TAG: GS 3: ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT
THE CONTEXT: The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has recently urged state wildlife departments to develop a comprehensive timeline and action plan for the relocation of villages situated within the critical tiger habitats of tiger reserves.
EXPLANATION:
- This initiative aligns with the provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act’s 2006 amendment, which mandates the preservation of inviolate areas to maintain a viable population of breeding tigers.
Context and Rationale
- Core or critical tiger habitats are designated areas within tiger reserves that must remain undisturbed to support the conservation of tiger populations.
- These habitats are essential for the breeding and sustenance of tigers, as per the 2006 amendment of the Wildlife Protection Act.
- There are 55 notified tiger reserves in India, and many of these reserves include villages within their core areas.
- According to the NTCA, approximately 600 villages, comprising 64,801 families, are located in these critical tiger habitats.
- The presence of human settlements in these areas poses challenges for tiger conservation efforts.
NTCA’s Directive to State Wildlife Departments
- The NTCA has written to state wildlife departments, requesting a detailed status report and an actionable timeline for the relocation of villages from core tiger habitats.
- This request follows a recent review of the status of voluntary village relocations and emphasizes the need for urgent action on this matter.
- Relocation efforts must adhere to several legal and procedural mandates:
- Voluntary Relocation: The relocation process must be strictly voluntary, based on the informed consent of the gram sabhas (village councils) and the families involved.
- Recognition of Forest Rights: Authorities must recognize and settle the forest rights of Scheduled Tribes (ST) and other forest dwellers before proceeding with relocations.
- Compensation and Rehabilitation:
- Families opting for relocation can choose between financial compensation and resettlement packages.
- The financial compensation involves a payment of Rs 15 lakh per family.
- Alternatively, the resettlement package includes 2 hectares of land, homestead land and house construction, a one-time financial incentive, and basic amenities such as roads, water, sanitation, electricity, and telecommunication.
Challenges and Criticisms
- The relocation package offered by the NTCA has faced criticism for not fully complying with the Land Acquisition Act, 2013.
- This Act includes special provisions for the resettlement and rehabilitation of ST communities and forest dwellers.
- The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes has previously advocated for alignment of the NTCA’s rehabilitation package with the Land Acquisition Act to ensure due rights are provided.
- The denial of due rights and inadequate compensation packages have led to conflicts between local communities and tiger reserve authorities in several areas.
- Effective relocation strategies must address these conflicts and ensure fair treatment of affected communities.
Importance of Relocation
- Relocating villages from critical tiger habitats is crucial for creating undisturbed zones necessary for tiger conservation.
- These inviolate areas help in maintaining healthy breeding populations and ensuring the long-term survival of tigers in the wild.
- The process of village relocation must strike a balance between the conservation needs of tigers and the rights and welfare of local human populations.
- Ensuring voluntary and adequately compensated relocations is key to achieving this balance.
The Wildlife (Protection) Act (WLPA), 1972:
- It is the first act which for the first time concluded a comprehensive list of the country’s endangered wildlife.
- Act prohibited the hunting of endangered species.
- Scheduled animals are prohibited from being traded as per the Act’s provisions.
- The Act provides for licenses for the sale, transfer, and possession of some wildlife species.
- It provides for the establishment of wildlife sanctuaries, national parks, etc.
- Conservation reserves:
- Under the Act, state governments may declare areas adjacent to national parks and sanctuaries as a conservation reserve, for protecting flora and fauna, and their habitat.
- Inclusion in CITES:
- It helped India become a party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
- CITES is an international agreement between governments to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten the survival of the species.
- Provision of Schedules:
- The Act created six schedules which gave varying degrees of protection to classes of flora and fauna.
- Schedule I and Schedule II (Part II) get absolute protection, and offences under these schedules attract the maximum penalties.
- The schedules also include species that may be hunted.
- Penalties:
- (Section 51 of the Wildlife Protection Act):
- Offences committed in connection with the animal described in Schedule-I or Part-II of Schedule-II where the offence was related to hunting in the sanctuary or a national park or exchange in the territory of a sanctuary or a national park.
- Such an offence shall be punishable by imprisonment not less than three years but up to seven years and a fine not exceeding ten thousand rupees.
- (Section 51 of the Wildlife Protection Act):
Wildlife Protection (Amendment) Act, 2022
- The Act amends the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 which regulates the protection of wild animals, birds and plants.
- The provisions of the amendment are:
- Implement the provisions of CITES: The Amended Act seeks to implement the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Under CITES, plant and animal specimens are classified into three categories (Appendices) based on the threat to their extinction. The Convention requires countries to regulate the trade of all listed specimens through permits. It also seeks to regulate the possession of live animal specimens.
- Penalties: The Amended Act increases the prescribed imprisonment terms and fines for violating the provisions of the Act.
- Rationalising schedules: Earlier, the Wildlife Protection Act had six schedules one for specially protected plants, four for specially protected animals, and one for vermin species.
- The amended Act reduces the total number of schedules to four by:
- Reducing the number of schedules for specially protected animals to two (one for greater protection level)
- Removes the schedule for vermin species
- Inserts a new schedule for specimens listed in the Appendices under CITES (scheduled specimens)
- Conservation reserves: Under the earlier Act, state governments may declare areas adjacent to national parks and sanctuaries as a conservation reserve, for protecting flora and fauna, and their habitat. The Amended Act empowers the central government to also notify a conservation reserve.
National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)
- The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.
- It is constituted under enabling provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, as amended in 2006, for strengthening tiger conservation, as per powers and functions assigned to it under the said Act.
- The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has been constituted under section 38 of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
- As per the Act, the authority consists of the Minister in charge of the Ministry of Environment and Forests (as Chairperson), the Minister of State in the Ministry of Environment and Forests (as Vice-Chairperson), three members of Parliament, Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests and other members.