About Wildlife Protection Act (WPA), 1972

• The Wildlife Protection Act (WPA), 1972 was enacted for protection of plants and animal species.
• The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 divides species into ‘schedules’ ranked from I to VI. 
• Out of the six schedules, Schedule I and Schedule II species are afforded the highest levels of protection under the law as they are extremely rare, endemic, or endangered.
• Species under Schedules III and IV are also protected, but the penalties are lower.
• Under Section 62 of WPA, the Central Government may, on the requests from the respective States, declare any wild animal other than those specified in Schedule I & Part II of Schedule II (that lists most endangered and iconic species like tigers, leopards, and elephants) of the law to be vermin for any area for a given period of time for selective slaughter.
• As long as the notification is in force such wild animals shall be included in Schedule V of the law, depriving them of any protection under that law.
• A species is declared as vermin 
  • if they have become dangerous to human life or property, or 
  • if they have become so disabled or diseased as to be beyond recovery.
• Schedule VI of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 provides for the protection of wild animals, birds and plants and matters connected with them, with a view to ensure the ecological and environmental security of India.
• No person is allowed to cultivate a specified plant mentioned in schedule VI, except with a licence granted by the Chief WildLife Warden. It includes plants such as
  • Beddomes’ cycad (Cycas beddomei).
  • Blue Vanda (Vanda eoerulea).
  • Kuth (Saussurea costus).
  • Ladies slipper orchids (Paphiopedilium spp.).
  • Pitcher plant (Nepenthes khasiana).
  • Red Vanda (Rananthera imschootiana).

Why in News?

• The policy document, ‘Empowering forest-fringe panchayats: A policy reflection on the solution to the shrinking human-wildlife interface in Kerala’ prepared by Centre for Development Studies (CDS), Thiruvananthapuram, suggested suggested shifting the wild boar from Schedule 3 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act to Schedule 5 through which the tribal communities shall be permitted to hunt the species for food for a limited period.
• The document noted that permitting hunting for food for a limited period would address the food security aspects of local communities and could even attract a market for wild meat and for value-added products based on it.
• The document also suggested fair and adequate compensation to farmers who lose crops to wild animals. 
• The quantum of compensation shall be increased and extended to crucial food crops, tubers and vegetables too.

Reference:

1. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/permit-tribespeople-to-hunt-wild-boar-for-food-suggests-policy-document/article36730678.ece