
  • Turmeric: A US patent was granted for the healing properties of turmeric, a common spice in Indian traditional medicine. This patent was also successfully challenged by India.

The Biodiversity Act (2002)

This Act was passed by India to address the issues of biopiracy and to implement the goals of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

Key Objectives:

1. Conservation of biological diversity.
2. Sustainable use of its components.
3. Fair and equitable sharing of benefits (ABS) arising from the use of genetic resources and traditional knowledge.

It created a 3-tiered system: The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs), and Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) at the local level.

International Efforts for Conservation

Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

• Origin: Opened for signature at the Rio Earth Summit (1992).
• Status: An international legally binding treaty.
• Three Main Goals:
  1. The conservation of biodiversity.
  2. The sustainable use of its components.
  3. The fair and equitable sharing of benefits (ABS) arising from genetic resources.

Mangrove Conservation

• What are Mangroves: Salt-tolerant trees and shrubs that grow in the intertidal zones of tropical and subtropical coastlines.
• Importance:
  • Coastal Defense: They act as a natural barrier, protecting coasts from tsunamis, cyclones, and erosion.
  • Habitat: They are critical "nursery grounds" for many species of fish and crustaceans.
  • Carbon Sink: They store large amounts of carbon.
• Conservation: Their conservation is a high priority due to threats from coastal development, aquaculture (shrimp farming), and sea-level rise.