Wildlife Protection Act 1972: Background, Need & Features - UPSC Notes

The Wildlife Protection Act 1972 is a crucial legislation enacted in India on 9 September 1972. It safeguards the diverse wildlife found within the country's borders. It serves as a framework for protecting, conserving, and managing wildlife. It aims to preserve natural habitats and ensure the well-being of wildlife species. The act prohibits the hunting, poaching, and trade of endangered species. It also promotes measures to combat illegal activities. The Wildlife Protection Act is vital in preserving India's wildlife heritage. It maintains ecological balance and fosters sustainable coexistence between humans and wildlife.

In this article on the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 UPSC, we shall discuss in detail the major provisions of the act. It is a part of the Environment subject in the Mains General Studies Paper-III syllabus. It is also a part of the General Studies Paper-1 of the UPSC Prelims Syllabus.

The UPSC aspirants can take the help of Testbook's UPSC CSE Coaching. Also, study other important topics related to UPSC IAS Exams with Testbook!

Click on the link to download the Environment Notes for UPSC!

What is the Wildlife Protection Act 1972?

The Wildlife Protection Act 1972 is a crucial legislation in India that aims to protect and conserve wildlife and their habitats. It provides legal provisions for the prevention of hunting, poaching, and trade of endangered species. The Act includes various schedules that classify different species based on their level of protection and conservation status. It also establishes protected areas, permits the declaration of wildlife sanctuaries and national parks, and regulates activities related to wildlife. The Wildlife Protection Act 1972 plays a crucial role in safeguarding India's rich biodiversity.

Background of the Act

The initial legislation of this kind was introduced during the British Indian Government's rule in 1887, known as the Wild Birds Protection Act 1887. This law aimed to prohibit the possession and sale of specific wild birds killed or captured during their breeding season. A subsequent legal measure, the Wild Birds and Animals Protection Act, was passed in 1912. In 1935, this act was modified by introducing the Wild Birds and Animals Protection (Amendment) Act 1935. During the British Raj, wildlife preservation was not a prominent concern. It was not until 1960 that the issue of wildlife conservation and preventing certain species from becoming extinct gained significant attention.

Need for the Wildlife Protection Act 1972

The Wildlife Act of 1972 protects the country’s natural animals, birds, and plants to promote ecological and environmental security. This statute established hunting limitations for a variety of animal species. It also contains provisions relating to harvesting and various other relevant issues. It has six schedules, including a list of endangered species, a list of wild creatures posing a threat to human life, a list of animals designated as vermin, and a list of defined goods, plants, and possessions, among others, that span India. For violations of the laws included therein, various punishments have been established.

Also, a study in detail about Global Tiger Forum for UPSC preparation!

Constitutional Provisions of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act 1972

India is the first country in the world to have incorporated provisions related to protecting and conserving wildlife and the environment in the Constitution. Following the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, commonly called the Stockholm Conference, in 1972, the Indian Government passed the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act in 1976, through which articles pertaining to environmental protection were included in the Indian Constitution. The provisions of Wild Life Protection Act are as follows:

Article 48A

By the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, this article was added under the Directive Principles of State Policy (Part IV). This article deals with the Protection and improvement of the environment and the safeguarding of forests and wildlife. It states, "The State shall endeavor to protect and improve the environment and safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country.”

Article 51A (g)

By the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, this article was added as the fundamental duty of Indian citizens. It states, "It shall be the duty of every citizen of India to protect and improve the natural environment, including forests, lakes, rivers, and wildlife, and to have compassion for living creatures.

Attempt the UPSC Test Series here and score better.

