The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SC-NBWL) has recently called for a thorough review of the guidelines governing Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) around protected areas in India. The committee emphasised the need for a more flexible and site-specific approach that balances conservation objectives with local socio-economic conditions. This move comes amid growing concerns that the current uniform 10-kilometre ESZ rule is creating challenges for development and local communities without delivering proportional ecological benefits.
About Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs)
Eco-Sensitive Zones are buffer areas established around protected forests, wildlife sanctuaries, and national parks. Their purpose is to shield wildlife and biodiversity from harmful human activities such as mining, construction, and polluting industries. While certain activities like farming, eco-tourism, and renewable energy use are permitted, they are regulated to minimise ecological impact.
Concerns Over Uniform ESZ Rules
The SC-NBWL brought into light that applying a blanket 10-kilometre ESZ to every protected area regardless of its ecological or geographical context is ineffective. Examples include sanctuaries like Asola, Sukhna, Hastinapur, and Sanjay Gandhi National Park, where rigid ESZ rules have caused difficulties. In states like Himachal Pradesh, where a large proportion of land is already under forest or protected status, strict ESZ enforcement may impede local development without delivering equivalent environmental gains.
Calls for Site-Specific and Flexible Approaches
The committee recommended that ESZ guidelines be adapted to reflect the unique ecological and socio-economic realities of each region. This requires stakeholder consultations involving state governments, environmental experts, and relevant ministries. A formal inter-ministerial dialogue has been proposed to gather comprehensive inputs before finalising any guideline revisions.
Impact on Local Communities and Development
State officials expressed concerns that the current ESZ restrictions negatively affect local populations. Unlike protected areas where compensation for rights settlements is provided, ESZs lack such relief. This has led to hardships, especially in sectors like mining, industries, highways, housing, and tourism. The Chief Wildlife Wardens of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu brought into light the need for transitional periods and flexible frameworks to encourage conservation without stifling development or discouraging new protected area declarations.
Challenges in Implementation and Specific Cases
Instances were cited where the default ESZ imposition delayed or scaled down new protected area notifications. For example, Kerala’s proposal to expand Silent Valley National Park was rejected due to fears of automatic ESZ restrictions. The Wildlife Institute of India noted that current guidelines are mostly designed for terrestrial sanctuaries and may not suit marine ecosystems well. These challenges underline the necessity for tailored ESZ policies.
Next Steps in ESZ Guideline Review
Following the committee’s directive, the environment ministry is preparing a detailed note on ESZ issues. This will be followed by consultations within the ministry’s relevant divisions and a joint meeting of the ESZ and wildlife divisions. The final recommendations will be presented to the SC-NBWL for further deliberations and decisions on implementing a more balanced ESZ framework.
Questions for UPSC:
- Critically discuss the role of Eco-Sensitive Zones in balancing environmental conservation and local development in India.
- Analyse the challenges faced in implementing uniform environmental regulations across diverse ecological and socio-economic regions, with examples from India’s protected areas.
- With suitable examples, discuss the impact of environmental protection laws on local communities and economic activities in ecologically sensitive zones.
- Examine the importance of stakeholder consultations and inter-ministerial coordination in formulating effective environmental policies in India.
