National Wildlife Week, 2020

October 4, 2020

Every year National Wildlife Week is celebrated in India between October 2^nd and October 8^th. It is being celebrated since 1954. The main objective of celebrating the day is to save the lives of Indian animals by taking critical steps. The week is celebrated under the following theme
Theme: RoaR (Roar and Revive) – Exploring Human-Animal Relationships

Key Highlights

Though the day is celebrated by several organizations all over India, the celebrations are mainly organized by National Board of Wildlife.

The forest departments organize bird watching in wetlands. Conferences, Workshops, symposiums, education trainings and lectures are organised.

What are the objectives?

The National Wildlife Week is celebrated in the country under the following objectives

To make people aware of the protection and conservation of wildlife
To implement services that preserve wildlife
The discuss and identify issues related to wildlife preservation.

Wild Life conservation in India

India is one of the 17 mega diversities of the world. Therefore, it is important for India to conserve and protect its biodiversity. The GoI has launched several programmes to conserve its wildlife. Some of the key programmes are as follows

Project Tiger: Launched in 1972 and is the most successful wildlife programme of the Indian Government
Project Elephant
Crocodile Conservation Project
United Nations Development Programme Sea Turtle Project
Protected Areas were created by Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
Wetland (conservation and management) rules, 2010 were drafted

Legislation

The acts that conserve biodiversity of India are as follows

Indian Forests Act, 1972
Fisheries Act, 1897
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960
Environment Protection Act
Biological Diversity Act
Forest Conservation Act

Mega Diverse Countries

The United Nations Environment Programme has identified 17 mega-diverse countries in the world. They are Australia, China, Brazil, Colombia, US, Ecuador, India, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Madagascar, Papua New Guinea. Mexico. Peru, South Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo and Venezuela.

Out of these, 12 met in 2002 and adopted Cancun Declaration. India is one amongst them to sign the declaration. Later, three more joined.

These 17 countries contribute to 70% of terrestrial biological diversity of the mother earth occupying just 10% of her surface.