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Article:
- Conservationist Meghana Sanka argues that allowing private forests would lead to illegal activities and can change the natural behaviour of wildlife
Important Analysis
- About Private Conservancy Rules drafted by Karnataka:
- Aim: Increase forest area through private land.
- Provisions: Anyone who has a minimum of 100 acres of land bordering a national park can convert it to a “Wildlife Private Conservancy”. 5% of this land can be used to construct buildings for ecotourism. The remaining has to be kept for flora and fauna.
- The initiative of creating private forests has faced widespread criticism. The author opines that the private forest could be used for illegal activities and can modify natural behaviour of wildlife.
- South Africa- A case study:
- In South Africa, agricultural land can be converted into wildlife reserves.
- The government first specifies how much land is required for each animal. After that, purchases are made and then animals are introduced in the area
- In some game reserves hunting is legal. Hunting rights for specific animals are regularly auctioned
- However, these private reserves have been criticised for poor management and exploitation of wildlife.
- Further, these reserves have induced behavioural changes among animals since these are fenced
- Some reserves have two sections: one with lions and one without. There have also been problems of overpopulation of particular species in an area.
- These private forests are also subjected to poaching. Rhinos are regularly poached for their horns