New amendments in wildlife trade rules enable issuing licences for certain Schedule II species
- January 22, 2024
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
No Comments
New amendments in wildlife trade rules enable issuing licences for certain Schedule II species
Subject: Environment
Section: Environmental law and Org
Context:
- The Indian government has revised the Wild Life (Protection) Licensing (Additional Matters for Consideration) Rules 2024, providing new guidelines for issuing wildlife trade licenses. This is the first update since 1983 and came into effect on January 16, 2024.
About Wild Life (Protection) Licensing (Additional Matters for Consideration) Rules 2024:
- The 1983 rules restricted licenses for trading wild animals listed under Schedule I or Part II of Schedule II of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972,except in exceptional cases with central government approval.
- The new guidelines state that licenses will not be granted for animals specified in Schedule I without prior consultation with the central government.
- Officials must consider the applicant’s capacity to handle the business, including facilities, equipment, and premises feasibility.
- The source and method of obtaining supplies and the number of existing licenses in the area are also factors to be considered, as well as the impact on hunting or trading the concerned wild animals.
- The notification does not explain why restrictions on Schedule II species have been lifted.
- In a 2022 amendment to the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, four schedules of wild animals were merged into two, reducing the total from six to four.
- Schedule I now includes animals requiring utmost protection, while Schedule II covers species needing comparatively lower protection.
- Plant species are listed under Schedule II, and Schedule IV is for species protected under CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora).
- Schedule II of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 lists various birds, reptiles, mammals, and amphibians, including sparrows, owls, snakes, turtles, deer, and frogs.
- According to the World Wildlife Report 2020, about 6,000 species of flora and fauna were seized globally between 1999-2018, indicating the scale of the wildlife trade.
Key provisions of the Wildlife Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2021:
- Standing Committees of State Boards of Wildlife:
- The Bill proposes setting up of Standing Committees of State Boards of Wildlife.
- These committees will function like the National Board for Wildlife NBWL).
- It will be able to make decisions on wildlife management and permissions granted for projects without having to refer most projects to the NBWL.
- Rationalization of Schedules for Wildlife:
- The bill rationalises Schedules for Wildlife under the Act by bringing it down from 6 to 4 major schedules.
- For example, A schedule I category of wildlife (such as Tigers) are the highest protected under the Act.
- Wildlife Management Plans:
- The Bill mandates that Wildlife Management Plans which are prepared for sanctuaries and national parks across the country will now become a part of the Wildlife Act.
- Further, they will have to be approved by the Chief Wildlife Warden of the state.
- Earlier, the plans were approved through executive orders.
- There is also the insertion of a new section 42A about surrender of wild animals and products.
- The inclusion of the new Section 62A(l) that defines alien invasive species.
- It has mandated the need to consult the Gram Sabha in protected areas falling under scheduled areas or areas recognised to possess forest rights based on claims under the Forest Rights Act, 2006.
Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972:
- The Act was enacted for the protection of plants and animal species.
- It has six schedules that give varying degrees of protection.
- Schedule I and part II of Schedule II provide absolute protection – offenses 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. The specified endemic plants in Schedule VI are prohibited from cultivation and planting. The hunting to the Enforcement authorities has the power to compound offenses under this Schedule (i.e. they impose fines on the offenders).
- The act has been amended in 1982, 1986, 1991, 1993, 2002, 2006 and 2013.