India updates it's conservation plans for the long term

A recent meeting of Indian Wildlife Board, chaired by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, set out a new comprehensive 14 year wildlife conservation plan. The new plan follows up on government admission of laxness in conservation in recent years.

Critics have pointed out that poaching is still rampant, even in national parks, and that people living in neighbouring areas to protected land still frequently use animals and trees from the parks.

The new Action Plan calls for law enforcement agencies to help prevent poaching, increased communication between Dehli and the states around India, an increase in education for locals living near parks, and plans for promoting ecotourism, among other things.

Tens of thousands of species call India their home, including tigers, snow leopards and elephants.