Wild Life Protection Areas

Rajasthan is noted for its National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries. There are three national parks viz. the Keoladeo National Park of Bharatpur,  Ranthambore National Park of Sawai Madhopur, and Mukundara Hills National Park of Kota.

Ranthambore National Park and Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary are both known worldwide for their tiger population and considered by both wilderness lovers and photographers as the best places in India to spot tigers. Prominent among the wildlife sanctuaries are Mount Abu Sanctuary, Bhainsrod Garh Sanctuary,  Jaisamand Sanctuary, Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary, Jawahar Sagar sanctuary and Sita Mata Wildlife Sanctuary.

National Parks

Sanctuaries

Conservation Reserves

Conservation Reserves can be declared by the State Governments in any area owned by the Government, particularly the areas adjacent to National Parks and Sanctuaries and those areas which link one Protected Area with another. Such declaration is made after having consultations with the local communities. Conservation Reserves are declared for the purpose of protecting landscapes, flora and fauna and their habitat. The rights of people living inside a Conservation Reserve are not affected. The areas declared as conservation reserves in the State of Rajasthan are:

Community Reserves

Community Reserves can be declared by the State Government in any private or community land not comprised within a National Park, Sanctuary or a Conservation Reserve, where an individual or a community has volunteered to conserve wildlife and its habitat. Community Reserves are declared for the purpose of protecting fauna, flora and traditional or cultural conservation values and practices. As in the case of a Conservation Reserve, the rights of people living inside a Community Reserve are not affected. Though no area in the State has so far been declared as community reserve but efforts in this regard are on.

Community Based Conservation Initiatives

Even as rampant destruction of the environment, in its varied forms and associated efforts, continue to rise, there have been practices among communities in the State where people themselves have protected and nurtured biodiversity. Across the State, there are numerous examples of areas that might not have been designated as protected areas as per the existing Act and Rules, yet are rich in biodiversity due to substantial involvement and protection by local communities. Nearly 50% of wildlife species are found outside the traditional protected area network. The communities have volunteered to conserve wild life and its habitat in these areas. Action of communities can play a significant role in protecting biodiversity. These initiatives are indeed progressive, as they could help conserve and sustainably manage various community conserved biodiversity rich sites in the State, which may at times need a legal backing. Administration of such areas is through local people and local agencies like the Gram panchayats, as in the case of community forests. The contribution of ‘Vishnoi Community’ is unparallel in this regard.

Details of wild life protected area (click here)