National Wildlife Action Plan (2017-2031)

The NWAP (2017-2031) adopts a landscape-level approach to conservation. This means that instead of focusing solely on protected areas like national parks and sanctuaries, it considers the entire landscape, including forests, agricultural lands, and human settlements. This is important because wildlife often moves outside protected areas in search of food, water, or mates. For example, elephants may raid crops in nearby villages, leading to conflict with humans. By managing the entire landscape, we can reduce these conflicts and ensure the long-term survival of wildlife.

A key focus of the plan is on mitigating human-wildlife conflict. This conflict arises when wild animals come into contact with humans, often resulting in crop damage, livestock depredation, and even human injury or death. The plan proposes various measures to reduce this conflict, such as building barriers, providing compensation to affected communities, and promoting awareness about wildlife conservation. For instance, solar-powered fences can be erected around agricultural fields to prevent elephants from entering, while early warning systems can alert villagers to the presence of dangerous animals.

The plan emphasizes the importance of community participation in wildlife conservation. It recognizes that local communities are often the first to bear the brunt of human-wildlife conflict and that their support is essential for the success of conservation efforts. The plan promotes various mechanisms for involving communities in conservation, such as providing them with alternative livelihood opportunities, empowering them to manage natural resources, and sharing the benefits of wildlife tourism. For example, communities can be trained as eco-guides or craftspeople, providing them with a sustainable source of income while also promoting conservation.

The NWAP recognizes the growing threat of climate change to wildlife and their habitats. Climate change can lead to changes in temperature, rainfall patterns, and sea levels, which can have devastating consequences for wildlife. The plan proposes various measures to mitigate the impacts of climate change on wildlife, such as restoring degraded habitats, creating corridors to allow wildlife to move to more suitable areas, and promoting climate-smart agriculture. For instance, planting trees can help to sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, while also providing habitat for wildlife.

The plan promotes wildlife tourism as a means of generating revenue for conservation and providing livelihood opportunities for local communities. Wildlife tourism can be a powerful tool for conservation, as it can create economic incentives for protecting wildlife and their habitats. However, it is important to ensure that wildlife tourism is sustainable and does not have negative impacts on the environment or local communities. For example, tourism activities should be carefully managed to minimize disturbance to wildlife, and a portion of the revenue generated from tourism should be used to support conservation efforts and benefit local communities.

The NWAP stresses the need for scientific research and monitoring to inform conservation decision-making. It emphasizes the importance of collecting data on wildlife populations, their habitats, and the threats they face. This data can then be used to develop effective conservation strategies and to monitor the effectiveness of these strategies over time. For instance, camera traps can be used to monitor the populations of tigers and other elusive species, while satellite imagery can be used to track changes in forest cover.

The plan calls for strengthening protected areas, such as national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. These areas are critical for conserving biodiversity, as they provide safe havens for wildlife and their habitats. The plan proposes various measures to strengthen protected areas, such as improving infrastructure, increasing patrolling, and enhancing the capacity of park staff. For example, building roads and bridges can improve access to protected areas, while providing park staff with better training and equipment can help them to combat poaching and other threats.

The NWAP addresses the issue of illegal wildlife trade, which is a major threat to many species. The plan proposes various measures to combat illegal wildlife trade, such as strengthening law enforcement, increasing public awareness, and working with international organizations. For instance, sniffer dogs can be used to detect illegal wildlife products at airports and border crossings, while public awareness campaigns can educate people about the impacts of wildlife trade and encourage them to report suspicious activities.

The plan emphasizes the importance of inter-sectoral collaboration for wildlife conservation. This means that different government departments, such as the forest department, the agriculture department, and the tourism department, need to work together to achieve conservation goals. For instance, the forest department can work with the agriculture department to promote sustainable farming practices that are compatible with wildlife conservation, while the tourism department can work with the forest department to develop sustainable wildlife tourism products.

The NWAP includes specific targets and indicators to measure progress towards achieving its goals. This is important for ensuring that the plan is implemented effectively and that its impacts are being monitored. For instance, the plan may set a target for increasing the population of tigers by a certain percentage or for reducing the incidence of human-wildlife conflict in a particular area. These targets and indicators can then be used to track progress and to identify areas where more effort is needed.

The plan recognizes the importance of genetic diversity within wildlife populations. Maintaining genetic diversity is crucial for the long-term survival of species, as it allows them to adapt to changing environmental conditions. The plan proposes various measures to conserve genetic diversity, such as establishing wildlife corridors to allow animals to move between populations and preventing the isolation of small populations. For example, the reintroduction of cheetahs from Botswana aims to increase the genetic diversity of the cheetah population in India.

The NWAP acknowledges the role of traditional knowledge in wildlife conservation. Indigenous communities often possess valuable knowledge about wildlife and their habitats, which can be used to inform conservation efforts. The plan promotes the integration of traditional knowledge into conservation planning and management. For instance, indigenous communities may have knowledge about the medicinal properties of plants or the migration patterns of animals, which can be used to develop more effective conservation strategies.