UPSC CSE Prelims
Conservation Reserves and Community Reserves Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
Practice solved questions for Conservation Reserves and Community Reserves with detailed step-by-step solutions, key insights, and trend analysis for UPSC CSE PRELIMS.
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Consider the following statements:
Once the Central Government notifies an area as a 'Community Reserve'
- 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
How many of the above statements are correct?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 2 — Only two
Community Reserves are protected areas in India that act as buffer zones or migration corridors between established national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. Among the four statements given, only two are correct regarding the governance and permitted activities in Community Reserves.
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: The Chief Wildlife Warden does not become the governing authority. As per Section 36D of the Wildlife Protection Act, the State Government constitutes a Community Reserve Management Committee which is the responsible authority for managing the community reserve. The committee elects a Chairman who acts as the Honorary Wildlife Warden.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Hunting is strictly prohibited in Community Reserves once an area is notified as such under the Wildlife Protection Act.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: People living in and around Community Reserves are permitted to collect non-timber forest produce (NTFP) as part of their traditional rights and livelihood activities.
❌ Statement 4 – Incorrect: Traditional agricultural practices, including shifting cultivation (jhum), are not allowed in Community Reserves to protect the ecological integrity of these areas.
📝 Short Notes: Community Reserves under Wildlife Protection Act
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Legal Provision | Section 36A to 36D of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 |
| Declaration Authority | State Government notifies an area as Community Reserve on request from community or suo motu |
| Management Authority | Community Reserve Management Committee (not Chief Wildlife Warden) |
| Chairman | Elected by the committee; acts as Honorary Wildlife Warden |
| Purpose | Buffer zones, corridors between national parks/sanctuaries, and linking habitats |
| Hunting | Prohibited |
| NTFP Collection | Allowed for local communities |
| Agriculture/Jhum | Not permitted to maintain ecological balance |
Among the following Tiger Reserves, which one has the largest area under “Critical Tiger Habitat”?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 3 — Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam
Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve, spread across five districts in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, has the largest Critical Tiger Habitat (CTH) among the given options with a total area of approximately 3,728 sq. km. Critical Tiger Habitats are core areas of tiger reserves notified under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, which are kept inviolate for tiger conservation based on scientific evidence.
📝 Short Notes: Major Tiger Reserves and Their Critical Tiger Habitat Areas
| Tiger Reserve | State(s) | Approximate CTH Area | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam | Andhra Pradesh & Telangana | ~3,728 sq. km (largest) | Spans across Krishna and Godavari basins; largest tiger reserve in India |
| Corbett | Uttarakhand | ~1,318 sq. km | India's first national park (1936); oldest tiger reserve (1973) |
| Ranthambore | Rajasthan | ~1,113 sq. km | Famous for day-time tiger sightings; historical Ranthambore Fort |
| Sundarbans | West Bengal | ~1,330 sq. km | Largest mangrove forest; UNESCO World Heritage Site; unique swimming tigers |
- Critical Tiger Habitat (CTH): Also called core areas, these are inviolate zones notified under Section 38V of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, where human activities are prohibited or severely restricted.
- Buffer Zones: Areas surrounding CTH where limited human activity is permitted with conservation-oriented management.
- India has 53 tiger reserves (as of 2023) covering about 75,000 sq. km across 18 states.
- Project Tiger was launched in 1973 with 9 tiger reserves; Corbett was the first.
With reference to ‘Eco-Sensitive Zones’, which of the following statements is/are correct?
- Eco-Sensitive Zones are the areas that are declared under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
- The purpose of the declaration of Eco-Sensitive Zones is to prohibit all kinds of human activities, in those zones except agriculture.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Detailed Explanation:
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) are declared under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 by the MoEFCC, not under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. ESZs are created around Protected Areas (national parks/sanctuaries) as buffer zones.
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: ESZs do not prohibit all human activities. They aim to regulate activities through zoning—allowing permitted activities (agriculture, ongoing agriculture, existing rights), regulated activities (tourism, construction), and prohibited activities (mining, polluting industries). The purpose is sustainable development, not complete prohibition.
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Consider the following pairs
- Dampa Tiger Reserve: Mizoram
- Gumti Wildlife Sanctuary: Sikkim
- Saramati Peak: Nagaland
Which of the above pairs is /are correctly matched?
Detailed Explanation:
✅ Pair 1 – Correct: Dampa Tiger Reserve is located in Mizoram, notified as a wildlife sanctuary in 1985 and declared a Tiger Reserve in 1994. It is the largest wildlife sanctuary in Mizoram.
❌ Pair 2 – Incorrect: Gumti Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Tripura, not Sikkim. It was established in 1988 and is known for bison, sambar, and elephants.
✅ Pair 3 – Correct: Saramati Peak (3,826 m) is the highest peak in Nagaland, located on the Nagaland-Myanmar border in the Tuensang district.
Consider the following areas:
- Bandipur
- Bhitarkanika
- Manas
- Sunderbans
Which of the above are Tiger Reserves?
Detailed Explanation:
Bandipur (Karnataka) – Declared a Tiger Reserve in 1973 under Project Tiger; one of India's first nine tiger reserves.
Bhitarkanika (Odisha) – A wetland and mangrove ecosystem known for saltwater crocodiles and bird diversity; NOT a Tiger Reserve.
Manas (Assam) – A Tiger Reserve, National Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Elephant Reserve, and Biosphere Reserve.
Sunderbans (West Bengal) – A Tiger Reserve famous for Royal Bengal Tigers adapted to mangrove habitat; also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Therefore, 1, 3 and 4 only are Tiger Reserves.
Related Topics in Environment & Ecology
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