Conservation Reserves

Conservation Reserves

Study notes

Conservation reserves are protected areas declared by the State Government under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, following the statutory process and consultation requirements.

They are generally declared on government-owned land, especially land adjacent to national parks and sanctuaries or land that connects one protected area to another. They can also protect landscapes, seascapes, flora, fauna and their habitats.

Main purposes

• Protect wildlife corridors and movement routes.

• Maintain ecological links between existing protected areas.

• Conserve habitats outside national parks and sanctuaries.

• Encourage stakeholder participation in conservation management.

Examples

• Asan Conservation Reserve, Uttarakhand: A wetland important for migratory birds; also a Ramsar site.

• Jammu and Kashmir and other Himalayan regions: Conservation reserves can help protect habitats and wildlife movement routes.

• Other state-designated conservation reserves may protect wetlands, forests, grasslands and coastal ecosystems.

The legal designation and management arrangements of a conservation reserve are distinct from those of a national park or wildlife sanctuary.

Key pointers

• Conservation reserves are generally established on government-owned land.

• They are declared by the State Government under the Wildlife (Protection) Act.

• They can connect existing protected areas and conserve important corridors.

• They provide a mechanism to protect ecologically important land beyond national parks and sanctuaries.

• They should not be confused with community reserves, which involve community or private land.

MCQs

Q1. Under which Act are conservation reserves declared in India?

1. Forest Conservation Act, 1980

2. Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 *

3. Biological Diversity Act, 2002

4. Indian Forest Act, 1927

Answer: 2) Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972

Explanation: Conservation reserves are a category of protected area provided for under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Q2. Conservation reserves are generally declared on which type of land?

1. Government-owned land *

2. Only privately owned agricultural land

3. Only urban residential land

4. Only land inside zoological parks

Answer: 1) Government-owned land

Explanation: Conservation reserves generally protect government-owned areas, often adjoining or linking national parks and sanctuaries.

Q3. What is an important function of a conservation reserve?

1. Promoting unrestricted hunting

2. Protecting wildlife corridors *

3. Replacing all forests with plantations

4. Establishing captive-animal exhibitions

Answer: 2) Protecting wildlife corridors

Explanation: Conservation reserves can maintain connectivity between habitats, enabling wildlife movement across landscapes.

Q4. Asan Conservation Reserve is located in which state?

1. Uttarakhand *

2. Gujarat

3. Odisha

4. Tamil Nadu

Answer: 1) Uttarakhand

Explanation: Asan Conservation Reserve is a wetland in Uttarakhand and is recognised as a Ramsar site.