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Wild Life Conservation in India

Reasons for declining wild life

forest exploitation due to industrial and technological advancement

 Grazing
timber collection
 Commercial poaching
 Forest fire

1972 Wildlife protection Act

 2 main provisions
protection of endangered animals in the schedule of the act
provide legal support to conservation areas of country notified as national parks, sanctuaries and
closed areas 

 
Main provisions

Schedule 1: Harming these animals is prohibited since they are endangered

Schedule 2-4: Hunting restricted
Schedule 2: Species requiring special protection
Schedule 3:Big game 
Schedule 4:Small game
Penalties are different for different schedules
(NB:Small game generally refers to hunting of animals (including birds) of small size pursued by
hunters.  Large game, or big game refers to, such as deer, moose, elk, bears, etc.Licenses for small and
big games are required)
Schedule 5: Vermin- Unrestricted hunting( cockroaches etc)
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Schedule 6:Plants that are prohibited from cultivation.

Wildlife wardens and their staff administer the act.

An amendment to the Act in 1982, introduced a provision permitting the capture and transportation of wild
animals for the scientific management of animal population.

1991 amendment to the act

 made punishments more stringent

 provisions for protection of specified plant species
 provisions for conservation of endangered species

Under CITES import and export of endangered animals are governed by rules

Some statisctics

96 National Parks
500 Wildlife sanctuaries
18 Biosphere reserves
27 Tiger reserves
11 Elephant reserves
21 wetlands
30 mangrove areas
4 coral reef areas
approx 5% of total area of India

IUCN Protected Area Categories

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Category I
Category Ia- Strict Nature Reserve
Area protected from human intervention
Relatively small area
Category I b- Wilderness Area
Similar to strict nature reserve 
Larger and protected in slightly less stringent manner
Category II
National Park
Category III
Natural monument 
Relatively smaller area identified to protect a natural monument and surrounding habitats
Category IV
Habitat/Species Management Area
Protection of species/habitats
Analogous to sanctuaries in India
Category V
Protected Landscape
Most flexible classification of protected areas
It covers entire landscape/seascape 
Analogous to Biosphere reserves
Category VI-Protected Area with sustainable use of natural resources
Human involvement allowed for sustainable development

BIOSPHERE RESERVES

Indian Govt's MoEF's notifies Biosphere reserves of India

18 biodiversity- rich representative ecosystems have been designated as Biosphere Reserves in India. 
Of these 10 are internationally recognized within UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme 
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Spain has highest number of Biosphere reserves in World Network of Biosphere reserves
concept of Biosphere Reserves (BR) was launched in 1975 as a part of UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere
Programme, dealing with the conservation of ecosystems and the genetic material they contain
A Biosphere Reserve consists of 
 1.core zone is fully protected and natural area of the Biosphere Reserve least  disturbed by human
activities. It is legally protected ecosystem in which entry is not allowed except with permission for
some special purpose. Destructive sampling for scientificinvestigations is prohibited. 
2.buffer zone surrounds the core zone and is managed to accommodate a greater variety of resource
use strategies, and research and educational activities. 
3.transition zone, the outermost part of the Biosphere Reserve, is an area of active cooperation
between the reserve management and the local people, wherein activities like settlements, cropping,
forestry , recreation and other economic that are in harmony with the conservation goals.

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The main functions of the biosphere reserves are:

Conservation: Long term conservation of representatives, landscapes and different

types of ecosystems, along with all their species and genetic resources.

Development: Encourages traditional resource use and promote economic

development which is culturally, socially and ecologically sustainable.

Scientific research, monitoring and education

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List of Biosphere reserves of India

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NB:Panna of MP was the last declared Biosphere reserve of India

Those included in World network of Biosphere reserves by UNESCO

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International Biosphere reserves in India

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Great Nicobar reserve

In 2013 included in MAB UNESCO programme
In Great Nicobar island (largest of Nicobar islands)
Indira point is located here
Shompen tribe
Mount Thullier(Highest peak in Great Nicobar islands)
Saddle Peak is the highest peak in Andaman and Nicobar islands
Campell Bay national Park and Galathea National Park
Gulf of Mannar
rich in marine biodiversity
Shallow bay part of Laccadive sea in Indian Ocean
Estuary is formed by Thamarabarani river
3600 plant and animal species found here are endangered
Eg:Sea cow(dugong), sea cucumber
Agastyamalai
Latest declared International Biosphere reserve
Home to Kanikaran tribes- oldest surviving ancient tribe
Tamarabarani  river originates from this reserve
Nilgiri Biosphere reserve
1st Biosphere reserve in India
Vegetation
Western slope- moist evergreen and moist deciduous
Savannah type
Sholas(tropical montane forest) and grasslands
houses largest known population of Lion tailed Macaque and Nilgiri Tahr
Area wise 
Tamil Nadu(largest area)
Karnataka 
Kerala
tribal groups here are known for their harmonious use of forest resources
Pachmarhi
Located in MP
Satpura range
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Tapti river originates from here(Betul plateau)

