Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India

Wildlife Division in the Ministry is responsible for carrying out the activities relating to Wildlife conservation with the State Governments and to provide financial and technical assistance to them for scientific management of the wildlife resources in the country. It is also responsible for carrying out the activities related to wildlife research and training of personnel involved in wildlife management through Wildlife Institute of India. Presently Wildlife Division is headed by the Addl. Director General of Forests (Wildlife) who is also Director, Wildlife Preservation and the Management Authority of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES).

INDIAN BOARD FOR WILDLIFE (IBWL)
The IBWL is the apex advisory body in the field of Wildlife Conservation in the country and is headed by the Honorable Prime Minister of India. The IBWL has been reconstituted w.e.f. 7.12.2001. The XXI meeting of the IBWL was held on 21.1.2002 under the Chairmanship of the Honorable Prime Minister of India at New Delhi. Following resolutions were adopted by the Board:
Wildlife and forests shall be declared priority sector at the national level for which funds should be earmarked.
Law enforcement agencies must ensure that those engaged in poaching, illicit trade in wildlife and wildlife products, destruction of their habitat, and such other illegal activities are given quick and deterrent punishment.
We should fully tap the potential in wildlife tourism and at the same time take care that it does not have adverse impact in wildlife and protected areas. The revenue earned from increased tourism should be used entirely to augment available resources for conservation.
Protecting interests of the poor and tribals living around protected areas should be handled with sensitivity and with maximum participation of the affected people. They should have access to the minor forest produce, in the forest outside of national parks and sanctuaries. Employment and means generation for these people is crucial for maintaining symbiosis between the forests, wildlife and the people. People should be encouraged to take up afforestation and conservation in new areas.
While strengthening protective measures against traditional threats to wildlife, we should also respond to newer threats such as toxic chemicals and pesticides.
There should be greater governmental as well as societal recognition and support for the many non-governmental organisations engaged in wildlife conservation. Mainstream media to better highlight their activities as also successess of governmental initiatives that have worked.
Creatively produced Television Programmes on wildlife and ecology are widely appreciated by young and old as seen from the popularity of dedicated T.V. channels like Discovery, National Geographic and Animal Planet. It is proposed that Prasar Bharati and our private channels alongwith with agencies like WWF for Nature should collaborate and increase original Indian content in different languages on our television.
No diversion of forest land for non-forest purposes from critical and ecologically fragile wildlife habitat shall be allowed.
Lands falling within 10 km. of the boundaries of National Parks and Sanctuaries should be notified as eco-fragile zones under section 3(v) of the Environment (Protection) Act and Rule 5 Sub-rule 5(viii) & (x) of the Environment (Protection) Rules.

More than 2000 vacant posts in the frontline staff of Protected Areas shall be filled immediately and provided basic infrastructure for efficient discharge of duties. Ban on recruitment of staff against vacant post should be lifted on lines with the Police Department. Innovative initiative such as redeployment of surplus employees in other departments, hiring local people on voluntary or honorarium basis, raising donations from business houses and other members of the public in return for a greater role for them in implementing programme need to be explored.
Every protected area should be managed by forest officers trained in wildlife management.
Mitigation measures for human-animal conflict and mechanism for crop insurance as also expeditious disbursements of ex-gratia payments, should be instituted by States.
Forest Commission should be set up to look into restructuring, reform and strengthening the entire forest set up and affiliated institutions in the country.
A working group shall be constituted to monitor implementation of Wildlife Action Plan.
Most importantly let us all resolve that we should end the relative neglect of wildlife conservation in recent year. To begin with Board should meet more often. Wildlife conservation is too important a task to be treated lightly or ritualistically.

Protected Area Network
Protected Area network has increased from 1.33 lakh sq. km. to 1.56 lakh sq. km. adding about 23092 sq. km. The Protected .Area network now comprises 586 Protected Areas (89 National Parks and 497 sanctuaries) as against 426 Protected Areas (63 National Parks and 363 sanctuaries) in 1997 to. The present P.A. network represents about 4.5% of total geographical area of the country. It also includes 4 additional Tiger Reserves under Project Tiger. National Parks and sanctuaries have been provided grants under the scheme of `Development of National Parks and Sanctuaries . Under this scheme a total of Rs.72.28 crores have been provided to the States during IX Plan period. For more than 200 Protected Areas, scientific management plans have been prepared which provide the basis for financial assistance. This scheme provides 100 percent Central assistance to States for non-recurring items of work. However, for selected items of recurring nature 50 percent assistance is also provided in case of National Parks only. The funding pattern under the scheme of Development of National Parks and Sanctuaries has been upgraded during 2000-2001 and a provision has been made for reimbursement of both the capital cost and recurring cost including salary of incremental staff in respect of the Protected Areas in coastal areas, deserts and high mountain regions supporting endangered species. There has been an increase in the capacity of the National Parks and sanctuaries for carrying out various developmental works and an amount of Rs. 83.00 crores has been spent during the IXth Plan as against an amount of Rs. 49.50 crores during the VIIIth Plan. Another striking feature has been the developmental activities in the North-Eastern States. During the VIIIth Plan total expenditure in North-Eastern States was Rs. 3.00 Crores which has gone up to Rs.13.00 crores during the IXth Plan .
Another important step taken during this period has been to improve human interface by introducing scheme of Eco-development in and around the National Parks and sanctuaries. Rs.41 crores were provided for this purpose. In addition, a World Bank-funded India Ecodevelopment Project has also been implemented in 7 protected areas in 7 States with a total outlay of Rs.294.93 crores, out of which Rs.134 crores were provided during the IXth Plan period. A total of 18 villages were shifted outside the Protected Areas during this period involving 900 families.

