PROTECTED AREAS OF INDIA VIS A VIS THE SIX IUCN CATEGORIES

(K.C.A. Arun Prasad)

Introduction:

Biological diversity means the variability among living organisms from all sources including,

terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part,

this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems (Convention on Biological

Diversity, 1992). India ranks sixth among the 12 mega biodiversity countries of the world. India with

2.4 per cent of the land area of the world accounts for 7-8 per cent of the total recorded species i.e.

around 45,500 species of plants and 91,200 species of animals (MoEF 2009). Number of species

documented in India as against the overall World figure is given in the table below:

Number of Documented Species in World and India

(Source: Animal Discovery 2010; Zoological Survey of India)

Taxonomic Group Number of Species Number of Species % in India

in the World in India

Mammalia 4,629 397 8.58

Aves 9,026 1,232 13.66

Reptilia 5,817 460 7.91

Amphibia 5,162 289 5.60

Pisces 21,727 2,634 12.12

Prochordata 2,106 119 5.65

Animalia 11,95,567 89,220 7.46

Animalia + Protista 12,26,817 91,797 7.48

A brief look at the table demonstrates the biodiversity wealth of our country. The influences of three

bio-geographic realms namely Ethiopean, Palearctic and the Oriental realms combined with a

diversity of ecosystem have resulted in the richness of biodiversity in our country. Around 45 species

of mammals, 50 species of birds, 197 species of reptiles, 135 species of amphibians and 341 species
of fishes are endemic to our country. Of the charismatic species, half the population of the wild Asian

Tiger and wild Asiatic Elephant is found in India. Around 80 per cent of the Great Indian Rhino is

found in India. Such an important wealth needs protection for posterity.

History of Wildlife Conservation in India:

Wildlife conservation is very much part of the Indian society. As early as the 3 rd century, King Asoka

brought in laws prohibiting killing of animals and also created facilities like water holes and hospital

for the animals. The ancient rulers, throughout the country in general, were always sympathetic over

wildlife and had some kind of regulations. The Mughal period saw extensive hunting in their territory

especially hunting tigers was very common. Cheetahs were kept under captivity for the use of them in

their hunting expeditions. This in way combined with other reasons paved the way for the extinction

of the Asiatic Cheetah.

Arrival of Britishers in the country saw establishment of forest department and scientific management

of forest for the timber production. Exclusive acts like the Elephant Preservation Act (1873), World

Birds Protection Act (1887), etc., also came into force. Also the first national park of the country

Hailey National Park (present day Corbett National Park) was created in 1936. However, during the

British rule large areas of forests were cleared and brought under agriculture. Both the herbivores and

carnivores were allowed to be hunted for the protection of the human life and property. After the

country became independent, the first major step towards wildlife conservation was the creation of

Indian Board for Wildlife (IBWL) in 1950. The real contribution to the field of wildlife conservation

in our country came in the shape of Wildlife Protection Act (1972). Under the Wildlife Protection Act

(1972), a network of protected areas like national parks, sanctuaries, conservation reserves and

community reserves are created for the purpose of in situ conservation.

History of Global Wildlife Conservation:

Yosemite Park created in 1864, for “public use, resort and recreation” can be considered as the

beginning point for modern day protected areas. However, the first national park in its true sense is

the Yellowstone National Park created in 1872. Reserving areas for wildlife and for pleasure, similar
to that of in US happened across many countries in the late 1800s’. This trend picked up its pace and

the twentieth century witnessed creation of large number of protected areas across the globe. Every

country developed their legislation and the system of protected area network. There was not any

uniform system which lead to difficulty in sharing the lessons learnt. After the Second World War,

under the guidance of IUCN, an International Commission on National Park was established in 1960

under the leadership of Hal Coolidge, which later on became Commission on National Parks and

Protected Areas of IUCN (CNPPA). Since 1996 it has been the World Commission on Protected

Areas (WCPA). The preliminary system developed by the IUCN underwent many modifications and

the present categories of protected areas were approved by the IUCN general assembly in 1994.

Under the present system there are six categories of protected areas as given below:

I Strict protection

Ia Strict nature reserve

Ib Wilderness area

II Ecosystem conservation and protection (i.e., National park)

III Conservation of natural features (i.e., Natural monument)

IV Conservation through active management (i.e., Habitat/species management area)

V Landscape/seascape conservation and recreation (i.e., Protected landscape/seascape)

VI Sustainable use of natural resources (i.e., Managed resource protected area)

Protected Area:

Protected areas are one of the important tools used across the globe for in situ conservation. They also

demonstrate the commitment of the present generation to the future generation. Presently, about one

tenth of the world’s land surface is under some form of protected area network. This paper attempts to

compare the status of the protected area categories of India vis a vis the IUCN categories. Before a

comparison is made between the categories, it would be worthwhile to look at how the term protected

area is defined by IUCN and Wildlife Protection Act (1972).

