With reference to ‘Eco-Sensitive Zones’, which of the following statements is/are correct?
- 1. Eco-Sensitive Zones are the areas that are declared under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
- 2. The purpose of the declaration of Eco-Sensitive Zones is to prohibit all kinds of human activities in those zones except agriculture.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
1 only
2 and 3 only
2 only
1, 2 and 3
Answer is Right!
Answer is Wrong!
This question was previously asked in
UPSC IAS – 2014
1. Eco-Sensitive Zones are the areas that are declared under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. – This statement is incorrect. Eco-Sensitive Zones are declared under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, not the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
2. The purpose of the declaration of Eco-Sensitive Zones is to prohibit all kinds of human activities in those zones except agriculture. – This statement is incorrect. The purpose of ESZs is to create a buffer zone around National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries to regulate and manage certain activities to minimize negative impacts on the protected area. It does *not* prohibit *all* human activities. Certain activities are prohibited (e.g., commercial mining, polluting industries), others are regulated (e.g., felling of trees, setting up of hotels/resorts), and some are permitted (e.g., ongoing agriculture/horticulture, rainwater harvesting). The phrase “prohibit all kinds of human activities… except agriculture” is an oversimplification and inaccurate description of the regulations within ESZs.
Since both statements are incorrect, the correct option is D.
– The primary goal is conservation of biodiversity and reducing the impact of development activities in the immediate vicinity of protected areas.
– A Zonal Master Plan is prepared for each ESZ to regulate activities.