14. (A) Evaluate the effectiveness of current biodiversity conservation strategies implemented in India in conserving endangered species. అంతరించిపోతున్న జాతులను పరికించటంలో ప్రస్తుతం భారతదేశంలో అమలులో ఉన్న జీవవైవిధ్య పరిరక్షణ వ్యూహాల ప్రభావాన్ని మూల్యాంకనం చేయుము.

 Here is your complete response for the question:

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Q14(A): Evaluate the effectiveness of current biodiversity conservation strategies implemented in India in conserving endangered species.

Word Count: ~1000 words
Includes: Essay (English), Summary (Telugu), Thinking Process + Memory Tricks, and 30 Detailed Examples

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🌱 Essay in English (1000 Words)

Introduction

India is one of the 17 megadiverse countries in the world, hosting nearly 8% of the world’s recorded species, including over 90,000 animal species and 45,000 plant species. However, rapid urbanization, deforestation, climate change, and poaching have led to a growing number of species becoming endangered. In this context, India has implemented several biodiversity conservation strategies—legal, institutional, community-based, and technological. This essay evaluates the effectiveness of these strategies in conserving endangered species.

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1. Legal Frameworks and Policies

a. Wildlife Protection Act, 1972

This is India’s foundational law for wildlife conservation. It has created:

• Six Schedules to classify animals/plants based on protection levels.

• Protected Areas (PAs) like National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Conservation Reserves, and Community Reserves.

✅ Effectiveness:

• Helped protect flagship species like the Bengal Tiger, Asiatic Lion, and Indian Rhino.

• However, implementation is uneven across states.

b. Biological Diversity Act, 2002

• Aimed at conservation and sustainable use.

• Established National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), State Biodiversity Boards, and local Biodiversity Management Committees.

✅ Effectiveness:

• Promoted documentation of local biodiversity through People’s Biodiversity Registers (PBRs).

• Limited awareness and funding hampered full-scale implementation.

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2. In-Situ Conservation Strategies

a. Protected Areas Network

• India has 106 National Parks, 567 Wildlife Sanctuaries, 18 Biosphere Reserves.

✅ Effectiveness:

• Has led to recovery of several endangered species like the Indian Rhino (Kaziranga), Asiatic Lion (Gir).

• Yet, challenges remain: human-wildlife conflict, habitat fragmentation, underfunded staff.

b. Project Tiger (1973)

• Launched for Bengal Tiger protection under NTCA (National Tiger Conservation Authority).

• Over 50 Tiger Reserves exist.

✅ Effectiveness:

• Tiger numbers rose from 1,411 (2006) to 2,967 (2018) — a doubling in a decade.

• But poaching, tourism pressure, and relocation issues continue.

c. Project Elephant (1992)

• Focus on elephant corridors and reducing human-elephant conflict.

✅ Effectiveness:

• Preserved many elephant habitats.

• But rising conflicts and habitat encroachment persist.

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3. Ex-Situ Conservation Strategies

a. Zoological Parks & Botanical Gardens

• Maintain species outside natural habitat.

• Central Zoo Authority ensures ethical standards.

✅ Effectiveness:

• Helped breed and reintroduce species like Vultures, Red Panda, and Gharial.

b. Gene Banks and Seed Vaults

• Institutions like NBPGR and National Gene Bank conserve plant diversity.

✅ Effectiveness:

• Critical for preserving agricultural biodiversity.

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4. Technological & Scientific Approaches

a. DNA Barcoding, e-Bird, GBIF, Remote Sensing

• Used for monitoring species and biodiversity mapping.

✅ Effectiveness:

• Helped in discovering new species and tracking endangered ones like Snow Leopard using camera traps and drones.

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5. Community-Based Conservation

a. Joint Forest Management (JFM)

• Involves communities in forest protection.

b. Sacred Groves

• Over 13,000 sacred groves protected under local customs.

✅ Effectiveness:

• Proved sustainable in tribal and traditional areas.