Forest is dominated by Teak
Westernmost groves of Sal forest are seen here
Chingara, Nilgai are seen are
Herpato fauna is seen in this area
Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere reserve
Located in MP and Chattisgarh
Major watershed of Peninsular India- divides Bay of Bengal and Arabian sea flowing rivers
Topography of Amarkantak plateau soil- Bauxite rocks
Major rivers - Narmada, Son 
Ranges- Maikal, Vindhya and Satpura
Simlipal 
located in Orissa(Mayurbanj district)
Name derived from Semul trees(Red Silk cotton tree) found abundant in this area

Waterfalls: Barehipani falls(400 m high), Jornda falls

Fauna- Bengal tiger-> tiger reserve
Mugger crocodile programme
Sunderbans Biosphere reserve
also a UNESCO World Heritage site
Bengal tigers about 200 in number and are adapted to swim
Heritiera(Sundari)is found in mangrove forests are valued for their timber is in IUCN Red list.
It has " Endangered" status in IUCN list
Nokrek
Located in western side of Garo hills in Meghalaya
Rivers
Simsang river(also called Someshwari)
Napak lake
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Balpakaram National Park is located inside it

It is called Grand Canyon of the east
Wild life
Red Panda, Asian elephants
Also an important bird area
Flora
noted for vast wild variety of citrus fruits
Mother plant of citrus plants is seen here
Nandadevi Biosphere reserve
in Uttarkand
Nanda Devi national park (at the peak of Nandadevi)+Valley of Flowers (national park is located near
)=Nanda devi biosphere reserve(a World Heritage site under UNESCO)
River: Rishi Ganga
major forest type:
temperate and alpine(due to dry conditions)->silver weed, orchids like latifolie and rhododendron
are found here
Wildlife
snow leopard, black bear, brown bear, musk deer, snow cock, black eagle and golden eagle

Other biosphere reserves

Sheshachalam hills
Southern AP
Tirupati hills is located here
Flora: Red Sandal
Panna
Northern Madhya Pradesh
Subtropical dry forests ends and Moist deciduous forests in upper Gangetic plain begins
River: Ken river
Infamous for decline in tiger popualtion
Northern most tip of natural teak forest and Eastern most tip of natural Kardhai forest
Khangchenjunga reserve

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in Sikkim
3rd highest peak in World
Zemu glacier is located here
Fauna
Musk deer
Snow leopard
Himalayan tahr
Lepcha tribe settlements are found here
Manas 
Assam
Also a UNESCO world heritage site
Located at Himalayan foothills 
River- Manas river(tributary of Brahmaputra)-international border b/w India and Bhutan
Fauna
Largest population of Bengal florican
Assam Roofed turtle
Golden Langur
Pygmy Hog
Wild water buffalo
Dibru-Saikhowa Biosphere reserve
Located in Assam
Dihang-Dibang Biosphere reserve
In Arunachel Pradesh
Situated in flood plains of  Brahmaputra
Known for willow forests
Endangered Mishi takin is found in this area

Cold desert
Rainshadow region of Himalayas
In Himachel Pradesh
Includes Pin valley National park
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Great Rann of Kutch

one of the largest salt desert in World

Located in Thar desert

National Parks and Sanctuaries

They are declared by notification by State/Central Govts under Wild Life Protection Act,1972
To alter the boundary of a declared national park/sanctuary resolution has to be passed by the State
legislature

first National Park in India was created and named as the Hailey National Park, now called the Corbett
National Park, in Uttaranchal
Andaman and Nicobar islands and Madhya Pradesh have highest number of national parks in India- 9
Punjab do not have a national park

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NP Vs Sanctuaries

NP enjoy greater degree of protection than Sanctuaries.

Activities like grazing are regulated in Sanctuaries where as  it is prohobhited in NPs
Sanctuaries can be created for a particular species but NPs  not primarily focussed on a particular species.
Central Govt may declare a NP on spl provisions.

