Context: 

This Article is based on the news “Notification of Rules framed under Section 49M of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 (as amended in 2022” which was published in the PIB. Notification of Rules Framed Under Section 49M of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 have been released by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. 

Section 49M of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972

• Section 49 M: It provides for registration of possession, transfer, and birth and reporting of the death of living scheduled animal species listed in the Appendices of CITES and as such listed in Schedule 4 of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972.
• PARIVESH PORTAL 2.0: All persons possessing a living specimen of such an animal species are required to apply for registration of such possession to the concerned State Chief Wild Life Warden, through the PARIVESH 2.0 portal. 

What is the Wildlife Protection Act?

• About:
  • The parliament of India enacted the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 for the protection of plants and animal species.
  • The act protects wild animals, birds, and plants and matters connected with them. It extends to the whole of India.

Provisions of Wildlife Protection Act (Amended in 2022):

• Protection: The act seeks to increase the species protected under the law and implements CITES.
• Penalty: The penalties have also been increased for general and specially protected animal violations.

• Reduction in Categories: The number of schedules has been redacted to four:
  • Schedule 1: Contains animal species enjoying the highest level of protection.
  • Schedule 2: For animal species subject to less protection.
  • Schedule 3: For protected plant species.
  • Schedule 4: For scheduled specimens under the CITES.
    • The act permits the Use of Elephants for religious or any other purposes.

Schedules Under Wildlife Protection Act 1972

• Schedule 1:

  • All the endangered species that need special protection are kept under this schedule. They are given protection from poaching, killing, trading, etc.
  • A person violating these provisions is subject to the harshest penalties under the law.
  • Animals under Schedule 1: Bengal Tiger, Clouded Leopard, Swamp Deer, Fishing Cat, etc

• Schedule 2:

  • Species under this schedule are accorded protection from the prohibition of trade.
  • They cannot be hunted except if they are suffering from disease or are under threat to human life.
  • Animals under Schedule 2: Himalayan Black Bear, Jackal, Flying Squirrel, Indian Cobra, etc.

• Schedule 3 and 4:

  • Those species which are not endangered and do not come in the category of Schedule 1 and 2 and are included in Schedule 3 and 4.
  • The species listed in schedule 3 and 4 are protected species and prohibited from hunting.
  • The penalty for any violation is less than those of Schedule 1 and 2.

• Schedule 5:

  • Animals listed in Schedule 5 are called “Vermin”, which can be hunted.
  • Animals included in Schedule 5 are mats, rats, common crows, fruit-eating bats, etc.

• Schedule 6:

• • It contains the list of plants that can be regulated in cultivation and it also restricts their possession, sale, and transportation.
  • Prior permission of competent authority is required for both the cultivation and trade of such plants.
  • Plants protected under this schedule are Red Vanda, Pitcher plants, Slipper orchids, etc.