National Board for Wildlife

It has been stated in the Section 5-A of the Amendment Act of 2002 that within three months from the date of commencement of the Wildlife Protection Act, 2002, the Central Government shall constitute the National Board for wildlife which will undertake the following functions:-

• The National Board should promote the development and conservation of wildlife and forests by taking necessary steps.
• It should act as the framer of policies and an advisory body for the Central Government and the State Governments.
• It should implement ways ways and means to promote conservation of wildlife and effectively controlling poaching and illegal trade of wildlife and its products.
• Progress reports from time to time should be collected by it in the field of wildlife conservation in India and suggesting measures for improvement thereto.
• Recommendations on the management and setting up of national parks, sanctuaries and other protected areas mentioned in the Act.
• Restriction should be imposed by it in these protected areas.
• Impact assessment of various activities and projects on wildlife or its habitat should be carries out by the National Board.
• It should prepare and publish a status report at least once in two years on wildlife in the Country.

Standing Committee of the National Board

The National Board may constitute a Standing Committee for the purpose of exercising powers and such deities which are imposed or delegated on it by the National Board.

The Standing Committee shall include the Vice-Chairperson, the Member-Secretary, and not more than ten members to be nominated by the Vice-Chairperson from amongst the members of the National Board.

State Board for Wildlife

It is constituted by the State Government which will consist of members mentioned in the list from (a) to (r) in Section-6 of the Act to perform the duties mentioned in Section-8 of the Act. The State Board also acts as an advisor body for the State Government: -

• In the formulation of policy in granting licenses and permits under this Act;
• In the selection and management of areas to be declared as protected areas;
• In any matter relating to the amendment of any schedule;
• In relation to the matters to be taken for harmonizing the needs of the tribals and other dwellers of the forest with the protection and conservation of wildlife; and
• In any other matter connected with the protection of wildlife which may be referred to it by the State Government.

Hunting of Wild Animals

Wild animals that are specified in the Schedules I, II, III and IV except as under Sections 11 and 12 will not be hunted by any person. Any wild animal which is wounded or killed shall be government property. The State Government may order in good faith to kill or wound any wild animal for the safety of one’s self will not be considered as an offence. The Government can grant permission to kill a specific wild animal for special purposes like scientific research, education or scientific management. Under any circumstances, killing a wild animal is a punishable offence (Section 9-12). The killing and wounding of any wild animal in good faith and in defense of oneself is permitted. Any wild animal killed or wounded in defense of any person shall be the property of Government.

Grant of Permit for Special Purposes

The Chief wildlife warden can grant a permit in writing stating the reasons therefore, to any person on payment of such fee as may be prescribed, which shall entitle the holder as such permit to hunt, subject to such conditions as maybe specified therein, any wild animal specified in such permit, for the purpose of: (a) Education; (b) Scientific Research; (bb) Scientific Management.

If a person has not obtained a license under Section-9 for hunting the animals, the tiger killed by him and its fur would be the property of the State Government and not his property. License under Section-9 for hunting is necessary in addition to license under Arms Act.

Protection of Specified Plants

Specified Plants can be found in the forests. A person is restricted to willfully pick, damage, uproot, destroy, acquire or collect any specified plants from any forest land and any area specified by notification from appropriate body. A person is forbidden to possess, sell, offer for sale, or transfer by way of gift or otherwise or transport any specified plants, whether alive or dead or part or derivative thereof. Special permission may be given by the Government for special purposes to pick up the specified plants for the purposes of education, scientific research, collection, preservation and display in an herbarium of any scientific institution.

However, a member of Scheduled Tribe can pick, collect or possess any specified plant from the district he resides in for his bona fide personal use. Cultivation of Specified plants without a license is prohibited.