India’s wildlife, decimated by hunting and forest exploitation, found succour in national parks

Source: This post is created based on the article ‘India’s wildlife, decimated by hunting and forest exploitation, found succour in national parks’ published in The Times of India on 30^th Sep, 2023.

Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3 – Biodiversity Conservation

News: Article discusses the evolution of forest and wildlife conservation efforts in India.

Evolution of the forest and wildlife conservation in India

Evolution of forest conservation

In the late 19th century, India witnessed massive deforestation, leading to discussions about setting aside land for ecological reasons.

The colonial government reserved about a quarter of India for forests, primarily in timber-rich regions like the Western Ghats and Central Provinces. It later became the foundation for national parks.

This was in response to concerns about sustaining the colonial military and railways, which relied heavily on forest resources.

Evolution of wildlife conservation

Concerns about wildlife conservation emerged in the 1920s, against the backdrop of rampant hunting. The first national park was established in 1936, but the destruction of forests and hunting persisted.

Wildlife Protection Act was introduced in 1972, which banned commercial forestry and hunting in protected areas. In 1976, wildlife conservation became a shared responsibility between the central and state governments.

What were the challenges faced by conservation efforts?

The forest department’s dual role in logging and conservation posed conflicts.

Officers faced threats from the hunting lobby and sometimes their colleagues.

What is the present state of conservation efforts?

Challenges: 1) Reduced Forest area and minimal growth in protected regions.

2) Poaching remains a concern in many areas.

3) Indian national parks differ from those worldwide due to land constraints and high population density.

4) to balance wildlife conservation with the needs of communities living around national parks

Significance: Species like rhinoceros, lions, tigers, elephants, and the brow-antlered deer have benefited from national parks.

The focus now should be on expanding protected areas and ensuring the robustness of wildlife protection laws.