Ban on tiger safari in Jim Corbett National Park vs National Wildlife Conservation Plan

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08 Mar Ban on tiger safari in Jim Corbett National Park vs National Wildlife Conservation Plan

Posted at 08 Mar 2024 in Current Affairs by
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Source – The Hindu and PIB.

General Studies – Environment and Ecosystem, Jim Corbett National Park, Central Zoo Authority, National Tiger Conservation Authority, ‘Buffer and Fringe Zone’, Union Environment Ministry, Environmental Protection Measures, Kuno National Park,National Wildlife Conservation Scheme.

Why in the News ? 

 

  • Recently, the Supreme Court of India in its decision given on 6 March 2024 Uttarakhand government has been strongly reprimanded for the cutting of about 6,000 trees in Jim Corbett National Park.
  • According to the judges of the Supreme Court of India – “Forest officials of Uttarakhand andFormer Forest Minister of Uttarakhand Rawat have together made a mockery of environmental protection practices to massively expand the scope of ‘Tiger Safari’ within the park premises.”
  • A division bench of three judges of the Supreme Court of India comprising Justice B.R. Gavai said in his judgment that – “The presence of tigers in the forests is an indicator of the health of the ecosystem. Unless steps are taken to protect tigers, the ecosystem that revolves around tigers cannot be protected. Incidents like illegal construction and illegal cutting of trees in Jim Corbett cannot be ignored. ” 
  • The judges of the Supreme Court of India also mentioned various resorts around the park where loud music is often played and which pose a threat to the animals living in the Jim Corbett National Park.
  • The impact of this decision of the Supreme Court of India on wildlife parks Buffer and fringe zones This will also impact the need for management of wildlife parks in terms of whether the provision of ‘tiger safari’ matches well with environmental protection measures.
  • In IndiaThe Central Zoo Authority and the National Tiger Conservation Authority, both are expert bodies attached to the Union Environment Ministry and are entrusted with the responsibility of conservation and protection of wild animals.
  • The main objective of recently bringing cheetahs from Africa to Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh in India is to revive the presence of cheetahs in India and to promote tourism.
  • The judges of the Supreme Court of India said in their judgment that – Wildlife safari attracts the attention of people away from the main areas of the forest and thus promotes the intact nature of the forest and at the same time it is about environmental protection. Increases public awareness among people. Its broader objective should be eco-tourism and not commercial tourism.
  • Supreme courtHas also sought status report within three months from Uttarakhand government on illegal construction, cutting of trees in Jim Corbett। India’s top court said in its judgment that it is clear that the National Wildlife Conservation Plan recognizes the need for wildlife conservation beyond protected areas.। 
  • Petitioner Gaurav Bansal from the zooTiger In the name of Lakar Safari, they were challenged in the Supreme Court of India regarding keeping them in the buffer zone and illegal construction work done in Corbett Park.
  • In the year 2021, felling of trees started in Kalagarh range during the tenure of Uttarakhand Forest Minister Rawat. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had earlier raided the residences of Rawat and Chand in connection with illegal construction in the Tiger Reserve.
  • While hearing this petition, the Supreme Court made harsh remarks on Rawat and banned tiger safari in the main areas of Jim Corbett National Park.

Introduction to Jim Corbett National Park : 

  • It  Established in 1936, it is the first National park of India.
  • It is named after the famous naturalist and conservationist Jim Corbett. Who played an important role in its establishment.
  • Located in the foothills of the Himalayas, near the popular hill-station Nainital, the beautiful Jim Corbett National Park is famous for being home to a large number of tigers, covering the largest area among any Indian national park.
  • This national park is spread over 1318.54 sq km, out of which 520 sq km is the core area, and the remaining part is the buffer zone.
  • This national park is spread over the picturesque region of Pauri Garhwal, Almora and Nainital.
  • Accommodation for night stay is also available inside this national park.।
  • It Located in Nainital district of Uttarakhand.
  • Project Tiger in 1973 Corbett National Park (India’s first national park) was started in, Which is part of Corbett Tiger Reserve.
  • In India The national park was established in 1936 as Hailey National Park to protect the endangered Bengal tiger.
  • main area creates Corbett National Park while reserve forests in the buffer Along with this, Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary is also included.
  • This National park The entire area is hilly and lies in the Shivalik and Outer Himalayan geological divisions.
  • Major rivers flowing through this reserve Ramganga, Sonanadi, Mandal, Palain and Kosi Are.
  • Spread over 500 square kilometers, CTR is home to 230 tigers and has the world’s highest tiger density at 14 tigers per hundred square kilometers.

