WILDLIFE

CONSERVATION
PROJECTS,
LEGISLATIONS
PROJECT TIGER
• India has more than 70 % of the world’s tigers.
• The project tiger launched in 1973 has grown to
more than 50 reserves amounting to 2.2% of the
country’s geographical area.
• The stated aims of project tiger were-
• To identify factors causing a reduction in tiger
habitats and mitigate them through suitable
management practices.
• The damages already done to the habitat were to
be corrected so that the natural ecosystem can
be recovered to the extent possible.
• To maintain a viable tiger population for their
economic, ecological, cultural, and aesthetic
significance.
• Tiger reserves are created on the basis of a
‘core-buffer’ strategy.
PROJECT TIGER
Core area
• A particular expanse of land is identified and
marked as the ‘core area of the reserve.
• These areas are kept free of all human
activities.
• It usually has the legal status of a National Park
or Wildlife Sanctuary.
• No human activity is allowed inside the core
area, including tourism.
• Even everyday tasks such as grazing and wood
collection are banned.
Buffer Area
• The buffer areas usually surround the core area
and are comparatively less frequented by the
resident wildlife.
• Hence, limited human interaction here will not
harm their habitat.
NTCA
• The Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 was
amended in 2006 to provide for constituting the
National Tiger Conservation Authority
responsible for the implementation of the Project
Tiger plan to protect endangered tigers.
• The National Tiger Conservation Authority is set
up under the Chairmanship of the Minister for
Environment and Forests.
• The Authority will have eight experts or
professionals having qualifications and
experience in wildlife conservation and welfare
of people including tribals, apart from three
Members of Parliament of whom two will be
elected by the House of the People and one by
the Council of States.
• The Authority, interalia, would lay down
normative standards, guidelines for tiger
Tiger census
CA TS

• CA TS aims to restore the tiger population

naturally across tiger reserves, national parks,
biosphere reserves, and wildlife sanctuaries
• It comprises several pillars and elements that
assure the successful restoration of the tiger
population within a protected natural spot.
• Developed by the World Wildlife Fund, the
Conservation Assured Tiger Standards work in
the protected ranges of countries with tiger
populations.

• M-STrIPES (Monitoring system for tigers –

intensive protection and ecological status): It
uses GPS to geotag photo-evidences and
survey information of tiger.
Global initiatives
• Global Tiger Forum(GTF): Established in 1994,
the Global Tiger Forum is the only inter-
governmental body for tiger conservation.
• Its membership includes seven tiger range
countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India,
Cambodia, Myanmar, Nepal and Vietnam.
• Global Tiger Initiative(GTI): It was launched in
2008 as a global alliance of governments,
international organizations, civil society and the
private sector with the aim of working together to
save wild tigers from extinction.
• St. Petersburg Declaration on Tiger
Conservation: It was adopted In 2010, by the
leaders of 13 tiger range countries (TRCs)
assembled at an International Tiger Forum in St.
Petersburg, Russia.
• 13 tiger range countries – India, Bangladesh,
Project Elephant
• Elephant is a National Heritage animal of India
and has protected under Seclude I species of
Indian Wild Life Protection Act, 1972.
• Concerned at the primary need to restore the
elephant habitats and reduce suffering of both
elephant as well as the human population, the
Government of India launched the “Project
Elephant” in 1991-92 as a Centrally Sponsored
Scheme of the Ministry of Environment, Forests
& Climate Change.
• It was intended to provide financial and technical
support to the elephant range states of India for
the protection of elephants, their habitats and
corridors and address issue of human- animal
conflict.
Project Elephant
• Project Elephant was launched in 1992 by the
Government of India Ministry of Environment and
Forests to provide financial and technical support
to wildlife management efforts by states for their
free-ranging populations of wild Asian elephants.
• Major activities under the Project are as follows
• Ecological restoration of existing natural habitats
and migratory routes of elephants are built better
than before;
• Development of scientific and planned
management for conservation of elephant
habitats and viable population of Wild Asiatic
elephants in India;
• Promotion of measures for mitigation of man-
elephant conflict in crucial habitats
• Research on Elephant management related
issues;
Crocodile Breeding and Management Programme
• The Project was started in 1976 with FAO-UNDP
assistance to conserve crocodile species in India
such as saltwater crocodile, Gharial and mugger
crocodile.
• Major objectives include
• Creating sanctuaries to protect the remaining
crocodilians in their natural habitat.
• To quickly rebuild natural populations, more than
7000 crocodiles have been restocked, including
4000 gharial (Gavialis gangeticus), 1800 mugger
(Crocodylus palustris), and 1500 saltwater
crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus)
• To promote captive breeding.
• To conduct research to improve management
Mugger or Marsh Crocodile

• Mainly restricted to the Indian subcontinent where

it may be found in a number of freshwater habitat
types and also in coastal saltwater lagoons and
estuaries.
• It is already extinct in Bhutan and Myanmar.
• IUCN - Vulnerable
Estuarine or Saltwater Crocodile

• Considered as the Earth’s largest living crocodile

species, infamous globally as a known maneater.
• Habitat:
• Found in Odisha’s Bhitarkanika National Park,
the Sundarbans in West Bengal and the
Andamans and Nicobar Islands.
• Also found across Southeast Asia and northern
Australia.

