Role of Government in conserving wild life

Role of Government in conserving wild life

                        In India, we can see different varieties of plants and animals. It is due to diverse climate. In our earth, about 4,00,000 species of plants and more than 75,000 species of animals are living. They are to be conserved for better ecological balance. 

                   With an aim to preserve the wild life, the government of India has taken the following steps. 

1. Indian board for wild life (IBWL) was constituted in 1952.

2. A Wild life week is being observed to educate the people about the importance and needs of conservation of wild life since 1955. 

3. National Wild Life Action plan was introduced in 1983-1984. It requires rehabilitation of endangered species by careful breeding.

4. Creation of National Parks and Biosphere Reserve was started in 1986. 

5. To protect and conserve wild life, Indian Government enforced Wild life Protection Act 1972. It provides legal measures for the protection of wild animals. It prohibits the hunting of wild life. It is essential to prevent further deterioration and extinction of wild life.

6. International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural resources is also taking steps to conserve the wild life. In Haryana state, all the tourist resorts have been named after the names of birds. This is to make awareness to the people about the importance of birds.

       Rules and regulations alone do not help to conserve the wild life. There must be a change in the attitude of man towards the wild life.

         A National Park is an area which is strictly reserved for the betterment of the wild life. In such area grazing or cultivation are not permitted. 66 National parks have been setup in India for the betterment of wild life.

           A Biosphere Reserve comprises of wild animals and plants. It also includes cultivated plants and domesticated animals. It is regulated by tribes under the frameworks of Government. 17 Biosphere Reserves have been setup in our country. Some important recently established Biosphere Reserves are given below.

a) The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. It includes parts of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

b) The Uttrakhand Biosphere Reserve. It includes the parts of north-Western Himalayas.

c) The Nokrek Biosphere Reserve. It includes the parts of north-eastern Himalayas.

          In a summary, protection is given only to animals. In such areas shooting of birds by gun is prohibited. Harvesting of fuel timber, collection of minor forest products and private ownership rights are permitted, so long as they do not interfere with the well being of the animals. 368 sanctuaries are located in India.