• Often overlooked in policy-making.

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6. Global Conventions and India’s Role

• India is party to CBD (Convention on Biological Diversity), CITES, Ramsar, IUCN.

• Developed National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP) and National Wildlife Action Plan (2017–2031).

✅ Effectiveness:

• Alignment with global standards.

• Poor follow-up and limited funding for action plans.

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7. Shortcomings & Challenges

• Low Funding: Only 0.002% of GDP allocated to biodiversity.

• Weak Law Enforcement: Illegal trade continues.

• Poor Inter-sectoral Coordination.

• Climate Change: Pushing species beyond their tolerance zones.

• Invasive Species: Threaten local biodiversity.

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Conclusion

India has taken significant steps in biodiversity conservation through legal, institutional, and community mechanisms. Projects like Project Tiger have shown measurable success. However, challenges such as poor enforcement, habitat loss, and climate change remain major threats. Going forward, more participatory, technology-driven, and climate-resilient strategies must be integrated to conserve endangered species sustainably.

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📜 Telugu Summary (సారాంశం)

భారతదేశం జీవవైవిధ్యంలో అగ్రగామిగా ఉండటంతో, అంతరించిపోతున్న జాతుల పరిరక్షణకు ఎన్నో వ్యూహాలు అమలులో ఉన్నాయి. వాటిలో ముఖ్యమైనవి:

• వన్యప్రాణుల సంరక్షణ చట్టం (1972), జీవవైవిధ్య చట్టం (2002)

• టైగర్ ప్రాజెక్ట్, ఏలిఫెంట్ ప్రాజెక్ట్ వంటి ప్రతిష్ఠాత్మక పథకాలు

• జంతు, వృక్ష ఉద్యానవనాలు, జీన్లు భద్రపరిచే బ్యాంకులు

• గ్రామస్థాయి జీవవైవిధ్య కమిటీలు, సేకృత అరణ్యాలు

• టెక్నాలజీ ఆధారంగా డీఎన్ఏ బార్కోడ్, డ్రోన్లు, క్యామరా ట్రాప్ ద్వారా పర్యవేక్షణ

కానీ ఇంకా కొన్ని సమస్యలు ఉన్నాయి:
❌ నిధుల కొరత, ❌ అమలు లోపాలు, ❌ వనరుల దోపిడి, ❌ మానవ-ప్రాణుల సంఘర్షణ

మొత్తంగా చూస్తే కొన్ని వ్యూహాలు విజయవంతంగా ఉన్నా, సమగ్ర దృక్పథంతో అమలు చేయాల్సిన అవసరం ఉంది.

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🧠 Thinking Process & Tricks to Remember (English + Telugu)

🧠 Memory Formula: “LIP-TEC”

L – Legal strategies
I – In-situ conservation
P – Projects like Tiger, Elephant
T – Technological tracking (DNA, drones)
E – Ex-situ strategies
C – Community & culture-based methods

👉 Trick in Telugu:
“చట్టం (L) - అడవి లోపల (I) - పెద్ద ప్రాజెక్టులు (P) - టెక్నాలజీ (T) - జూ లోపల (E) - గ్రామ సహకారం (C)”

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📌 30 DETAILED Examples of Endangered Species Conservation in India

