Working Groups/Task Force for the Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007-2012)

Wildlife, biodiversity, traditional knowledge, and animal welfare for the Environment and Forests Sector

Dated 21st March, 2006

1. Review of the existing schemes/programmes of the Ministry of E and F in Wildlife and Animal Welfare Sectors and suggest ways to improve the efficiency of delivery through legislative, administrative, programmatic and resource interventions.
2. To suggest development goals, strategy, portfolio of schemes/programmes for the management of wildlife and Animal Welfare sectors in the 11^th Plan along with financial outlay.
3. To evaluate the present status of zoo management, its contribution in conservation of biodiversity and suggest the future plan including possible coverage of botanical gardens/biological parks within the sub sector.
4. To review the status of management planning of various national parks, sanctuaries and conservation reserves and suggest specific role of Govt of India in improving the quality of interventions in view of national and international commitments.
5. Recommend possible road map for developing and integrating eco-tourism in the eco development of the communities living in the vicinity of forests and protected areas.
6. To review the existing organizations and suggest a strategy for coordinating implementation of various programmes for the control of poaching and illegal trade in wildlife products.
7. To deliberate on the strengths and weaknesses including the extent of community involvement and the outcome of the recently concluded India Eco development Project and suggest the utility of the approach for adoption in future conservation plans for Protected Areas.
8. Deliberate on the various social, economic and conservation aspects of the Biological Diversity Act and suggest a roadmap for its implementation conforming to the socio-economic and management objectives emanating from the Convention on Biological Diversity, in particular the ecosystem approach, and the provisions for benefit sharing therein.
9. Recommend how an Indian Biodiversity Information System (IBIS) may be organized with appropriate provisions for safeguarding Intellectual Property Rights of individuals and communities providing knowledge on uses of biodiversity that may lead to commercial applications.
10. Examine the possibilities of extending programmes of joint forest management to protected areas.
11. Examine ways of creating positive incentives for conservation and regeneration of biodiversity resources through payment of service charges to the local communities following the Costa Rica model for payment of service charges for watershed conservation services following the Costa Rica model.
12. A community centered Animal Welfare strategy with vigorous role for voluntary agencies. Roadmap for effective role of the National Institute of Animal Welfare in fulfilling the desirable ethos in handling of animals and their welfare.
13. To make recommendations regarding mobilization of requisite financial resources for fulfillment of various goals and objectives set for wildlife sector.
14. Any other issue, which the working group considers relevant.
15. Official members of the Working Group will be paid TA/DA by their respective Departments as per the rules of entitlement applicable to them. The non-official members will be paid TA/DA by the Planning Commission as per SR 190 (a) for attending meetings of the Working Group.
16. The Working Group will submit its report to the Planning Commission by 31.10.2006.
17. Shri M. Ravindranath, Joint Adviser (E and F), Room No. 301, Yojana Bhavan ( Tel No. 2309£?2£^ will be the Nodal Officer for this Working Group for all further communications.