Section 18A of WLPA : Section 18A: Protection To Sanctuaries

Explanation using Example

Imagine a scenario where the government of a state in India identifies a region that is home to a rare species of bird. This area is not within any existing reserve forest or territorial waters. To protect this habitat, the government decides to declare it a sanctuary. As soon as the state government announces its intention to designate this area as a sanctuary under Section 18(1) of The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, laws related to the protection of wildlife and the management of sanctuaries (Sections 27 to 33A) are immediately enforced to safeguard the area.

However, there are local communities living in the vicinity who depend on the forest for their livelihood, collecting fuel, fodder, and other forest produce. Since their rights are affected by the creation of the sanctuary, the state government, as per Section 18A(2), is responsible for providing these communities with alternative sources for their needs until their rights are settled as per Sections 19 to 24 of the Act. This could mean supplying them with fuel from outside the sanctuary or arranging for fodder from alternative locations.