Project Tiger
Under the Project Tiger, 4 additional tiger reserves have been added taking the number to 27 tiger reserves. The new tiger reserves are Bhadra in Karnataka, Pench in Maharashtra, Pakhui Nameri in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam and Bori-Satpura- Panchmarhi in Madhya Pradesh covering an area of 3441 sq. km. Budget outlay under this scheme was increased from Rs.40 crores in the VIIIth Plan to Rs.75 crores in the IXth Plan, out of which Rs.3.95 crores were provided as project allowance to the field staff for the first time. An important feature of the Project was the provision of Rs.2.49 crores to the State Governments for creation of strike forces to combat growing insurgency and extremist situation within the tiger reserves. Effective protection and concerted conservation measures inside the reserves have brought about considerable intangible benefits namely- arresting erosion, enrichment of water regime and overall habitat protection. Labour intensive activities in these areas have helped in poverty alleviation and the project has been instrumental in mustering local support for conservation programme in general. In all, 467 families were relocated outside the tiger reserves to suitable locations.

Project Elephant
Project Elephant has played an important role in assisting elephant range States to ensure long-term survival of identified viable populations of elephants in their natural habitat. Financial assistance to the extent of Rs.28.39 crores has been provided to the elephant range States under this scheme during the IXth Plan. 25 elephant reserves have been identified by the Central Government during this period out of which, as on today, 3 elephant reserves, viz. Singhbhum (Jharkhand), Mayurbhanj (Orissa) and Garo Hills (Meghalaya), have been notified by the State Governments. Another important activity under the project is mitigation of human elephant conflict by providing adequate compensation.
Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun
Wildlife Institute of India has been developed as a premier institute in the international arena in the field of wildlife training, research and education. Since its inception in 1982, more than 450 Forest Officers have been trained in the diploma and certificate courses of Wildlife Conservation. In addition, 350 officers were also trained in different modules of the diploma courses. About 280 Forest Officers were trained in courses like Remote Sensing etc. by the Institute. Institute has also conducted orientation courses for other service officers. 66 Custom Officers have been introduced to Wildlife Conservation during this period. Officers from paramilitary forces and army etc. has also been sensitised for the wildlife conservation. Representatives of Non-Governmental Organisations have also been trained in different courses by the Institute. 21 students have completed their Post-Graduate studies i.e. M.Sc. in Wildlife Conservation during this period.
Wildlife Institute of India has made great strides in the field of wildlife research. Important work on rare, endangered and flagship species especially snow leopard, tiger, elephant, rhino, wolf and marine turtle have led to the development of species conservation and action plans. Ecological studies on lesser known taxa viz., herpetofauna, butterflies, bird communities has led to the identification and understanding of centres of bio-diversity hotspots and endemism in the Western Ghats and Northeast India. Another achievement has been building analytical capacity in the field of wildlife forensics which has helped in investigating wildlife crimes. Institute has also played an important role in developing guidelines, manuals etc. for field staff in the field of ecodevelopment and human interface.

Wildlife Research
Apart from the research activities of Wildlife Institute of India, the Ministry sponsored several research projects undertaken by Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and other organisations to carry out studies in selected fields to obtain requisite data for conservation of our wildlife resources. Among these subject areas, important are ecological studies on gangetic dolphin, undertaken by Patna University, ecological studies on vultures and forest owlet undertaken by BNHS etc.

Central Zoo Authority (CZA)
The CZA provides central assistance to various zoos recognised by it to achieve prescribed standards for better upkeep and health facilities to zoo animals. It has provided assistance to the extent of Rs.40 crores to various zoos in the country. One of the important achievement has been the creation of 5 rescue facilities (for animals rescued from circuses etc.) in designated zoos namely at Vendalur (TN), Banerghatta (Karnataka), Visakhapattnam and Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh and Nahargarh in Rajasthan. CZA also conducted a rapid survey of all the recognised zoos in the country and has recommended mitigating steps to the concerned agencies. An important project on creation of laboratory for conservation of endangered species in collaboration with CCMB, Department of Biotechnology and AP State Government has also been initiated with the objective of developing ex-situ gene bank of wild fauna in the country.