Salient Features of Wildlife Protection Act 1972

Here are the salient features of Wildlife Protection Act 1972:

• Prohibits hunting of wild animals specified in the act schedules unless the hunting is carried out under a valid licence.
• The act empowers the government to declare areas as any one of the following protected areas:
  • National Parks
  • Wildlife Sanctuaries
  • Conservation Reserves
  • Community Reserves
  • Tiger Reserves
• Provides licenses for selling, transferring, and possessing some wildlife species.
• Provides for the establishment of a Central Zoo Authority. It regulates the establishment, maintenance, and management of zoos in India.
• Provides for appointing a Director of Wildlife Preservation to oversee the implementation of the Act. It also provides for appointing a Chief Wildlife Warden and a Wildlife Warden.
• Provides for the punishment of offences under the Act. This includes imprisonment, fines, and confiscation of property.

Click on this link to download the notes on the Ramsar Sites in India for UPSC!

Scheduled Species Listed Under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act

The Wildlife Protection Act 1972 schedules and examples of species placed under each schedule are listed below:

Scheduled Species Listed Under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act
Wildlife Protection Act 1972 schedules	Description of schedules of wildlife protection act 1972	Examples
Schedule I	Critically endangered species are placed under schedule 1 of Wildlife Protection Act. Hunting, poaching, killing, and trading of wildlife species under this schedule are strictly prohibited.	Bengal tiger, Nilgiri tahr, blackbuck, cheetah, Andaman wild pig, green sea turtle, golden gecko, red panda, large falcons, great Indian bustard, great Indian hornbill, gharials, dugong, musk deer, etc.
Schedule II	The animals placed under this schedule are also highly protected. Activities such as hunting, poaching, killing, and trading of these species are prohibited.	Assamese macaque, bonnet macaque, wild dog, pig-tailed macaque, Himalayan newtor salamander, common langur, civets, sloth bear, flying squirrels, king cobra, Himalayan black bear, jackal, mongooses, civets, red fox, rat snake, jungle cat, etc.
Schedule III	Though the species placed under this schedule are not endangered, they are protected from poaching, hunting, and trading.	Barking deer (muntjac), chital, hyaena, nilgai, sambar, gorals, wild pig, and all calcareans (sponges).
Schedule IV	Hunting, poaching, killing, and trading of wildlife species under schedule IV are also prohibited.	Hedgehog, geese, bulbuls, falcons, bustard quails, flamingos, ducks, flycatchers, pelicans, swans, woodpeckers, butterflies, moths, tortoises, cranes, doves, blue jays, etc.
Schedule V	The animal species which are considered vermin, i.e. the animals which carry disease-causing germs and are capable of destroying plants (food plants) are placed under this schedule.	Common crows, fruit bats, mice, and rats.
Schedule VI	Certain plant species are listed under this schedule. Cultivation of the plants specified in this schedule can be carried out only by obtaining prior permission and license. Possession, sale, and transportation of these 6 plant species are restricted.	Beddomes’ cycad, blue vanda, kuth, ladies slipper orchids, pitcher plant, and Red vanda.

Check out this article on the National Green Tribunal for the UPSC Exam!

Initiatives Under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972

Here are some of the key initiatives and measures implemented under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 to safeguard India's wildlife and natural habitats:

• Legal Protection for Wildlife: The Act categorizes species into six schedules, providing varying levels of protection, with Schedule I and II species receiving the highest protection and strictest penalties for violations.
• Habitat Preservation: Establishment of a network of National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Conservation Reserves, and Community Reserves to ensure the protection and management of critical habitats.
• Combat Poaching and Illegal Trade: Creation of anti-poaching units and special task forces, along with the establishment of the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) in 2007, to coordinate efforts and enforce stringent penalties against poaching and illegal wildlife trade.
• Project Tiger: Launched in 1973, Project Tiger aims to maintain a viable population of Bengal tigers in their natural habitats through improved habitat management, anti-poaching strategies, and community involvement.
• Project Elephant: Initiated in 1992, Project Elephant focuses on the conservation of elephants and their habitats, mitigating human-elephant conflict, and promoting measures for the welfare of domesticated elephants.
• Wildlife Corridors: Identification and creation of wildlife corridors to facilitate the safe movement of animals between fragmented habitats, reducing human-wildlife conflict and ensuring genetic flow between populations.

