National Park
• The main objective of a national park is to protect entire ecosystems,
including multiple species of flora and fauna, landscapes, and sometimes
even sites of historical or cultural significance
• WPA 1972
• Boundaries are fixed and defined.
• No human activity is allowed.
• Grazing of livestock and private farmimg are not permitted
• Species mentioned in the Schedules of the Wildlife Act are not
allowed to be hunted or captured.
• cannot be downgraded to the status of a sanctuary
• National parks can be declared both by the Central Government and
State governments.
• No alteration of the boundaries of a national park shall be made
except on a resolution passed by the State Legislature.
• First National Park Jim Corbett National Park
• Largest National Park Hemis National Park
• Smallest National Park South Button National Park
Wildlife Sanctuary
• The primary goal is to ensure the well-being of particular species or
groups of species.
• Certain human activities like collecting natural resources (for
example, fruits, honey, medicinal plants) and limited farming
practices may be allowed, provided they do not harm the wildlife or
their habitat.
• Boundaries are not always well-defined or strict.
• It can be upgraded to a national park if authorities decide on stricter
conservation measures.
Biosphere Reserves
• Biosphere Reserves are designated under the intergovernmental MAB
Programme of UNESCO
• ‘learning places for sustainable development’
• tries to balance economic and social development and maintenance of
associated cultural values along with the preservation of nature.
• Integrate three main functions- conservation, development & logistics
support
• special environments for both people and nature and are living examples of
how human beings and nature can co-exist while respecting each other’s
needs.
• Criteria- Protected Core Area, Sufficient size for wildlife,Community
Involvement, Preserving Traditional Lifestyles
Biodiversity Hotspots
• There are places on Earth that are both biologically rich — and deeply
threatened.
• To qualify as a biodiversity hotspot, a region must meet two strict
criteria: (Norman Myers, Conservation International)
It must have at least 1,500 vascular plants as endemics — which
is to say, it must have a high percentage of plant life found
nowhere else on the planet. A hotspot, in other words, is
irreplaceable.
It must have 30% or less of its original natural vegetation. In
other words, it must be threatened.
• 36 hotspots; 4
• 2.5% land surface
• 2 billion population
• > 50% endemic plant species
• 43% mammals, birds, amphibians & reptiles as endemics
Natural Heritage Sites
• UNESCO, IUCN
• Criteria-
• Displays superlative natural phenomena or features.
• Represents Earth's evolutionary history.
• Exemplifies ecological and biological processes.
• Hosts critical habitats of biological diversity.
• Once inscribed, World Heritage Sites remain under the sovereignty of
their respective states, but their protection becomes a collective
responsibility.
Silent Valley
• Last undisturbed tracts of WG
• Lion-tailed macaque, Malabar giant squirrel, niligiri tahr
• Valley- Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests
• Above 1000m- South WG montane rain forests
• Above 1500m – Sholas – tropical montane forests= stunted tress and
open grasslands
• Irulas + Mudugar
• Kunthipuzha,Bhavani Rivers, Pathrakadavu Waterfalls
Satyamangalam
• Links EG & WG
• Tiger Reserve
• Tropical dry forest
• Genetic link – [Link] Plateau, [Link] [Link] [Link]
Swamy Temple [Link] Wildlife
• Indian Vulture
• Cauvery, Bhavani,Moyar
Wayanad
• Elephants, Vulture , Peacock, Tiger
• Cauvery
• Edakkal caves Neolithic rock art
Bandipur
• Tiger Reserve
• Night traffic ban- 9 PM- 6 AM
• Kabani,Moyar Rivers
• Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta
Nagarhole
• Tiger Reserve
• Cauvery
• Brahmagiri Hills
• Kabani River
• Sloth bear, Flycatcher, Grey Langur, Chital (spotted deer)
Mudumalai
• Tiger Reserve
• Moyar River
Mukurthi
• Nilgiri Tahr