 IUCN Wildlife Protection Act (1972)

A protected area is: “A clearly defined "protected area means a National Park, a

geographical space, recognised, dedicated and sanctuary, a conservation reserve or a community

managed, through legal or other effective means, reserve notified under sections 18, 35, 36A and

to achieve the long-term conservation of nature 36C of the Act”

with associated ecosystem services and cultural

values”

In the IUCN’s definition the term “clearly defined geographical space” clearly covers land, water or

a combination of both. “Space” covers all the dimensions i.e.. land surface, sub-surface, air surface,

water bodies, water beds, sub surface, etc., The definition also covers the important aspect of

recognition, dedication and management either through a legal means or otherwise. Further, the

phrase “to achieve the long-term conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services and

cultural values” sets out the importance of long term conservation strategy of nature with associated

ecosystems and cultural values as against the short term management strategies. By an amendment to

Wildlife Protection Act (1972), the term “Protected Area” was included and defined in the Act. In

contrast to the IUCN’s definition, the definition given in the WPA (1972) fails to convey any meaning

by itself and it just mentions the types of protected area. There really is an urgent need to seriously

look at this and come out with a clear and a complete definition.

Protected Area Categories:

The protected area management categories serve as an important global standard for the planning,

establishment and management of protected areas. The following are the main purposes of this

category system:

 To facilitate planning of protected areas and protected area systems

 To improve information management about protected areas

  To help to regulate activities in protected areas

Apart from the above main purposes, the category system may also be used

 To provide basis for legislation

 To set budgets

 To use the categories as a tool for advocacy

 To interpret or clarify issues related to land tenure and governance

 To plan a PA network with a range of management objectives and governance types

However, the IUCN opposes the use of the category system

 As an excuse for expelling people from their traditional lands

 To downgrade the protection given to the environment by changing the categories

 To argue for any environmentally insensitive developments in protected areas

With this backdrop, let us see the definition of the IUCN’s six categories of PA and the four

categories of PA as given in Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

Category Ia: Strict nature reserve

Category Ia are strictly protected areas set aside to protect biodiversity and also possibly geological /

geomorphological features, where human visitation, use and impacts are strictly controlled and

limited to ensure protection of the conservation values. Such protected areas can serve as

indispensable reference areas for scientific research and monitoring

Category Ib: Wilderness area

Category Ib protected areas are usually large unmodified or slightly modified areas, retaining their

natural character and influence, without permanent or significant human habitation, which are

protected and managed so as to preserve their natural condition.

Category II: National park

Category II protected areas are large natural or near natural areas set aside to protect large-scale

ecological processes, along with the complement of species and ecosystems characteristic of the area,

which also provide a foundation for environmentally and culturally compatible spiritual, scientific,

educational, recreational and visitor opportunities.

Category III: Natural monument or feature

Category III protected areas are set aside to protect a specific natural monument, which can be a

landform, sea mount, submarine cavern, geological feature such as a cave or even a living feature

such as an ancient grove. They are generally quite small protected areas and often have high visitor

value.

Category IV: Habitat/species management area

Category IV protected areas aim to protect particular species or habitats and management reflects this

priority. Many category IV protected areas will need regular, active interventions to address the

requirements of particular species or to maintain habitats, but this is not a requirement of the category.

Category V: Protected landscape / seascape

A protected area where the interaction of people and nature over time has produced an area of distinct

character with significant ecological, biological, cultural and scenic value: and where safeguarding the

integrity of this interaction is vital to protecting and sustaining the area and its associated nature

conservation and other values.

Category VI: Protected area with sustainable use of natural resources

Category VI protected areas conserve ecosystems and habitats, together with associated cultural

values and traditional natural resource management systems. They are generally large, with most of

the area in a natural condition, where a proportion is under sustainable natural resource management

and where low-level non-industrial use of natural resources compatible with nature conservation

is seen as one of the main aims of the area.

National Park

National Park means an area declared, whether under section 35 or section 38, or deemed under sub

section (3) of section 66 to be declared, as a National Park.

Whenever it appears to the State Government that an area, whether within a sanctuary or not is, by

reason of its ecological, faunal, floral, geomorphological or zoological association or importance,

needed to be constituted as a National Park for the purpose of protecting, propagating or developing

wildlife therein or its environment, it may, by notification, declare its intention to constitute such area

as a National Park.

Sanctuary

Sanctuary means an area declared as a sanctuary by notification under the provisions of Chater IV of

this Act and also shall include a deemed sanctuary under sub-section (4 of section 66.

The State Government may, by notification, declare its intention to constitute any area other than an

area comprised within any reserve forest or the territorial waters as a sanctuary if it considers that

such area is of adequate ecological, faunal, floral, geomorphological , natural or zoological

significance for the purpose of protecting, propagating or developing wildlife or its environment.