Imporatant NPs and Sanctuaries

Most number of national parks- Andaman and Nicobar and Madhya Pradesh
Sikkim has the most area under National Parks
Punjab - only state w/o a national park
Jim Corbet National Park(Hailey national park)- First national park in India

Andaman and Nicobar islands

Campbell bay national park

Galathea national park

Kerala

Silent Valley
Core of Nilgiri biosphere reserve
Lion tailed Macaque

Tamil Nadu

Gulf of Mannar national park

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Indhira Gandhi national park

Mudumalai National park

Karnataka

Bandipur National park

Flora: Dry deciduous forest
NH 67 passes through it
Kudremukh National Park
Located in Karnataka
Lion Tailed Macaque 
Iron ore mining 
Origin of Tunga river, Bhadra river and Netravathi river(west flowing) originate from here

Andhra Pradesh

Papikonda national Park

Goa

Mollem  national park and Bhagwan Mahaveer sanctuary

NH 4A divides it into 2
Dudhsagar falls is located here(in Mandovi river)

Maharashtra

Gugamal National park

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Madhya Pradesh

Pench national park

Between MP and Maharashtra

Pench river flows through it

Mandla plant Fossils national park
Fossilised plants are seen here
Bandhavgarh national park
largest tiger population in India
White tiger are also seen there
Kanha national park
Jungle book
Bhaiga tribes were displaced

Chattisgarh

Indravati national park

Indravati river flows through it(tributary of Godavari)
one of the largest population of wild buffalos
Kangerghati national park
Many waterfalls are seen here
Subterrain limestone caves
Kanger river flows through it
Sanjay National Park

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Jharkand

Betla National park

Acronym for Bison, Elephant, Tiger, Leopard, Axis deer

Odisha

Bhaiternika national park

Saltwater crocodile
Brahmani-Bhaitarani river s/m flows through it

West Bengal

Jaldapara national park

In Silguri corridor
Second most one horned rhinocerous population after Kaziringa NP
Banks of Torsa river
Siguri corridor
Neora valley national park
Darjeeling

Meghalaya

Balphakram national park

Siju cave- a limestone cave is located here
Simsang river
Fauna: Red Panda, Asian Elephants
Nokrek National Park

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Assam

Kaziranga National Park

Assam
Brahmaputra flows through it
One-horned rhinoceros
Highest density of tigers in protected areas of the world
Declared UNESCO World Heritage site in 1985 for its unique natural environment
also a Tiger Reserve
Recognized as important bird area by Bird life international
Hosts two third of world's one-horned rhino which are listed as vulnerable on IUCN Red List of
threatened species
Rivers: Brahmaputra, Diphlu and Dhanasri
Fauna:Gangetic dolphins
Manas
National park + UNESCO world heritage site 
Largest population of Bengal florican
Known for – Wild water buffaloes ,Assam Roofed Turtle, Hispid Hare,Golden Langur and Pygmy Hog
Manas river-a tributary of Brahmaputra flows through the park
Orang national Park
Mini Kazringa

Mizoram

Blue mountain(Phawngupi) national Park

Murlen national Park
India's thickest  forest (comparable to Amazon)- sunrays do not reach ground

Tripura

Bison (Rajbari)National park

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Nagaland

Intanki national park

Zeliangrok tribes are found here

Arunachel Pradesh

Namdapha national park

All types of forest are seen here- from tropical moist forest to Montane forests
Part of Eastern Himalayas
has Northern most lowland evergreen forest in world
Unique species: Flying squirrel
Lisu tribes live inside the park
Mowling national park
Mouling peak is located here
Inside Dihang-Dibang biosphere reserve

Manipur

Keibul Lamjao National Park

Loktak lake,Manipur
Sangai deer-endangered

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Only floating national park of World

Sikkim

Kandjunchenga National Park

Zemu glacier

Bihar

Valmiki national park

India Nepal border
Gandak river flows through it

Uttar Pradesh

Dudhwa national park(only 1 NP in UP)

Terai area
India-Nepal border
Sal forests
Fauna: Barasingha or swamp deer(half of world's Barasingha population is located here)

Uttarakand

Gangotri national park

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Bhagirathi river and Gaumukh glacier (origin of Ganges)

International boundary  with China
Rajaji National park
Northwestern limit of distribution of elephants and tigers in India
Shiwaliks
Jim Corbet national park
Estd in 1936-oldest in India
Ramganga river flows through it
Kalagarh dam(also called Ramganga dam) is located here- Important for bird watching
Nandadevi national park
Biosphere reserve, World Heritage site and National park
Valley of Flowers
Himalayan pheasant
Between Himalayan range and Zanskar range
Located in Western Himalayas->Uttarkand
transition zone b/w Great Himalayas and Zanskar mountain range
Vegetation- alpine 

Himachel Pradesh

Great Himalayan national park

Kulu region
A UNESCO world heritage site
Khir Ganga national park
Pin valley national park
Part of Cold  biosphere reserve
Buddisht centre
Lahul and Spiti valley located here
Fauna: Snow leopard, Siberian Ibex

