The wildlife is being affected by exploitation of forests in the name of developing infrastructural aspects. Along with this, the limited area of forests is causing the wild animals to move closer to human habitations which then affects human life too, said the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) director Vinod B Mathur.
He was speaking at a programme organised as part of wildlife week activities by the Uttarakhand State Council of Science and Technology (UCOST) on its Vigyan Dham compound on the outskirts of Dehradun.
Speaking as the chief guest on the occasion, the WII director said that considering the situation created by factors including the indiscriminate over-exploitation of natural resources, there is need for drafting such plans which also facilitate conservation of the fauna.
For years now, the Government has been pursuing such planned measures for the purpose of protecting the tiger with positive results also being achieved consequently. Only by ensuring the protection of animals can we successfully conserve our natural wealth heritage.
“Issues of such type anywhere in the world need to be resolved with consolidated effort because an incident taking place in one place also exerts an effect on other parts of the world,” said the WII director.
Expressing his views as the guest of honour on the occasion, State principal chief conservator of forests, Jairaj emphasised on the importance of protection of wildlife and other ecological components. He also spoke of the various Government and departmental schemes being undertaken for the protection of wild animals, adding that successful results of such efforts are now becoming visible.
He said, “Plans prepared by the Government can achieve the full intended benefit when the common humans too become committed towards the same. Humans are establishing their sole dominance even in the areas of the wild animals which in turn is causing a rise in incidence of human-wildlife conflict.” Jairaj also expressed concern at the extinction of varied and small creatures.
The general public should interact with the forest department officials and participate in programmes related to raising public awareness regarding the protection of wildlife, he opined.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion, the director general of UCOST, Rajendra Dobhal also stressed on the need for drafting such plans which effectively ensure the protection of wildlife and environment.
“We are putting the lives of wild animals at risk in the name of our ‘development’ which will not be good for the future. He informed that a bio-diversity park is presently being made at the Vigyan Dham campus of the council. Work on the bio-diversity park may probably be completed by June 2017, he said.