Maarg Manthan · Topic 7.6

In-Situ Methods of Conservation: Protected Area Categories and Forms

Environment & Ecology › Threats to Biodiversity and Conservation Strategies · Topic 7.6

In-situ conservation means protecting species in their natural habitats, where their ecological relationships and evolution continue. It is the best way to conserve biodiversity as it protects whole ecosystems. In India the main forms of protected areas are national parks (strictest, no human use, defined by Section 35 of the Wildlife Protection Act), wildlife sanctuaries (Section 18; some human activity such as grazing permitted by the Chief Wildlife Warden), conservation reserves and community reserves (added by the 2002 amendment on government and community or private land), tiger reserves (Section 38V), elephant reserves, biosphere reserves, and sacred groves. India has over 1,000 protected areas, with 106 national parks and 567 sanctuaries at one count, covering around 5 percent of the land; check the latest figures from the Wildlife Institute of India.

5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Environment & Ecology · Threats to Biodiversity and Conservation Strategies

At a Glance

Meaning Conserving in natural habitat
National park section Section 35
Sanctuary section Section 18
Added in 2002 Community, conservation reserves
Tiger reserves Section 38V
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Environment & Ecology: Threats to Biodiversity and Conservation Strategies

Where Does It Fit?

This topic follows the account of scheduled animals. It describes protected areas on the ground, and the next topics cover biosphere reserves, heritage sites and an assessment of in-situ and ex-situ methods. Previous topic: Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 Highest protection Schedule I Old vermin list Schedule V Old plant list Schedule VI…">Scheduled Animals Under the Wildlife Protection Act. Next topic: Biosphere Reserves, Sacred Forests, Sacred Lakes.

What Are the Categories of Protected Areas in India?

Category	Features
National park	Declared by the State Government (Section 35) with core ecological value; no grazing, forestry or private rights; boundaries fixed by legislation. Example: Kaziranga, Corbett (first, 1936 as Hailey National Park), Gir, Hemis (largest national park in India by area)
Wildlife sanctuary	Declared by State Government (Section 18); some activities allowed with permission, such as collection of minor forest produce and grazing. Boundaries need not be fixed by legislation. Example: Periyar, Bharatpur (Keoladeo), Sariska
Conservation reserve	Government-owned land adjoining parks and sanctuaries, acting as buffer or corridor, declared by State Government in consultation with local communities (Section 36A). Example: Tiruppadaimarathur in Tamil Nadu
Community reserve	Private or community land where communities volunteer to conserve (Section 36C). Example: Kokrebellur in Karnataka
Tiger reserve	Declared under Section 38V on the advice of the National Tiger Conservation Authority with core and buffer zones. Over 50 reserves
Elephant reserve	Under Project Elephant; about 33 reserves in India
Biosphere reserve	Programme-based areas with core, buffer and transition zones; see next topic

How Do the Categories Differ and What Else Counts?

National park versus sanctuary: national parks have stricter limits and no rights, sanctuaries allow some human activity; a sanctuary may be upgraded to national park
Reserved forests: forest areas where all activities are banned unless allowed, under the Indian Forest Act 1927
Protected forests: forests where activities are permitted unless banned
Wetlands: Ramsar sites for wise use of wetlands
Sacred groves: community protected forest patches
Critical wildlife habitats: inviolate areas under the Forest Rights Act 2006
Ecologically sensitive zones: buffer around protected areas, notified by the Ministry of Environment
Marine protected areas: such as Gulf of Mannar and Malvan

What Else Should You Remember?