No	Example	Conservation Strategy	Location
1	Bengal Tiger	Project Tiger	Sundarbans, Corbett
2	Asiatic Lion	Gir Lion Project	Gir National Park
3	Indian Rhino	In-situ via Park Protection	Kaziranga, Assam
4	Snow Leopard	Project Snow Leopard	Himalayas
5	Indian Elephant	Project Elephant	Wayanad, Nilgiris
6	Olive Ridley Turtle	Mass Nesting Protection	Gahirmatha Beach
7	Great Indian Bustard	Species Recovery Plan	Rajasthan, Gujarat
8	Gharial	Breeding + Reintroduction	Chambal Sanctuary
9	Red Panda	Himalayan Zoo Breeding	Sikkim, Darjeeling
10	Indian Vulture	Vulture Safe Zones	Haryana, MP
11	Dugong	Seagrass Conservation	Andaman & Nicobar
12	Malabar Civet	Western Ghats Reserve	Kerala
13	Blackbuck	Bishnoi Protection + Sanctuaries	Rajasthan, Gujarat
14	Hangul Deer	Dachigam NP	J&K
15	Hoolock Gibbon	Community Forests	NE India
16	Nicobar Megapode	Island Species Plan	Nicobar Islands
17	Lion-tailed Macaque	Silent Valley NP	Kerala
18	Nilgiri Tahr	Eravikulam NP	Kerala
19	Wild Ass	Wild Ass Sanctuary	Rann of Kutch
20	Fishing Cat	Wetland Protection	Sundarbans
21	Indian Pangolin	Anti-poaching surveillance	MP, Odisha
22	Slender Loris	Protected Areas	TN, Karnataka
23	Jerdon’s Courser	Rediscovery & Research	Andhra Pradesh
24	Indian Wolf	Grassland Reserves	MP, Maharashtra
25	Forest Owlet	Satellite Tracking	Satpura Hills
26	Salim Ali Fruit Bat	Species Status Review	Meghalaya
27	Purple Frog	Endemic in Western Ghats	Kerala
28	Clouded Leopard	Habitat Protection	NE India
29	Giant Squirrel	Eco-sensitive Zones	Maharashtra
30	Indian Star Tortoise	CITES export ban	Telangana, TN

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## Evaluating the Effectiveness of India's Biodiversity Conservation Strategies for Endangered Species  

India, one of the world's 17 megadiverse nations, hosts 7–8% of global species across four biodiversity hotspots . Despite significant policy initiatives, conservation outcomes for endangered species remain uneven. This essay evaluates the effectiveness of current strategies, highlighting successes, limitations, and pathways for improvement.  

### **I. Strengths of Current Strategies**  

1. **Flagship Species Programs**:  

   - **Project Tiger (1973)**: Increased tiger populations from 1,827 (1973) to 3,682 (2022), covering 54 reserves (2.3% of India’s land) . The "umbrella species" approach protected ecosystems but often neglected co-inhabitants like hog deer in Corbett Tiger Reserve .  

   - **Project Dolphin (2020)**: Pioneered satellite tagging of Ganges River dolphins, enabling habitat mapping and targeted anti-poaching measures .  

2. **Policy and Financial Commitments**:  

   - **National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP 2024-2030)**: Aligns with global KM-GBF targets, allocating ₹816 billion/year for habitat restoration and invasive species management .  

   - **Expanded Protected Areas (PAs)**: 1,014 PAs (5.32% of India) include Community Reserves, integrating local stakeholders . Other Effective Conservation Measures (OECMs) further extend coverage .  

3. **Technological and Global Leadership**:  

   - **Wildlife Institute of India (WII)**: Trained >1,000 researchers in species recovery, e.g., gharial reintroduction .  

   - **International Big Cats Alliance (2025)**: Treaty-based cooperation among 27 countries for transboundary conservation .  

### **II. Critical Limitations**  

1. **Overemphasis on Charismatic Species**:  

   - Tiger-centric management in Sahyadri Tiger Reserve diverted resources from endangered dholes (<2,215 mature individuals globally) . Only 12% of threatened amphibians (e.g., dancing frog) receive legal protection .  

2. **Habitat Fragmentation and Policy Gaps**:  

   - **Infrastructure Projects**: The Great Nicobar Island megaproject threatens 130 km² of rainforest housing Nicobar scrubfowl and leatherback turtles .  

   - **Agricultural Subsidies**: Fertilizer subsidies (exceeding $1.15 billion) degraded 24.2% of Punjab’s wells through uranium contamination, harming soil biodiversity .  