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Haryana

Kalesar National Park

Shiwalik area
Sal forests

J&K

Hemis national park

Eastern ladakh
Indus enters India here
Located fully in trans Himalayas(only National park located North of Himalayas)
Largest national park of India and second largest contiguouos protected area after Nanda Devi
biosphere reserve
Fauna: Snow leopard (highest density of snow leopards in world), Urial (wild sheep- only seen here in
India), Tibetan wolf, Red fox
Flora: Alpine vegetation
Hemis Buddhist monastery is located inside NP
Dachigam national park
Fauna:Kashmir Stag or Hangul
Flora:Coniferous forest
Salim Ali national park
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Rajasthan

Desert national park

Bird haven
Fauna:Great Indian Bustard
Gadsisar Sagar tank is located here
Keolado national park
In Bharatpur
also a world heritage site+ Ramsar site
Manmade wetland
Bird paradise
Chambal river water drains the area
Only regular wintering area of Siberian crane in India
Ranathambore national park
Tiger reserve
Aravallis range
Banas and Chambal river flows through it
Sariska national park
Part of Aravallis
Fauna: Bengal tiger

Gujarat

Gir national park

Sole home of Asiatic lions
Sudhi tribes lived here
 Marine national park(Gulf of Kutch)
First national marine park of India

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Gir forest (Gujarat) – Lions, chital, sambar, wild bears

Kelameru bird sanctuary (Andhra Pradesh) – Pelicans and marine birds
Dachigam sanctuary (Jammu and Kashmir) – Kashmir stags, Himalayan tahr, wild goats, sheep,
antelopes.
Bandipur sanctuary (Karnataka) – Indian bison, elephants, langurs
 Periyar sanctuary (Kerala) – Elephants, barking deer, sambhar

 Simipal National Park (Orissa) – Mangroves, marine turtles lay eggs

 Bharatpur bird sanctuary (Rajasthan) – Ducks, herons
 Corbett National Park (Uttaranchal) –Tigers, barking deer, sambar, wild bear, rhesus monkey.
 Jaladpara sanctuary (West Bengal) – Rhinoceros

National Chambal sancturay

Riverine sanctuary -Chambal river
Fresh water crocrodile-Gharials 

Wildlife Conservation Society India is a NGO working in wildlife conservation.

Largest tiger reserve?

Potential sites for Biosphere reserves -selected by MoEF

Nampadha,Arunachel Pradesh
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Thar,Rajastan
Little Rann of Kutch,Gujarat
Kanha,Madhya Pradesh
North Islands of Andaman
Abumarh,Chattisgarh
Chintapalli,Andhra Pradesh
Lakshadweep islands
Singhbhum
Blue mountain of Mizoram state
Tawand and West Kamang

2010- International Year of Biodiversity

May 22- International Day of Biodiversity(to commemorate adoption of CBD-1992)

World Heritage sites in India(from biodiversity POV)

Kaziranga
Manas
Keolado
Nanda devi+ Valley of Flowers
Sunderbans
Western Ghats
Great Himalayan National park

BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS

Concept introd by Norman Meyers in 1988

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For an area to be bio-diversity hotspot 2 conditions need to be met

contain atleast 0.5%(about 1500) of world's total  plant species as endemic
Lost atleast 70% of its primary vegetation
34 sites around world are identified- 50% of world's plant species and 42% of terrestrial vertebrate species
are endemic here
India
Eastern Himalayas
Indo-Myanmar 
Western Ghats/Sri Lanka

IMPORTANT LAKES

Chilika lake
First Indian wetland under Ramsar convention
Brackish water lagoon in Odisha 
Largest coastal lagoon in India 
Wintering ground of migratory birds in India
Lake is fed by tributaries of Mahanadi river
Nalbana bird sancturay is located here
Irrawady dolphins  are found only here in India

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Kolleru lake
Largest fresh water lake of India
Attapaka Bird sanctuary is located here
Large spot billed Pelican home in the world
Fresh water lake of AP b/w Krishna and Godavari delta
A Ramsar wetland

Pulicat lake
Second largest brackish lake in India
AP-Tamil Nadu border-Sriharikotta

Sambhar lake
Largest inland salt lake in India
Rajasthan
Important in salt production in India
A Ramsar site

Loktak lake*
Located in Manipur-Largest freshwater lake of North East India
Famous for phumdis-vegetation floating over lake

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Keibul Lamjao National Park is located near this lake

Last refuge of endangered Sangai deer
A Ramsar wetland

Renuka lake
In Himachel Pradesh

Inle Lake
Myanmar's first Biosphere reserve under MAB of UNESCO
Nesting plane of endangered Sarus crane

Doyang lake
Located in Nagaland
Amur Falcons (a migratory bird from Mangolia) arrives at this lake for roosting during its travel from
Mangolia to South Africa

They have Least Concern status in IUCN

It was made a eco-tourism spot recently
Pangti village in Nagaland -> Amur Falcon capital of the world
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