Lok Sabha Question No. 242 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-01
Subject: Survey of Rare Plants/Animals
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: KIRTI (JHA) AZAD

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 242

TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.12.2015

## Survey of Rare Plants/Animals

## 242. SHRI KIRTI AZAD:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  conducted  any  survey  to  find  out  rare  varieties  of  plants  and animals in the country, which are on the verge of extinction;
- (b) if so, the details of such plants and animals ; and
- (c) the measure/steps taken by the Government for the protection of rare plants and animals in the country ?

## ANSWER

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

## (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

- (a)     Yes, Botanical Survey of India(BSI) and Zoological Survey of India(ZSI) mandated for survey of plant and animal diversity respectively in the country, have been carrying out survey and documentation of floral and faunal resources of the country including rare and threatened species.
- (b)    Based on their studies and field surveys, BSI has already published four volumes of Red Data Book of Indian Plants and Red List of Threatened Vascular Plant Species in India, which provides information on 1236 threatened plants in the country. On the basis of studies conducted by ZSI and their recommendations, the Ministry has brought out a document titled 'Critically Endangered animal Species of India' in 2011.
- (c)      Towards  the  conservation  of  threatened  plant  species,  Govt.  of  India  has  established  a protected area network of 678 protected areas (102 National Parks, 515 Wild Life Sanctuaries, 4 Community Reserves and 57 Conservation Reserves) in different bio-geographic regions of the country for in-situ conservation of Biodiversity.

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BSI has also been conserving a number of threatened plants including medicinal ones in its Botanic Gardens at Howrah, Noida and those associated with its regional centres for their ex situ conservation, thereby complementing the in situ conservation.

Financial  and  technical  assistance  is  extended  to  the  State  Governments  under  Centrally Sponsored  Schemes,  viz,  'Integrated  Development  of  Wildlife  Habitats',  'Project  Tiger'  and 'Project Elephant' for providing better protection and conservation to wildlife.

At  policy  level  some  conservation  oriented  legislations  e.g.  Wildlife  (Protection)  Act,  1972, Forest  Conservation  Act,  1980,  National  Biodiversity  Act,  2002,  etc.  have  been  notified  to ensure protection of threatened species and their habitats. . Under the provisions of Section 38 of the National Biodiversity Act, 2002, the species which are on the verge of extinction or likely to become extinct in near future are notified, as threatened species.  Ministry has already issued notifications to this effect for 14 states.

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.

Concurrent  to  India's  Presidency(2012-2014)  of  the  Conference  of  the  Parties(COP)  to  the United  Nations  Convention  on  Biological  Diversity  (CBD),  Indian  Companies  have  come together to address the critical issue of biodiversity loss under a national initiative.  The India Business  &  Biodiversity  Initiative(IBBI)  serves  as  a  national  platform  for  businesses  and  its stakeholders for dialogue sharing and learning, ultimately leading to mainstreaming sustainable management of biological diversity into businesses.

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