Protected Areas of India

Protected Areas of India

Protected areas are those in which human occupation or at least the exploitation of resources is limited. The definition that has been widely accepted across regional and global frameworks has been provided by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in its categorization guidelines for protected areas. There are several kinds of protected areas, which vary by level of protection depending on the enabling laws of each country or the regulations of the international organizations involved. The term "protected area" also includes Marine Protected Areas, the boundaries of which will include some area of ocean, and Transboundary Protected Areas that overlap multiple countries which remove the borders inside the area for conservation and economic purposes.

What is a National Park

An area, whether within a sanctuary or not, can be notified by the state government to be constituted as a National Park, by reason of its ecological, faunal, floral, geomorphological, or zoological association or importance, needed to for the purpose of protecting & propagating or developing wildlife therein or its environment. No human activity is permitted inside the national park except for the ones permitted by the Chief Wildlife Warden of the state under the conditions given in CHAPTER IV, WPA 1972.

There are 104 existing national parks in India covering an area of 40,501 km², which is 1.23% of the geographical area of the country (National Wildlife Database, Aug. 2018). In addition to the above 75 National Parks covering an area of 16,608 km² are proposed in the Protected Area Network Report (Rodgers & Panwar 1988). The network of parks will go up 179 after full implementation of the above report.

State-wise break up of National Parks (September, 2018)

Name of State & Union Territory	State Area km²	No. of NPs	Area km²	% of State Area
1.  Andhra Pradesh	1,60,205	3	356.02	0.22
2.  Arunachal Pradesh	83,743	2	2,290.82	2.74
3.  Assam	78,438	5	1,977.79	2.52
4.  Bihar	94,163	1	335.65	0.36
5.  Chhattisgarh	1,35,191	3	2,899.08	2.14
6.  Goa	3,702	1	107.00	2.89
7.  Gujarat	1,96,022	4	480.12	0.24
8.  Haryana	44,212	2	48.25	0.11
9.  Himachal Pradesh	55,673	5	2,271.38	4.08
10. Jammu & Kashmir	2,22,236	4	3,925.00	1.77
11. Jharkhand	79,714	1	226.33	0.28
12. Karnataka	1,91,791	5	2,795.76	1.46
13. Kerala	38,863	6	558.16	1.44
14. Madhya Pradesh	3,08,245	10	3,657.26	1.19
15. Maharashtra	3,07,713	6	1,273.60	0.41
16. Manipur	22,327	1	40.00	0.18
17. Meghalaya	22,429	2	267.48	1.19
18. Mizoram	21,081	2	150.00	0.71
19. Nagaland	16,579	1	202.02	1.22
20. Odisha	1,55,707	2	990.70	0.64
21. Punjab	50,362	0	0.00	0.00
22. Rajasthan	3,42,239	5	3,947.07	1.15
23. Sikkim	7,096	1	1,784.00	25.14
24. Tamil Nadu	1,30,058	5	307.85	0.24
25. Telangana	1,14,840	3	1,032.47	0.90
26. Tripura	10,486	2	36.71	0.35
27. Uttar Pradesh	2,40,928	1	490.00	0.20
28. Uttarakhand	53,483	6	4,915.02	9.19
29. West Bengal	88,752	6	1,981.65	2.23
30. Andaman & Nicobar	8,249	9	1,153.94	13.99
31. Chandigarh	114	0	0.00	0.00
32. Dadra & Nagar Haveli	491	0	0.00	0.00
33. Daman & Diu	112	0	0.00	0.00
34. Delhi	1,483	0	0.00	0.00
35. Lakshadweep	32	0	0.00	0.00
36. Pondicherry	480	0	0.00	0.00
Total	32,87,263	104	40,501	1.23

  (Source: Wildlife Institute of India)

List of National Parks (July, 2018)

