The Lok Sabha passed the Wildlife Protection Amendment Bill on 3rd august 2022. The Bill, which makes amendments to the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972, was introduced in the Lok Sabha by the Union environment ministry in December 2021. The principal aim of the bill is to ensure the environment and ecological security. It seeks better management of protected areas and permits a few activities like cattle grazing or movement and legitimate local community usage of drinking and household water.
What is the Wildlife Protection Act, of 1972?
The Act has undergone amendments several times with the last amendment being made in 2006. It outlines the legal framework for the protection of different wild animal and plant species, the management of those species’ habitats, and the regulation and control of the trade in those species’ products. Prior to this legislation, India had only 5 national parks.
The Act divides various animal and plant species into 6 schedules and entails the prohibition of hunting, cutting and uprooting of the specified species.
What are the amendments and caveats in the bill?
The main goal of the bill is to improve the administration of protected areas and provide an explanation to allow for a number of approved activities, including the legitimate use of drinking and household water by local residents as well as the grazing or transportation of cattle. Additionally, the bill aims to implement the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and expand the number of species protected by law. Key Features of the bill include –
1). Rationalising schedules-
Currently, the Act has six schedules for specially protected plants (one), specially protected animals (four), and vermin spec The Bill reduces the total number of schedules to four by (i) reducing the number of schedules for specially protected animals to two (one for greater protection level), (ii) removes the schedule for vermin species, and (iii) inserts a new schedule for specimens listed in the Appendices under CITES (scheduled specimens).
It is crucial to add a clause designating cattle and feral canines as problem animals.
2). Implementation of CITES(The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora)- In order to ensure that the worldwide trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not endanger the survival of the species, governments have come to an agreement known as CITES.
These CITES provisions are intended to be implemented by the bill.
Further, the Act of 1972 expressly forbids the trade of wild animals, including elephants in captivity and in the wild. The bill uses the term ‘import’ to describe the transfer of animals against the context of transit and trans-shipment. Therefore, the definition of transit and trans-shipment under CITES may be adopted for clarity.
3). Management and Control of Sanctuaries The Bill calls for the central government to name a. (i) Management Authority, which issues export or import permits for trade in specimens; (ii) Scientific Authority,.
It is further recommended the use of the word local communities be operationalised under the proposed amendment Bill in section 12. To ensure accountability and transparency, it is necessary to record the reasons for the exemption that shall be declared post-consultation with conservationists and civil society.
4). Invasive alien species: The Bills give the federal government the authority to control or outlaw the importation, commerce, possession, and spread of invasive alien species. An official may be given permission by the central government to capture and remove the invasive species. While the intention of the bill is laudable, it must be understood that invasive species can be alien to any particular ecosystem within the Country.
Major changes in the agenda should accompany imperative consultation by the botanical and zoological experts to draw up the schedules per CITES keeping in mind the wildlife landscape of India and its habitation patterns. Further under the proposed amendment Members of the standing committee for the state board for wildlife (SBWL) have recommended the state’s forest minister as its vice-chairperson, and the board should not have more than 10 members nominated by the panel chief. The amendments in the bill thus bring to light the importance of integrating development into our environmental models so that neither of them isn’t in conflict and lend complete support to the scientists and conservationists in reaching their goals.
Author: Stuti Sharma, Communication Associate
REFERENCES:
2) https://prsindia.org/billtrack/the-wild-life-protection-amendment-bill-2021