International Cooperation

GOI UNDP Sea Turtle Project
A significant proportion of world s Olive Ridley Turtle population migrate every winter to Indian coastal waters for nesting mainly at eastern coast. With the objective of conservation of olive ridley turtles and other endangered marine turtles. Ministry of Environment & Forests initiated the Sea Turtle Conservation Project in collaboration of UNDP in November, 1999 with Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun as the Implementing Agency. The project is being implemented in 10 coastal States of the country with special emphasis in State of Orissa. Total financial allocation for the project is Rs.1.29 crores. The project has helped in preparation of inventory map of breeding sites of Sea Turtles, identification of nesting and breeding habitats along the shore line, and migratory routes taken by Sea Turtles, development of guidelines to safeguard and minimise turtle mortality, development of national and international cooperative and collaborative action for Sea Turtle Conservation, developing guideline plans for tourism in sea turtle areas and developing infrastructure and human resources for Sea Turtle Conservation. One of the important achievements have been demonstration of use of Satellite Telemetry to locate the migratory route of Olive Ridley Turtles in the sea and sensitizing the fishermen and State Government for the use of Turtle Exclusive Devise (TED) in fishing trawlers to check turtle mortality in fishing net.
GOI-UNDP Wildlife Protected Area Management in Jaldapara Sanctuary, West Bengal
Ministry also initiated another small project in collaboration with UNDP entitled Wildlife Protected Area Management in Jaldapara Sanctuary, West Bengal with the total financial outlay of Rs.86 lakhs. The objectives of the project are updating and implementing an integrated management and ecodevelopment plans, enhancing capacity of State wildlife authorities to integrate and implement management and ecodevelopmnt plan along with strengthening and supporting the conservation measures taken by States by involving people. This programme has successfully implemented and has contributed in capacity building of wildlife staff as well as training of community representatives including women. It has also helped in preparation of micro-plans for 8 villages in the protected areas and initiating the same in other 20 villages. It has brought general awareness among the people for the wildlife conservation and have sensitised them for the wildlife conservation. Harmonious relationship between the wildlife staff and local people would ensure long term conservation of biodiversity. Once successfully implemented, it could be replicated in other protected areas also.
Indo-Russian Cooperation
Ministry has also signed a protocol with Russian counterpart for conservation of migratory bird species between the two countries. It has been agreed to develop joint projects of mutual interest on migration and nesting behaviour of Siberian Cranes and common cranes and also to exchange scientific and official information on issues relating to wetland management, conservation of avi-fauna etc.
Regional Meeting of International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) for South and South-East Asia.
The Ministry hosted a meeting of Regional Conservation Forum of IUCN for South and South-East Asia on 22-25 March, 2000. The meeting was attended by South and South-East Asian countries in which various issues relating to nature conservation, sustainable development and control of pollution were discussed. This meeting has greatly bolstered the image of the country within the conservation fraternity.

International Conventions

India continues to play a leading role in various international conventions pertaining to conservation and protection of wildlife and natural resources. India participated activity in the Conference of Parties to CITES ( Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna & Flora) held at Nairobi in May 2000. The Indian delegation could sensitize the global community about the problems of conservation of tigers. The Conference adopted a resolution urging the global community to fund the tiger conservation programme in India liberally. It also decided to set up a Tiger Enforcement Task Force for upgrading the skills and capabilities of enforcement agencies in different countries regarding protection of tiger. The first meeting of the Task Force was held in Delhi in April 2001. The Task Force identified the National Police Academy at Hyderabad for imparting training to the enforcement officials of the tiger range States. The Conference of Parties also took note of the continued poaching of elephants in India and the African countries and adopted a resolution to have zero quota for export of ivory till the next Conference of Parties to be held in November, 2002 at Santiago in Chile.
India was also selected as an alternative member of the Steering Committee and a regular member of the Plants Committee of CITES.

ENFORCEMENT OF WILDLIFE (PROTECTION) ACT, 1972 AND EXPORT- IMPORT POLICY
The Wildlife (Protection) Act , 1972, the provisions of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and Export and Import Policy of India are enforced through the offices of the Regional Deputy Directors of Wildlife Preservation located at Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta and Chennai with the help of State Wildlife Department, the State Police Departments, the Customs Departments, BSF and Coast-Guards. In addition there are 3 sub regional offices at Guwahati, Amritsar and Cochin. These offices have been functioning with due diligence despite limited staff strength and have detected a large number of cases relating to poaching of wild animals and smuggling of wildlife products from the country. The important seizures made by the regional offices during the period under report include: 23 tiger skins, 170 leopard skins, 225 Shahtoosh shawls, 240 kg. of Shahtoosh wool, 31 falcons, 1 Rhino horn and 3300 snake skins.

ADDITIONS TO PROTECTED MARINE SPECIES
During recent years exploitation of Sharks, Rays, Groupers and Holothurians have increased due to its demand for its parts and derivatives including human consumption in the international market especially in South-Asian and for Eastern countries. This has resulted in sharp decline in the population of these species all along the Indian coasts. Sea cucumbers have been harvested by locals and foreigners due to their high commercial values. Similarly the corals have been exploited for their use in cement industries and decorative purposes. Since corals are a major component of marine eco-system, decline in the coral population adversely affects the other marine species. In view of this, the Ministry has, in consultation with scientific institutions and experts working in this field, included the following marine species under the purview of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972: