Sites Of Conservation Importance

Biosphere Reserves

1. Definition:
Biosphere Reserves (BRs) are representative parts of natural and cultural landscapes
extending over large area of terrestrial or coastal/marine ecosystems or a combination thereof and
representative examples of bio-geographic zones/provinces.

2. Criteria for designation of BR

A site that must contain an effectively protected and minimally disturbed core area of value of
nature conservation.

The core area should be typical of a bio-geographical unit and large enough to sustain viable
populations representing all trophic levels in the ecosystem.

The management authority to ensure the involvement/cooperation of local communities to bring

variety of knowledge and experiences to link biodiversity conservation and socio-economic
development while managing and containing the conflicts.

Areas potential for preservation of traditional tribal or rural modes of living for harmonious use of
environment.
3. International Status of Biosphere Reserves (BR)
The UNESCO has introduced the designation Biosphere Reserve for natural areas to
minimize conflict between development and conservation. BRs are nominated by national
government which meet a minimal set of criteria and adhere to minimal set of conditions for inclusion
in the world network of Biosphere reserves under the Man and Biosphere Reserve Programme of
UNESCO. Globally 621 BRs representing from 117 countries included in the network so far.

4. Structure and functions of BR:

Biosphere reserves are demarcated into following 3 inter-related zones:

Core Zone

Core zone must contain suitable habitat for numerous plant and animal species, including
higher order predators and may contain centres of endemism. Core areas often conserve the wild
relatives of economic species and also represent important genetic reservoirs having exceptional
scientific interest. A core zone being National Park or Sanctuary/protected/regulated mostly under
the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Whilst realizing that perturbation is an ingredient of ecosystem
functioning, the core zone is to be kept free from l human pressures external to the system.

Buffer Zone

The buffer zone, adjoins or surrounds core zone, uses and activities are managed in this
area in the ways that help in protection of core zone in its natural condition. These uses and
activities include restoration, demonstration sites for enhancing value addition to the resources,
limited recreation, tourism, fishing, grazing, etc; which are permitted to reduce its effect on core
zone. Research and educational activities are to be encouraged. Human activities, if natural within
BR, are likely to continue if these do not adversely affect the ecological diversity.

Transition Zone
 The transition area is the outermost part of a biosphere reserve. This is usually not delimited
one and is a zone of cooperation where conservation knowledge and management skills are applied
and uses are managed in harmony with the purpose of the biosphere reserve. This includes
settlements, crop lands, managed forests and area for intensive recreation and other economic uses
characteristics of the region.

5. Tripartite functions of BR (Conservation, Development and logistic support)

To conserve the diversity and integrity of plants and animals within natural ecosystems

To safeguard genetic diversity of species on which their continuing evolution depends

To ensure sustainable use of natural resources through most appropriate technology for
improvement of economic well-being of the local people

To provide areas for multi-faceted research and monitoring

To provide facilities for education and training

6. Management

100% grant-in-aid is provided under the Biosphere Reserve scheme for the approved items
of activities for implementation of Management Action Plans submitted by the concerned States/UT.
The activities permitted under the scheme are broadly under the following areas:

Value addition activities

Sustainable use of threatened resources

Rehabilitation of landscapes of threatened species and ecosystems

Socio-economic upliftment of local communities

Maintenance and protection of corridor areas

Development of communication system and Networking

Development of Eco-tourism

BR scheme is different from other conservation related schemes. It has the focus on the welfare of
local inhabitants through provision of supplementary and alternate livelihood support to the people in
the buffer and transition zones in order to reduce biotic pressure on biodiversity of the natural
reserves of core zone.

Protected Areas of India

Protected areas are those in which human occupation or at least the exploitation of resources is limited. The term
"protected area" also includes Marine Protected Areas, the boundaries of which will include some area of ocean, and
Transboundary Protected Areas that overlap multiple countries which remove the borders inside the area for
conservation and economic purposes.

National Parks -An area, whether within a sanctuary or not, can be notified by the state government to be constituted
as a National Park, by reason of its ecological, faunal, floral, geomorphological, or zoological association or
importance, needed to for the purpose of protecting & propagating or developing wildlife therein or its environment.
No human activity is permitted inside the national park except for the ones permitted by the Chief Wildlife Warden of
the state under the conditions given in CHAPTER IV, WPA 1972.
There are 103 existing national parks in India covering an area of 40,500 km 2, which is 1.23% of the geographical
area of the country (National Wildlife Database, April 2015).

Wildlife Sanctuaries -Any area other than area comprised with any reserve forest or the territorial waters
can be notified by the State Government to constitute as a sanctuary if such area is of adequate
ecological, faunal, floral, geomorphological, natural. or zoological significance, for the purpose of
protecting, propagating or developing wildlife or its environment. Some restricted human activities are
allowed inside the Sanctuary area details of which are given in CHAPTER IV, WPA 1972.

There are 536 existing wildlife sanctuaries in India covering an area of 118,005 km2, which is 3.59 % of
the geographical area of the country (National Wildlife Database, May, 2016).

Conservation Reserves - Conservation reserves and community reserves in India are terms denoting
protected areas of India which typically act as buffer zones to or connectors and migration corridors
between established national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and reserved and protected forests of India. Such
areas are designated as conservation areas if they are uninhabited and completely owned by the
Government of India but used for subsistence by communities and community areas if part of the lands
are privately owned.
These protected area categories were first introduced in the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act of 2002
the amendment to the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. These categories were added because of
reduced protection in and around existing or proposed protected areas due to private ownership of land,
and land use.

Community Reserves - Conservation reserves and community reserves in India are terms
denoting protected areas of India which typically act as buffer zones to or connectors and migration
corridors between established national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and reserved and protected
forests of India. Such areas are designated as conservation areas if they are uninhabited and
completely owned by the Government of India but used for subsistence by communities, and
community areas if part of the lands are privately owned. Administration of such reserves would be
through local people and local agencies like the gram panchayat, as in the case of communal
forests.

Marine Protected Areas -A marine protected area (MPA) is essentially a space in the ocean where human activities
are more strictly regulated than the surrounding waters - similar to parks we have on land. These places are given
special protections for natural or historic marine resources by local, state, territorial, native, regional, or national
authorities.

Various Institutes related to Environment

Wildlife Institute of India
The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) is an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Environment
Forest and Climate change, Government of India. (Not Statutory)
Wildlife Institute of India (WII) is an internationally acclaimed Institution, which offers training program,
academic courses and advisory in wildlife research and management. The Institute is actively engaged in
research across the breadth of the country on biodiversity related issues.
WII-ENVIS Centre on Wildlife & Protected Areas (World Bank Assisted)

To disseminate information on Wildlife and Protected Areas. managed by ENVIS Secretariat, Ministry of
Environment, Forest and Climate Change

The mission of ENVIS is to support and facilitate the diverse group of clientele from policy makers to researchers and
Industries and common man at national and international level on a possible range of environmental data and
information through a nation-wide web enabled network. The on going World Bank assisted program of the ENVIS,
aims to provide a comprehensive environmental information data base under the identified subject areas, local
conditions and issues pertaining to the environment of the country.

Bhuvan, (lit: Earth), is a software application which allows users to explore a 2D/3D representation
of the surface of the Earth. The browser is specifically tailored to view India, offering the highest
resolution in this region and providing content in four local languages.[2][3] A beta version[4] was
launched on 12 August 2009.[5]
Apart from visualization Bhuvan provides timely disaster support services (domestic and
international),[6][7] free satellite data and a products download facility,[8][9] and
rich thematic datasets.[10] Bhuvan is using a crowdsourcing approach to enrich its maps and
collect point of interest data.[11] It also acts as a platform for hosting government data (example -
Karnataka Forest Department datasets)

The National Tiger Conservation Authority

is a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change constituted under enabling
provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, as amended in 2006, for strengthening tiger conservation, as
per powers and functions assigned to it under the said Act.

The National Tiger Conservation Authority has been fulfilling its mandate within the ambit of the Wildlife
(Protection) Act, 1972 for strengthening tiger conservation in the country by retaining an oversight through
advisories/normative guidelines, based on appraisal of tiger status, ongoing conservation initiatives and
recommendations of specially constituted Committees.

Project Tiger is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme of the Environment, Forests and Climate Change, providing
funding support to tiger range States, for in-situ conservation of tigers in designated tiger reserves, and has put
the endangered tiger on an assured path of recovery by saving it from extinction,

Wildlife Crime Control Bureau

The Government of India constituted a statutory body, the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB)
under MoEFCC on 6 June 2007, by amending the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, a special Act to
protect the wildlife in the country. WCCB would complement the efforts of the state governments,
primary enforcers of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and other enforcement agencies of the
country.

it is mandated to collect and collate intelligence related to organized wildlife crime activities and to
disseminate the same to State and other enforcement agencies for immediate action so as to
apprehend the criminals; to establish a centralized wildlife crime data bank; co-ordinate actions by
various agencies in connection with the enforcement of the provisions of the Act; assist foreign
authorities and international organization concerned to facilitate co-ordination and universal action
for wildlife crime control; capacity building of the wildlife crime enforcement agencies for scientific
and professional investigation into wildlife crimes and assist State Governments to ensure success
in prosecutions related to wildlife crimes; and advise the Government of India on issues relating to
wildlife crimes having national and international ramifications, relevant policy and laws. It also assists
and advises the Customs authorities in inspection of the consignments of flora & fauna as per the
provisions of Wild Life Protection Act, CITES and EXIM Policy governing such an item.
headquarter in New Delhi and five regional offices at Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai and Jabalpur;
three sub-regional offices at Guwahati, Amritsar and Cochin; and five border units at
Ramanathapuram, Gorakhpur, Motihari, Nathula and Moreh

Botanical Survey of India (BSI) was established in 1890 with the objectives of exploring
the plant resources of the country and identifying plant species with economic virtue. In 1954,

the Government reorganised the BSI with the objectives of

(1) undertaking intensive floristic surveys and collecting accurate and detailed information on the occurrence,
distribution, ecology and economic utility of plants in the country;

(2) collecting, identifying and distributing materials that may be of use to educational and research institutions; and

(3) acting as the custodian of authentic collections in well planned herbaria and documenting plant resources in the
form of local, district, state and national flora

Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) was established on 1st July, 1916 to promote survey, exploration and
research leading to the advancement in our knowledge of various aspects of exceptionally rich life of the erstwhile
British Indian Empire.

Exploration, Survey, Inventorying and Monitoring of faunal diversity in various States, Ecosystems and Protected
areas of India.
Taxonomic studies of all faunal components collected.
Periodic review of the Status of Threatened and Endemic species.
Preparation of Red Data Book, Fauna of India and Fauna of States.
Bioecological studies on selected important communities/species.
Preparation of databases for the recorded species of the country.
Maintenance & Development of National Zoological Collections.
Training, Capacity Building and Human Resource Development.
Faunal Identification, Advisory services and Library Services.
Publication of results including Fauna of India and Fauna of States.

Secondary Objectives

Environmental Impact Studies.

Maintenance and Development of Museum at Headquarters and Regional Stations.
Development of ENVIS and CITES Centers.
Research Fellowship, Associateship and Emeritus Scientist Programmes.
Collaborative research programmes on Biodiversity with other Organizations.
GIS and Remote Sensing studies for animal diversity as well as for selected threatened species.
Chromosomal Mapping and DNA finger printing.

TERI
The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) is a leading think tank dedicated to conducting research for sustainable
development of India and the Global South.

TERI was established in 1974 as an information centre on energy issues. However, over the following decades, it
made a mark as a research institute, whose policy and technology solutions transformed people's lives and the
environment.
 TERI's key focus lies in promoting:

Clean energy
Water management
Pollution management
Sustainable agriculture
Climate resilience

Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS)-India, a pan-India wildlife research organization,

has been promoting the cause of nature conservation for the past 133 years, since 1883.

BNHS Mission: Conservation of Nature, primarily Biological Diversity through action based on Research, Education and Public

Awareness

BNHS Vision: Premier independent scientific organization with a broad based constituency, excelling in the conservation of

threatened species and habitats.

Main activities and departments of BNHS include the following:

Natural History Collection

Research on various species and habitats

Conservation of landscapes and seascapes

Environmental Information System

Outreach (camps, exhibitions, lectures, other events)

Conservation Education Centres

Communications and Advocacy

University Studies

Library

Wildlife Publications

Souvenirs
World Heritage Sites
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization as of special cultural or physical significance.

