~I am pleased to be with all of you at this first meeting of the National Board for Wildlife. Let me, at the outset, congratulate the Ministry of Environment and Forests and all others associated with wildlife conservation. I am happy that much progress has been made in implementing the Wildlife Action Plan, which we adopted in January 2002.

However, much more needs to be done, and with greater speed. The Action Plan needs to be implemented in its letter and spirit. This awareness is reflected in the extensive agenda drawn up for today’s meeting.

Wildlife is a fundamental component of our ecosystem. It has the same right to share in the various resources on our planet as we humans do. It is irrational and preposterous for humans to think that this planet belongs exclusively to us alone. We cannot behave as if the survival or extinction of other animal species and living beings is of no concern to us. If we do so, we will be putting our own well-being and survival at risk.

As a thinking animal, man has a special responsibility towards Planet Earth and its inhabitants. A reputed science writer has captured this thought well:

~All organisms are bound together by the genetic unity of life. They have descended from the same distant ancestral life form. Because of this it is correct to say that, if the biosphere as a whole is the body, we humans are the mind. Thus, our place in nature, viewed from an ethical perspective, is to think about the creation and to protect the living planet.~

India’s religious and cultural traditions are distinguished for their strong recognition of this kinship between man and the animal world. Almost all our gods and goddesses have an animal or a bird as a companion. The message of Emperor Ashoka is perhaps the first ever written testimony for the conservation of wildlife on the earth. This precious civilisational legacy that we have inherited should enlighten and guide our wildlife conservation strategy.

We in India have also inherited a unique and rich ecological diversity in the form of forests, grasslands, wetlands, mountains, desert and marine ecosystems. These provide shelter to a large number of fauna and flora that meet the essential needs of the poor and rich as well. Protection of this bio-diversity is not only our ethical responsibility. It is also necessary for our sustainable economic development.

Unfortunately, we have not yet mastered the imperatives of sustainable development. We have not been able to arrest the decline in the ecological status of wildlife in our country. The radical changes associated with development have brought many species of wild plants and animals to the brink of extinction. We have witnessed the permanent loss of many valuable species including cheetah, the best-known sprinter of our grasslands.

This is not to say that our intervention strategies have not worked. The Asiatic lion would have become extinct but for the timely intervention by the then rulers of Junagadh. Subsequently, many species including tiger, elephant, crocodile and rhino were revived due to the timely legislative and administrative efforts of the government supported by several able and dedicated conservationists.

As you are well aware, this is the 30th anniversary of Project Tiger. India has reason to be proud of the fact that, despite dire predictions, the future of the tiger is reasonably secure within our borders. Our efforts in this regard have also been appreciated by the international community.

An important landmark in our conservation efforts was the recent amendment to the Wild Life Protection Act. It has been widely welcomed as a vast improvement on the older legislation. It has established a statutory National Board with the specific mandate of guaranteeing protection to the biodiversity in an effective and sustainable manner. We have also established a National Forest Commission, as promised in the last meeting of the Board.

As the newly constituted National Board and its proposed Standing Committee begin their new journey, it is necessary to sharpen our understanding of some of the critical issues in wildlife conservation.

Firstly, for our strategy to succeed, we must recognize the urgent need to increase people’s participation at all levels, but especially at the last mile. We should recognize that the best protectors of wildlife are the communities living in or near the natural habitat of wildlife. Experience has shown beyond any doubt that the policing approach alone cannot do the job. What is needed is to create an economic stake for the communities to participate in – even take responsibility for – wildlife conservation.

It is imperative that each local community, with the participation of Panchayati Raj Institutions, identifies, manages and protects its surroundings as a distinctive protected area. Local communities possess useful traditional knowledge, but they may not have the requisite modern knowledge. Therefore, we should vastly increase our efforts to encourage active contribution from non governmental organizations and experts. NGOs and experts can also greatly assist the local communities in launching a platform for business partnership with the industries for marketing the processed and semi-processed natural products and provide livelihood to the rural youth. Indeed, we should place a high priority on working with NGOs to implement all the objectives and strategies of the Wildlife Action Plan.

Similarly, India offers many attractions for nature tourism and wildlife tourism. This rapidly growing industry also provides employment and livelihood opportunities to local people. Of course, while promoting nature tourism and wildlife tourism, we should keep in mind the needs of their sustainability.

The point I wish to drive home is that we need ‘people-centered conservation’ approaches with the participation of all stakeholder groups in decision-making. While there is an urgent need to safeguard protected areas, it is equally important to demonstrate the economic benefits of protected areas for people living in and around them. This will ensure a golden bridge connecting our cultural ethos and economic benefit, creating a win-win situation for both people and the protected areas.

The second point I would like to stress is the need to increase coordination among various ministries, departments, and State Governments. The Ministries of Environment and Forests, Agriculture, Rural Development, Water Resources, Tribal Welfare, Tourism and Culture, along with their counterparts in States, have to recognize their joint responsibility in developing innovative strategies for biodiversity conservation.

In our last meeting, I had heard a good presentation from a representative of the Army describing the contribution that our security forces can make to wildlife conservation, especially in border and disturbed areas. The Navy too can contribute much to our efforts at conserving our marine biodiversity.

Protection of marine and coastal ecosystems is fundamental to the sustainable development of coastal communities as they provide a range of food products and immense opportunities for tourism. Conserving marine biodiversity should be our priority for the next decade.

There are many exceptionally beautiful marine habitats that qualify for inclusion in World Heritage Sites and Biosphere Reserves. Inclusion of such sites on the international map will greatly help in integrating conservation and management of cultural, natural and indigenous areas within the context of tourism development. I congratulate Shri Baalu for having taken a number of initiatives for protecting the endangered marine species and for setting up the Marine Biodiversity Institute at Kanyakumari.

A subject of great concern to all of us is the activities of wildlife criminals. India has been one of the prime targets of International crime syndicates who take advantage of the poverty in wildlife areas and instigate poor people to commit crimes for the benefit of rich international consumers. Our wildlife has suffered severe threats and decimation at their hands. We have adequate legal provisions to tackle poaching and illegal trade of wildlife and its derivatives. What is lacking is their effective enforcement. Enforcement agencies of the central and state governments must perform their duty with utmost diligence.

During the last meeting of the Indian Board for Wild Life, I had urged all State governments to ensure that the restrictions imposed on recruitment of field staff for protected areas to be relaxed and all existing vacancies filled up. This needs to be followed up. The Ministry of Environment & Forests on its part should further strengthen its ongoing initiatives and forge links with enforcement agencies, dedicated NGO’s and international bodies to inflict severe punishment on criminal elements.

Before I conclude, I would like the Board and its Standing Committee to draw up workable and time bound schemes to advance the mandate assigned to them. In doing so, they should draw on both the Ministry’s own positive experience so far as well as the useful lessons learnt in other countries.

I extend my best wishes to everyone present for very meaningful deliberations. Last but not the least, my hearty congratulations to the award winners.

Thank you.~