Forest & Wildlife Protection Programmes by Government

National Park

• Relatively large area consisting of one or more ecosystems, operates at National Level
• No human activity or settlement allowed i.e. human interference is totally prohibited
• Villagers cannot graze their animals + Extremely strict rules about jungle produce collection for ex. Honey

Wildlife Sanctuary

• Regulated human activities are allowed → Grazing of animals, Firewood collection, Tourism
• can be created for a particular specie which is not the case with national; operates at State Level
• A sanctuary can be upgraded to a National park but not vice versa

Biosphere Reserve

• Unique ecosystem of terrestrial & coastal areas internationally recognized by UNESCO under Man and Biosphere (MAB) programme
• People are allowed to live, own private land & carry own traditional activities but only in outer zone

Core zoneCentral area that has to be kept undisturbed of all activities except research (which don’t disturb wildlife)Buffer zoneSome light activities like tourism, fishing, grazing etc. are allowed which don’t disturb the core zone. Research activities are encouraged hereTransition zoneOutmost part & not delimited but activities have to be harmonious with the biosphere reserveConservation 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

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
• Mainly where an individual or a community has volunteered to conserve wildlife and its habitat