• IUCN List of Threatened Species: Least Concern

 Gharial Crocodile
• Sometimes called gavials, are a type of Asian
crocodilian distinguished by their long, th
• The population of Gharials is a good indicator of
clean river water.
• Known to be a relatively harmless, fish-eating
species.
• Habitat:
• Mostly found in fresh waters of the himalayan
rivers.
• The Chambal river in the northern slopes of the
Vindhya mountains (Madhya Pradesh) is known
as the primary habitat of gharials.
• Other himalayan rivers like Ghagra, Gandak river,
Girwa river, Ramganga river and the Sone river
are secondary habitats.
Project Hangul
• In the 1970s, the Jammu Kashmir Government
with the support of IUCN and World Wildlife
Fund (WWF) prepared a project for the
protection of the hangul and the Kashmir stag
habitat.
• This project for the conservation and protection
of Kashmir stag came to be known as project
hangul and its population increased to 340 by
1980.
• Hangul has been listed under schedule 1 of
Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972.
• The Kashmir stag IUCN status is critically
endangered.
• Post 2009 its population started decreasing and
in 2011 it decreased to 218 and it further
decreased to 186 in 2015. In the latest census
Major threats
• Low breeding
• female biased sex ratio
• Lack of participation from the local communities
like Gujjars, Nambardars, Bakarwals, Patwaris,
and Chowkidars.
• The project's focus was limited to Dachigam
National Park and surrounding ranges.
• Establishment of Cement factories near the
habitat of Hangul deer.
• The limestone is extracted from the region in an
unscientific manner. The mines have become a
death trap for the Kashmir red stag.
• The emergence of militancy followed by the
security force actions also negatively impacted
the conservation efforts.
Project Vulture
• The Government of India launched Project
Vulture in 2006 to increase the population of
Indian vultures.
• In India, the wild populations of three species,
namely the White-backed Vulture, the Slender-
billed Vulture, and the Long-billed Vulture, have
declined dramatically over the last decade.
• The critically endangered species include the
red-headed vulture or king vulture, the Slender-
billed Vulture, and the Long-billed Vulture.
• The drastic decline in vulture population was
attributed to the use of a drug called diclofenac.
• Vulture safety zones
• Vulture restaurants
• Vulture conservation and breeding centres
Action Plan for Vulture Conservation 2020-2025

