National Wildlife Action plan 2017-2031(NWAP-3)

Source: India Environment Portal

Background

As the NWAP-2 will no longer be operative beyond 2016, the Standing Committee, on the suggestion of the NBWL, in its 26th meeting, directed to undertake a review of NWAP-2 and based on its evaluations and lessons learnt, prepare a plan for the period 2017-2031.

The Plan focuses on the preservation of genetic diversity and sustainable development. The NWAP has five components, 17 themes, 103 conservation actions and 250 projects.

The five components;

Strengthening and promoting the integrated management of wildlife and their habitats
Adaptation to climate change and promoting integrated sustainable management of aquatic biodiversity in India
Promoting eco-tourism, nature education and participatory management
Strengthening wildlife research and monitoring of the development of human resources in wildlife conservation and
Enabling policies and resources for conservation of wildlife in India. The Plan will help to mainstream wildlife conservation in development planning processes.

Key Highlights of NWAP-3

The plan is based on the premise that essential ecological processes that are governed or strongly moderated by ecosystems are essential for food production, health and other aspects of human survival and sustainable development.
It also keeps in focus the intrinsic value of nature and its manifold components. The maintenance of these ecosystems, which can be termed as ‘Life Support System’, is considered vital for all societies regardless of their stage of development.
It also emphasizes on two other aspects of nature conservation viz. Preservation of genetic diversity and sustainable utilization of species and ecosystems, which have a direct bearing on our scientific advancement and support to millions of rural communities.
The plan adopts a landscape approach in conservation of all wildlife i.e. uncultivated flora and undomesticated fauna that have an ecological value to the ecosystem and to mankind irrespective of where they occur
It accords special emphasis to the recovery of threatened species of wildlife while conserving their habitats which include terrestrial, inland aquatic, coastal and marine ecosystems
It underlines the fact that despite being one of 17 mega biodiversity countries of the world, national planning has not taken serious note of adverse ecological consequences of reduction and degradation of wilderness areas from the pressures of population, commercialization and development projects. Accordingly, the plan has brought to focus the alarming erosion of our natural heritage comprising of rivers, forests, grasslands, mountains, wetlands, coastal and marine habitats, arid lands and deserts.
The plan underscores the increasing need for people’s support for the conservation of wildlife and to this effect recommends strengthening the ‘core-buffer-multi use surround’ structure with higher inputs for eco-development, education, innovation, training, extension, conservation awareness and outreach programs.
Wildlife health and disaster management have received due attention in this plan
Management of tourism in wildlife areas with related plough back mechanism, development of human resource and staff welfare has undergone a reorientation in the plan
The plan is alive to communities, inhabiting forest lands and other wilderness areas, to be treated appropriately in the light of Forest Rights Act keeping in mind their inadequacy of resources and strong dependence on natural biomass resource.