National Wildlife Action Plan 2017-2031: Salient Features

Pashu Sandesh, 09 January 2019

The National Wildlife Action Plan (2017-2031) of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, has been made with a view to have concerted approach for protection, conservation and management of wildlife through out the country. The Action Plan is pided into 17 chapters that also includes Chapters on ‘Strengthening and Improving Protected Area network’; ‘Control of Poaching and Illegal Trade in Wildlife’; and ‘People’s Participation in Wildlife’; ‘Management of Tourism in Wildlife Areas’. These Chapters takes note of use of modern technology and involvement of people in wildlife conservation including tourism in wildlife areas.

Man-animal conflict mitigation, adapting to the climate change, managing eco-tourism, ensuring public participation in the conservation, developing human resources, strengthening research and monitoring through modern technology like radio collars and drones and ensuring fundings for the wildlife sector have been given special thrust in the planning

It gives a special emphasis to the recovery of threatened species of wildlife while conserving their habitats.

The government has also stressed on an increase in the role of private sector in wildlife conservation.

According to the plan the onus of ensuring adequate and sustained funding for the National Wildlife Action Plan implementation including Corporate Social Responsibility funds was on the government.

The National Wildlife Action Plan (2017-2031) is the third Plan. The Government had previously brought out National Wildlife Action Plan in 1983 and 2002.