Role of Protected Area in Conservation and Sustainable Management of Biodiversity: An Indian Perspective

Abstract

AbstractProtected areas (PAs) are the terrestrial or marine regions that are preserved for conserving biodiversity and their habitats to serve a range of socioecological functions including scientific research and education, protection of wildlife, conservation of biodiversity, and securing a range of ecological goods and services. India has strong legislation for the protection and conservation of biodiversity through the protected area network (PAN) through government investment. In India being a developing country, PA management has a great challenge due to the rapidly growing human population and their higher dependency on natural forests for their sustenance needs and livelihood security, political and economic instability, and higher poverty. Local socioeconomic conditions, the long-term scientific ecological studies on biodiversity in buffer and transition zones, development of assessment and monitoring techniques, and evaluation of economic and ecological benefits are some of the key aspects that become more important to determine the success of PAs towards environmental and socioeconomic sustainability. Therefore, the present chapter focused on the scientific, environmental, socioeconomic, and cultural values of Indian PAs and their specific role in the conservation of biodiversity.KeywordsBiosphere reservesNational parksWildlife sanctuaryProtected area networkBiodiversity conservation