CONSERVATION CHALLENGES

Progressive loss of habitat

	Several forest tracts have been lost for agriculture

The direct and most notable impact on wildlife has been the loss of habitat, attributable to several reasons, mainly human. It is estimated that five millionhectares of forests in India have been lost. The "grow more food" campaign in post-independent India combined with rapid rise in population led to large tracts of forest areas cleared and vast area of fertile land and grassy swamps, where large faunal assemblage like tiger, elephant and gaur inhabited, were converted into farmland. Habitat loss therefore, heads the list of problems for Indian wildlife. The inescapable fact that 30% of the people in India are still landless is a potential problem. This further increases the pressure on forest land with fragmentation and honeycombing, either through agriculture or human enclaves emerging as a serious threat.

Large forest areas have also been fragmented by non-farming activity like mining and improper siting of "developmental" projects like dams and roads. This has further compounded honeycombing and fragmentation of the wildlife habitat. Construction of roads in fragile wildlife habitats is detrimental to wildlife. Roads open up new forest areas for illegal activities like timber smuggling, poaching, etc., and cause fragmentation of wildlife habitats as well.

	Critical wildlife habitats have been fragmented due to   developmental projects

Consequently, the tiger's range has shrunk to about 1% of its former range. The extinction of Cheetahs has been driven primarily by habitat loss. Expanding horizons of agriculture including slash and burn cultivation along with industrial and developmental pressures has eroded forest cover thereby shrinking and fragmenting wildlife habitats further.

Other challenges:
>> Illegal hunting and wildlife trade
>> Commercial exploitation of forests
>> Removal of dead and fallen trees
>> Collection of minor forest produce
>> Livestock grazing
>> Fire
>> Unscientific management practices