3.10 : Protected Areas

                INDIAN PROTECTED AREA NETWORK (PAN) SUMMARY
                
  • National Parks (NPs)          ──► 107  (~44,403 sq. km | 1.35% land area)
  • Wildlife Sanctuaries (WLSs)   ──► 573  (~127,241 sq. km | 3.87% land area)
  • Conservation Reserves (CnRs)  ──► 145  (~7,055 sq. km | 0.21% land area)
  • Community Reserves (CmRs)     ──► 309  (~8,464 sq. km | 0.26% land area)
  ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
  TOTAL PROTECTED AREAS (PAs)     ──► 1,134 (~187,163 sq. km | 5.69% land area)

                    HIERARCHY OF LEGAL PROTECTION STATUS
                    
   [ National Parks ]      ──► Highest Protection: Boundaries fixed by state legislature;
                               no private land rights, no livestock grazing permitted.
           │
           ▼
   [ Wildlife Sanctuaries ] ──► Regulated Protection: Chief Wildlife Warden may permit
                               limited grazing and resource collection for local communities.
           │
           ▼
   [ Reserved Forests ]     ──► IFA 1927: All human activities banned unless explicitly permitted.
           │
           ▼
   [ Protected Forests ]    ──► IFA 1927: All human activities permitted unless explicitly banned.

• Reserved Forests (RFs): Declared by State Governments. In Reserved Forests, all human activities (hunting, grazing, timber extraction) are strictly prohibited unless specifically permitted by explicit government orders ("prohibited unless permitted").
• Protected Forests (PFs): Forest lands where a limited degree of protection applies. All human activities are generally permitted unless explicitly prohibited by state notification ("permitted unless prohibited"). Fringe communities are often granted limited rights to collect non-timber forest produce (NTFP) and graze cattle.

• Statutory Provision: Notified under Section 18 of the WPA 1972 by State Governments (in consultation with NBWL) to protect specific threatened species or habitats.
• Permitted & Regulated Rights: Grazing of livestock and collection of fuelwood or minor forest produce by local communities may be permitted and regulated by the Chief Wildlife Warden (CWLW), provided it does not harm wildlife welfare.
• Boundary Flexibility: Boundaries are defined but can be altered by the State Legislature on the recommendation of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL).
• Upgradation: A Wildlife Sanctuary can be upgraded to a National Park, but a National Park cannot be demoted to a Sanctuary.

• Statutory Provision: Declared under Section 35 of the WPA 1972 by State Governments (or Central Government) to protect an entire intact ecosystem.
• Strict Prohibitions:
  • No human interference, private rights, or land ownership are permitted inside.
  • Livestock grazing is completely barred.
  • Boundaries are clearly demarcated by legislation and cannot be altered without the recommendation of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL).
• First National Park: Jim Corbett National Park (originally Hailey National Park) in Uttarakhand, established in 1936.

• Conservation Reserves (CnRs): Declared by State Governments on government-owned land (typically adjacent to National Parks or Sanctuaries) after consulting local communities.
• Community Reserves (CmRs): Declared on private or community-owned land where individuals or village Panchayats volunteer to conserve wildlife and local traditions.
  • Managed by a Community Reserve Management Committee consisting of 5 village representatives and 1 Forest Department official.
  • Traditional land rights are preserved, and collection of non-timber forest produce is permitted, though commercial hunting is prohibited.

                     ZONATION OF A BIOSPHERE RESERVE
                     
        ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
        │  TRANSITION ZONE (MANIPULATING ZONE)                   │
        │  • Ecologically sustainable human settlements,         │
        │    croplands, managed forests, & eco-tourism. [42, 43] │
        │   ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────┐   │
        │   │  BUFFER ZONE                                   │   │
        │   │  • Surrounds core zone. Regulated activities:  │   │
        │   │    scientific research, education, & tourism.  │   │
        │   │    [42, 43]                                  │   │
        │   │   ┌────────────────────────────────────────┐   │   │
        │   │   │  CORE ZONE                             │   │   │
        │   │   │  • Strictly protected, undisturbed     │   │   │
        │   │   │    ecosystem (usually NP/WLS). [39, 42]│   │   │
        │   │   │  • No human activity except non-       │   │   │
        │   │   │    destructive research. [42, 43]    │   │   │
        │   │   └────────────────────────────────────────┘   │   │
        │   └────────────────────────────────────────────────┘   │
        └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

