The Parliament on December 8th passed the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Bill in the upper house through voice vote. The bill was introduced in the lower house in 2021 and was subsequently referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology, Environment, Forests and Climate change in December 2021. The bill was finally passed in the Lok Sabha in August this year.
The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 was enacted to overlook protection of the wild flora and fauna in line with the ecological and environmental security of the country. Conservation and management are the basic principles officials focused on while drafting the amendment
of the bill. The bill further proposes to rationalise and amend the schedules, which list out wildlife species, for the purposes of clarity, and ensure better care of seized live animals and disposal of seized wildlife parts and products.
‘Regulation of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna & Flora
Amendments in the bill include addition of a new Chapter ‘Regulation of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora as per Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora’ (CITES). The CITES was earlier ratified in 1976 under which the only regulatory restriction for trade of endangered animals was through import and export licences from the CITES Management Authority.
Streamlining Schedules of protected Native Wildlife Under the amendment Schedules of protected native wildlife are streamlined to three Schedule (Schedule I and II for animals; Schedule III for plants) and introduces a list of CITES regulated species in Schedule IV.
Management plan of all Wildlife Sanctuaries hence forth needs to be deliberated with the Gram Panchayat the amendment mentioned.
Maiden Law to Regulate Invasive species
Under this regulation, invasive species has been identified as ‘any species of animal or plant which is not native to India and whose introduction or spread may threaten or adversely impact wildlife or its habitat’
Exclusion of Captive Elephants for ‘religious and any other purpose’
The exceptions for transfer and transport of captive elephants for ‘religious and any other purpose’ under Section 43(2) of the Act have been diluted. The dilution widens the scope exploitation of captive elephants.
Standing Committee of the State Board of Wildlife
Under the amendment, a Standing Committee of the State Board of Wildlife will also be constituted which according to experts will weaken the State Board of Wildlife which is presently chaired by the Chief Minister of the concerned state which brings credibility to the
decisions taken.
Policy Advocacy
Much of the amendments around the Wildlife Protection (Amendment) Bill 2022 are dominated by issues related to Elephants and non local species. The union govt should focus on protection of ecosystem based native species. It attempts to protect the foreign species adversely threateninh the existence on local species like Hog Deer, Barking Deer, Asian Elephant that are designated as invasive alien species for island ecosystems in India by the National Biodiversity Authority. The amendment also ignored recommendations of the report of MoEFCC’s Elephant Task Force (2010) which categorically stated that irrational use of majority of wild elephants.
