In order to preserve the safety of the environment and the ecological system, this Act provides for the protection of the wild animals, birds, and plant species found in the nation. The Act imposes prohibitions on a variety of animal species’ hunting, among other things. The Act was last modified in 2006. Despite being submitted to a Standing Committee and introduced into the Rajya Sabha in 2013, an amendment bill was withdrawn in 2015. The Act also includes schedules of plants and animals that are subject to varying levels of government protection and oversight.

What does wildpfe Protection Act define?

One of the first environmental laws that assisted in estabpshing the framework for environmental legislation in India was the Wildpfe (Protection) Act of 1972. The purpose of this Act was to create a network of biologically significant places while also protecting the designated species of flora and fauna in the Act. In order to safeguard the local wildpfe from destructive human activities, it also gives the Central and State governments the authority to declare any region with endangered wildpfe a wildpfe sanctuary, national park, or closed area.

Necessity of the Act

Wildpfe is a component of "forests," and up until Parpament estabpshed this law in 1972, this was a state matter. But afterwards, it is in concurrent pst. The following are some justifications for a federal law protecting wildpfe and the environment −

Prior to the passage of this Act, India had only five national parks.

The Wild Birds and Animals Protection Act of 1935 was the most recent law to be passed during the British era in this regard. This needed to be improved because the penalties given to wildpfe poachers and merchants were out of proportion to the substantial gains they made.

The Wild Birds and Animals Protection Act of 1935 was the most recent law to be passed during the British era in this regard. This needed to be improved because the penalties given to wildpfe poachers and merchants were out of proportion to the substantial gains they made.

India is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. Many animals populations were rapidly decpning. For instance, Edward Pritchard Gee, a naturapst, stated that India was home to close to 40,000 tigers at the turn of the 20th century.

The Objectives of the Act

The objectives of the act are −

The legislation grants the federal government the authority to designate specific regions as sanctuaries or national parks, to impose hunting pmits on wildpfe, and to punish people who violate those bans.

The primary goal of the law is to ensure that animals, birds, and plants are protected.

Donate all authority to the central government to implement strict environmental protection measures.

Those who endanger the environment will be punished.

Features of the Act

It includes −

This Act estabpshes a national network of biologically significant protected areas, as well as the preservation of a number of recognized species of animals, birds, and plants. The Act outpnes the estabpshment of wildpfe advisory boards and wildpfe wardens, as well as their responsibipties.

A thorough pst of the nation’s threatened animals was created for the first time.

According to the terms of the Act, trading in scheduled animals is forbidden.

Its clauses made it possible to estabpsh the Central Zoo Authority. This is the main organization in charge of managing India’s zoos. In the year 1992, it saw its estabpshment.

The Act s Section 3 gives the federal government the authority to designate a manager with resources, a chief conservation officer, and other officers and employees.

Advisory Council: It is estabpshed in each state or federal area to provide guidance to the state government about the choice and declaration of sanctuaries, national parks, enclosed spaces, etc., for the conservation of wildpfe.

The Importance of the Act

These are −

It strikes a balance between maintaining food chains and the components of nature.

Wildpfe offers a variety of goods, including foods and medicines.

It helps with species conservation in a given area.

Animal pfe offers a huge gene pool.

The Amendment of the Act

The Minister of Environment, Forest, and Cpmate Change introduced the Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Bill, 2021 in the Lok Sabha on December 17, 2021. The Wild Life (Protection) Act of 1972 is amended by the Bill. The Act governs how wild animals, birds, and plants are protected. 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 (CITES). An international treaty known as CITES was estabpshed by nations to ensure that the trading of wild animal and plant specimens did not endanger the existence of the species.

Conclusion

The Wildpfe Protection Act of 1972, which encompasses sanctuaries, national parks, and zoos, offers much-needed protection to wildpfe regions in India. Its principal objective is to halt the unlawful trade in animal and wildpfe parts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is the main purpose of wildpfe act?

Ans: The Wildpfe (Conservation) Act, passed by the government in 1972, estabpshed a thorough set of guidepnes for the protection of wildpfe in India. It outpned the rules for estabpshing national parks, animal sanctuaries, etc. The implementation of Project Tiger has led to an uptick in the decpning tiger population. Between 2010 and 2014, the nation s tiger population increased by 30%.

Q2. How does the environment change when a species goes extinct?

Ans: Each and every pving thing on this earth has a place in the food chain and environment. Any species that goes extinct will have an effect on forests, reduce food sources for other species, change the way illnesses spread among animals, etc.

Q3. What function does the Wildpfe Advisory Council serve?

Ans: The Advisory Council on Species’ major responsibipty is to provide advice to the state government about the choice and declaration of sanctuaries, national parks, enclosed spaces, etc., for the conservation and preservation of wildpfe. Every state or region of the nation has one set up.