Why has the government created protected areas?
Answers
Protected areas can reduce forest fragmentation and degradation through stringent protection and best management practices for biodiversity conservation. Experts say that effective protection of these areas will enhance carbon sequestration. (Carbon is stored in the atmosphere, rocks, soils, oceans and crust, and they are generally referred to as carbon pools, stocks or reservoirs and naturally act as both “sources”, adding carbon to the atmosphere, and “sinks”, removing carbon from the atmosphere. The process by which carbon sinks remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere is known as “carbon sequestration”.) Protected areas are a proven instrument to maintain forest cover in large areas and can strengthen the resilience of ecosystems and landscapes to climate change and provide safety through their genetic resources and ecosystem services. For example, while bamboo has disappeared from many areas of central India owing to heavy cattle grazing and frequent fires, the species is supported in several P.As.
Large grassy expanses are supposed to be large stores of carbon. Grasslands managed under P.As can significantly add to carbon storage. Conversion or degradation of grasslands outside P.As tends to increase carbon loss and may turn into major carbon “sources” for the atmosphere. Reclamation of agricultural lands through village relocation from P.As and their development into grasslands is reported to lead to carbon sequestration. There is already a ban on cattle grazing in P.As and even this small preventive measure can lead to increased sequestration. Restoration of unproductive and degraded agricultural lands to natural vegetation is another effective way of carbon sequestration.
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