From wpsi@VSNL.COM Sun Oct 19 14:19:25 2003
Date: Wed, 15 Oct 2003 18:22:05 +0530
From: Wildlife Protection Society of India 
To: nathistory-india@Princeton.EDU
Subject: PM'S SPEECH AT THE FIRST MEETING OF THE NBWL


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Below is the PM's speech at the first NBWL meeting today (15 October
2003). This is the full news release by the Press Information Bureau.

PM'S SPEECH AT THE FIRST MEETING OF THE NATIONAL BOARD FOR WILDLIFE

________________________________________________________________________________
The Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee has called upon the people
to increase their participation at all levels for the success of the
strategy in wildlife conservation. The Prime Minister pointed to the
imperative to increase participation of each local community in
protection of its surroundings as a distinctive protected area is with
the participation of Panchayati Raj Institutions. Speaking at the First
meeting of the National Board for Wildlife, here today, Shri Vajpayee
called for 'people-centered conservation' approaches with the
participation of all stakeholder groups in decision-making. The Prime
Minister also stressed the need to increase coordination among various
ministries, departments and State Governments. Expressing his concern on
the activities of wildlife criminals, Shri Vajpayee said that though
legal provisions to tackle poaching and illegal trade of wildlife are in
place, what is lacking is their effective enforcement and in this
context, called upon the enforcement agencies to perform their duty with
utmost diligence.

Following is the full text of the PM's speech on the occasion:

"I am pleased to be with all of you at this first meeting of the National
Board for Wildlife. Let me, at the outset, congratulate the Ministry of
Environment and Forests and all others associated with wildlife
conservation. I am happy that much progress has been made in implementing
the Wildlife Action Plan, which we adopted in January 2002.

However, much more needs to be done, and with greater speed. The Action
Plan needs to be implemented in its letter and spirit. This awareness is
reflected in the extensive agenda drawn up for today's meeting.

Wildlife is a fundamental component of our ecosystem. It has the same
right to share in the various resources on our planet as we humans do. It
is irrational and preposterous for humans to think that this planet
belongs exclusively to us alone. We cannot behave as if the survival or
extinction of other animal species and living beings is of no concern to
us. If we do so, we will be putting our own well-being and survival at
risk.

As a thinking animal, man has a special responsibility towards Planet
Earth and its inhabitants. A reputed science writer has captured this
thought well:

"All organisms are bound together by the genetic unity of life. They have
descended from the same distant ancestral life form. Because of this it
is correct to say that, if the biosphere as a whole is the body, we
humans are the mind. Thus, our place in nature, viewed from an ethical
perspective, is to think about the creation and to protect the living
planet."

India's religious and cultural traditions are distinguished for their
strong recognition of this kinship between man and the animal world.
Almost all our gods and goddesses have an animal or a bird as a
companion. The message of Emperor Ashoka is perhaps the first ever
written testimony for the conservation of wildlife on the earth. This
precious civilisational legacy that we have inherited should enlighten
and guide our wildlife conservation strategy.

We in India have also inherited a unique and rich ecological diversity in
the form of forests, grasslands, wetlands, mountains, desert and marine
ecosystems. These provide shelter to a large number of fauna and flora
that meet the essential needs of the poor and rich as well. Protection of
this bio-diversity is not only our ethical responsibility. It is also
necessary for our sustainable economic development.

Unfortunately, we have not yet mastered the imperatives of sustainable
development. We have not been able to arrest the decline in the
ecological status of wildlife in our country. The radical changes
associated with development have brought many species of wild plants and
animals to the brink of extinction. We have witnessed the permanent loss
of many valuable species including cheetah, the best-known sprinter of
our grasslands.

This is not to say that our intervention strategies have not worked. The
Asiatic lion would have become extinct but for the timely intervention by
the then rulers of Junagadh. Subsequently, many species including tiger,
elephant, crocodile and rhino were revived due to the timely legislative
and administrative efforts of the government supported by several able
and dedicated conservationists.

As you are well aware, this is the 30th anniversary of Project Tiger.
India has reason to be proud of the fact that, despite dire predictions,
the future of the tiger is reasonably secure within our borders. Our
efforts in this regard have also been appreciated by the international
community.

An important landmark in our conservation efforts was the recent
amendment to the Wild Life Protection Act. It has been widely welcomed as
a vast improvement on the older legislation. It has established a
statutory National Board with the specific mandate of guaranteeing
protection to the biodiversity in an effective and sustainable manner. We
have also established a National Forest Commission, as promised in the
last meeting of the Board.

