The Wildlife Protection Act: A Beacon of Hope for Endangered Species
Overview of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972
The Wildlife Protection Act 1972 is a landmark legislation in India that aims to protect the rich biodiversity and wildlife of the country. The Act was enacted by the Parliament of India on 9 September 1972 and came into force on 5 June 1973. The Act provides for the establishment of protected areas, regulation of hunting, trade, and management of wildlife, and conservation of endangered species.
Salient Features of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972
Some of the salient features of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 are:
- The Act defines wildlife as any animal, aquatic, or land vegetation, which forms part of any habitat.
- The Act empowers the central and state governments to declare any area as a wildlife sanctuary, national park, tiger reserve, community reserve or conservation reserve for the protection of wildlife and its habitat.
- The Act prohibits hunting of any wild animal except with a permit issued by the competent authority for specified purposes such as education, research, scientific management, etc.
- The Act regulates the trade and commerce of wild animals and their parts and products, and prescribes penalties for violations.
- The Act creates various authorities and bodies for the implementation and enforcement of the Act, such as the National Board for Wildlife, the Wildlife Advisory Board, the Wildlife Warden, etc.
- The Act provides for the constitution of a Wildlife Crime Control Bureau to combat illegal trade and poaching of wildlife.
- The Act confers powers on forest officers and police officers to search, seize, arrest, and prosecute offenders under the Act.
Schedules of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972
The Wildlife Protection Act 1972 classifies various species of animals into six schedules according to their degree of protection. The schedules are:
- Schedule I: This includes the most endangered and rare species, such as tigers, lions, elephants, rhinos, snow leopards, etc. Hunting or trade of these animals or their parts is strictly prohibited and punishable with imprisonment of up to seven years and a fine of up to 25,000 rupees.
- Schedule II: This includes species that require special protection, such as crocodiles, gharials, sea turtles, etc. Hunting or trade of these animals or their parts is also prohibited and punishable with imprisonment of up to seven years and a fine of up to 25,000 rupees.
- Schedule III: This includes species that are not endangered but need protection, such as wolves, hyenas, bears, etc. Hunting or trade of these animals or their parts is punishable with imprisonment up to three years and fine up to 25,000 rupees.
- Schedule IV: This includes species that are not endangered but may become so if not protected, such as monkeys, deer, antelopes, etc. Hunting or trade of these animals or their parts is punishable with imprisonment up to three years and fine up to 10,000 rupees.
- Schedule V: This includes species that are considered vermin or pests, such as crows, rats, mice, etc. Hunting or trade of these animals is allowed with permission from the competent authority.
- Schedule VI: This includes plants that are prohibited from cultivation or collection for commercial purposes, such as sandalwood, red sanders, orchids, etc.
Amendments to the Wildlife Protection Act 1972
The Wildlife Protection Act 1972 has been amended several times to incorporate new provisions and changes in response to emerging challenges and needs. Some of the major amendments are:
- The Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act 1982: This amendment introduced the concept of tiger reserves under Project Tiger and enhanced the penalties for offenses under the Act.
- The Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act 1991: This amendment aligned the Act with the provisions of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and increased the powers of forest officers and police officers to curb illegal trade and poaching.
- The Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act 2002: This amendment established the National Board for Wildlife as the apex body for policy formulation and coordination on wildlife matters. It also created new categories of protected areas such as community reserves and conservation reserves. It also increased the penalties for offenses under the Act.
- The Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act 2006: This amendment added new species to Schedule I such as black buck, chinkara, flying foxes, etc. It also empowered the central government to alter or amend any schedule without consulting Parliament.
Benefits of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972
The Wildlife Protection Act 1972 has been instrumental in conserving and protecting India’s rich wildlife heritage. Some of the benefits of the Act are:
- It has helped in creating a network of protected areas covering about 5% of India’s land area that provide habitat for various species of flora and fauna.
- It has helped prevent the extinction of several endangered and threatened species such as tigers, lions, elephants, rhinos, etc.
- It has helped in regulating and controlling the trade and commerce of wildlife and its products, and curbing illegal activities such as poaching and smuggling.
- It has helped in promoting awareness and education among the public and stakeholders about the importance and value of wildlife and its conservation.
- It has helped in fostering cooperation and coordination among various agencies and organizations involved in wildlife management and conservation at the national, state, and local levels.
