Protection of Wildlife and Forest in India

by

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

For this research study, I would like to express my gratitude to my supervisor, family and friends for their support and encouragement.

DECLARATION

With the undersigned deceleration, I hereby adjudge that this research study is completely my work. Neither this dissertation nor parts of the research have been copied from any online/offline sources, nor this dissertation been submitted to any educational institution.

Signed __________________ Date _________________

ABSTRACT

This study tries to provide an overview of the protection of forest and wildlife law in India. This research provides information about the various aspects of forest preservation laws, wildlife conservation Acts, and how the Protection of forest and wildlife Act of India differs from Intercontinental Laws relating to it. The research followed the secondary (qualitative) method for the collection of data. The main focus of this study was to investigate different conventions regarding the Protection of wildlife and forest in India.

Table of Contents

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTii

DECLARATIONiii

ABSTRACTiv

INTRODUCTION1

Background of the study1

Rationale3

Problem Statement5

Research Aim & Objective5

Significance of the Study6

Outline of the study6

LITERATURE REVIEW7

Intercontinental Environmental Law8

Intercontinental Wildlife Law - Historical Development9

Biodiversity10

Convention on Biodiversity12

Preservation of Biodiversity13

Endangered Species Act14

Forest Preservation18

Environment Protection in India19

The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 197221

Economics of Wildlife22

METHODOLOGY25

Research Design25

Secondary and qualitative Research Methods25

Data Analysis26

Literature Search26

Reliability of Sources26

Keywords Used27

DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS28

Forest in India29

Today: Forest & Wildlife Conservation30

Intercontinental Comparison32

Intercontinental regulatory frameworks32

Some Key Regulations34

Preservation of Biodiversity36

Intercontinental Environment Law38

Indigenous Environmental practices39

CONCLUSION43

BIBLIOGRAPHY46

APPENDIX63

INTRODUCTION

Background of the study

Challenges facing the Indian conservationists include potential species extinctions, issues of effective safety and scientific supervision of confined regions plus resolution of human-wildlife conflicts. Due to its of its large and dense human population juxtaposed with mega biodiversity India provides an ideal setting for examining how other countries may resolve similar conservation problems. India has well documented colonial and post-colonial wildlife conservation history periods across which significant changes occurred in land ownership policy, land use, population declines and range contraction of wildlife, as well as increased human populations, and cultural change.

The restrictions proposed by these conservationists included stricter gun control laws, reducing game hunting licenses, preventing commercial trophy sales, restricting the sale of game meat, regulating tanneries, and general trade in the animal body parts (especially hides and horns). Additional suggestions included reducing hunting rewards, stiffening anti-poaching sentences, protecting stray wild animals, and preventing shooting of wild mammals within a distance of 400 yards from automobiles and carts. Other recommendations included increasing public awareness, establishing wildlife protection associations, creating wildlife funds, and establishing new national parks.

Several wildlife laws (called acts) were passed to protect species (Figure 1). These wildlife acts standardized hunting and shooting rules. They identified protected forest boundaries that permitted seasonal hunting of specific species. Fines included monetary penalties and imprisonment. These hunting regulations could not restrict or regulate hunting in native and princely states. Game animals on private lands were especially vulnerable as the forest service had no jurisdiction on these lands and could not enforce laws.

Despite the establishment of reserves and hunting rules, they became unsuccessful to restrict the loss of various species, although overall but for the government owned reserved forests they established there probably ...