S. No.	Name of State/ Protected Area	Year of Establishment	Area (km2)	District(s)
	Andaman & Nicobar Islands
1	Campbell Bay NP	1992	426.23	Nicobar
2	Galathea Bay NP	1992	110.00	Nicobar
3	Mahatama Gandhi Marine (Wandoor) NP	1983	281.50	Andaman
4	Middle Button Island NP	1987	0.44	Andaman
5	Mount Harriett NP	1987	46.62	Andaman
6	North Button Island NP	1987	0.44	Andaman
7	Rani Jhansi Marine NP	1996	256.14	Andaman
8	Saddle Peak NP	1987	32.54	Andaman
9	South Button Island NP	1987	0.03	Andaman
	Andhra Pradesh
1	Papikonda NP	2008	1012.86	East & West Godavari
2	Rajiv Gandhi (Rameswaram) NP	2005	2.40	Kadapa
3	Sri Venkateswara NP	1989	353.62	Chittoor & Cuddapah
	Arunachal Pradesh
1	Mouling NP	1986	483.00	Upper Siang
2	Namdapha NP	1983	1807.82	Changlang
	Assam
1	Dibru-Saikhowa NP	1999	340.00	Tinsukia & Dibrugarh
2	Kaziranga NP	1974	858.98	Golaghat, Nagaon & Sonitpur
3	Manas NP	1990	500.00	Barpeta & Bongaigaon
4	Nameri NP	1998	200.00	Sonitpur
5	Rajiv Gandhi Orang NP	1999	78.81	Darrang & Sonitpur
	Bihar
1	Valmiki NP	1989	335.65	West Champaran
	Chhattisgarh
1	Guru Ghasidas (Sanjay) NP	1981	1440.71	Surguja & Koria
2	Indravati (Kutru) NP	1982	1258.37	Dantewada
3	Kanger Valley NP	1982	200.00	Bastar
	Goa
1	Mollem NP	1992	107.00	North Goa
	Gujarat
1	Vansda NP	1979	23.99	Navasari
2	Blackbuck (Velavadar) NP	1976	34.53	Bhavnagar
3	Gir NP	1975	258.71	Junagadh
4	Marine (Gulf of Kachchh) NP	1982	162.89	Jamnagar
			.
	Haryana
1	Kalesar NP	2003	46.82	Yamuna Nagar
2	Sultanpur NP	1989	1.43	Gurgaon
	Himachal Pradesh
1	Great Himalayan NP	1984	754.40	Kullu
2	Inderkilla NP	2010	104.00	Kullu
3	Khirganga NP	2010	710.00	Kullu
4	Pin Valley NP	1987	675.00	Lahul & Spiti
5	Simbalbara NP	2010	27.88	Sirmaur
	Jammu & Kashmir
1	City Forest (Salim Ali) NP	1992	9.00	Srinagar
2	Dachigam NP	1981	141.00	Srinagar & Pulwama
3	Hemis NP	1981	3350.00	Leh
4	Kishtwar NP	1981	425.00	Kishtwar & Doda
	Jharkhand
1	Betla NP	1986	226.33	Latehar
	Karnataka
1	Anshi NP	1987	417.34	Uttara Kannada
2	Bandipur NP	1974	874.20	Mysore & Chamarajanagar
3	Bannerghatta NP	1974	260.51	Bangalore
4	Kudremukh NP	1987	600.32	Dakshin Kannada, Udipi & Chikmagalur
5	Nagarahole (Rajiv Gandhi) NP	1988	643.39	Kodagu & Mysore
	Kerala
1	Anamudi Shola NP	2003	7.50	Idukki
2	Eravikulam NP	1978	97.00	Idukki
3	Mathikettan Shola NP	2003	12.82	Idukki
4	Pambadum Shola NP	2003	1.32	Idukki
5	Periyar NP	1982	350.00	Idukki & Quilon
6	Silent Valley NP	1984	89.52	Palakkad
