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2 main objectives
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- To provide protection to the endangered species listed in the schedule of the Act and
- To provide legal support to the conservation areas of the country classified as National parks, sanctuaries and closed areas
- Amended in 1991, making punishments more stringent and has also made provisions for the protection of specified plant species and conservation of endangered species of wild animals
- There are 102 National parks and 515 wildlife sanctuaries
- Government of India in collaboration with UNESCO‘s Man and Biosphere Programme‘ MAB
- Special schemes like Project Tiger (1973) and Project Elephant (1992) have been launched to conserve these species and their habitat in a sustainable manner.
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Some of the important reasons of the declining of wildlife are
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- Industrial and technological advancement brought about a rapid increase in the exploitation of forest resources.
- More and more lands were cleared for agriculture, human settlement, roads, mining, reservoirs, etc.
- Pressure on forests mounted due to lopping for fodder and fuel wood and removal of small timber by the local people.
- Grazing by domestic cattle caused an adverse effect on wildlife and its habitat.
- Hunting was taken up as a sport by the elite and hundreds of wild animals were killed in a single hunt. Now commercial poaching is rampant.
- Incidence of forest fire
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Projects –
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Project Tiger 1973
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- The main objective of the scheme is to ensure maintenance of viable population of tigers in India for scientific, aesthetic, cultural and ecological values, and to preserve areas of biological importance as natural heritage for the benefit, education and enjoyment of the people.
- The tiger population in the country has registered an increase from 1,411 in 2006 to 1,706 in 2010.
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Project Elephant
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- It was launched in 1992 to assist states having free ranging population of wild elephants.
- It was aimed at ensuring long- term survival of identified viable population of elephants in their natural habitat.
- The project is being implemented in 13 states
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