Lok Sabha Question No. 2731 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-02
Subject: Go Wild for Life
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: BHEEMRAO BASWANTHRAO PATIL

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2731

TO BE ANSWERED ON  02.08.2016

## Go Wild for Life

## 2731.  SHRI BHEEMRAO B. PATIL:

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

- (a) whether the Government has observed the theme 'Go Wild for Life' this year;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the initiatives taken so far, in this regard;
- (c) whether it is a fact that threat to wildlife in India is more from habitat degradation and conflict situation rather than poaching and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the corrective steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  (INDEPENDENT  CHARGE)  FOR  ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## (SHRI ANIL MADHAV DAVE)

- (a) and (b) The  theme  'Go  Wild  for  Life'  was  observed  on  5.6.2016  (World Environment Day) by conducting various programmes to sensitize the public and other stakeholders about the importance of wildlife and the need to protect them.

At Delhi, Wildlife Crime Control Bureau with other organizations/NGOs such as TRAFFIC, UNDP, ENVIS, TERI, Sulabh International  etc.  organized  events  like  quiz  competition,  painting competition, slogan writing slogan march etc. Similar events were also organized at various parts of the country.

The  following  initiatives  in  tune  with  the  theme  'Go  Wild  for  Life' have  been  taken by Wildlife Crime Control Bureau:

- i. Collection,  collation  and  dissemination  of  intelligence  on illegal trafficking of wildlife and its parts as well as wildlife crime to various agencies for apprehension of criminals.
- ii. Coordination of inter-agency enforcement efforts in combating illegal wildlife crime.
- iii. Sensitization and capacity building of agencies in enforcement  of  the  provisions  of  the  Wildlife  (Protection) Act,  1972.  WCCB  trained  798  forest  &  police  officials  in 2014-15,  1009  in  2015-16  and  309  in  2016-17  (up  to

30.6.2017) in investigation of wildlife crime.

- iv. Awareness and education campaigns for various stakeholders.  5927  officials  of  BGFs,  CISF,  Coast  Guard, DRI, Customs, Forest Police and Judiciary etc. were sensitized about wildlife laws and related issues in 2014-15, 2810  in  2015-16  and  396  in  2016-17  (up  to  30.6.2017). Apart  from  this  1596  PRI  representatives  and  villagers around the tiger reserves attended the awareness programmes in 2014-15, 2425 in 2015-16 and 45 have so far attended in 2016-17 up to 30.6.2017.
2. (c) and (d) Habitat destruction and conflict situation are important factors and have adverse impact on wildlife conservation efforts.

The  Government  has  taken  the  following  steps  for  protection  and conservation of  wild animals in the country:

- i. Protected Areas, viz., National Parks, Sanctuaries, Conservation Reserves  and  Community Reserves covering important wildlife habitats have  been  created all over the country under  the provisions  of  the  Wild  Life  (Protection)  Act,  1972  to  conserve wild animals and their habitats. Special programmes like 'Project Tiger' and 'Project Elephant' were launched for conservation of these endangered species  and their habitats.
- ii. A  specific    component  of  'Recovery  programmes  for  saving critically  endangered  species  and  habitats'  is  provided  in  the Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  of  'Integrated  Development  of Wildlife  Habitats'  for  focused  conservation  action  on  selected critically endangered species.
- iii. Legal  protection  has  been  provided  to  wild  animals  including rhinoceros  against  hunting  and  commercial  exploitation  under the provisions of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
- iv. In addition to provision of stringent punishment for the offenders, the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 also provides for forfeiture  of  any  equipment,  vehicle  or  weapon  that  is  used  for committing wildlife offence(s).
- v. Financial and technical assistance is provided to the State/ Union Territory  Governments under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes for  providing better protection to wildlife including endangered species and improvement of its habitat.
- vi. Participation of people living in the forest fringes is attempted in wildlife conservation.
- vii. The assistance is also provided to the States under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes for payment of ex-gratia relief, management of wildlife conflict situations and construction/erection of
8. physical  barriers,  such  as  barbed  wire  fence,  solar  powered electric fence, bio-fencing, boundary walls etc. wherever feasible.  In  many  parts  of  the  country,  anti-depredation  squads have also been set up to drive away problematic animals.
- viii. The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau has been set up to ensure coordination  among  various  officers  and  State  Governments  in connection with the enforcement of law for control of poaching and illegal trade in wildlife and its products.

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