Mixed World Heritage Sites in India (As on July, 2016)

Sl. Name of WH Site State Year of

No. Location Notification

1 Khangchendzonga National Park Sikkim 2016

WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society) was founded in 1895 as the New York Zoological Society (NYZS) and
currently works to conserve more than two million square miles of wild places around the world.

National Action Plan on Climate Change consists of 8 missions-

1.National Solar Mission- Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
2. National Mission for enhanced Energy Efficiency- Bureau of Energy Efficiency(BEE)-
Ministry of Power

The NMEEE spelt out four initiatives to enhance energy efficiency in energy intensive industries which are as follows:

1. Perform Achieve and Trade Scheme (PAT), a regulatory instrument to reduce specific energy consumption
in energy intensive industries, with an associated market based mechanism to enhance the cost
effectiveness through certification of excess energy saving which can be traded.
 2. Market Transformation for Energy Efficiency (MTEE), for accelerating the shift to energy efficient appliances
in designated sectors through innovative measures to make the products more affordable.
3. Energy Efficiency Financing Platform (EEFP), for creation of mechanisms that would help finance demand
side management programmes in all sectors by capturing future energy savings.
4. Framework for Energy Efficient Economic Development (FEEED), for development of fiscal instruments to
promote energy efficiency.

About BEE- is an agency of the Government of India, under the Ministry of Power created in March 2002 under
the provisions of the nation's 2001 Energy Conservation Act.

The agency's function is to develop programs which will increase the conservation and efficient use of energy in
India.[2]

The government has proposed to make it mandatory for certain appliances in India to have ratings by the BEE
starting in January 2010.[3]

The mission of Bureau of Energy Efficiency is to "institutionalise" energy efficiency services, enable delivery
mechanisms in the country and provide leadership to energy efficiency in all sectors of the country. The primary
objective would be to reduce energy intensity in the economy.

Besides promoting energy efficiency and awareness it also gives financial assistance to institutions for promoting
efficient use of energy and its conservation.

3. National Mission on Sustainable Habitat- Ministry of Urban Development

4. National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem- Ministry of Science & Tec
5. National Mission for a Green India- Ministry of Environment and Forest
6. National Mission for a Sustainable Agriculture- Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
7. National Mission on Strategic Knowledge on Climate Change- Ministry of Science & Tec
8. National Water Mission- Ministry of Water Resources

Central Ground Water Board Faridabad

Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), is a multidisciplinary scientific organization with a mandate to " Develop and disseminate
technologies and monitor and implement national policies for the scientific and sustainable development and management of India's ground
water resources, including their exploration, assessment, conservation, augmentation, protection from pollution, and distribution, based on
principles of economic and ecological efficiency and equity.

CGWB being the national apex organization is vested with the responsibilities to carry out scientific studies , exploration aided by drilling ,
monitoring of ground water regime, assessment, augmentation, management and regulation of countrys ground water resources.

Central Water Commission New Delhi

Central Water Commission is a premier Technical Organisation in the country in the field of water resources and is charged with the general
responsibilities of initiating, coordinating and furthering, in consultation with the State Governments concerned, schemes for control,
conservation and utilisation of water resources throughout the country, for purpose of Flood Control, Irrigation, Navigation, Drinking Water
Supply and Water Power Development.

Central Water Commission CWC is headed by a Chairman, with the status of Ex-Officio Secretary to the Government of India.

Ministry of Water Resources also responsible for Jal Manthan and Jal Kranti Abhiyan
 The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), statutory organisation, was constituted
in September, 1974 under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.
Further, CPCB was entrusted with the powers and functions under the Air (Prevention and Control of
Pollution) Act, 1981.
It serves as a field formation and also provides technical services to the Ministry of Environment and
Forests of the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

Principal Functions of the CPCB, as spelt out in the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act,
1974, and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981,
(i) to promote cleanliness of streams and wells in different areas of the States by prevention, control and
abatement of water pollution, and
(ii) to improve the quality of air and to prevent, control or abate air pollution in the country.

