Lok Sabha Question No. 2481 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-04
Subject: Biodiversity Conservation and Wildlife Protection
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Anup Sanjay Dhotre

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2481

TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.08.2025

## Biodiversity Conservation and Wildlife Protection

## 2481.  SHRI ANUP SANJAY DHOTRE:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  recent  achievements  in  expanding  and  managing  protected  areas  such  as national parks and wildlife sanctuaries;
- (b) the  action  taken  by  the  Government  to  combat  poaching  and  trafficking  of  endangered species;
- (c) the  details  of  community-based  conservation  programmes  implemented  to  involve  local populations;
- (d) whether any efforts have been made to restore degraded ecosystems and critical habitats; and
- (e) the details of the technology being used for wildlife monitoring and conservation?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

- (a) to (e) The  Wild  life  (Protection)  Act,  1972  provides  for  notification  of  Sanctuaries, National  Parks,  Conservation Reserves  and Community Reserves for  according protection  to wildlife and its  habitats. The  number  of  Protected  Areas  (PAs)  in the country has increased from745 in 2014 to 1134 in February 2025. There has been an increase of 18,324.54 sq.km area under Protected Area network in the country during the last decade.

The Government has taken a number of steps to conserve biodiversity and protect wildlife in the country. The important measures for conservation of biodiversity and wildlife protection in the country are as follows:

- (i) Rare and endangered species of animals have been listed in Schedule-I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, thereby providing them highest degree of protection
- (ii) Special  programmes  like  'Project  Tiger',  'Project  Elephant'  'Project Lion',  'Project  Snow  Leopard',  Project  Dolphin,  'Project  Cheetah', 'Project Great Indian Bustard', have been undertaken for their conservation.
- (iii) Financial assistance is provided to State Governments /UT Administrations  for  management  of  wildlife  and  development  of  its habitat under the Centrally sponsored scheme 'Development of Wildlife Habitats', 'Project Tiger and Elephant'.
- (iv) A  specific  component  of  'Recovery  programme  for  saving  critically

endangered  species and habitats' is provided under the Centrally Sponsored  Scheme  'Development  of  Wildlife  Habitats'  for  focused conservation action on identified 24 critically endangered species.

- (v) Eco Development activities are  undertaken  by  the  States Governments /UTadministrations involving local communities in wildlife conservation.
- (vi) Eco-sensitive  Zones  (ESZ)  are  notified  around  National  Parks  and Sanctuaries  under  the  provisions  of  the  Environment  (Protection)  Act, 1986.
- (vii) The  Wildlife  Crime  Control  Bureau  has  been  set  up  to  ensure  coordination  among  various  agencies  and  State  Governments  to  combat organized wildlife crime.
- (viii) Advisories  and  alerts  are  issued  to  State  and  Central  agencies  by  the Wild Life Crime Control Bureau for preventive action on poaching and illegal wildlife trade.
- (ix) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been empowered under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 to apprehend and prosecute wildlife offenders.
- (x) Technology like Camera traps, drones, wireless, e-survellience etc  are used  for  monitoring  of  wild  animals,  detecting    illegal  intrusions,early warning  system  in  relaying  information  to  quick  reaction  teams  in  the field for managing human wildlife conflict.
- (xi) The Ministry provides financial assistance for promoting afforestation  and  forest  conservation  in  the  country,  which  include  the National Mission for a Green India (GIM), with aim to protect, restore and  enhance  India's  forest  cover  and  respond  to  climate  change;  the Nagar Van Yojana (NVY) for developing forest/green spaces in  urban and  peri-urban  areas;  and  the  School  Nursery  Yojana  (SNY),  for engaging  students  in  understanding  the  importance  of  plants  and  is implemented in recognized public and private schools.
- (xii) The Ministry also promotes mass plantation drives on occasions such as International  Day  of  Forests,  World  Environment  Day, Van Mahotsav , Wildlife Week, etc., and raises awareness through campaigns. The ' Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam ' campaign, launched on 5th June 2024, encourages citizens to plant a tree in honour of their mothers and Mother Earth.
- (xiii) The Ministry has also launched the National Afforestation Monitoring System  (NAMS)  to  strengthen centralized, transparent monitoring  using  geospatial  tools.  The  Forest  Survey  of  India  (FSI) under the Ministry undertakes forest resource surveys and assessment of changes in forest cover.