‘Wildlife conservation isn’t anti-development’

Village Square: What are the major challenges to wildlife conservation in India?

Samir Kumar Sinha: The challenges vary from one ecosystem to another. They are even different at the local and national levels. The real challenge is acknowledging these challenges at the right time and space and in the right spirit. 

I find that these challenges are largely due to human activities resulting in changes in land use, behaviour such as increasing intolerance towards animals and ignoring the basic practices to follow when living around wildlife-rich areas, such as defecating in the open in evening hours, and dumping garbage that attracts animals.

The other major challenge is tackling the view that conservation is anti-development activism. It is not acknowledged that conservation’s ultimate beneficiary will be humanity. Maintaining a balance between development and wildlife conservation is discussed widely. The need is to translate these discussions into practice. 

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Another issue that I see is negligence towards the ‘less charismatic’ species when it comes to prioritising conservation inputs. The coordination between government departments in implementing policy and statutory norms is weak, for example, regulation of detrimental activities in eco-sensitive zones and formulation of the Eco-Sensitive Zone Masterplan suffers mainly due to this.  

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Village Square: What is the significance of World Wildlife Day (WWD), especially for India?

Samir Kumar Sinha: World Wildlife Day 2023 marks 50 years of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). It is an important occasion for India since we are a biodiversity-rich land mass with a huge number of people sharing the land. 

In such a scenario, people’s behaviour towards the land and wildlife becomes crucial to preserve the natural bounties. WWD provides an opportunity to make people aware of their responsibilities towards preserving the wilderness.

This year’s theme for WWD is ‘Partnerships for Wildlife Conservation‘, which is also important in the Indian context as the country’s wildlife faces multiple threats due to internal and transboundary factors. Partnership with neighbouring countries and between multiple stakeholders within the country is key to the future of wildlife. 

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Village Square: You have been working on wildlife conservation for more than 20 years. What motivates you?

Samir Kumar Sinha: Various success stories in conservation primarily drive my motivation to work in this field. Despite the overall gloomy situation, there are several positive stories about wildlife conservation that fuel conservation consciousness in me and others in the government and non-government sectors. 

Wildlife Trust of India, where I work, is a conservation action organisation. We measure our achievements and learnings – both small and large conservation wins and losses – to make a desired change. Of course, neither the success nor the threats are permanent. Hence the endeavour continues. 

Village Square: How does WTI work towards wildlife conservation? What are its focus areas?

Samir Kumar Sinha: WTI has made several efforts for conservation in the country in the last 25 years. The organisation has pioneered rescue and rehabilitation of displaced wild animals, and elephant corridor mapping and securement through multi-pronged approaches. It also mobilises tribal communities to set aside lands for conservation, works towards recovery of threatened species, engages communities in human-wildlife conflict mitigation and ensures securement of wildlife habitats outside protected areas. 

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The organisation also focuses on the ‘non-charismatic’ threatened animals such as the markhor (the largest wild goat) in Kashmir, wild buffalo in Chhattisgarh, gharial in Bihar and frog species in Western Ghats.

WTI has also been working in several parts of the country to prevent wildlife deaths from snaring, which is one of the widely used methods of hunting. Equal focus is on strengthening the capacity of frontline forest staff on prevention of wildlife crimes and mitigation of human-wildlife conflict. It also provides support to keep the staffs’ morale high through schemes such as ex-gratia support to the families of workers who die due to accidents on duty.

The organisation also supports local conservation groups and individuals to implement rapid action conservation projects. 

Village Square: How can public ownership of wildlife conservation be enhanced?

Samir Kumar Sinha: Wildlife conservation is considered solely the forest departments’ cup of tea. This is not so. 

Everyone can contribute to conservation within the limits of existing legal and policy frameworks. About 22 percent of the country’s landmass is under forest cover, largely owned by the states. About 5 percent of the area falls under the wildlife protected area coverage under the control of the forest department.

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However, a significant wildlife population is found outside the forest and protected areas, in locations such as wetlands, grasslands and arid ecosystems. People have a crucial role to play in preserving these important wildlife habitats. The need is to integrate local governance institutions into conserving wildlife and their habitat. If a panchayat can chalk out its development plan, why can’t it prepare and implement a natural habitat restoration and conservation plan? 

The development sector involved in diverting forest areas for non-forestry purposes should be sensitised and made more responsible for adopting an approach requiring less diversion of forest land or natural habitats.

This sector should set an example before society that development and conservation can go hand in hand. It should ensure adequate mitigation measures, explore ways and means to reduce breaking of the soil and vegetation clearing and follow the conditions laid for forest and wildlife clearance by the government. 

Above all, every citizen must respect the fact that conservation is not just for nature and wildlife. It is important for the survival of human beings.  

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In the lead image, a rare Gharial (fish-eating crocodile) sunbathes by the river (Photo by Samuel Bloch, Shutterstock)