UPSC Prelims 2010 Q22: Environment & Ecology – Protected Areas & Wildlife
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only
Explanation
Checking three statements on protected area categories
India's Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 defines distinct rules for National Parks, Biosphere Reserves, and Wildlife Sanctuaries.
| Statement | Verdict | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1. National Park boundaries are defined by legislation | Incorrect | National Park boundaries are defined by a government notification/order, not necessarily through a full legislative Act for each park |
| 2. Biosphere Reserve conserves a few specific species | Incorrect | A Biosphere Reserve conserves entire ecosystems and genetic diversity broadly, not just a few specific species — that narrower goal is more typical of a sanctuary focused on particular species |
| 3. Limited biotic interference permitted in Wildlife Sanctuary | Correct | Unlike National Parks (stricter protection), a Wildlife Sanctuary permits limited human activity/biotic interference, such as regulated grazing or collection of forest produce |
Protected area categories:
| Type | Key feature |
|---|---|
| National Park | Stricter protection, defined by notification |
| Biosphere Reserve | Conserves entire ecosystems, not just specific species |
| Wildlife Sanctuary | Limited biotic interference permitted |
Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only — Note: per the standard key, statement 1 is also accepted as broadly correct (boundaries fixed through government notification having the force of law), so the combination of 1 and 3 is the key's answer.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Statement 3 (limited biotic interference in sanctuaries) is also correct, so '1 only' is incomplete.
- (b) Incorrect. Statement 2's claim that Biosphere Reserves target 'a few specific species' is inaccurate; they protect whole ecosystems.
- (c) CORRECT. Statement 1 (boundaries fixed by legal notification) and statement 3 (limited biotic interference in sanctuaries) are both accurate per the standard key.
- (d) Incorrect. Statement 2's narrow species-specific framing of Biosphere Reserves is inaccurate, so 'all three' cannot be correct.
Key point
National Park boundaries are fixed through legal notification (statement 1), and Wildlife Sanctuaries permit limited biotic interference (statement 3) — but Biosphere Reserves protect WHOLE ecosystems, not just a few specific species (statement 2 is wrong).
Remember
National Park boundaries: legally defined. Wildlife Sanctuary: limited biotic interference allowed. Biosphere Reserve: protects whole ecosystems, not just a few species.
Common mistakes
- Describing a Biosphere Reserve as targeting only a few species, when its scope is whole-ecosystem conservation.
- Not knowing Wildlife Sanctuaries, unlike National Parks, permit some regulated human activity.
- Confusing the legal basis for defining National Park boundaries with a more informal process.
Exam tip
Biosphere Reserve = whole ecosystem, not a few species. Wildlife Sanctuary = allows limited biotic interference, unlike the stricter National Park.
Sources
- Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, Chapter IV (Sanctuaries, National Parks and Closed Areas)
- UNESCO — Man and the Biosphere Programme: the Seville Strategy and the Statutory Framework of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves (1995)