 

Corbett National Park found in Vegetation :

  • Botanical Survey of India According to this Corbett There are 600 species of plants found in it – trees, shrubs, ferns, grasses, climbers, herbs and bamboos. Sal, Khair and Sissy are the most visible trees found in Corbett. Dense moist deciduous forests are found here.

Fauna found in Corbett National Park :

  • In this National park apart from tigers, leopards are also found. Other mammals like wild cats, barking deer, spotted deer, sambar deer, sloths etc. are also found there.

Other Major protected areas located in Uttarakhand :

There are also some other major protected areas in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. Which are as follows –

  1. Nanda Devi National Park.
  2. Valley of Flowers National Park.
  3. Rajaji National Park.
  4. Gangotri National Park।
  5. Govind National Park.

 

Valley of Flowers National Park and Nanda Devi National Park together with UNESCO world  heritage Sites.

National Wildlife Board : 

  • In India National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) is the apex body for all matters related to wildlife. This is mainly Is responsible for promoting wildlife conservation and development of wildlife and forests.।
  • In India Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (WLPA) is a statutory body constituted under section 5A of the WLPA.
  • It approves projects (including government projects) in and around protected areas (national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, etc.) in India.
  • It is the only advisory board in India and advises the Central Government on policy matters related to wildlife conservation in the country.
  • In India , The National Wildlife Board was formed in 2003 under the National Board for Wildlife.
  • It replaced the Wildlife Board of India, which was formed in India in 1952 as an advisory board.

National Wildlife Board for Wildlife Conservation in India : 

  • National Wildlife Board It consists of a Chairman and 47 members. The Chairman of the National Wildlife Board in India is the ex-officio Prime Minister of India. The Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is the Vice-Chairman of the Board .National Wildlife Board According to, whenever a new government is formed in India, a new government is headed by the Prime Minister. National Wildlife Board have to fix.

Functions of National Wildlife Board:

The work of National Wildlife Board in India is as follows –

  1. To advise the Government on matters relating to wildlife conservation and protection.
  2. Promotion and development of wild animals and their conservation.
  3. To approve or reserve projects in and around national parks and other protected areas.
  4. In India The National Wildlife Board No change in the boundaries of any protected areas is possible without the approval of the Govt.

National Wildlife Board Standing Committee :

  • National Wildlife Board can constitute a standing committee at its discretion. The Committee shall be chaired by the Environment Minister and shall consist of not less than ten members to be nominated by the Minister from amongst the members of the Board.
  • The difference between the Standing Committee and the Board is that while the function of the Standing Committee is to regulate land conversion within protected areas and eco-sensitive areas, making it a purely project approval body, on the other hand, National Wildlife Board It has the power to decide the policy for wildlife.

Conclusion / Path to solution :

  • Year Of 2020 In the month of April, the Standing Committee meeting of the National Wildlife Board approved 16 project proposals, which related to highways, transmission lines and railway lines through national parks, sanctuaries and tiger corridors.
  • It has also approved several other projects covering approximately 3000 acres of land in eco-sensitive areas.
  • In India The National Wildlife Board No meeting has taken place for the last 6 years.
  • In India The functioning of the standing committee that approves many projects has been criticized.
  • Many environmentalists in India are of the opinion that all these approvals have been given keeping in mind only the economic benefits and not the long-term environmental hazards they may cause.
  • An argument is also given in India that The National Wildlife Board is not working to fulfill its mandate but is engaged, through the Standing Committee, in approving only those projects which may actually cause more harm than benefit to the environment/wildlife.
  • Currently in India The National Wildlife Board committee has not given any consideration to the ill effects of its recent decisions on wildlife.
  • There are no independent environmentalists and conservationists on the committee, making it easier for the committee to approve projects without genuine objection from the people concerned.
  • India’s Wildlife activists are concerned about how policy level proposals are being handled in the absence of the board.
  • Ministry officials argue that the Standing Committee and National Wildlife Board There is not much difference between, because the committee members National Wildlife Board It is taken from. The most important fact in this is that any committee with less members can weaken the mandate of the board.

 

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