Next conservation challenge lies beyond protected areas

Source: The post “Next conservation challenge lies beyond protected areas” has been created based on “Next conservation challenge lies beyond protected areas” published in “Indian Express” on 3rd August 2026.

UPSC Syllabus: GS 3– Environment

Context: India has developed one of the world’s largest Protected Area (PA) networks over the past five decades, which has significantly contributed to the conservation of important species and habitats. However, emerging challenges such as climate change, habitat fragmentation and rapid infrastructure development require a landscape-based conservation approach that extends beyond Protected Areas.

Importance of conservation beyond Protected Areas

1. Wildlife moves across landscapes for migration, breeding and dispersal, making ecological connectivity beyond Protected Areas essential.
2. Climate change is altering habitats and forcing species to shift their ranges beyond existing Protected Areas.
3. Rapid expansion of roads, railways, transmission lines and canals is fragmenting habitats and disrupting wildlife movement.
4. Rivers, wetlands, forests and agricultural landscapes function as interconnected ecosystems, and therefore cannot be conserved as isolated ecological units.
5. Protected Areas alone cannot sustain genetic exchange, ecological resilience and long-term biodiversity conservation if they remain disconnected.

Need for conservation beyond Protected Areas

1. Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) provide a framework for recognising forests, wetlands and community-managed landscapes that contribute to biodiversity conservation outside the formal PA network.
2. India should develop a National Conservation Estate that integrates Protected Areas, OECMs and other biodiversity-rich landscapes, irrespective of ownership or legal status.
3. Ecological corridors should be protected because they facilitate wildlife movement, genetic exchange and ecosystem resilience.
4. Biodiversity conservation should be integrated into development planning so that ecological sustainability and economic growth can progress together.

Challenges

1. Expanding infrastructure projects are causing habitat fragmentation and reducing ecological connectivity.
2. Biodiversity-rich landscapes outside Protected Areas often lack formal recognition and conservation support.
3. Conservation efforts suffer from weak coordination among governments, local communities, corporations and civil society.
4. Conservation policies continue to focus mainly on legally notified Protected Areas rather than entire ecological landscapes.

Way Forward

1. India should establish a National Conservation Estate by integrating Protected Areas, OECMs and ecological corridors into a unified conservation network.
2. Ecological connectivity should be incorporated into infrastructure planning through wildlife overpasses, underpasses and other mitigation measures, as demonstrated in the Delhi–Dehradun Economic Corridor and the Pench–Seoni landscape.
3. The government should formally recognise and support community-managed forests, wetlands and other biodiversity-rich landscapes under the OECM framework.
4. Strong partnerships should be developed among government agencies, local communities, corporations and civil society to promote landscape-level conservation.
5. Conservation planning should shift from a site-based approach to a landscape-based approach to ensure long-term ecological sustainability.

Conclusion: India’s next conservation milestone will depend not only on expanding Protected Areas but also on recognising, connecting and conserving biodiversity-rich landscapes through ecological corridors and inclusive conservation strategies. This approach will strengthen biodiversity conservation while supporting sustainable development.

Question: Protected Areas alone are insufficient to conserve biodiversity in the face of climate change and infrastructure expansion. Discuss.

Source: Indian express