The Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Bill, which seeks to improve management of the protected areas and also permits the specific activities like grazing or transportation of animals and the legitimate use of drinking and household water by local residents, was approved by Parliament on Thursday.
The Bill was approved by the Rajya Sabha by a voice vote during its monsoon session in August, The Lok Sabha approved the Bill on Thursday.
The Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Bill, 2021, which was examined by a legislative commission, aims at safeguarding and conserving the wildlife by rationalising schedules that lay out species under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, and improving management of protected areas.s
According to the statement of objects and reasons of the Bill, The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, was enacted to provide protection of the wild animals, birds, and plants with a view to ensuring the ecological and environmental security of the country.
The Bill also seeks to include the aspects of “conservation” and “management” of wildlife that are covered by the Act and make amendments for better management of protected areas.
It 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.
The Bill further seeks to enable control of invasive alien species and allow for transfer or transport of live elephants by person having ownership certificates in accordance with conditions prescribed by the central government.
It further, proposes to insert a new Chapter VB in the principal Act for regulation of international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora and allow state boards for wildlife to constitute standing committees.
India is a party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, which requires that appropriate measures are taken to enforce the provisions of the convention.
