|
Wildlife
and forests shall be declared priorty sector at the national
level for which funds should be earmarked.
Law
enforcement agencies must ensure that those engaged in poaching
illicit trade in wildlife and wildlife products, destruction
of their habitat, and such other illegal activities are given
quick and deterent punishment.
We should fully tap the potential in wildlife tourism and
at the same time take care that it does not have adverse impact
in wildlife and protected areas. The revenue erned from increased
tourism should be used entirely to augment available resources
for conservation.
Protecting interests of the poor and tribals living around
protected aresas should be handlied with sensitivity and with
maximum participation of the affected people. They should
have access to the minor forest produce, in the forest outside
of national parks and sanctuaries. Employment and means generation
for these people is crucial for maintaing symbiosis between
the forests, wildlife and the people. People should be encouraged
to take up afforestation and conservation in new areas.
While strengthening protective measures against traditional
threasts to wildlife, we should also respond to newer threats
such as toxic chemicals and pesticides.
There should be greater government organizations engaged in
wildlife conservation. Mainstream media to better highlight
their activites as also successes of governmental initiatives
that have worked.
Creatively produced Television Programmes on wildlife and
ecology are widely appreciated by young and old as seen from
the popularity of dedicated T.V. channels like, Discovery,
National Geographic and Animal Planet. it is proposed that
Prasar Bharati and our private channels along with agencies
like WWF for Nature should collaborate and increase original
Indian content in different languages on our television.
No diversion of forestland for non-forest purposes from critical
and ecologically fragile habitat shall be allowed.
Lands falling within 10km. Of the boundaries of National parks
and Sanctuaries should be notified as eco-fragile zones under
section 3(v) of the Environment (protection) Act and Rule
5Sub-rule 5(viii)& (x) of the Environment (Protection)
Rules.
Removal of encroachments and illegal activites from within
forest lands and protected Areas.
No commericial mono-culture to replace natural forests.
The settlement of rights in national parks and Sanctuaries
should not be used to exclude or reduce the areas that are
crucial and integral part of the wildlife habitat.
More than 2000 vacant posts in the frontline staff of Protected
Areas shall be filled immediately and provided basic infrasture
for efficient discharge of duities. Ban on recruitment of
staff against vacant post should be lifted on lines with the
Police Department. Innovative initative such as redeployment
of surplus employees in other departments, hiring local people
on voluntary or honorarium basis, raising donations from business
houses and other members of the public in return for a greater
role for them in implementing programmes need to be explored.
Forest officers trained in wildlife management should manage
every protected area. Mitigation measures for human-animal
conflict and mechanism for crop insurance as also expeditious
disbursements of ex-gratia payments, should be instituted
by States.
Forest Commission should be set-up to look into restructuring,
reform and strengthening the entire forest set up and affiliated
institutions in the country.
A working group shall be constituted to monitor implementation
of Wildlife action plan.
Most importantly let us resolve that we should end the relative
neglect of wildlife conservation in recent years. To begin
with Board should meet more often. Wildlife conservation is
too important a task to treated lightly or ritualistically.
|
SANCTIONS