As the newly constituted National Board and its proposed Standing
Committee begin their new journey, it is necessary to sharpen our
understanding of some of the critical issues in wildlife conservation.

Firstly, for our strategy to succeed, we must recognize the urgent need
to increase people's participation at all levels, but especially at the
last mile. We should recognize that the best protectors of wildlife are
the communities living in or near the natural habitat of wildlife.
Experience has shown beyond any doubt that the policing approach alone
cannot do the job. What is needed is to create an economic stake for the
communities to participate in - even take responsibility for - wildlife
conservation.

It is imperative that each local community, with the participation of
Panchayati Raj Institutions, identifies, manages and protects its
surroundings as a distinctive protected area. Local communities possess
useful traditional knowledge, but they may not have the requisite modern
knowledge. Therefore, we should vastly increase our efforts to encourage
active contribution from non governmental organizations and experts. NGOs
and experts can also greatly assist the local communities in launching a
platform for business partnership with the industries for marketing the
processed and semi-processed natural products and provide livelihood to
the rural youth. Indeed, we should place a high priority on working with
NGOs to implement all the objectives and strategies of the Wildlife
Action Plan.

Similarly, India offers many attractions for nature tourism and wildlife
tourism. This rapidly growing industry also provides employment and
livelihood opportunities to local people. Of course, while promoting
nature tourism and wildlife tourism, we should keep in mind the needs of
their sustainability.

The point I wish to drive home is that we need 'people-centered
conservation' approaches with the participation of all stakeholder groups
in decision-making. While there is an urgent need to safeguard protected
areas, it is equally important to demonstrate the economic benefits of
protected areas for people living in and around them. This will ensure a
golden bridge connecting our cultural ethos and economic benefit,
creating a win-win situation for both people and the protected areas.

The second point I would like to stress is the need to increase
coordination among various ministries, departments, and State
Governments. The Ministries of Environment and Forests, Agriculture,
Rural Development, Water Resources, Tribal Welfare, Tourism and Culture,
along with their counterparts in States, have to recognize their joint
responsibility in developing innovative strategies for biodiversity
conservation.

In our last meeting, I had heard a good presentation from a
representative of the Army describing the contribution that our security
forces can make to wildlife conservation, especially in border and
disturbed areas. The Navy too can contribute much to our efforts at
conserving our marine biodiversity.

Protection of marine and coastal ecosystems is fundamental to the
sustainable development of coastal communities as they provide a range of
food products and immense opportunities for tourism. Conserving marine
biodiversity should be our priority for the next decade.

There are many exceptionally beautiful marine habitats that qualify for
inclusion in World Heritage Sites and Biosphere Reserves. Inclusion of
such sites on the international map will greatly help in integrating
conservation and management of cultural, natural and indigenous areas
within the context of tourism development. I congratulate Shri Baalu for
having taken a number of initiatives for protecting the endangered marine
species and for setting up the Marine Biodiversity Institute at
Kanyakumari.

A subject of great concern to all of us is the activities of wildlife
criminals. India has been one of the prime targets of International crime
syndicates who take advantage of the poverty in wildlife areas and
instigate poor people to commit crimes for the benefit of rich
international consumers. Our wildlife has suffered severe threats and
decimation at their hands. We have adequate legal provisions to tackle
poaching and illegal trade of wildlife and its derivatives. What is
lacking is their effective enforcement. Enforcement agencies of the
central and state governments must perform their duty with utmost
diligence.

During the last meeting of the Indian Board for Wild Life, I had urged
all State governments to ensure that the restrictions imposed on
recruitment of field staff for protected areas to be relaxed and all
existing vacancies filled up. This needs to be followed up. The Ministry
of Environment & Forests on its part should further strengthen its
ongoing initiatives and forge links with enforcement agencies, dedicated
NGOs and international bodies to inflict severe punishment on criminal
elements.

Before I conclude, I would like the Board and its Standing Committee to
draw up workable and time bound schemes to advance the mandate assigned
to them. In doing so, they should draw on both the Ministry's own
positive experience so far as well as the useful lessons learnt in other
countries.

I extend my best wishes to everyone present for very meaningful
deliberations. Last but not the least, my hearty congratulations to the
award winners.

Thank you."

 

http://pib.nic.in/archieve/lreleng/lyr2003/roct2003/15102003/r151020032.html.

 
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Fax: (Int+91.11) 2646.4918
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