In-situ advantages: conserves entire ecosystem, allows evolution, cheaper per species
Wildlife Institute of India: trains and advises, Dehradun
First national park: Jim Corbett National Park, 1936
Largest national park: Hemis in Ladakh, over 4,000 sq km
Smallest national park: South Button Island in Andaman and Nicobar
Largest sanctuary: Rann of Kutch Wildlife Sanctuary
Ecosensitive zones: a minimum of 10 km around protected areas was recommended by the Supreme Court in 2022, then modified in 2023
Core zone: no human activity
Buffer zone: limited use
Corridors: linking habitats; elephant corridors identified
Coverage: protected areas cover around 5 percent of India’s land; the global target under the 30 by 30 goal is 30 percent by 2030
Kunming-Montreal Framework: adopted in 2022, includes the 30 by 30 target
Community Conserved Areas: India has many such areas, not formally recognised
Compensation: for crop and livestock loss from wildlife
Relocation: voluntary resettlement of villages from core areas
Forest Rights Act: recognises rights of forest dwellers inside protected areas
Problems: human-wildlife conflict, boundary disputes, funding gaps and illegal activities
Management effectiveness: evaluated through MEE (Management Effectiveness Evaluation)
Project Tiger: launched in 1973 to protect tigers within reserves
Link to previous: see Scheduled Animals Under the Wildlife Protection Act
Link to next: see Biosphere Reserves, Sacred Forests, Sacred Lakes
Link to programmes: see Protected Area Network and Species-Based Conservation Programmes macro
Caution: the number of parks and sanctuaries changes as new areas are notified
Ex-situ comparison: see Ex-Situ Methods of Conservation
Exam hint: learn the section numbers and who declares each category
Wildlife sanctuaries: more numerous than national parks, they often form the first step, and many were later upgraded to national parks as protection improved
Community reserves: are managed by a committee of the community, with the state government providing funds, and protect village commons, sacred groves and private land

Why Does It Matter for the Exam?

Categories: park, sanctuary, reserves
Sections: 35, 18, 36A, 36C, 38V
Added 2002: community and conservation reserve
Current affairs link: 30 by 30 target and eco-sensitive zones
Common errors: mixing section numbers or saying parks allow grazing

As an analytical point, protected areas are the backbone of in-situ conservation, but they cover a small share of land and are surrounded by people. Community and conservation reserves and corridors extend protection beyond strict boundaries.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Principle In natural habitat
Forms Parks, sanctuaries
Gaps Coverage

What Came Next?

The next topic covers biosphere reserves, sacred forests and sacred lakes. Next topic: Biosphere Reserves, Sacred Forests, Sacred Lakes.

Key People and Terms

In-situ On site
National park Strict protected area
Sanctuary Protected area with limited use
Conservation reserve Government buffer land
Community reserve Community or private land
ESZ Eco-sensitive zone

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

National park: Section 35.
Sanctuary: Section 18.
Community reserve: Section 36C.
Tiger reserve: Section 38V.
First park: Corbett, 1936.

Do Not Confuse With

National park and sanctuary No rights allowed versus limited activities
Conservation and community reserve Government land versus private or community land
In-situ and ex-situ On site versus off site

Memory Hook

Park thirty-five, sanctuary eighteen, reserves thirty-six, tiger thirty-eight V.

Mains Angle

Questions ask for categories and sections. These points help.

Forms Categories
Gaps Coverage
Reform Community role

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“Describe the categories of protected areas in India and discuss the strengths and limits of in-situ conservation.”

How to Answer

Forms Categories.
Law Sections.
Strength Habitat.
Limits Coverage.

GS Relevance

Prelims: protected area categories, sections, differences. GS Paper 3: conservation methods.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is in-situ conservation?

In-situ conservation means conserving species and ecosystems in their natural habitats, such as in national parks, sanctuaries, biosphere reserves and sacred groves. It protects the full web of life and allows species to continue evolving, so it is considered the most effective approach to biodiversity conservation.

What is the difference between a national park and a wildlife sanctuary?

A national park, declared under Section 35 of the Wildlife Protection Act, has stricter protection and does not allow grazing, forestry or private rights, and its boundaries are fixed by law. A sanctuary, under Section 18, allows some activities such as grazing or collection of forest produce with permission.

What are conservation reserves and community reserves?

Conservation reserves and community reserves were introduced by the 2002 amendment to the Wildlife Protection Act. Conservation reserves are government land next to parks and sanctuaries, while community reserves are private or community land where local people volunteer to protect wildlife. Both involve local communities in management.

Which was the first national park in India?

Jim Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand, founded in 1936 as Hailey National Park, was the first national park in India. It was later renamed after Jim Corbett and became the first reserve under Project Tiger in 1973, so it is also linked with the beginning of tiger conservation.

What is an eco-sensitive zone?

An eco-sensitive zone is an area around a protected area notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in which certain industrial and other activities are restricted or regulated, so that it works as a buffer or shock absorber for the protected area. Its width may vary by area.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 National parks are declared under Section 35 of the Wildlife Protection Act.

True

Strictest category.

2 Grazing is generally allowed in national parks.

False

It is not allowed.

3 Community reserves were added by the 2002 amendment.