The Wildlife Protection Act: An Overview

In order to preserve the safety of the environment and the ecological system, this Act provides for the protection of the wild animals, birds, and plant species found in the nation. The Act imposes prohibitions on a variety of animal species’ hunting, among other things. The Act was last modified in 2006. Despite being submitted to a Standing Committee and introduced into the Rajya Sabha in 2013, an amendment bill was withdrawn in 2015. The Act also includes schedules of plants and animals that are subject to varying levels of government protection and oversight.

What does wildlife Protection Act define?

One of the first environmental laws that assisted in establishing the framework for environmental legislation in India was the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972. The purpose of this Act was to create a network of biologically significant places while also protecting the designated species of flora and fauna in the Act. In order to safeguard the local wildlife from destructive human activities, it also gives the Central and State governments the authority to declare any region with endangered wildlife a wildlife sanctuary, national park, or closed area.

Necessity of the Act

Wildlife is a component of "forests," and up until Parliament established this law in 1972, this was a state matter. But afterwards, it is in concurrent list. The following are some justifications for a federal law protecting wildlife and the environment −

• Prior to the passage of this Act, India had only five national parks.

• The Wild Birds and Animals Protection Act of 1935 was the most recent law to be passed during the British era in this regard. This needed to be improved because the penalties given to wildlife poachers and merchants were out of proportion to the substantial gains they made.

• The Wild Birds and Animals Protection Act of 1935 was the most recent law to be passed during the British era in this regard. This needed to be improved because the penalties given to wildlife poachers and merchants were out of proportion to the substantial gains they made.

• India is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. Many animals' populations were rapidly declining. For instance, Edward Pritchard Gee, a naturalist, stated that India was home to close to 40,000 tigers at the turn of the 20th century.

The Objectives of the Act

The objectives of the act are −

• The legislation grants the federal government the authority to designate specific regions as sanctuaries or national parks, to impose hunting limits on wildlife, and to punish people who violate those bans.

• The primary goal of the law is to ensure that animals, birds, and plants are protected.

• Donate all authority to the central government to implement strict environmental protection measures.

• Those who endanger the environment will be punished.

Features of the Act

It includes −

• This Act establishes a national network of biologically significant protected areas, as well as the preservation of a number of recognized species of animals, birds, and plants. The Act outlines the establishment of wildlife advisory boards and wildlife wardens, as well as their responsibilities.

• A thorough list of the nation’s threatened animals was created for the first time.

• According to the terms of the Act, trading in scheduled animals is forbidden.

• Its clauses made it possible to establish the Central Zoo Authority. This is the main organization in charge of managing India’s zoos. In the year 1992, it saw its establishment.

• The Act's Section 3 gives the federal government the authority to designate a manager with resources, a chief conservation officer, and other officers and employees.

• Advisory Council: It is established in each state or federal area to provide guidance to the state government about the choice and declaration of sanctuaries, national parks, enclosed spaces, etc., for the conservation of wildlife.

The Importance of the Act

These are −

• It strikes a balance between maintaining food chains and the components of nature.

• Wildlife offers a variety of goods, including foods and medicines.

• It helps with species conservation in a given area.

• Animal life offers a huge gene pool.

The Amendment of the Act

The Minister of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change introduced the Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Bill, 2021 in the Lok Sabha on December 17, 2021. The Wild Life (Protection) Act of 1972 is amended by the Bill. The Act governs how wild animals, birds, and plants are protected. The bill aims to implement the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and expand the number of species protected by law (CITES). An international treaty known as CITES was established by nations to ensure that the trading of wild animal and plant specimens did not endanger the existence of the species.

Conclusion

The Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, which encompasses sanctuaries, national parks, and zoos, offers much-needed protection to wildlife regions in India. Its principal objective is to halt the unlawful trade in animal and wildlife parts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is the main purpose of wildlife act?

Ans: The Wildlife (Conservation) Act, passed by the government in 1972, established a thorough set of guidelines for the protection of wildlife in India. It outlined the rules for establishing national parks, animal sanctuaries, etc. The implementation of Project Tiger has led to an uptick in the declining tiger population. Between 2010 and 2014, the nation's tiger population increased by 30%.

Q2. How does the environment change when a species goes extinct?

Ans: Each and every living thing on this earth has a place in the food chain and environment. Any species that goes extinct will have an effect on forests, reduce food sources for other species, change the way illnesses spread among animals, etc.

Q3. What function does the Wildlife Advisory Council serve?

Ans: The Advisory Council on Species’ major responsibility is to provide advice to the state government about the choice and declaration of sanctuaries, national parks, enclosed spaces, etc., for the conservation and preservation of wildlife. Every state or region of the nation has one set up.