Approves advisory for management of Human-Wildlife Conflict across the country

  • July 27, 2022
  • Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
  • Category: DPN Topics
No Comments

 

 

Approves advisory for management of Human-Wildlife Conflict across the country

Subject : Environment

Section: Biodiversity

Context: The Standing Committee of National Board of Wildlife (SC-NBWL) in its 60th meeting held on 05th January has approved the advisory for management of Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC) in the country.

Causes for Human-Wildlife Conflict:

  • Loss of habitat
  • Growth of population of wild animals
  • Changing cropping patterns that attract wild animals to farmlands
  • Movement of wild animals from forests area to human dominated landscapes for food and fodder
  • Movement of human beings to forests for illegal collection of forest produce
  • Habitat degradation due to growth of invasive alien species, etc

Key advisory to reduce Human-Wildlife Conflict:

  • The advisory envisages empowering gram panchayats in dealing with the problematic wild animals as per the section 11 (1) (b) of Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972
  • Utilizing add-on coverage under the Pradhan MantriFasalBimaYojna for crop compensation against crop damage due to HWC and augmenting fodder and water sources within the forest areas
  • Payment of a portion of ex-gratia as interim relief within 24 hours of the incident to the victim/family.
  • The advisory also envisages prescribing inter-departmental committees at local/state level
  • Adoption of early warning systems, creation of barriers, dedicated circle wise Control Rooms with toll free hotline numbers which could be operated on 24X7 basis, Identification of hotspots and formulation and implementation of special plans for improved stall-fed farm animal etc

Other Concept:

Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats:

Under IDWH, the financial assistance is provided to State/UT Governments for protection and conservation of wildlife and its habitats in Protected Areas (PAs) as well as outside PAs and also for the recovery programmes of the critically endangered species.

Components of the Scheme:

  1. Support to Protected Areas (National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Conservation Reserves and Community Reserves)
  2. Protection of Wildlife Outside Protected Areas
  3. Recovery programmes for saving critically endangered species and habitats

Recovery programmes for saving critically endangered species and habitats

So far, 22 species have been identified under the recovery programme. These are the Snow Leopard, Bustard (including Floricans), Dolphin, Hangul, NilgiriTahr, Marine Turtles, Dugongs, Edible Nest Swiftlet, Asian Wild Buffalo, Nicobar Megapode, Manipur Brow-antlered Deer, Vultures, Malabar Civet, Indian Rhinoceros, Asiatic Lion, Swamp Deer, Jerdon’s Courser, the Northern River Terrapin, Clouded Leopard, Arabian Sea Humpback Whale, Red Panda and Caracal

National Board for Wildlife (NBWL)

It is constituted by the Central Government under Section 5 A of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (WLPA). 

However, it is important to point out that the wildlife act, as originally enacted in 1972, did not provide for the NBWL.

It was only through an amendment of the wildlife act in 2002 that the NBWL was constituted.

It is a 47-member committee, headed by the Prime Minister and the minister of environment, forest and climate change (environment minister) as vice chairperson

The National Board may, at its discretion, constitute a Standing Committee under sub-section (1) of Section 5B.

The Standing Committee shall consist of the Vice-Chairperson (Union Minister in charge of Forests and Wildlife) the Member Secretary and not more than ten members to be nominated by the Vice-Chairperson from amongst the members of the National Board.

The NBWL Standing Committee chaired by the Union Minister, Environment & Forests is duty bound to ensure compliance of the mandate’s statutory processes prescribed by the WLPA

Specific provisions in the WLPA include:

  • S 33 (a): No construction of commercial lodges, hotels shall be undertaken except with the prior approval of the National Board
  • S 35(5): No alteration of the boundaries of a National Park except on a recommendation of the National Board;
  • S 35(6): No destruction, removal of wildlife or forest produce from a National Park or diversion of habitat unless State Government in consultation with the National Board authorizes the issue of such permit
  • S 38-O (g): Ensure Tiger Reserves and areas linking one protected area with another are not diverted for ecologically unsustainable uses except in public interest and with the approval of the National Board
  • S 38-W(1) & (2): No alteration or denotification of Tiger Reserves without the approval of the National Board for Wildlife
Approves advisory for management of Human-Wildlife Conflict across the country Environment