	Madhya Pradesh
1	Bandhavgarh NP	1968	448.85	Umaria & Katni
2	Fossil NP	1983	0.27	Mandla
6	Indira Priyadarshini Pench NP	1975	292.85	Seoni & Chhindwara
3	Kanha NP	1955	940.00	Mandla, Balaghat & Dindori
4	Madhav NP	1959	375.22	Shivpuri
5	Panna NP	1981	542.67	Panna & Chhatarpur
7	Sanjay NP	1981	466.88	Sidhi
8	Satpura NP	1981	585.17	Hoshangabad
9	Van Vihar NP	1979	4.45	Bhopal
10	Dinosaur NP	2011	0.8974	Dhar district, MP
	Maharashtra
1	Chandoli NP	2004	317.67	Sangli, Satara, Kolhapur, Ratnagiri
2	Gugamal NP	1975	361.28	Amravati
3	Nawegaon NP	1975	133.88	Bhandara (Gondia)
4	Pench (Jawaharlal Nehru) NP	1975	257.26	Nagpur
5	Sanjay Gandhi (Borivilli) NP	1983	86.96	Thane & Mumbai
6	Tadoba NP	1955	116.55	Chandrapur
	Manipur
1	Keibul-Lamjao NP	1977	40.00	Bishnupur
	Meghalaya
1	Balphakram NP	1985	220.00	South Garo Hills
2	Nokrek Ridge NP	1986	47.48	East Garo Hills
	Mizoram
1	Murlen NP	1991	100.00	Champhai
2	Phawngpui Blue Mountain NP	1992	50.00	Lawngtlai
	Nagaland
1	Intanki NP	1993	202.02	Dimapur
	Odisha
1	Bhitarkanika NP	1988	145.00	Kendrapara
2	Simlipal NP	1980	845.70	Mayurbhanj
	Rajasthan
1	Mukundra Hills NP	2006	200.54	Kota & Chittourgarh
2	Desert NP	1992	3162.00	Barmer & Jaisalmer
3	Keoladeo Ghana NP	1981	28.73	Bharatpur
4	Ranthambhore NP	1980	282.00	Sawai Madhopur
5	Sariska NP	1992	273.80	Alwar
	Sikkim
1	Khangchendzonga NP	1977	1784.00	North Sikkim
	Tamil Nadu
1	Guindy NP	1976	2.82	Chennai
2	Gulf of Mannar Marine NP	1980	6.23	Ramanathpuram & Tuticorin
3	Indira Gandhi (Annamalai) NP	1989	117.10	Coimbatore
4	Mudumalai NP	1990	103.23	Nilgiris
5	Mukurthi NP	1990	78.46	Nilgiris
	Telangana
1	Kasu Brahmananda Reddy NP	1994	1.43	Hyderabad
2	Mahaveer Harina Vanasthali NP	1994	14.59	Ranga Reddy
3	Mrugavani NP	1994	3.60	Ranga Reddy
	Tripura
1	Clouded Leopard NP	2007	5.08	West Tripura
2	Bison (Rajbari) NP	2007	31.63	South Tripura
	Uttar Pradesh
1	Dudhwa NP	1977	490.00	Lakhimpur-Kheri
	Uttarakhand
1	Corbett NP	1936	520.82	Nainital & Pauri Garhwal
2	Gangotri NP	1989	2390.02	Uttarkashi
3	Govind NP	1990	472.08	Uttarkashi
4	Nanda Devi NP	1982	624.60	Chamoli
5	Rajaji NP	1983	820.00	Dehradun, Pauri Garhwal & Haridwar
6	Valley of Flowers NP	1982	87.50	Chamoli
	West Bengal
1	Buxa NP	1992	117.10	Jalpaiguri
2	Gorumara NP	1992	79.45	Jalpaiguri
3	Jaldapara NP	2014	216.51	Jalpaiguri
4	Neora Valley NP	1986	159.89	Darjeeling
5	Singalila NP	1986	78.60	Darjeeling
6	Sunderban NP	1984	1330.10	North & South 24-Paraganas

