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Private Participation in Wildlife Management

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March 17, 2025

Why in the news?

Recently Prime Minister has inaugurated Vantara wildlife rescue and conservation center, a private project.

What are the objectives of wildlife management?

  • Wildlife management – It  involves using scientific principles and local knowledge to oversee wild animal populations, their habitats in a way that benefits both the environment and society.
  • Objectives
    • Population control - Manage populations to avoid over-harvesting and over-population
    • Ecosystem management - Support ecosystem processes and resilience
    • Habitat management - Improve and conserve habitats
    • Biodiversity conservation -  Halt the loss of biodiversity
    • Endangered species - Increase the survival probability of endangered species

Protected areas of India

As of 27th November, 2023 India has a network of 1014 Protected Areas covering a total of 1,75,169.42 km2 of geographical area of the country which is approximately 5.32%.

National Parks

106

Wildlife Sanctuaries

573

Conservation Reserves

115

Community Reserves

220

Total

1014

 

What are the wildlife management statues in India?

  • The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972-  Protects wild animals, birds, and plants and establishes protected areas like national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.
  • The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980- Regulates the diversion of forest land for non-forest purposes, ensuring conservation.
  • The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986- Provides a framework for environmental protection, including wildlife conservation.
  • The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 (FRA) – Recognizes the rights of forest dwellers while ensuring conservation.
  • The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960- Prevents cruelty to animals, which has implications for wildlife protection.
  • The National Green Tribunal (NGT) Act, 2010- Establishes the NGT to address environmental and wildlife-related legal cases.

Global Conventions on Wildlife Management

  • Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), 1973 – Regulates the international trade of endangered species.
  • Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), 1992 – Promotes conservation, sustainable use, and fair sharing of genetic resources.
  • Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, 1971 – Protects wetlands that are crucial for wildlife, especially migratory birds.
  • Bonn Convention (Convention on Migratory Species), 1979 – Focuses on conserving migratory species and their habitats.

 

What are the challenges in wildlife conservation?

  • Low success rate in relocation - Relocation efforts such as the recent  cheetah relocation exercise, where eight cheetahs and three cubs died , have a 50 % of success.
  • Increase in endangered species - As per the latest estimates of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, there are currently 73 “critically endangered” species of animals in the country, a sharp rise from 47 in 2011.
  • Reduction in budgetary allocations - Project Tiger and Elephant, which were given separate funding earlier, have now been clubbed together.
  • Funding for these projects declined by 23 % between 2019 and 2023.
  • Development of Wildlife Habitats, saw a 20 % reduction in funding during the same period.
  • Human-animal conflict - It causes harm to both humans and animals across the country.
  • Between 2019 and 2023, elephant attacks caused nearly 2,800 deaths and human-tiger conflicts resulted in nearly 300 deaths.
  • Illegal wildlife trade – Poaching and exotic pet trade poses significant challenges to wildlife management, including biodiversity loss, potential disease transmission, and ecosystem disruption.
  • Invasive Species -The introduction of non-native species can disrupt ecosystems, outcompete native species, and spread diseases.

What are the prospects of private participation in  wildlife management?

  • Increased Funding & Resources-  Private investments can provide better infrastructure, anti-poaching measures, and habitat restoration.
  • Efficient Management- Private organizations may bring better technology, skilled workforce, and modern conservation methods.
  • Revenue Generation through Eco-Tourism- Sustainable wildlife tourism can create jobs, boost the economy, and fund conservation efforts.
  • Reduced Government Burden- Shifts financial and operational responsibilities from the government to private stakeholders.
  • Better Protection Against Poaching- Private reserves often have stricter security measures and better enforcement against illegal activities.

What are the challenges?

  • Profit-Driven Exploitation—Conservation may be prioritized over profit-making (hunting, tourism, or resource extraction).
  • Exclusion of Local Communities- Indigenous and local communities may lose access to traditional lands, affecting their livelihoods.
  • Loss of Biodiversity Ethics- Some private players may focus on commercially valuable species, ignoring overall ecosystem balance.
  • Limited Public Accountability- Private firms may not be transparent in their operations, leading to unregulated exploitation.
  • Privatization of a Public Resource- Wildlife is a shared national heritage, and private ownership may lead to restricted access and conflicts over land use.

What lies ahead?

  • Community Participation – Involvement of local communities through eco-tourism and sustainable livelihoods can be encouraged.
  • Technology Integration – Use AI, satellite tracking, and GIS mapping for monitoring and conflict prevention will help strengthen conservation measures.
  • Public Private Partnership - Private philanthropy shall conserve, support research with the ultimate goal of strengthening state institutions and not just creating a private enterprise with little or no public accountability.

Reference

Indian Express | Wildlife management

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