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UPSC Prelims 2023 · Environment · Rules for the Planet
Consider the following statements: Once the Central Government notifies an area as a 'Community Reserve' How many of the above statements are correct?
- The Chief Wildlife Warden of the State becomes the governing authority of such forest.
- Hunting is not allowed in such area.
- People of such area are allowed to collect non-timber forest produce.
- People of such area are allowed traditional agricultural practices.
- (a) Only one
- (b) Only two
- (c) Only three
- (d) All four
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: (b) Only two
UPSC’s official key: two statements are correct (2 and 3). Hunting is banned and forest produce may be collected; the reserve is run by a community committee, and farming practices are not a protected right there.
Statement by statement
1. ✗ WRONG A Community Reserve Management Committee manages it, not the Chief Wildlife Warden.
2. ✓ CORRECT Once it is a community reserve the Wild Life (Protection) Act applies, so hunting is not allowed.
3. ✓ CORRECT Existing rights of the community are not taken away, so collecting non-timber forest produce continues.
4. ✗ WRONG UPSC’s key treats this as wrong. After notification, changes in land use need committee and State approval; this does not ban every existing agricultural practice.
The idea
A community reserve is declared on community or private land whose owners volunteer to protect wildlife there. The land stays with the people and a committee of local people manages it. The price of that status is that the land use is frozen: it cannot be changed without the committee’s resolution and the State Government’s approval.
Community offers its land for conservation → State Government notifies a community reserve → Community Reserve Management Committee runs it → The Wild Life Act applies: no hunting → Existing rights such as collecting forest produce continue → Land use cannot be changed
The trap
In sanctuaries the Chief Wildlife Warden is in charge, so statement 1 feels natural. Statement 4 feels natural too because the word “community” suggests every old practice continues.
Also know
Conservation reserves and community reserves were added by the 2002 amendment. A conservation reserve is on government land, usually next to a park or linking two protected areas. A community reserve is on community or private land. Most community reserves of India are in the North-East, especially Nagaland and Meghalaya. Under the Act it is the State Government that notifies these reserves.
🔒 Conservation / community reserves (2002 amendment, WPA Sec 36A–36D). First conservation reserve: Tiruppadaimarathur (Tamil Nadu, 2005). First community reserve: Keshopur Chhamb (Punjab, 2007).