What is Wildlife Sanctuary

Any area other than area comprised with any reserve forest or the territorial waters can be notified by the State Government to constitute as a sanctuary if such area is of adequate ecological, faunal, floral, geomorphological, natural. or zoological significance, for the purpose of protecting, propagating or developing wildlife or its environment. Some restricted human activities are allowed inside the Sanctuary area details of which are given in CHAPTER IV, WPA 1972.

There are 551 existing wildlife sanctuaries in India covering an area of  118,918 km², which is 3.64 % of the geographical area of the country .

What is Conservation Reserves

Conservation reserves and community reserves in India are terms denoting protected areas of India which typically act as buffer zones to or connectors and migration corridors between established national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and reserved and protected forests of India. Such areas are designated as conservation areas if they are uninhabited and completely owned by the Government of India but used for subsistence by communities and community areas if part of the lands are privately owned.

These protected area categories were first introduced in the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act of 2002 − the amendment to the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. These categories were added because of reduced protection in and around existing or proposed protected areas due to private ownership of land, and land use.

What is Community Reserves

Conservation reserves and community reserves in India are terms denoting protected areas of India which typically act as buffer zones to or connectors and migration corridors between established national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and reserved and protected forests of India.

Such areas are designated as conservation areas if they are uninhabited and completely owned by the Government of India but used for subsistence by communities and community areas if part of the lands are privately owned.

These protected area categories were first introduced in the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act of 2002 − the amendment to the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.

These categories were added because of reduced protection in and around existing or proposed protected areas due to private ownership of land, and land use.

What is Marine Protected Areas

A marine protected area (MPA) is essentially a space in the ocean where human activities are more strictly regulated than the surrounding waters - similar to parks we have on land. These places are given special protections for natural or historic marine resources by local, state, territorial, native, regional, or national authorities.      

Marine Protected Areas in peninsular India-25

Marine Protected Areas in Islands of India-106

What is Biosphere Reserve

Biosphere reserves are sites established by countries and recognized under UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme to promote sustainable development based on local community efforts and sound science.The programme of Biosphere Reserve was initiated by UNESCO in 1971. The purpose of the formation of the biosphere reserve is to conserve in situ all forms of life, along with its support system, in its totality, so that it could serve as a referral system for monitoring and evaluating changes in natural ecosystems. The first biosphere reserve of the world was established in 1979, since then the network of biosphere reserves has increased to 631 in 119 countries across the world (Read more at http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/environment/ecological-sciences/biosphere-reserves/). 

Presently, there are 18 notified biosphere reserves in India.

  

  Biosphere Reserves in India (as on Dec, 2014)

S. No.	Name	Date of Notification	Area (in km2)	Location (State)
1	Nilgiri	01.09.1986	5520 (Core 1240 & Buffer 4280)	Part of Wayanad, Nagarhole, Bandipur and Madumalai, Nilambur, Silent Valley and Siruvani hills (Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka).
2	Nanda Devi	18.01.1988	5860.69 (Core 712.12, Buffer 5,148.570) & T. 546.34)	Part of Chamoli, Pithoragarh, and Bageshwar districts (Uttarakhand).
3	Nokrek	01.09.1988	820 (Core 47.48 & Buffer 227.92, Transition Zone 544.60)	Part of Garo hills (Meghalaya).
4	Great Nicobar	06.01.1989	885 (Core 705 & Buffer 180)	Southern most islands of Andaman And Nicobar (A&N Islands).
5	Gulf of Mannar	18.02.1989	10,500 km2 Total Gulf area (area of Islands 5.55 km2)	Indian part of Gulf of Mannar between India and Sri Lanka (Tamil Nadu).
6	Manas	14.03.1989	2837 (Core 391 & Buffer 2,446)	Part of Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Barpeta, Nalbari, Kamprup and Darang districts (Assam)
7	Sunderbans	29.03.1989	9630 (Core 1700 & Buffer  7900)	Part of delta of Ganges and Brahamaputra river system (West Bengal).
8	Simlipal	21.06.1994	4374 (Core 845, Buffer 2129 & Transition 1400	Part of Mayurbhanj district (Orissa).
9	Dibru-Saikhowa	28.07.1997	765 (Core 340 & Buffer 425)	Part of Dibrugarh and Tinsukia Districts (Assam)
10	Dehang-Dibang	02.09.1998	5111.50 (Core 4094.80 &Buffer 1016.70)	Part of Siang and Dibang Valley in Arunachal Pradesh.
11	Pachmarhi	03.03.1999	4926	Parts of Betul, Hoshangabad and Chindwara districts of Madhya Pradesh.
12	Khangchendzonga	07.02.2000	2619.92 (Core 1819.34 & Buffer 835.92)	Parts of Khangchendzonga hills and Sikkim.
13	Agasthyamalai	12.11.2001	1828	Neyyar, Peppara and Shendurney  Wildlife Sanctuaries and their adjoining areas in Kerala.
14	Achanakamar -    Amarkantak	30.3.2005	3835.51 (Core 551.55 & Buffer  3283.86)	Covers parts of Anupur and Dindori districts of M.P. and parts of Bilaspur districts of Chhattishgarh State.
15	Kachchh	29.01.2008	12,454 km2	Part of Kachchh, Rajkot, Surendra Nagar and Patan Civil Districts of Gujarat State
16	Cold Desert	28.08.2009	7770	Pin Valley National Park and surroundings; Chandratal and Sarchu&Kibber Wildlife Sancturary in Himachal Pradesh
17	Seshachalam Hills	20.09.2010	4755.997	Seshachalam Hill Ranges covering parts of Chittoor and Kadapa districts of Andhra Pradesh
18	Panna	25.08.2011	2998.98	Part of Panna and Chhattarpur districts in Madhya Pradesh

