ISSN 2455 - 8575 Volume 5-Issue 1 January – March 2018 J&K ENVIS NEWSLETTER State of Environment & its Related Issues in J&K J&K ENVIS Hub Department of Ecology, Environment & Remote Sensing Jammu& Kashmir Protected Area Network of J&K CONTENTS FROM THE DIRECTOR’S DESK • What are Protected Area Networks For centuries people all over the world have set aside places to which they ascribe special (PAN)? values. In many cases these values have been spiritual or cultural in nature, but many • Protected Area Network in India places have also been set aside for practical purposes - to conserve essential everyday resources such as fish, wildlife and non-timber forest products. Some have been set aside • Significance of PANS for the exclusive use of an elite minority, in other cases for the benefit of many • IUCN Protected Area Management Nonetheless, all have been set aside for one purpose - to protect something that Categories humankind perceives as valuable. Over the last 100 years or so the pace of establishment • Protected Area Network in the state of of such areas has increased, partly as a result of human population growth, but more Jammu and Kashmir particularly because of a greater appreciation of the natural world, changing patterns of • Brief description of the protected areas resource use, broader understanding of the impacts of man on nature, and increasing of Jammu and Kashmir globalization. Over the same period of time, our impact on the Earth's natural systems, o National Parks and on the biodiversity that comprises them, has grown exponentially This has prompted o Wildlife Sanctuaries a broadening of approaches to conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, and has • Wildlife Conservation Measures in the encouraged the development of clearer linkages between protected areas and human State of Jammu and Kashmir development goals. Protected areas are now being increasingly seen as one of the tools • International Conventions Related to for supporting sustainable development, rather than as something set aside from the Wildlife of India mainstream. This brings with it, challenges for those involved in all aspects of the • Prominent Organizations, NGOs & establishment and management of protected areas; from the governments setting national Media for Wildlife Conservation policy to practitioners on the ground. A fundamental message of this newsletter is that • Global Perspective of PANS- protected areas are a key part of our strategy to ensure biodiversity conservation and to Biodiversity Hotspots of World secure a sustainable future for biodiversity • What is IUCN Red List Sd • Event Dairy Om Prakash Sharma, IFS • Do’s and Don’ts in a Protected Area Director DEE&RS, J&K WHAT ARE PROTECTED AREA NETWORKS (PAN)? A protected area is a clearly defined geographical space, recognised, dedicated and managed, through legal or other effective means, to achieve the long-term conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services and cultural values. (IUCN Definition 2008) There are several kinds of protected areas, which vary by level of protection depending on the enabling laws of each country or the regulations of the international organizations involved. The total number of protected area records in the January 2018 release of the World Database on Protected Area (WDPA) is 236,204, covering 245 countries and territories, with more added daily, representing between 10 to 15 percent of the world's land surface area. By contrast, only 1.17% of the world's oceans is included in the world's ~6,800 Marine Protected Areas. Protected areas – national parks, wilderness areas, community conserved areas, nature reserves and so on – are a mainstay of biodiversity conservation, while also contributing to people’s livelihoods, particularly at the local level. Protected areas are at the core of efforts towards conserving nature and the services it provides us – food, clean water supply, medicines and protection from the impacts of natural disasters. Their role in helping mitigate and adapt to climate change is also increasingly recognized; it has been estimated that the global network of protected areas stores at least 15% of terrestrial carbon 10 LARGEST PROTECTED AREAS OF THE WORLD Size Year Rank Name Country or area (sq. km) designated 1 Marae Moana Cook Islands 1,976,000 2017 2 Ross Sea Region Marine Protected Area Antarctica 1,555,851 2017 Papahānaumokuākea Marine National 3 Hawaii and Midway Atoll, US 1,508,870 2006 Monument 4 Natural Park of the Coral Sea New Caledonia 1,292,967 2014 Pacific Remote Islands Marine National 5 Central Pacific Ocean, US 1,277,860 2009 Monument South Georgia and the South 6 South Georgia Marine Protected Area 1,070,000 2012 Sandwich Islands 7 Coral Sea Marine Park Australia 989,836 2018 Protection zone around the French Southern French Southern and Antarctic 8 989,787 2017 Territories National Nature Reserve Lands 9 Northeast Greenland National Park Greenland 972,000 1974 10 Steller Sea Lion Protection Areas Alaska, United States 869,206 2002 PROTECTED AREA NETWORK IN INDIA India is one of the 17 