January 21, 2002

    The Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee chaired the 21^st meeting of the Indian Board for Wildlife, here today. Union Minister of Environment & Forests, Shri T.R.Baalu, who is also the Vice Chairman of the Board, was also present. Following is the text of the speech of the Prime Minister.

    "I am pleased to be here with all of you at the first meeting of the recently reconstituted Indian Board for Wildlife. The fact that the Board is meeting after a long gap of five years places an added responsibility on all of us to make our deliberations productive and result-oriented.

    We have to admit that there is a big chasm between the exalted place that animals occupy in our cultural and religious traditions on the one hand and, on the other, the actual condition of wildlife in India today. Almost every God and Goddess in our pantheon is associated with some or the other animal. And, that animal is venerated almost as much as the deity itself. Our folklore and our arts and crafts reflect our love and reverence for the animal world. Sadly, the reality is otherwise.

    Our care for animals, including for many threatened species, leaves a lot to be desired. The Wildlife Protection Society of India has estimated that between 1994 and 1998, as many as 285 tigers were either killed or died in unnatural circumstances. The tragic and mysterious death of twelve tigers at Nandan Kanan Zoo in Orissa some time back is still remembered by animal lovers in India and abroad. Some experts think that poachers kill nearly a thousand leopards each year. They fear that, at this rate, leopards could become extinct by the end of this decade.

    India’s biodiversity is still very rich. However, what we should remember today is that it was richer yesterday, and may indeed become alarmingly poorer tomorrow. We must wake up before it is too late.

    Often the imperative of wildlife conservation, as also the protection of the environment, is seen as a hurdle to faster economic growth. The truth is, the two are not antithetical to one another. Rather, sustainable development demands that we pursue both objectives simultaneously by striking the right balance between the two. I know that there has been much useful academic research and debate on this subject. I would like the good concepts and thoughts produced by studies both in India and abroad to be better integrated into programs and their implementation strategies.

    No doubt, we have many good schemes and projects. And some of them have indeed produced results. We should comprehensively review the successes as well as the failures of our efforts so far and chart out an effective plan of action for the future. Since the threat to endangered species by poaching is a global problem, we must learn from best practices abroad to improve our own efforts.

    The responsibility of the Centre in this regard is clear. We have to strengthen our role of co-ordination, monitoring, and corrective action. However, much of the operational functions obviously lie with the States. And this is where many of the shortcomings lie. I urge State Governments to quickly review the condition of wildlife throughout their respective States and initiate effective remedial measures wherever needed.

    In this context, I can hardly overstate the importance of active involvement of the various sections of society in the implementation of the programs and projects of the Central and State Governments. The people must recognize that the care of wildlife is not limited to zoos and designated sanctuaries. As it is, nearly sixty percent of our wildlife live outside protected areas. The isolation of the living species of animals is lessening rapidly with the growth in human population; expansion of our cities, towns, and villages; and, the continuing encroachment of forest lands.

    This situation calls for an innovative response involving local self-governments and citizens’ organisations. The Tenth Plan rightly aims to emphasize more effective joint management of forests with the involvement of government staff and local people’s co-operatives.

    Briefly I would like to highlight the following points for consideration and suitable action by all those involved in wildlife conservation.

1. The 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 caught and given quick and deterrent punishment. Corruption in this are a must not be tolerated.
2. Wherever necessary, State Governments should increase the staff engaged in conservation activities and give them better training, facilities, and equipment. I know that the resources of State Governments are limited. However, this limitation can be considerably overcome through innovative initiatives such as redeployment of surplus employees in other departments, hiring local people on a voluntary or honorary basis, raising donations from business houses and other members of the public in return for a greater role for them in implementing programmes.
3. We in India have not fully tapped the potential in wildlife tourism. The revenue earned from increased tourism should also be used to augment available resources for conservation.
4. Sometimes we do face problems in protecting the interests of the poor and tribals living in or near protected areas. These problems should be handled with sensitivity and with maximum participation of the affected people. A distinction should be made between deforestation and harnessing of minor forest produce for employment and income generation by those people who instinctively know the value of preserving forests and wildlife. Where necessary, laws and procedures should be amended. Also, people should be encouraged to take up afforestation and conservation on new areas. I would like the Ministry for Environment and Forests and the newly-created Ministry of Tribal Affairs to work together to address these issues.
5. While further strengthening the protective measures against traditional threats to wildlife, we should also respond to newer threats, such as toxic chemicals and pesticides, which are now seen to be producing tragic consequences. The harmful effects of these chemicals upon animals have already been seen in other countries, where efforts have begun to counter these new threats.
6. There should be greater governmental as well as societal recognition and support for the many non-governmental organisations engaged in wildlife conservation. I would like the mainstream media to better highlight their activities. They should also project the successes of those governmental initiatives that have worked. I may also mention here that creatively produced television programmes on wildlife and ecology are widely appreciated by the young as well as the old, as can be seen by the popularity of three dedicated TV channels – Discovery, National Geographic, and Animal Planet. May be, Prasar Bharati and our private channels, along with agencies like the Worldwide Fund for Nature, should collaborate to increase original Indian content in different languages on our television.

    Lastly, I would like all of us to resolve that we shall end the relative neglect of wildlife conservation in recent years. To begin with, this Board should meet more often. All of us have many other tasks and concerns to attend to. And they too are important. However, wildlife conservation is too important a task to be treated lightly or ritualistically. After all, human beings have an ethical responsibility towards other species created by Mother Nature. One of the yardsticks of the progress of human civilisation is how well we care for the beasts of the jungle and the seas.

    With these words, I conclude my remarks and hope that we have a fruitful deliberation on the agenda items."