New Delhi: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on October 15 sought "people-centred" conservation approaches in strategies for wildlife protection and asked the Navy to contribute in conserving marine biodiversity.

"We should involve communities living in or near the natural habitat and create an economic stake for the them to participate and take responsibility in protecting wildlife," Vajpayee said at the first meeting of the National Board for Wildlife.

For wildlife conservation strategies to succeed, there was a need to increase participation of each local community in protection of its surroundings (as a distinctive protected area) in association with Panchayati Raj institutions, he said.

"Wildlife being the fundamental component of our ecosystem, has the same right to share in the various resources on our planet as we humans do," he said adding, "It is irrational and preposterous for humans to think that this planet belongs exclusively to us alone."

On the role of security forces in conserving wildlife, especially in border and disturbed areas he said, "The Navy too can contribute much to our efforts at conserving our marine biodiversity.

"Protection of marine and coastal ecosystems is fundamental to the sustainable development of coastal communities, as they provide a range of food products and immense opportunities for tourism," he said.

Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and experts could be roped in launching a platform for business partnership with the industries for marketing the processed and semi-processed natural products and provide livelihood to the rural youth, he said.

While there was an urgent need to safeguard protected areas, it was equally important to demonstrate the economic benefits of protected areas for people living in and around them, Vajpayee said.

"Along with promoting nature and wildlife tourism, we must keep in mind the need of their sustainability," he said.

Expressing concern on the activities of wildlife criminals, the Prime Minister said, "Though legal provisions to tackle poaching and illegal trade of wildlife are in place, their effective enforcement is lacking."

In this context, he asked various state governments to ensure that the restrictions imposed on recruitment of field staff for protected areas were relaxed and all existing vacancies filled up.

He also asked the Ministry of Environment and Forests to further strengthen its ongoing initiatives and forge links with enforcement agencies.

Calling it "unfortunate" that the country has not yet mastered the imperatives of sustainable development, he said, "We have not been able to arrest the decline in the ecological status of wildlife in our country."

The radical changes associated with development have brought many species of wild plants and animals to the brink of extinction, he said adding, "We have witnessed the permanent loss of many valuable species including the best-known sprinter of our grasslands – Cheetah."

There was a need for increased coordination among various ministries along with their counterparts in states to recognise their joint responsibility in developing innovative strategies for biodiversity conservation, he added.

PTI