mega diverse countries of the world. With only 2.4% of the world’s land area, 16.7% of the world’s human population and 18% livestock, it contributes about 8% of the known global biodiversity, however, putting enormous demands on our natural resources. India is home to world’s largest wild tigers’ population and has got unique assemblage of globally important endangered species like Asiatic lion, Asian Elephant, One-horned Rhinoceros, Gangetic River Dolphin, Snow Leopard, Kashmir Stag, Dugong, Gharial, Great Indian Bustard, Lion Tailed Macaque etc. A National Board for Wildlife (NBWL), chaired by the Prime Minister of India provides for policy framework for wildlife conservation in the country. The National Wildlife Action Plan (2002-2016) was adopted in 2002, emphasizing the people’s participation and their support for wildlife conservation. India’s conservation planning is based on the philosophy of identifying and protecting representative wild habitats across all the ecosystems. The Indian Constitution entails the subject of forests and wildlife in the Concurrent list. The Federal Ministry acts as a guiding torch dealing with the policies and planning on wildlife conservation, while the provincial Forest Departments are vested with the responsibility of implementation of national policies and plans. CATEGORIES OF THE PROTECTED AREAS IN INDIA There are 4 categories of the Protected Areas viz, National Parks, Sanctuaries, Conservation Reserves and Community Reserves. NATIONAL PARK National Park is an area having adequate ecological, faunal, floral, geomorphological, natural or zoological significance. The National Park is declared for the purpose of protecting, propagating or developing wildlife or its environment, like that of a Sanctuary. The difference between a Sanctuary and a National Park mainly lies in the vesting of rights of people living inside. Unlike a Sanctuary, where certain rights can be allowed, in a National Park, no rights are allowed. No grazing of any livestock shall also be permitted inside a National Park while in a Sanctuary, the Chief Wildlife Warden may regulate, control or prohibit it. In addition, while any removal or exploitation of wildlife or forest produce from a Sanctuary requires the recommendation of the State Board for Wildlife, removal etc., from a National Park requires recommendation of the National Board for Wildlife (However, as per orders of Hon’ble Supreme Court dated 9th May 2002 in Writ Petition (Civil) No. 337 of 1995, such removal/ exploitation from a Sanctuary also requires recommendation of the Standing Committee of National Board for Wildlife). SANCTUARY Sanctuary is an area which is of adequate ecological, faunal, floral, geomorphological, natural or zoological significance. The Sanctuary is declared for the purpose of protecting, propagating or developing wildlife or its environment. Certain rights of people living inside the Sanctuary could be permitted. Further, during the settlement of claims, before finally notifying the Sanctuary, the Collector may, in consultation with the Chief Wildlife Warden, allow the continuation of any right of any person in or over any land within the limits of the Sanctuary. CONSERVATION RESERVES Conservation Reserves can be declared by the State Governments in any area owned by the Government, particularly the areas adjacent to National Parks and Sanctuaries and those areas which link one Protected Area with another. Such declaration should be made after having consultations with the local communities. Conservation Reserves are declared for the purpose of protecting landscapes, seascapes, flora and fauna and their habitat. The rights of people living inside a Conservation Reserve are not affected. COMMUNITY RESERVES Community Reserves can be declared by the State Government in any private or community land, not comprised within a National Park, Sanctuary or a Conservation Reserve, where an individual or a community has volunteered to conserve wildlife and its habitat. Community Reserves are declared for the purpose of protecting fauna, flora and traditional or cultural conservation values and practices. As in the case of a Conservation Reserve, the rights of people living inside a Community Reserve are not affected. India with 2.4% of the world's land area is home to 7-8% of the recorded species of the world, which includes 46,000 plant species and 91,000 animal species. Conservation of wild flora and fauna has been an integral part of Indian history. India has a network of 868 Protected Areas (PAs) has been established, extending over 1,65,088.57 sq. kms. (5.02% of total geographic area), comprising 104 National Parks, 550 Wildlife Sanctuaries, 87 Conservation Reserves and 127 Community Reserves. Category No. Total Area (km2) Coverage % of Country National Parks (NPs) 104 40501.13 1.23 Wildlife Sanctuaries (WLSs) 550 119775.55 3.64 Conservation Reserves (CRs) 87 4286.31 0.13 Community Reserves 127 525.22 0.02 Protected Areas (PAs) 868 165088.10 5.02 SIGNIFICANCE OF PANs Subsequently, the range of natural resources that any one protected area guards is vast.