1. Core Zone: Legally protected, undisturbed ecosystem dedicated solely to nature conservation. No human activities are allowed except non-destructive scientific monitoring. Usually comprises one or more National Parks or Sanctuaries.
2. Buffer Zone: Surrounds or adjoins the core area. Managed for activities compatible with sound ecological practices, including environmental education, scientific research, and limited eco-tourism.
3. Transition Zone (Manipulative Zone): The outermost part where local communities, conservation authorities, and scientists work together. Contains sustainable human settlements, traditional agriculture, managed forestry, and commercial activities.

             12 INDIAN BIOSPHERE RESERVES IN UNESCO'S WNBR
             
  1. Nilgiri BR (TN/Ker/Kar) - 2000 [50]     7. Similipal BR (Odisha) - 2009 [50]
  2. Gulf of Mannar BR (TN) - 2001 [50]      8. Achanakmar-Amarkantak BR (MP/CG) - 2012 [50]
  3. Sundarbans BR (WB) - 2001 [50]          9. Great Nicobar BR (A&N) - 2013 [50]
  4. Nanda Devi BR (UK) - 2004 [50]         10. Agasthyamalai BR (Ker/TN) - 2016 [50]
  5. Nokrek BR (Meghalaya) - 2009 [50]      11. Khangchendzonga BR (Sikkim) - 2018 [50]
  6. Pachmarhi BR (MP) - 2009 [50]          12. Panna BR (MP) - 2020 [50]

• First Biosphere Reserve in India: Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (1986).
• Largest Biosphere Reserve: Great Rann of Kutch (12,454 sq. km).
• Smallest Biosphere Reserve: Dibru-Saikhowa (765 sq. km).

• Statutory Basis: Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) are notified by MoEFCC around National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries under Section 3(2)(v) of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
• Objective: Serve as a "shock absorber" or transition buffer zone to regulate developmental pressure and prevent ecological degradation around protected areas.
• Spatial Extent: The National Wildlife Action Plan (2002–2016) stipulated declaring lands within 10 km of PA boundaries as ESZs. In 2022, the Supreme Court directed a mandatory minimum 1 km ESZ around all protected forests, parks, and sanctuaries.

                     ACTIVITY CLASSIFICATION IN ESZs
                     
  • PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES ──► Commercial mining, polluting industries, sawmills,
                              major hydroelectric projects, commercial wood use. [54, 60]
  • REGULATED ACTIVITIES  ──► Felling trees, construction of hotels/resorts, commercial
                              groundwater extraction, changing land use. [59-61]
  • PERMITTED ACTIVITIES  ──► Ongoing agricultural/horticultural practices, rainwater
                              harvesting, organic farming, renewable energy. [60-62]

• Statutory Body: Governed by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), a statutory body constituted under the 2006 Amendment of the WPA 1972.
• Core-Buffer Model:
  • Core Area (Critical Tiger Habitat): Inviolable space kept free from human disturbance, commercial mining, and tourist safaris. Declared under Section 38V of WPA.
  • Buffer Area: Peripheral area managed for regulated eco-development, local community livelihood support, and controlled tourism.
• Boundaries & Denotification: No boundary alteration or denotification of a Tiger Reserve can be made except on the recommendation of NTCA and approval of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL). Total Tiger Reserves in India stand at 55+.

• Definition: Designated ocean/coastal zones managed for long-term conservation of marine biodiversity and ecosystem services.
• Examples in India: Marine National Park (Gulf of Kutch), Gulf of Mannar Marine NP, Mahatma Gandhi Marine NP (Andaman), Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary (Odisha - Olive Ridley nesting).

 Ancient virgin forest patches preserved by indigenous tribal communities through religious sanctity ( Geographically defined areas outside traditional protected areas that achieve positive, sustained long-term outcomes for biodiversity conservation (e.g., Aravalli Biodiversity Park)