Lok Sabha Question No. 3739 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-09
Subject: Endangered Species
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: MANOJ RAJORIA

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3739

TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.08.2016

## Endangered Species

## 3739 DR. MANOJ RAJORIA :

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

- (a) the details of the policy measures and initiatives taken by the Government to save the critically endangered and vulnerable species ; and
- (b) the achievements made so far as a result of the said measures ?

## ANSWER

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

## ( SHRI ANIL MADHAV DAVE )

(a)& (b) Towards conservation of threatened (including endangered and vulnerable) species, the Government of India has established a Protected Area (PA) Network (730 PAs including 103 National  Parks,  535Wildlife  Sanctuaries,  26  Community  Reserves,  and  66  Conservation Reserves  in  different  biogeographic  regions),  which  primarily  covers  habitats  of  threatened megafauna such as tiger, rhino, elephant, etc.

Biological Diversity Act, 2002, was inter-alia enacted 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  as threatened  species,  are  notified.  Ministry  has  already  issued  notifications  for  14  states  to  this effect.

The  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  'Integrated  Development  of  Wildlife  Habitats'  has  been modified in 2008-09 by including a new component namely 'Recovery of Endangered Species' and 17 species have been identified for recovery viz. Snow Leopard, Bustard (including Floricans),  River  Dolphin,  Hangul, Nilgiri Tahr,  Marine  Turtles,  Dugong  &  Coral reefs,  Edible  Nest  Swiftlet,  Asian  Wild  Buffalo,  Nicobar Megapode,  Manipur  Brow-antlered Deer, Vultures, Malabar Civet, Indian Rhinoceros, Asiatic Lion, Swamp Deer and Jerdon's Courser.

The periodic assessments carried out in respect of identified species, rhinoceros, Manipur Browantlered  deer,  Edible-nest  Swiftlets  and  lion,  have  indicated  improvement  in  their  population status.

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  Assistance  to  Botanic  Gardens  scheme  of  the  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and Climate Change is also mandated for conservation of endemic/ threatened plant species of the country;  through  this  scheme  the  MoEF&CC  has  supported  many  botanic  gardens  for conservation of threatened plants in various institutions.

Botanical Survey of India has brought a number of threatened plants under cultivation in its Acharya Jagdish Chandra Bose Indian  Botanic  Garden  in  Howrah,  Botanic  Garden  Indian Republic, Noida and other associated botanic gardens of its regional centres for their ex-situ conservation,  thereby  complementing  the  in-situ  conservation  of  such  species  in  protected areas established in different bio-geographical regions of the country.

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.

*****