NEW DELHI: The Centre on Monday released a compilation of environment-related data, showing 72% increase in the number of protected areas and around 16% increase in area under the protected landscape in the country during the 2000 to 2023 period.
Released by the ministry of statistics and programme implementation, the compilation - EnviStats India 2024: Environment Accounts - also shows an increase of coverage of mangroves , key components of the country's ocean ecosystem, by around 8% during 2013-2021 period (Mangroves areas increased from 4,627 sq km in 2013 to 4,992 sq km in 2021).
Mangroves - shrubs or trees grow mainly in coastal saline or brackish water - not only protect coastlines from erosion but also serve as important carbon sinks, retaining organic matter in sediments and living biomass.
Protected Areas are declared under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. It comprises national parks , wildlife sanctuaries , community reserves and conservation reserves. Data shows that the number of protected areas increased from 594 in the year 2000 to 1022 in 2023 whereas the actual areas under it increased from 1.54 lakh sq km to 1.78 lakh sq km during the period.
Out of 1022 protected areas in 2023, the country has 573 wildlife sanctuaries (1.27 lakh sq km), 220 community reserves (1,455 sq km), 123 conservation reserves (5,585 sq km) and 106 national parks (44,403 sq km).
These figures and other data were released by the ministry in the seventh consecutive year under System of Environmental Economic Accounting (SEEA) Framework which is an agreed international instrument for the compilation of the environment economic accounts.
The current publication covers a new area - Ocean Accounts, bringing out data for some of the extent and the condition parameters related to the oceans. It also presents the updated values of Soil Nutrient Index compiled using the information collected for preparing Soil Health Cards for the year 2023-24.
Released by the ministry of statistics and programme implementation, the compilation - EnviStats India 2024: Environment Accounts - also shows an increase of coverage of mangroves , key components of the country's ocean ecosystem, by around 8% during 2013-2021 period (Mangroves areas increased from 4,627 sq km in 2013 to 4,992 sq km in 2021).
Mangroves - shrubs or trees grow mainly in coastal saline or brackish water - not only protect coastlines from erosion but also serve as important carbon sinks, retaining organic matter in sediments and living biomass.
Protected Areas are declared under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. It comprises national parks , wildlife sanctuaries , community reserves and conservation reserves. Data shows that the number of protected areas increased from 594 in the year 2000 to 1022 in 2023 whereas the actual areas under it increased from 1.54 lakh sq km to 1.78 lakh sq km during the period.
Out of 1022 protected areas in 2023, the country has 573 wildlife sanctuaries (1.27 lakh sq km), 220 community reserves (1,455 sq km), 123 conservation reserves (5,585 sq km) and 106 national parks (44,403 sq km).
These figures and other data were released by the ministry in the seventh consecutive year under System of Environmental Economic Accounting (SEEA) Framework which is an agreed international instrument for the compilation of the environment economic accounts.
The current publication covers a new area - Ocean Accounts, bringing out data for some of the extent and the condition parameters related to the oceans. It also presents the updated values of Soil Nutrient Index compiled using the information collected for preparing Soil Health Cards for the year 2023-24.