• Vulture Conservation Centre: Uttar Pradesh,

Tripura, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil
Nadu will get a vulture conservation and
breeding centre.
• Vulture Safe zone: Establishment of at least
one vulture-safe zone in each state for the
conservation of the remnant populations in that
state.
• Rescue Centres: Establishment of four rescue
centres, in Pinjore (Haryana), Bhopal (Madhya
Pradesh), Guwahati (Assam) and Hyderabad
(Telangana).
• Toxic Drugs: A system to automatically remove
a drug from veterinary use if it is found to be
toxic to vultures with the help of the Drugs
 Project Snow Leopard
• It was launched in 2009 to promote an inclusive
and participatory approach to conserving snow
leopards and their habitat.
• It is listed in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife
(Protection) Act 1972.
• The snow leopard is listed as Vulnerable on the
IUCN-World Conservation Union’s Red List of
the Threatened Species.
• With active support from the Wildlife Institute of
India and the Mysore-based Nature
Conservation Foundation, the project will be
operational in five Himalayan states: Jammu
and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh,
Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh.
• The project emphasises a landscape approach
Hemis in ladakh is regarded as snow leopard capital of the world to conservation, in which smaller core zones
with relatively high conservation values are
Environmental
organisations
Animal Welfare Board of India
• A statutory body established under
Section 4 of the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals Act, 1960.
• Established in 1962 by Smt. Rukmini
Devi Arundale (a well-known
humanitarian).
Functions
• To ensure that animal welfare laws in
the country are diligently followed.
• To provide grants to Animal Welfare
Organisations.
• To advise the government on animal
welfare issues.
• Composition: 28 members.
• Tenure: 3 years.
• Headquarters: Chennai.
• The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS)
• A pan-India wildlife research organisation
to promote the cause of nature
conservation.
• Established in 1883 as a non-governmental
organisation.
• Mission: Conservation of nature, primarily
biological diversity through action based
on research, education, and public
awareness.
• BNHS has been designated as a 'Scientific
and Industrial Research Organisation' by
the Department of Science and
Technology.
• BNHS is the partner of Bird Life
International in India. Bird Life
International is a global partnership of
The National Board for Wildlife (NBWL)
• It is the apex body for wildlife
conservation in India.
• It was set up in 2003 by an amendment to
the Wildlife Protection Act 1972.
• The National Board of Wildlife is chaired
by the Prime Minister of India.
• The members of NBWL include the Union
Ministers of Environment, Forests and
Climate Change, Agriculture and Farmers
Welfare, Rural Development, Tribal
Affairs, and Tourism.
• It also includes the Chief Ministers of all
states and union territories.
• The role of the board is advisory in nature.
• It advises the central government on
policies and programs that can be
The Central Zoo Authority (CZA)
• It is a statutory body under the Ministry of
Environment, Forests, and Climate
Change.
• It was established in 1992 under the
Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972.
• It is chaired by the Environment Minister
and consists of ten members and a
member-secretary.
• The authority's primary goal is to
supplement and strengthen the national
effort to conserve rich biodiversity.
• The authority recognises zoos and is also
in charge of regulating zoos across the
country.
• Zoos in India are governed by the Wild Life
(Protection) Act of 1972 and the National
Functions
• It establishes guidelines and rules for
the transfer of animals between zoos
on a national and international scale.
• It coordinates and implements
programmes for zoo personnel
capacity building, planned breeding
programmes, and ex-situ research.
• To establish minimum standards for
zoo animal housing, upkeep, and
veterinary care.
• To coordinate zoo personnel training
in India and abroad.
• To coordinate captive breeding
research and educational programmes
for zoos.
Botanical survey of India
• The Botanical Survey of India (BSI) is the
apex research organization under the
Ministry of Environment and Forests,
Govt. of India for carrying out taxonomic
and floristic studies on wild plant
resources of the country.
The prime objectives of the BSI are:
• Identification of threatened and red list
species and species rich areas needing
conservation.
• Ex-situ conservation of critically
threatened species in botanical gardens.
• Survey and documentation of traditional
knowledge (ethno-botany) associated
with plants.
• Develop National database of Indian
plants, including herbarium and live
Zoological survey of India
• The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), a
subordinate organization of the Ministry
of Environment and Forests was
established in 1916.
• It is a national centre for faunistic survey
and exploration of the resources leading
to the advancement of knowledge on the
exceptionally rich faunal diversity of the
country.
• It has its headquarters at Kolkata and 16
regional stations located in different
geographic locations of the country.
• It has been declared as designated
repository for National Zoological
Collection under the National Biodiversity
Act, 2002.
• The ZSI publishes the The Indian Red Data
ENVIS
• The focus of ENVIS since
inception in 1982 has been on
providing environmental
information to decision makers,
policy planners, scientists and
engineers, research workers, etc.
all over the country.
Wildlife crime control Bureau
• It is a statutory multi-disciplinary body
established by the Government of India
to combat organized wildlife crime in the
country.
• It was constituted by amending the Wild
Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
• Headquarter: New Delhi
• To establish a centralized wildlife crime
data bank.
• In capacity building of the wildlife crime
enforcement agencies for scientific and
professional investigation into wildlife
crimes
• It also assists and advises the Customs
authorities in inspection of the
consignments of flora & fauna as per the
Wildlife crime control Bureau
• It has developed an online Wildlife Crime
Database Management System to get
real time data in order to help analyze
trends in crime and devise effective
measures to prevent and detect wildlife
crimes across India.
• This system has been successfully used
to analyse trends, helping put in
preventive measures as well as for
successfully carrying out operations such
as Operation SAVE KURMA,
THUNDERBIRD, WILDNET, LESKNOW,
BIRBIL
Environmental
Legislations
 Indian Forest Act, 1927
• The Parent Act was enacted in 1865,
which was subsequently amended in
1878 and 1927.
• Aimed to regulate the movement of
forest produce and tax them accordingly.
It details:
• What a forest offense is.
• The procedure to be followed to declare
an area as Reserved Forest, Protected
Forest, or Village Forest.
• Activities prohibited inside a Reserved
Forest.
• Penalties on violation of the provisions
of the Act.
• Reserved Forests: Reserve forests are the
most restricted forests and are
constituted by the State Government on
any forest land or wasteland which is the
property of the Government.
• In reserved forests, local people are
prohibited, unless specifically allowed by a
Forest Officer in the course of the
settlement.
• Protected Forests: The State Government
is empowered to constitute any land other
than reserved forests as protected forests
over which the Government has
proprietary rights and the power to issue
rules regarding the use of such forests.
• This power has been used to establish
State control over trees, whose timber,
 • Village forest: Village forests are the one
in which the State Government may
assign to ‘any village community the
rights of Government to or over any land
which has been constituted a reserved
forest’.

