Context:
Recently, forest-dwellers of Thanthai Periyar Sanctuary expressed concerns about the potential denial of their forest rights.
Thanthai Periyar Sanctuary:
- State – Tamil Nadu
- Location – At the junction of the Eastern Ghats and the Western Ghats
- Declared as 18th wildlife sanctuary of Tamil Nadu
- Connects – Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve with Cauvery South Wildlife Sanctuary.
- Part of the tiger corridor connects – Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve, Male Mahadeshwara Hills Tiger Reserve, and Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary
- Rivers – Cauvery river, Palar river
Comparison of Biosphere Reserve, National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary:
| National Park | Wildlife Sanctuary | Biosphere Reserve | |
| Purpose | Protection of Wildlife | Habitat protection of animals and plants | Conserve natural biodiversity , cultural heritage and natural resources |
| Legislation | Wildlife Protection Act | Wildlife Protection Act | UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere (MAB) |
| Level of Protection | Greater degree of protection than sanctuaries | Lesser degree of protection | Greater degree of protection |
| Management | Government has complete power over the national parks. | These can be under the government or owned under private entities. | Internationally recognized under the UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere (MAB) program and owned by the government. |
| Division into zones | Typically not divided into zones | Generally not divided into zones | Core zone (strictly protected), Buffer zone (limited human activities allowed), Transition zone (sustainable development encouraged) |
| Human interference | Restricted, mainly for recreational purposes | Restricted to prevent disturbance to animals, limited educational access | Restricted in core zone, limited in buffer zone, encouraged in transition zone |
| Boundaries | Clearly delineated by legislation | Not sacrosanct | Clearly delineated by legislation |
| Upgradation and Down gradation | Cannot be downgraded to a wildlife sanctuary | Can be upgraded to a National park | National parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries may become part of Biosphere Reserve |
Read more about: Biosphere Reserve, River Cauvery, How Tiger Reserves are notified?
Source: Down to Earth
Previous Year Question
Consider the following statements:
1. As per recent amendment to the Indian Forest Act, 1927, forest dwellers have the right to fell the bamboos grown on forest areas.
2. As per the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, bamboo is a minor forest produce.
3. The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 allows ownership of minor forest produce to forest dwellers.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2019 Prelims]
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (b)
Explanation:
Statement 1 is not correct:
The Indian Forest (Amendment) Bill 2018 permits felling and transit of bamboo grown in non-forest areas. However, bamboo grown on forest lands would continue to be classified as a tree and would be guided by the existing legal restrictions.
