PERCEPTIONS OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF WILDLIFE CONSERVATION IN INDIA, HIGHLIGHTING THE PAST QUARTER CENTURY, AND THE INPUT OF THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE THROUGH THE BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY AND THE WILDLIFE INSTITUTE OF INDIA

摘要

The Indian subcontinent has a rich natural heritage that has been largely maintained historically because of the traditional respect for all life forms by the local peoples. Increasing pressures from a rapidly growing human population have brought about deterioration of habitats and elimination of species. These pressures and their consequences have gradually gained more attention over the years, but in the last quarter century, a sea change in the actions and concerns of not only the Government of India but also a number of organisations, have attracted widespread attention. The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), a major non-governmental organisation, and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), a major Government of India institution, are makinga difference in this battle and have benefited from the input of international partners such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Details of the two and a half decade relationship of the Service's contribution to India's conservation movementthrough the BNHS and WII are provided, reflecting the benefits of long-term commitment and working together for India's wildlife heritage.