3. **Inadequate Inclusive Governance**:  

   - **Exclusion of Local Communities**: Evictions from tiger reserves ignored traditional knowledge, while crop damage by deer/nilgai cost Maharashtra ₹150 crore/year in compensation .  

   - **Weak Implementation**: Only 44% of Aichi Targets were met due to ambiguous benchmarks; similar risks plague KM-GBF alignment .  

### **III. Recommendations for Integrated Conservation**  

1. **Ecosystem-Based Approaches**:  

   - Scale up OECMs to protect Open Natural Ecosystems (ONEs), like grasslands hosting critically endangered Great Indian Bustards .  

   - Adopt IUCN’s "Green Status of Species" metrics to measure genetic recovery and ecological functionality .  

2. **Subsidy Reforms and Agroecology**:  

   - Redirect funds from chemical fertilizers to organic farming (e.g., PM-PRANAM Scheme) and traditional crop revival .  

   - Promote millet cultivation in 22 agrobiodiversity hotspots to reduce monoculture impacts .  

3. **Community-Led Conservation**:  

   - Expand BMCs (Biodiversity Management Committees) to document indigenous knowledge, as seen in Rajasthan’s medicinal plant exhibitions .  

   - Replicate Earth5R’s mangrove restoration in Sundarbans, combining livelihoods with tiger habitat protection .  

### **Conclusion**  

India’s conservation strategies excel in flagship species recovery but falter in holistic biodiversity protection. Future success hinges on decentralizing governance, repurposing harmful subsidies, and embracing community-driven models. As underscored by India’s ethos *"Prakriti Rakshati Rakshita"* (Nature protects if protected), integrating ecological and social equity is paramount .  

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### **తెలుగులో సారాంశం** (Summary in Telugu):  

భారతదేశం ప్రపంచంలోని 17 మేగా-వైవిధ్య దేశాలలో ఒకటి. టైగర్, ఏనుగు వంటి ప్రముఖ జాతుల పరిరక్షణలో (ఉదా: బెంగాల్ పులుల సంఖ్య 1,827 నుండి 3,682 కి పెరగడం) విజయాలు సాధించినప్పటికీ, అనేక అంతరించిపోతున్న జాతులు (గ్రేట్ ఇండియన్ బస్టర్డ్, డాన్సింగ్ ఫ్రాగ్) నిర్లక్ష్యానికి గురవుతున్నాయి. ప్రధాన సవాళ్లు:  

- **ఏకపంచాయితీ జాతి దృక్పథం**: పులుల కోసం నిర్వహించే గడ్డి భూమి నిర్వహణ హాగ్ హరణ వంటి ఇతర జాతులను ప్రమాదంలో పెట్టింది.  

- **వ్యవసాయ సబ్సిడీలు**: రసాయన ఎరువులకు ఇచ్చే సబ్సిడీలు మట్టి ఆరోగ్యాన్ని దెబ్బతీస్తున్నాయి.  

- **స్థానిక సమాజాల మినహాయింపు**: పరిరక్షణ ప్రాంతాల నుండి స్థానికుల తరలింపు వారి సాంప్రదాయ జ్ఞానాన్ని అణచివేస్తుంది.  

భవిష్యత్తు మార్గాలు:  

- **సమగ్ర పరిరక్షణ**: ఓఈసీఎంలు (OECMs) ద్వారా గడ్డి భూములు, చిత్తడి భూముల రక్షణ.  

- **సబ్సిడి సంస్కరణలు**: సేంద్రీయ వ్యవసాయానికి ప్రోత్సాహం.  

- **సమాజ-ఆధారిత నిర్వహణ**: రాజస్థాన్‌లోని బీఎంసీల (BMCs) మాదిరి స్థానిక సంఘాల భాగస్వామ్యం.  

### **Thinking Process & Memory Tricks (తెలుగు/English):**  

- **FLAG**: **F**lagship bias → **L**ess charismatic species decline → **A**ddress ecosystems → **G**reen Status metrics.  

