India
has to boast an abundant wealth of wildlife. And the regard that Indians
show towards the animal species is also an essential part of the Indian
culture. As the population of the wildlife species begins to swell and the
need for industrialisation, rehabilitation and urbanisation arises, there is
posed a big threat for the wildlife habitat. Consequently, forests are
destroyed.
Around 66 species of mammals, 38 species of birds and 18 species of
amphibians and reptiles along with 3 species of crocodilian forms are very
rarely found and thus have been listed as threatened species. A few of those
that face threat of existence include the Royal Bengal tiger, the Asiatic
lion, Hangul deer of Kashmir, Indian hunting cheetah, swamp deer, black buck
etc.
Therefore, to cope with the deteriorating situation, the central and the
state governments have taken serious measures by creating the ‘Protected
Areas’. A protected area is established to afford protection to the
wildlife species as well as their habitat. Primarily, the term refers to
national parks and sanctuaries, along with game reserves and biosphere
reserves.
In the year 1972, the Government of India also ordained an all-inclusive
legislation known as the Wildlife (Protection) Act. Thus, the protection of
wildlife species and the endangered animals was completely legalised. Under
the above-mentioned act, the State Government has the authority to declare
any area as a sanctuary or a national park, with a view to protecting,
propagating and developing the wildlife as well as the environment.
The status of the protected area network in India is as follows :
Geographical
Area of India (FSI, 1997) - 32,87,263 sq km
Forest Area of India (FSI, 1997) - 7,65,210 sq km
Forest Area Percentage of G.A. - 23.27%
Existing Protected Areas
National Parks - Number : 86, Area : 37,648.57 sq km
Wildlife Sanctuaris - Number : 481, Area : 115,309.38 sq km
Protected Areas - Number : 567, Area : 152,957.95
National Parks % of GA - 1.15%
Wildlife Sanctuaries % of GA - 3.51%
Protected Areas % of GA - 4.66%
Proposed Protected Areas
National Parks - Number : 74, Area : 17,258.48 sq km
Wildlife Sanctuaries - Number : 218, Area : 16,933.07 sq km
Protected Areas - Number : 292, Area : 34,191.55 sq km
National Parks % of GA - 0.53%
Wildlife Sanctuaries % of GA - 0.52%
Protected Areas % of GA - 1.05%
Protected Areas after full implementation of Protected Areas
Network Reports
National Parks - Number : 160, Area : 54,907.05 sq km
Wildlife Sanctuaries - Number : 699, Area : 132,242.45 sq km
Protected Areas - Number : 859, Area : 187,149.50 sq km
National Parks % of GA - 1.67%
Wildlife Sanctuaries % of GA - 4.02%
Protected Areas % of GA - 5.69%
[
Source : WII, Dehra Dun & Forest Survey of India (FSI), Dehra
Dun ]