  Source: Wildlife Institute of India

What is RAMSAR Wetland Sites

The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands, recognizing the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural, scientific, and recreational value.

RAMSAR WETLANDS SITES (Updated on May, 2019)

Sl. No.	Name of Site	State Location	Date of Declaration	Area (in Sq. km.)
1	Asthamudi Wetland	Kerala	19.8.2002	614
2	Bhitarkanika Mangroves	Orissa	19.8.2002	650
3	Bhoj Wetlands	Madhya Pradesh	19.8.2002	32.01
4	Chandertal Wetland	Himachal Pradesh	8.11.2005	0.49
5	Chilka Lake	Orissa	1.10.1981	1165
6	Deepor Beel	Assam	19.8.2002	40
7	East Calcutta Wetlands	West Bengal	19.8.2002	125
8	Harike Lake	Punjab	23.3.1990	41
9	Hokera Wetland	Jammu and Kashmir	8.11.2005	13.75
10	Kanjli Lake	Punjab	22.1.2002	1.83
11	Keoladeo Ghana NP	Rajasthan	1.10.1981	28.73
12	Kolleru Lake	Andhra Pradesh	19.8.2002	901
13	Loktak Lake	Manipur	23.3.1990	266
14	Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary	Gujarat	24/09/12	120
15	Point Calimere	Tamil Nadu	19.8.2002	385
16	Pong Dam Lake	Himachal Pradesh	19.8.2002	156.62
17	Renuka Wetland	Himachal Pradesh	8.11.2005	0.2
18	Ropar Lake	Punjab	22.1.2002	13.65
19	Rudrasagar Lake	Tripura	8.11.2005	2.4
20	Sambhar Lake	Rajasthan	23.3.1990	240
21	Sasthamkotta Lake	Kerala	19.8.2002	3.73
22	Sunderbans Wetland	West Bengal	30.1.2019	4230
23	Surinsar-Mansar Lakes	Jammu and Kashmir	8.11.2005	3.5
24	Tsomoriri Lake	Jammu and Kashmir	19.8.2002	120
25	Upper Ganga River (Brijghat to Narora Stretch)	Uttar Pradesh	8.11.2005	265.9
26	Vembanad Kol Wetland	Kerala	19.8.2002	1512.5
27	Wular Lake	Jammu & Kashmir	23.3.1990	189
		Total Area (in Sq. km.)		11121.31

  (Source:  Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India)