Wildlife Protection Act, 1972

The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 is a comprehensive legislation enacted to protect wild animals, birds, and plants, and to manage their habitats in India. It provides a legal framework for conservation and regulates hunting, trade, and management of wildlife.

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Important Features

1. Definitions (Section 2)

• Provides key legal definitions of terms like “wildlife,” “animal,” “trophy,” “hunting,” and “habitat” to ensure clarity in interpretation.

2. Institutional Mechanism

• Director of Wildlife Preservation (Section 3)
• Chief Wildlife Warden (Section 4)
• National Board for Wildlife (Section 5A)
• Standing Committee of the National Board (Section 5B)
• State Board for Wildlife (Section 6)

3. Prohibition on Hunting (Chapter III)

• Bans hunting of wild animals, with limited exemptions for self-defense, scientific research, or management.

4. Protection of Specified Plants (Chapter IIIA)

• Prohibits picking, uprooting, or destroying plants listed in the Schedule.

5. Protected Areas Network

• National Parks (Sections 18–34)
• Wildlife Sanctuaries (Sections 35, 36B)
• Conservation Reserves (Section 36A)
• Community Reserves (Section 36C)

6. Zoos and Captive Animals

• Central Zoo Authority and recognition of zoos (Chapter IVA).

7. Tiger Conservation (Chapter IVB)

• National Tiger Conservation Authority
• Tiger Reserves & Tiger Conservation Foundations.

8. Crime Prevention

• Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WLCCB) – Investigation and enforcement (Chapter IVC).

9. Regulation of Trade

• Prohibits trade/commerce in wild animals, animal articles, trophies.

10. Schedules for Protection

• Schedules I–IV: Categorization of species based on protection level.

11. CITES Implementation

• Designates Scientific and Management Authorities under Section 49F for compliance with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.

Biodiversity Act, 2002 – Salient Features

The Biological Diversity Act, 2002 was enacted to fulfill India’s obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), 1992, and to ensure conservation, sustainable use, and equitable sharing of benefits from biological resources.

1. Objectives

• Conservation of biological diversity.
• Sustainable use of its components.
• Fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of biological resources and associated traditional knowledge.

2. Institutional Mechanism

• National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) – Regulates access to biological resources for foreign entities.
• State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) – Advise state governments, regulate access for domestic entities.
• Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) – At local body level; prepare People’s Biodiversity Registers.

3. Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS)

• Foreigners require prior approval from NBA for accessing biological resources.
• Indian citizens/companies must inform SBBs before obtaining resources.
• Equitable benefit-sharing mechanisms for communities providing traditional knowledge.

4. Protection of Traditional Knowledge

• Prevents biopiracy (e.g., turmeric, neem, basmati cases).
• Documentation through People’s Biodiversity Registers (PBRs).

5. Offences and Penalties

• Imprisonment up to 5 years or fine up to ₹10 lakh (or both) for violations.

6. Exemptions

• Local communities using resources for traditional purposes.
• Use of resources for research in India with approval.

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Conclusion:
The Act integrates biodiversity conservation with community rights, ensuring India’s rich biological wealth is protected from exploitation while promoting sustainable developmen