Degree of protection
• Reserved forests > Protected forests >
Village forests
Forest conservation act, 1980
• The Forest (Conservation) Act contains
regulations concerning forest
conservation and matters related to it.
• Restriction on dereservation of forests –
No State Government or other authority
shall convert forest land for non-forest
purpose except with the prior approval
of the Central Government.
• Non-forest purposes- It includes use of
land for cultivating horticultural crops or
for any purpose other than
reafforestation.
• Appeals - Any person aggrieved, by an
order or decision of the State
Government or other authority may file
an appeal to the National Green Tribunal
Forest conservation act, 1980
• Advisory Committee - The Central
Government may constitute a
Committee consisting of such number of
persons as it may deem fit to advise the
Government.
• Power to make rules - The Central
Government can make rules for carrying
out the provisions of this Act.
• The Act has been amended only once
before, in 1988.
• Read about Forest conservation
amendment bill 2023
CAMPA Act (Compensatory Afforestation
Fund Management and Planning Authority).
• The Act seeks to mitigate the impact of
forest land diversion for non-forest
purposes by ensuring that funds are
released and utilised quickly, efficiently,
and transparently through a well-defined
institutional mechanism.
• The Centre enacted the CAF Act in 2016,
and the associated rules were
announced in 2018
• The law creates a National
Compensatory Afforestation Fund in the
Public Account of India, as well as a State
Compensatory Afforestation Fund in
each state's Public Account.
• The National Fund will receive 10% of
CAMPA Act (Compensatory Afforestation
Fund Management and Planning Authority).
• The money can be used for a variety of
projects, including clearing catchment
areas, assisting natural generation,
managing forests and wildlife, relocating
villages from protected areas, resolving
conflicts between people and wildlife,
creating awareness and training
programmes, providing wood-saving
equipment, and other related tasks.
• The act also provides for annual audit of
accounts by CAG.
Biodiversity Act, 2002
• The Biological Diversity Act, 2002 (BDA)
was enacted to meet Indias obligations
to the UNCBD.
• It provides for the conservation of
biological diversity and the sustainable
use of its components.
• It also ensures fair sharing of the
benefits arising out of the use of
biological resources.
• It check on biopiracy.
• The Act provides for the establishment
of a National Biodiversity Authority
(NBA) and State Biodiversity Boards
(SBBs). These regulate access to
biological resources and associated
Biodiversity Act, 2002
• The Act also provides for the
establishment of Biodiversity
Management Committees (BMCs) at the
local level. These promote conservation,
sustainable use, and documentation of
biological diversity.
• The Act prohibits the transfer of
biological resources and associated
traditional knowledge to any foreign
entity without prior approval of the NBA.
• The Act also provides for the
establishment of a National Biodiversity
Fund. This supports the conservation and
sustainable use of biological diversity in
Forest rights act, 2006
• The Scheduled Tribes and Other Forest
Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights)
Act, 2006 is a people-centric law for
forests, which recognises the rights of
forest- dwelling communities to use and
manage forest resources.
Objective
• To undo the historical injustice occurred
to the forest dwelling communities;
• To ensure land tenure, livelihood and
food security of the forest dwelling
Scheduled Tribes and other traditional
forest dwellers;
• To strengthen the conservation regime
of the forests by including the
Forest rights act, 2006
Rights under FRA
• Title rights – Ownership to land that is
being farmed by tribals or forest
dwellers subject to a maximum of 4
hectares; ownership is only for land that
is actually being cultivated by the
concerned family, meaning that no new
lands are granted.
• Use rights – to minor forest produce (also
including ownership), to grazing areas, to
pastoralist routes, etc.
• Relief and development rights – to
rehabilitation in case of illegal eviction
or forced displacement; and basic
amenities, subject to restrictions for
Forest rights act, 2006- Eligibility
Other Traditional Forest Dweller (OTFD)
• Primarily resided in forest or forests land
for three generations (75 years) prior to
13-12-2005, and
• Depend on the forest or forest land for
bonafide livelihood needs.
Forest Dwelling Scheduled Tribe (FDST)
• Must be a Scheduled Tribe in the area
where the right is claimed; and
• Primarily resided in forest or forests land
prior to 13-12-2005; and
• Depend on the forest or forest land for
bonafide livelihood needs.
Forest rights act, 2006
Process of recognition of rights

• The Act provides that the gram sabha, or

village assembly, will initially pass a
resolution recommending whose rights
to which resources should be recognised.
• This resolution is then screened and
approved at the level of the sub-division
(or taluka) and subsequently at the
district level.
• The screening committees consist of
three government officials (Forest,
Revenue and Tribal Welfare
departments) and three elected
members of the local body at that level.