Daily Current Affairs : 18-October-2023

The Wildlife Protection (Amendment) Act, 2022, has significantly expanded the schedules under which various species receive protection. This amendment, while intending to conserve wildlife, raises several important issues related to conservation strategies, human-animal conflicts, and research endeavors.

Issue 1: Conservation Strategies and Lack of Differentiation
  • The Original Purpose: The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, aimed to regulate species usage and curb illegal activities such as hunting and trafficking.
  • Absence of Clear Criteria: The 2022 Amendment lacks a clear link between endangerment and conservation, leading to inconsistencies in offering protection.
  • Equal Protection for Diverse Species: The Act fails to differentiate between endangered species like tigers and more common ones like jackals, hindering focused conservation efforts.
  • Impact on Plantation Practices: The Act inadvertently discourages native tree planting by promoting exotic species, disrupting the natural ecosystem.
Issue 2: Man-Animal Conflict and Its Impact on People
  • Escalating Conflicts: Schedule I species like crocodiles, leopards, and elephants pose significant threats to human lives and livelihoods.
  • Psychological Impacts: Attacks by wildlife create lasting psychological trauma, affecting the mental well-being of affected individuals.
  • Policy Implications: The Act’s elevation of wild pigs and nilgai to Schedule I may hamper states’ ability to manage problematic animal populations, potentially exacerbating conflicts.
Issue 3: Challenges in Research
  • Cumbersome Permitting Process: Despite some support within forest bureaucracy, obtaining research permits remains arduous and time-consuming.
  • Impact on Scientific Studies: The extensive list of protected species could hinder research efforts, limiting the understanding of various species and their ecosystems.

Important Points:

  • The Wildlife Protection (Amendment) Act, 2022, significantly expands schedules for species protection.
  • Lack of clear criteria in the amendment hampers focused conservation efforts.
  • The Act provides equal protection to diverse species, hindering effective conservation strategies.
  • Inadvertently, the Act promotes exotic species, discouraging native tree plantation and disrupting ecosystems.
  • Schedule I species such as crocodiles, leopards, and elephants pose significant threats, leading to conflicts with humans.
  • Wildlife attacks create lasting psychological trauma, impacting the mental well-being of affected individuals.
  • The elevation of wild pigs and nilgai to Schedule I may complicate states’ management of problematic animal populations.
  • Obtaining research permits remains a tedious and time-consuming process despite some support within forest bureaucracy.
  • The extensive list of protected species could impede scientific research efforts, limiting understanding of species and ecosystems.
  • Policymakers should reevaluate the Act to strike a balance between conservation, human-wildlife coexistence, and scientific research for informed conservation strategies.
Why In News

A disproportionately large number of species have been included in the new schedules of the Wildlife Protection (Amendment) Act, 2022, reflecting the growing awareness and commitment to safeguarding biodiversity and preserving our natural heritage for future generations.

MCQs about Wildlife Protection Act 2022 Revisited

  1. What is the primary objective of the Wildlife Protection (Amendment) Act, 2022?
    A) Facilitate unrestricted hunting of wildlife
    B) Regulate the usage of various species, including hunting and trade
    C) Promote the breeding of exotic species in protected areas
    D) Ban all human activities in wildlife habitats
    Correct Answer: B) Regulate the usage of various species, including hunting and trade
    Explanation: The original purpose of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which was to regulate species usage, restrict trade, and curb illegal activities like hunting and trafficking.
  2. Which of the following Schedule I species pose significant threats to human lives and livelihoods?
    A) Pandas
    B) Tigers
    C) Crocodiles
    D) Koalas
    Correct Answer: C) Crocodiles
    Explanation: The crocodiles, along with leopards and elephants, pose significant threats, leading to conflicts with humans.
  3. How does the Wildlife Protection (Amendment) Act, 2022, impact research efforts?
    A) It streamlines the research permit application process
    B) It discourages researchers from conducting studies on wildlife
    C) It makes obtaining research permits easier and more efficient
    D) It hinders research efforts due to the extensive list of protected species
    Correct Answer: D) It hinders research efforts due to the extensive list of protected species
    Explanation: The large number of species listed in the Act could impede scientific research efforts, limiting the understanding of species and ecosystems.

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