Conservation Reserve

The State Government may, after having consultations with the local communities, declare 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, as a conservation reserve for protecting landscapes,

seascapes, flora and fauna and their habitat.

Community Reserve

The State Government may, where the community or an individual has volunteered to conserve

wildlife and its habitat, declare any private or community land not comprised within a National Park,

sanctuary or a conservation reserve, as a community reserve, for protecting fauna, flora and traditional

or cultural conservation values and practices.

National Park Vs IUCN Categories

Out of the IUCN’s six categories, the management objectives Category III: Natural monument or

feature and Category VI: Protected area with sustainable use of natural resources is completely
different from that of the National Park. Hence, comparison is being made only with other four

categories.

IUCN Category

Category Ia Strict Nature Reserve areas should be free from significant direct

intervention by modern humans. This area limits access to the people and excludes all

kind of settlement.

Category Ib Wilderness area should be free inappropriate or excessive human use or

presence and also should not have any permanent infrastructure, extractive industries,

agriculture, etc.,

Category IV Habitat / Species management area are protected areas created to protect,

or restore flora, fauna and / or habitats. Such areas are put under regular and active

management interventions to ensure the survival of the specific habitats and the

species concerned.

Category V Protected Landscape / seascape are generally not wilderness area. It aims

at protection of overall landscape / seascape and the biodiversity associated with it.

This is a flexible model which can be adopted when creation of more strict protected

areas is not feasible.

In our country, most of the National Parks are managed by regular intervention to ensure the survival

of the species and / or habitat. Also activities related tourism is allowed in the National Park. One

important feature about national park is that use of resources form the area is strictly prohibited. We

may place our National Parks in the Category IV Habitat / Species Management Area of the IUCN

category.

Sanctuaries Vs IUCN Categories

The management objectives of Category III: Natural monument or feature and Category VI: Protected

area with sustainable use of natural resources is completely different from that of the Sanctuary.
Hence, comparison is being made only with other four categories. Like the national parks, sanctuaries

in our country are also managed by active intervention. To some extent presence of human settlement

is allowed in this category. Based on this, it appears that our sanctuaries are closer to Category IV

Habitat / Species Management Area of the IUCN category.

Conservation Reserve Vs IUCN Categories

Category V Protected Landscape / seascape are generally not wilderness area. It aims at protection of

overall landscape / seascape and the biodiversity associated with it. This category acts as a buffer zone

and also acts as linking habitat between several other protected areas. A closer look at the definition

of conservation reserve and the objective gives a clear picture about the similarity between these two

categories (i.e., Category V Protected Landscape / seascape and Conservation Reserve).

Community Reserve Vs IUCN Categories

Of all the IUCN categories, Category VI is unique in the sense that it talks about the sustainable use

of resources as a means to achieve nature conservation, together and in synergy with other actions

more common to other categories, such as protection. Also, this category aims at conservation along

with the associated cultural values. In light of the above, we may conclude that the community

reserves and the Category VI Protected area with sustainable use of natural resources are closer.

Conclusion

Twelve per cent of the globe is currently under protected area network. The legal frame work

which governs them varies widely. However, the objectives of setting up such areas by different

countries have a common thread connecting them. The IUCN protected area management categories

serves as a global framework for categorizing the protected area worldwide. The four different

categories of protected area given under the Wildlife Protection Act closely relate to three categories

recognized by the IUCN namely Category IV Habitat / Species Management Area, Category V

Protected Landscape / seascape and Category VI Protected area with sustainable use of natural

resources. Categories like I Strict protection (Ia Strict nature reserve and Ib Wilderness area) II

Ecosystem conservation and protection (i.e., National park) and III Conservation of natural features
(i.e., Natural monument) are missing. There are few national parks and tiger reserves in the country

which by some subtle changes can be taken closer to Category Ia Strict nature reserve or Category Ib

Wilderness area or Category II Ecosystem conservation and protection. Demand for the ever

increasing population and aspirations for development would not allow us to create protected areas

similar to that of category I and II. But the introduction of two new categories in the Wildlife

Protection Act (1972) viz., Conservation Reserve and Community Reserve which are closer to the

category V and VI would help the planners to bring more area under the protected network of the

country.

REFERENCES

1. Animal Discovery 2010; Zoological Survey of India.

2. Convention on Biological Diversity, 1992. http://www.cbd.int/convention/text/

3. Dudley, N. (Editor) (2008). Guidelines for Applying Protected Area Management Categories.

Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. x + 86pp.

4. MOEF 2009 India’s Fourth Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity, New Delhi:

Ministry of Environment and Forests, GOI.

5. Protected Areas Programme, Vol 14 No 3, Protected Areas Categories 2004.