Protected areas of India
Encyclopedia : P : PR : PRO : Protected areas of India
India has the following kinds of Protected areas, in the sense of the word designated by IUCN. As of May 2004, India has 156,700 km² of surface area designated as protected areas, roughly 4.95% of the total surface area.
- National Parks (IUCN Category II): India's first National Park was Hailey National Park, now Jim Corbett National Park, established in 1935. By 1970, India had 5 National Parks; today it has over 90.
- Biosphere Reserve (UNESCO designation roughly corresponding to IUCN Category V): The Indian government has also established Biosphere reserves, which protect larger areas of natural habitat, and often include one or more national parks and/or preserves, along buffer zones that are open to some economic uses.
- Animal Sanctuary (IUCN Category IV): India has over 500 animal sanctuaries, referred to as Wildlife Sanctuaries. Among these, the 28 Tiger Reserves are governed by Project Tiger, and are of special significance in the conservation of the tiger. Some wildlife sanctuaries are specifically named Bird Sanctuary, eg. Keoladeo National Park before it attained National Park status. Many National Parks were initially Wildlife Sanctuaries.
- Reserve Forest : These are forests where logging, hunting and fishing are prohibited without special permission.
External links
- [United Nations List of National Parks and Protected Areas: India (1993)]
- [Ministry of Forests and Environment Protected Areas website]
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