Lok Sabha Question No. 3479 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-11
Subject: Endangered Species
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: B.N. CHANDRAPPA

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

**LOK SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3479**

TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.08.2015

**Endangered Species**

3479.		SHRI B.N. CHANDRAPPA :

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

1. whether the Government has conducted any survey/census to find out the  number of important species of flora and fauna in the country ;
2. if so, the details thereof ;
3. whether the Government has any proposal to enact a comprehensive legislation to save endangered species and if so, the details thereof ;
4. whether the Government has made any allocation of funds for this purpose;  and
5. if so, the details of the funds released and utilized in this regard ?

**ANSWER**

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST

(SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

(a) Botanical Survey of India (BSI) and Zoological Survey of India(ZSI) under the Ministry carries out surveys and documentation of biological resources including threatened and important species of the country.

(b) India ranks among the top ten species rich nations in world and is known for its rich biological diversity and high endemism. Survey and exploration of different geographical areas of the country has resulted in a repository of about three million National Reference Collections of plant specimens. As per BSI, India has about 47791 species of plants comprising Virus/Bacteria (1071), Algae (7309), Fungi (14936), Lichens (2434), Bryophytes (2531), Pteridophytes (1274), Gymnosperms (77) and Angiosperms (18159) already identified and classified so far. The Indian flora accounts for about 11.4% of the total recorded plant species of the world.

Studies conducted by ZSI have recorded over 96,000 species of animals from India. Among these, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has assessed  18 species of amphibians, 14 fishes, 13 bird species and 10 mammals as critically endangered;  310 species as endangered, including 69 fishes, 38 mammals and 32 amphibians.

(c)   The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 has been enacted for protection of wild animals, birds and plants against hunting and commercial exploitation. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been empowered under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 to apprehend and prosecute wildlife offenders. The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau has been set up for control of poaching and illegal trade in wildlife and its products. The National Biodiversity Act, 2002, also ensures protection of threatened plant species and their habitats. Under the provisions of Biodiversity Act 2002 the threatened species are identified state wise. MoEF has already issued notifications to this effect for 14 states viz., HP, Kerala, UP, Uttrakhand, Mizoram, Orissa, Meghalaya, Goa, Karnataka, MP, WB, Bihar, Tamil Nadu and Tripura.

(d)  & (e) The State/UT Government carry out census of key species like Elephant, Rhino, Lion etc.  However, tiger census is carried out at the national level. The funds allocated to the State/UT Governments under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes of ‘Integrated Development of wildlife Habitat, ‘Project Tiger’ and ‘Project Elephant’ for protection and recovery of endangered species are as follows :

In lakhs

| For State /UTs                             |   2012-13 |   2013-14 |   2014-15 |
|--------------------------------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| Integrated Development of wildlife Habitat |   7489.48 |   6677.99 |   6588.99 |
| Project Elephant                           |   1796.53 |   1843.53 |   1767.43 |
| Project Tiger                              |  16062.50 |  16287.25 |  17228.81 |

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