The Prime Minister
Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee has called upon the people to increase
their participation at all levels for the success of the strategy
in wildlife conservation. The Prime Minister pointed to the
imperative to increase participation of each local community
in protection of its surroundings as a distinctive protected
area is with the participation of Panchayati Raj Institutions.
Speaking at the First meeting of the National Board for Wildlife,
here today, Shri Vajpayee called for ‘people-centered conservation’
approaches with the participation of all stakeholder groups
in decision-making. The Prime Minister also stressed the need
to increase coordination among various ministries, departments
and State Governments. Expressing his concern on the activities
of wildlife criminals, Shri Vajpayee said that though legal
provisions to tackle poaching and illegal trade of wildlife
are in place, what is lacking is their effective enforcement
and in this context, called upon the enforcement agencies to
perform their duty with utmost diligence.
Following is the
full text of the PM’s speech on the occasion:
"I am pleased
to be with all of you at this first meeting of the National
Board for Wildlife. Let me, at the outset, congratulate the
Ministry of Environment and Forests and all others associated
with wildlife conservation. I am happy that much progress has
been made in implementing the Wildlife Action Plan, which we
adopted in January 2002.
However, much more
needs to be done, and with greater speed. The Action Plan needs
to be implemented in its letter and spirit. This awareness is
reflected in the extensive agenda drawn up for today’s meeting.
Wildlife is a fundamental
component of our ecosystem. It has the same right to share in
the various resources on our planet as we humans do. It is irrational
and preposterous for humans to think that this planet belongs
exclusively to us alone. We cannot behave as if the survival
or extinction of other animal species and living beings is of
no concern to us. If we do so, we will be putting our own well-being
and survival at risk.
As a thinking animal,
man has a special responsibility towards Planet Earth and its
inhabitants. A reputed science writer has captured this thought
well:
"All organisms
are bound together by the genetic unity of life. They have descended
from the same distant ancestral life form. Because of this it
is correct to say that, if the biosphere as a whole is the body,
we humans are the mind. Thus, our place in nature, viewed from
an ethical perspective, is to think about the creation and to
protect the living planet."
India’s religious
and cultural traditions are distinguished for their strong recognition
of this kinship between man and the animal world. Almost all
our gods and goddesses have an animal or a bird as a companion.
The message of Emperor Ashoka is perhaps the first ever written
testimony for the conservation of wildlife on the earth. This
precious civilisational legacy that we have inherited should
enlighten and guide our wildlife conservation strategy.
We in India have
also inherited a unique and rich ecological diversity in the
form of forests, grasslands, wetlands, mountains, desert and
marine ecosystems. These provide shelter to a large number of
fauna and flora that meet the essential needs of the poor and
rich as well. Protection of this bio-diversity is not only our
ethical responsibility. It is also necessary for our sustainable
economic development.
Unfortunately,
we have not yet mastered the imperatives of sustainable development.
We have not been able to arrest the decline in the ecological
status of wildlife in our country. The radical changes associated
with development have brought many species of wild plants and
animals to the brink of extinction. We have witnessed the permanent
loss of many valuable species including cheetah, the best-known
sprinter of our grasslands.
This is not to
say that our intervention strategies have not worked. The Asiatic
lion would have become extinct but for the timely intervention
by the then rulers of Junagadh. Subsequently, many species including
tiger, elephant, crocodile and rhino were revived due to the
timely legislative and administrative efforts of the government
supported by several able and dedicated conservationists.
As you are well
aware, this is the 30th anniversary of Project Tiger.
India has reason to be proud of the fact that, despite dire
predictions, the future of the tiger is reasonably secure within
our borders. Our efforts in this regard have also been appreciated
by the international community.
An important landmark
in our conservation efforts was the recent amendment to the
Wild Life Protection Act. It has been widely welcomed as a vast
improvement on the older legislation. It has established a statutory
National Board with the specific mandate of guaranteeing protection
to the biodiversity in an effective and sustainable manner.
We have also established a National Forest Commission, as promised
in the last meeting of the Board.
As the newly constituted
National Board and its proposed Standing Committee begin their
new journey, it is necessary to sharpen our understanding of
some of the critical issues in wildlife conservation.
