The Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Bill, 2021

This article will cover detailed information about The Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Bill, 2021

Key Points:

The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972

Objectives:

Prevent the hunting of wild animals and various species of birds and punish the violators of rules and regulations.
Protect the endangered species.
Provide shelter and protection to the wild flora and fauna. Ban trade and commerce of certain protected species.
Preserve the diversity of flora and fauna of the country and maintain a healthy ecological balance.

Constitutional Provisions for the Wildlife Act

Article 48A of the Constitution of India directs the State to protect and improve the environment and safeguard wildlife and forests.
Article 51A imposes fundamental duties to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers, and wildlife and to have compassion for living creatures.

Schedules of The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972:

Schedule I
- Specifies endangered species which need rigorous and absolute protection.
- Species under this Schedule are prohibited to be hunted and traded throughout India, except under threat to human life.
- Examples: Blackbuck, Indian lion, Tiger, Whale shark, sea horse

Schedule II
- - Specifies species which need high protection.
  - Trade prohibited, cannot be hunted except under threat to human life.
  - Examples: Assamese macaque, salamander, beetles, civets, otters, Indian cobras, king cobra, mongooses
Schedule III

- - Specifies species which are not endangered and include protected species.
  - Penalty for violators is less compared to Schedules I and II.
  - Examples: Barking deer, hyena, Nilgai, wild pig
Schedule IV

- Specifies species which are not endangered and include protected species.
- Examples: Hares, Indian porcupine, birds like cranes, cuckoos etc

The Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Bill, 2021

Aim: To implement the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

Change in Schedules:

It reduces the total number of schedules to four by eliminating the schedule for vermin species.
It reduces the number of schedules for specially protected animals to two.
It also inserts a new schedule for specimens listed under CITES.

Penalty: The Act prescribes imprisonment terms and fines for violating the provisions of the Act. The Bill increases these fines.

Control and Regulation: Apart from states, the Centre too can notify a conservation reserve — an area adjacent to national parks and sanctuaries.

Captive Animals: Additionally, the bill provides for any person to voluntarily surrender any captive animals or animal products for which no compensation will be awarded and the items will become the property of the state government.

Invasive alien species: The Bills empower the central government to regulate or prohibit the import, trade, possession or proliferation of invasive alien species.

Obligations under CITES: The Bill provides for the Central government to designate a:

Management Authority: It grants export or import permits for a trade of specimens.
Scientific Authority: It gives advice on aspects related to the impact on the survival of the specimens being traded.

Control of Sanctuaries: The Bill specifies that the actions of the Chief Warden must be in accordance with the management plans for the sanctuary.

These plans will be prepared as per guidelines of the central government and as approved by the Chief Warden.

CITES:

CITES is an international agreement between governments to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten the survival of the species.
Under CITES, plant and animal specimens are classified into three categories (Appendices) based on the threat to their extinction.
The Convention requires countries to regulate the trade of all listed specimens through permits.
It also seeks to regulate the possession of live animal specimens.
The Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Bill, 2021 seeks to implement these provisions of CITES.

Invasive Alien Species:

Invasive Alien Species refers to plant or animal species which are not native to India and whose introduction may adversely impact wildlife or its habitat.
The Central government may authorise an officer to seize and dispose of the invasive species.