Air Quality Monitoring is an important part of the air quality management. The National Air Monitoring
Programme (NAMP) has been established with objectives to determine the present air quality status and
trends and to control and regulate pollution from industries and other source to meet the air quality
standards. It also provides background air quality data needed for industrial siting and towns planning.
Besides this, CPCB has an automatic monitoring station at ITO Intersection in New Delhi. At this station
Resirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Ozone (O3), Sulphur Dioxide
(SO2), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) and Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) are being monitored regularly.
This information on Air Quality at ITO is updated every week

One of the mandates of CPCB is to collect, collate and disseminate technical and statistical data relating
to water pollution. Hence, Water Quality Monitoring (WQM) and Surveillance are of utmost importance.

Environment Pollution (Prevention & Control) Authority for the National Capital Region
( A Central Government constituted committee for the National Capital Region vide Gazette Notification
SO 93 (E) dated 29.1.1998 in compliance with
the Hon'ble Supreme Court order dated January 7, 1998 in W.P. 13029 / 1985

National Action Programme to Combat Desertification

India is a party to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and MoEF is the National Coordinating Agency for
the implementation of the UNCCD in the country. As an affected party, a 20 years comprehensive National Action
Programme (NAP) to combat desertification in the country has been prepared. The objectives are:-

1. Community based approach to development

2. Activities to improve the quality of life of the local communities

3. Awareness raising

4. Drought management preparedness and mitigation

5. R&D initiatives and interventions which are locally suited

6. Strengthening self governance leading to empowerment of local communities

BIS is the National Standard Body of India established under the BIS Act 1986 for the
harmonious development of the activities of standardization, marking and quality certification
of goods and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

BIS has been providing traceability and tangibility benefits to the national economy in a number
of ways - providing safe reliable quality goods; minimizing health hazards to consumers;
promoting exports and imports substitute; control over proliferation of varieties etc. through
standardization, certification and testing.

Keeping in view, the interest of consumers as well as the industry, BIS is involved in various
activities as given below:

a. Standards Formulation
b. Product Certification Scheme
c. Compulsory Registration Scheme
d. Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme
e. Hall Marking Scheme
f. Laboratory Services
g. Laboratory Recognition Scheme
h. Sale of Indian Standards
i. Consumer Affairs Activities
j. Promotional Activities
k. Training Services, National & International level
l. Information Services

Bird Count India is a consortium of organizations and groups working together to increase our collective
knowledge about bird distributions and populations. The consortium has a set of specific goals.

Goals
We aim to document the distribution and abundance of Indian birds, from the finest scale (eg, within a city) to
the largest (across the country).
Through the collection of information on birds across seasons and years, we hope to enable a better understanding
of seasonal patterns of movement of birds, and to monitor changes in distribution and abundance of birds over long
periods.
We try and meet these goals by conducting periodic bird events and activities; by offering support and resources to
birding groups conducting their own events; and by putting together useful information on bird monitoring.
We offer support to groups who wish to conduct their own birding events using the platform provided by eBird.
Previous examples of events we have supported include the Kerala Common Bird Monitoring Program, the Big Bird
Day, and the Bangalore Bird Count.

eBird is a global, internet based platform for gathering observations of birds, and for birders to maintain records
of their sightings. It is housed in Cornell Universitys Laboratory of Ornithology. Hundreds of thousands of birders
use eBird, which now has a repository of 200 million bird records, with 600,000+ from India (and growing!).
By gathering and storing bird sightings, eBird compiles baseline data on bird distribution and abundance, and
disseminates this information for public and scientific use.
iii. MoEF Recovery programme for critically endangered species and habitats:

This component is for affecting the recovery of critically endangered species in the country. Initially 17 species have been
identified under this component. These are Snow Leopard, Bustard (including Floricans), Dolphin, Hangul, Nilgiri Tahr,
Marine Turtles, Dugongs, Edible Nest Swiftlet, Asian Wild Buffalo, Nicobar Megapode, Manipur Brow-antlered Deer,
Vultures, Malabar Civet, Indian Rhinoceros, Asiatic Lion, Swamp Deer and Jerdons Courser.

The Director, Wildlife Preservation, Government of India, in consultation with the Wildlife Institute of India or the relevant
scientific institute and with the approval of the Standing Committee of the NBWL can initiate other recovery programmes or
wind up an ongoing programme.