(a) whether the Government proposes to formulate a conservation plan for protection of the shrinking habitat of the sloth bear found in the State of Telangana;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the details of the strategy adopted by the Government to conserve the natural habitat and protect the same from deleterious human intrusion;
(d) the funds allocated/released for such scheme; and
(e) the details of international cooperation, if any, in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)
(a)and(b) There is no specific proposal to formulate a conservation plan for protection of shrinking habitat of the sloth bear in the State of Telangana.
(c)and(d)In order to protect the natural habitat of wildlife including sloth bear, the State Governments have notified a network of Protected Areas. Some of these Protected Areas are specifically established for protection of bears. Activities inside the Protected Areas are strictly regulated in accordance with the provisions of Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. Further, the Ministry provides financial assistance to States and Union Territory for protection and conservation of wild animals including sloth bears and their habitats under various Centrally Sponsored Schemes viz, ‘Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats’, ‘Project Tiger’, and ‘Project Elephant’.
Details of funds released to State/ UT Governments under these Centrally Sponsored Schemes during last financial year, 2014-15 are given in the Annexure.
(e) India is signatory to various International Conventions related to conservation of flora and fauna like Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and Convention on Migratory Species (CMS).
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