Conservation Reserves and Community Reserves of India

Conservation reserves and community reserves were created under Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 as amended in 2003.

These reserves are created with the following two-fold objectives:

Legal backing to community-initiated efforts to protect flora and fauna.
Limited interference in activities of local communities so that their needs are met.

Conservation Reserves

These reserves are created over areas owned by the state government and areas adjacent to national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.
The state government declares an area as a conservation reserve after the consultation with local communities.
Conservation Reserve Management Committee is constituted with the representation of state government and local communities for administration of conservation reserves.

Community Reserves

Community reserves are also created by the state government on community land or private land.
These reserves can be created by the state government, provided that the members of a community offer their land to be declared as a protected area.
Such a protected area would conserve flora, fauna as well as the customs and traditions of local communities.
The objective of declaring an area as a community reserve is to improve the socio-economic conditions of local community as well as to protect the wildlife.
A community reserve is managed through Community Reserve Management Committee with representatives of local community and the state government.

Sacred Grooves

Sacred grooves comprise of patches of forests from few trees to vast expanse of a forest which are usually dedicated to a local god or deity.
Sacred grooves are not legally protected, but are socially protected because of their religious and traditional importance. Conservation Reserves and Community Reserves of India
The degree of protection accorded to these grooves is based on the belief of the local community Important sacred grooves in India are:

Gumpa forests in Arunachal Pradesh.
Similarly, some water bodies are also regarded sacred by people. E.g., Khecheopalri Lake in Sikkim.

CONTACT US