The government has given utmost importance to Gram Sabha or village councils as it has made it mandatory to consult them before declaring any area as a wildlife park or a sanctuary.

The Union Cabinet, at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, approved amendments to this effect to the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

Describing the amendments as a progressive step, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said, this will ensure better protection of wildlife. He said the amendments propose to define gram sabha, panchayat and scheduled area, provide for consultations with the gram sabha whenever an area is to be declared as a sanctuary.

The amendments also propose to make a representative of the local tribal community part of the management committee of a reserve, which could be tiger reserves, national parks or sanctuaries.

The amendments also seeks to bring the Wildlife Protection Act in conformity with the Convention on International Trade in Endagered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, CITES.

These amendments provides the legal framework for the protection of various species of wild animals, management of their habitat and also for the regulation and control of trade in the products derived from wild animals and enhanced penalties for offences.

Our correspondent reports that CITES is an international agreement between governments that aims to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.