  *Example:* Tiger focus harmed dholes .  

- **WISE**: **W**etlands/grasslands → **I**nvasive species control → **S**ubsidy reform → **E**mpower communities.  

  *Example:* PM-PRANAM reduces fertilizer use .  

- **తెలగుపొలిమి** (Telugu mnemonic):  

  - **తె**లుగు సంప్రదాయం → స్థానిక జ్ఞానం ఉపయోగించండి.  

  - **ల**క్ష్యం: 30% పునరుద్ధరణ (NBSAP లక్ష్యం).  

  - **పొ**లిమి సబ్సిడీలు → సేంద్రీయ వ్యవసాయానికి మార్చండి.  

### **30 Detailed Examples of Conservation Strategies & Outcomes:**  

1. **Project Tiger (1973)**: 54 reserves; tigers ↑6.1%/yr . *But:* Hog deer in Corbett TR <100 due to grassland destruction .  

2. **Satellite Tagging (Ganges Dolphin)**: First-ever in Assam (2024) to study migration .  

3. **OECMs**: Community-managed areas outside PAs (e.g., Rajasthan’s sacred groves) .  

4. **ICRIER Study (2025)**: Identified $1.15B subsidies harming soil biodiversity .  

5. **PM-PRANAM Scheme (2023)**: Incentivizes states to cut chemical fertilizers .  

6. **Earth5R Mangroves**: Sundarbans restoration protecting tigers + livelihoods .  

7. **Nilgiri Tahr Recovery**: WWF-India’s Threatened Species Programme since 2008 .  

8. **Dhole Conservation Ignored**: Sahyadri TR focused on tigers, not endangered wild dogs .  

9. **Great Nicobar Project**: Will destroy 130 km² of rainforest, endangering scrubfowl .  

10. **Dancing Frog Exclusion**: Not listed in Wildlife Act 2022 despite microclimate vulnerability .  

11. **Grassland Carbon Sinks**: Studies prove they sequester more carbon than forests .  

12. **Schistura hiranyakeshi**: Freshwater fish endemic to Amboli; no legal protection .  

13. **CA|TS Accreditation**: 23 Indian tiger reserves meet global standards .  

14. **Millet Revival**: NBSAP promotes coarse grains in 22 agrobiodiversity zones .  

15. **Ramganga Dam (1970s)**: Inundated terai grasslands, crashing hog deer populations .  

16. **Tx2 Award**: Pench/Satpura TRs doubled tiger numbers .  

17. **Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam**: 142 crore plantations (2024) boosting urban biodiversity .  

18. **Western Ghats Delay**: UNESCO site unprotected for 12+ years due to policy gridlock .  

19. **GIB Power Line Deaths**: Renewable infrastructure in ONEs caused collisions .  

20. **Spotted Deer Invasion**: Introduced in Sahyadri TR, now invasive and crop-raiding .  

21. **Biodiversity Heritage Sites**: 49 sites notified (e.g., traditional rice varieties) .  

22. **Captive Breeding (GIB)**: Planned but habitat loss questions release viability .  

23. **Tadoba TR Overpopulation**: 150 tigers causing 253 human deaths (2019–24) .  

24. **WII Training**: 1,028+ researchers skilled in species recovery .  

25. **Indus-Gangetic Dolphins**: Recognized as distinct species (WLPA 2022 amendment) .  

26. **Ramsar Sites Expansion**: 89 wetlands (1.35M ha) protected .  

27. **Tiger Reintroduction**: Success in Rajaji, Madhav, and Mukundra Hills TRs .  

28. **Organic Farming (BPKP)**: Covered 7.5M ha under natural farming .  

29. **HWC-NAP (2021-26)**: Human-wildlife conflict strategy with German collaboration .  

30. **Leatherback Turtles**: Threatened by Great Nicobar dredging .  

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**Sources**: Data synthesized from MoEFCC , scientific assessments , and NGO reports .