Lok Sabha Question No. 2285 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-09
Subject: Deforestation and Wildlife Conservation
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Amarsing Tisso

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2285

TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.12.2024

## Deforestation and Wildlife Conservation

## 2285. SHRI AMARSING TISSO:

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

- (a) the details of steps implemented to combat deforestation and illegal logging, especially in sensitive ecosystems like North Eastern Region;
- (b) whether  the  wildlife  protection  initiatives  are  effective  in  curbing  poaching  and preserving endangered species in the country especially in North Eastern Region; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c)  Protection and management of forest and wildlife are primarily the responsibility of  the  State  Governments/Union  Territory  Administrations.  There  are  legal  frameworks for the protection and management of forest and wildlife resources of the country which include,  the  Indian  Forest  Act  1927,  Van  (Sanrakshan  Evam  Samvardhan)  Adhiniyam 1980, Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 and the State Forest Acts, Tree Preservation Acts and Rules,  etc,.  The  State  Governments  /UT  Administrations  take  appropriate  actions  to protect  forest,  wildlife  and  tree  resources  under  the  provisions  made  under  these  Acts/ Rules.

As per the existing provisions of Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980, State  Governments  and  Union  Territory  Administrations  are  required  to  ensure  that  the least  number  of  trees  are  felled  for  developmental  projects  whilst  prescribing  necessary compensatory plantation as per the cases to address environmental concerns. Further, the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) gives Environmental Clearance as per provisions of the Environment Protection Act, 1986.

The instances of illegal logging, illegal deforestation, and wildlife offences as and when detected  are  cognized  under  the  relevant  Forest  Acts  /  Wildlife  Act  and  are  proceeded against the offenders before the competent Court/competent Authorities.

Endangered and Rare species found in India, such as Tiger, Elephant, Snow Leopard, etc., have been listed in Schedule-I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 thereby providing them  the  highest  degree  of  protection.  In  order  to  conserve  and  protect  the  endangered species and biodiversity, a network of Protected Areas (PAs) consisting of National Parks, Sanctuaries, Conservation Reserves, and Community  Reserves,  covering important wildlife  habitats  have  been created in the country  under  the provisions  of  the Wild  Life (Protection)  Act,  1972.  Currently,  this  network  has  106  National  Parks,  573  Wildlife Sanctuaries, 123 Conservation Reserves, and 220 Community Reserves, covering an area of 1,78,640.69 sq .km.

In the North Eastern Region, 59 Wildlife Sanctuaries, 17 National Parks, 1 Conservation Reserve, and 134 Community Reserves have been notified.

As per the report received from the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), Government of  India,  the  wildlife  protection  initiatives  are  effective  in  preventing  poaching  and preserving endangered species in the country, especially in the North Eastern Region.  In this regard, Inter-Agency Coordination (IAC) meetings have been conducted to coordinate law enforcement efforts to combat illegal wildlife crimes. Six IAC meetings were held in the North Eastern Region during 2019-2023, and 166 joint operations were conducted in the  North  Eastern  Region  during  2019-2023;  which  led  to  the  arrest  of  375  wildlife offenders.  The  WCCB  had  also  coordinated  a  species-specific  enforcement  operation coded  LESKNOW in collaboration with  the  State  Law  Enforcement  Agencies  to  invite attention to poaching and illegal trade of lesser-known wild animals.

Besides, alerts and advisories are issued by the WCCB on poaching and illegal trade of wildlife  to  the  concerned  State  and  Central  agencies  for  taking  necessary  preventive action.

The Ministry also supports the targeted efforts of the States/ UTs in the conservation and protection  of  forests  and  wildlife,  through  its  ongoing  Centrally  Sponsored  Schemes (CSSs) such as Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats, Project Tiger and Elephant, Forest Fire Prevention and Management, Green India Mission, Nagar Van Yojana, as well as  through  the  CAMPA  funds.  The  Ministry  sanctions  the  scheme-specific  activities through  the  Annual  Plan  of  Operations  submitted  by  the  States/  UTs  for  the  respective financial years.

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