Firstly, for our
strategy to succeed, we must recognize the urgent need to increase
people’s participation at all levels, but especially at the
last mile. We should recognize that the best protectors of wildlife
are the communities living in or near the natural habitat of
wildlife. Experience has shown beyond any doubt that the policing
approach alone cannot do the job. What is needed is to create
an economic stake for the communities to participate in – even
take responsibility for – wildlife conservation.
It is imperative
that each local community, with the participation of Panchayati
Raj Institutions, identifies, manages and protects its surroundings
as a distinctive protected area. Local communities possess useful
traditional knowledge, but they may not have the requisite modern
knowledge. Therefore, we should vastly increase our efforts
to encourage active contribution from non governmental organizations
and experts. NGOs and experts can also greatly assist the local
communities in launching a platform for business partnership
with the industries for marketing the processed and semi-processed
natural products and provide livelihood to the rural youth.
Indeed, we should place a high priority on working with NGOs
to implement all the objectives and strategies of the Wildlife
Action Plan.
Similarly, India
offers many attractions for nature tourism and wildlife tourism.
This rapidly growing industry also provides employment and livelihood
opportunities to local people. Of course, while promoting nature
tourism and wildlife tourism, we should keep in mind the needs
of their sustainability.
The point I wish
to drive home is that we need ‘people-centered conservation’
approaches with the participation of all stakeholder groups
in decision-making. While there is an urgent need to safeguard
protected areas, it is equally important to demonstrate the
economic benefits of protected areas for people living in and
around them. This will ensure a golden bridge connecting our
cultural ethos and economic benefit, creating a win-win situation
for both people and the protected areas.
The second point
I would like to stress is the need to increase coordination
among various ministries, departments, and State Governments.
The Ministries of Environment and Forests, Agriculture, Rural
Development, Water Resources, Tribal Welfare, Tourism and Culture,
along with their counterparts in States, have to recognize their
joint responsibility in developing innovative strategies for
biodiversity conservation.
In our last meeting,
I had heard a good presentation from a representative of the
Army describing the contribution that our security forces can
make to wildlife conservation, especially in border and disturbed
areas. The Navy too can contribute much to our efforts at conserving
our marine biodiversity.
Protection of marine
and coastal ecosystems is fundamental to the sustainable development
of coastal communities as they provide a range of food products
and immense opportunities for tourism. Conserving marine biodiversity
should be our priority for the next decade.
There are many
exceptionally beautiful marine habitats that qualify for inclusion
in World Heritage Sites and Biosphere Reserves. Inclusion of
such sites on the international map will greatly help in integrating
conservation and management of cultural, natural and indigenous
areas within the context of tourism development. I congratulate
Shri Baalu for having taken a number of initiatives for protecting
the endangered marine species and for setting up the Marine
Biodiversity Institute at Kanyakumari.
A subject of great
concern to all of us is the activities of wildlife criminals.
India has been one of the prime targets of International crime
syndicates who take advantage of the poverty in wildlife areas
and instigate poor people to commit crimes for the benefit of
rich international consumers. Our wildlife has suffered severe
threats and decimation at their hands. We have adequate legal
provisions to tackle poaching and illegal trade of wildlife
and its derivatives. What is lacking is their effective enforcement.
Enforcement agencies of the central and state governments must
perform their duty with utmost diligence.
During the last
meeting of the Indian Board for Wild Life, I had urged all State
governments to ensure that the restrictions imposed on recruitment
of field staff for protected areas to be relaxed and all existing
vacancies filled up. This needs to be followed up. The Ministry
of Environment & Forests on its part should further strengthen
its ongoing initiatives and forge links with enforcement agencies,
dedicated NGO’s and international bodies to inflict severe punishment
on criminal elements.
Before I conclude,
I would like the Board and its Standing Committee to draw up
workable and time bound schemes to advance the mandate assigned
to them. In doing so, they should draw on both the Ministry’s
own positive experience so far as well as the useful lessons
learnt in other countries.
I extend my best
wishes to everyone present for very meaningful deliberations.
Last but not the least, my hearty congratulations to the award
winners.
Thank you."