Bodies Established Under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972

Here are the bodies established under the WPA 1972:

• National Board for Wildlife (NBWL): The NBWL is a statutory body that advises the government on wildlife conservation. The Prime Minister chairs it. It has 30 members.
• State Board for Wildlife (SBWL): The SBWL is a statutory body. It advises the state government on wildlife conservation. The Chief Minister chairs it. It has 25 members.
• Central Zoo Authority (CZA): The CZA is a statutory body that regulates zoos in India. A Director-General heads it, and it has 10 members.
• National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA): The NTCA is a statutory body set up by the GoI in 2005 on the recommendations of the Tiger Task Force. It coordinates and monitors the conservation of tigers in India. A Director-General heads it, and it has 10 members. The Union Environment Minister chairs it.
• Tiger and Other Endangered Species Crime Control Bureau (TSECCB): The TSECCB is a statutory body. It investigates and prosecutes crimes related to the poaching and trafficking of tigers and other endangered species. A Director-General heads it and has 100 officers.

Click on the link to download the notes on the Kaziranga National Park for UPSC!

Protected Areas Under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972

The protected areas mentioned in the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 are discussed below:

Sanctuaries

The State Government can declare any area other than an area comprising any reserve forest or territorial waters as a sanctuary. For an area to be considered a sanctuary, it should have adequate ecological, faunal, floral, geomorphological, natural, or zoological significance.

The Chief Wildlife Warden controls, manages, and maintains the sanctuaries. He is endowed with the power to take any steps necessary to protect sanctuaries and the wildlife therein. The Chief Wildlife Warden can grant permission to any person to enter or reside in the sanctuary for purposes such as photographing, scientific research, tourism, investigation, or study of wildlife. However, fees are prescribed to carry out such activities.

No person other than the public servant on duty, the person permitted by the CWLW, or the person passing through the sanctuary along the public highway can enter or reside in the sanctuary. The use of chemicals, explosives, or any other substances that may cause injury to the wildlife in the sanctuary is strictly prohibited. Activities such as setting fire or burning any fire in a sanctuary are prohibited. Weapons can be taken only with prior permission from the warden.

National Parks

The State Government can declare any area that is of high ecological, faunal, floral, geomorphological, natural, or zoological significance can be declared as a national park. Even the areas within the sanctuary can be declared national parks. Destruction, exploitation, or removal of any wildlife (including forest produce) from the national parks is prohibited under the Act. Similarly, no person can destroy, damage, or divert the habitat of the species in the national park.

Removal of wildlife from the national parks and changing the inflow of water into and outside the national parks can be made only with the permission of the Chief Wildlife Warden, and the warden grants such permissions only after receiving acceptance from the concerned State Government. Grazing of any livestock is prohibited in the national park.

Conservation Reserves

The State Government can declare any area owned by the government adjacent to national parks, sanctuaries, and those areas that serve as a link between one or more protected areas as conservation reserves after consultation with the local communities. It aims to protect the landscapes, seascapes, flora, fauna, and habitats in the above-mentioned areas. The State Government constitutes a management committee to assist and advise the Chief Wildlife Warden to conserve, manage, and maintain the conservation reserve.

Community Reserves

When an individual or a community comes forward to volunteer to conserve wildlife and its habitat, then the State Government can declare any private or community land as a community reserve for protecting fauna, flora, and traditional values and practices. For an area to be declared a community reserve, the area should not be within a national park, sanctuary, or conservation reserve. The authority responsible for conserving, maintaining, and managing the community reserve is the community reserve management committee, which the respective State Governments constitute.

Click on this link to download the notes on the Pong Dam Lake Wildlife Sanctuary for UPSC!

Download the Key Takeaways PDF for Wildlife Protection Act!

We hope that the above article proves to be helpful for the UPSC aspirants. Avail more such notes, quizzes, tests, live coaching sessions, and much more by downloading the Testbook App now. Further, you can also receive instant notifications regarding upcoming exams, vacancies available, etc.