Evaluate the role of protected areas in biodiversity conservation in India. How effective have national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and biosphere reserves been in preserving India's biodiversity?

Protected areas are defined under the Wildlife Protection Act 1976 and play significant role in the conservation of biodiversity.

Protected areas include:

Role of protected areas in biodiversity conservation:

i) Provides for the protection of existing habitats of these areas from activities such as—mining and agriculture.

ii) Focus on the key species—endangered for their protection.

(e) Nandadevi National Park in Arunachal Pradesh for flying guasel

iii) Protection of endangered species such as—Golden langur, Hangul and Lion tailed macaque.

iv) Protects areas from deforestation and similar activities.

v) Lowers the interference and interaction of human in these areas—reduction in man-animal conflict.

Challenging of biodiversity areas:

i) Restriction of ranges of the species which may venture out. (e) Tiger, Cheetah.

ii) Unclearly defined boundaries.

(iii) Not properly marked buffer zones and core areas.

iv) Smuggling and trafficking of animals.

v) Restriction of activities of traditional forest dwellers.

vi) Bureaucratic approach rather than joint management utilising traditional knowledge.

Effectiveness of the protected areas:

i) Improved population of endangered species such as Tiger—over 2800 in numbers.

ii) Protection of some endangered species on the verge of extinction.

iii) Some species have seen decline despite their protection. (e) Great Indian Bustard.

iv) Increase in the area of protected sites—showcasing empathy and one earth, one family approach.

Measures that can be further taken:

i) Declaration of areas of biodiversity in consultation with local communities.

ii) Joint management of forest utilising knowledge of tribals. (e) Bishor community and Blackbuck.

iii) Improving forest cover and reducing emission to decrease climate change effects.

Vasudhaiv kutumbakam philosophy along with Panchayat approach—the government can further help to improve biodiversity conservation approach.