With reference to 'Eco-Sensitive Zones', which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Eco-Sensitive Zones are the areas that are declared under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. 2. The purpose of the declaration of Eco-Sensitive Zones is to prohibit all kinds of human activities in those zones except agriculture. Select the correct answer using the code given below.
A
1 only
B
2 only
C
Both 1 and 2
D
Neither 1 nor 2
Correct Answer
Explanation
Option (d) is correct because Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) are notified under the **Environment (Protection) Act, 1986**, and they do not prohibit all human activities but rather categorize them into prohibited, regulated, and permitted (e.g., ongoing agriculture is permitted). Statement 1 is a common trap because while ESZs surround areas governed by the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, their legal authority specifically derives from the 1986 Act to manage the transition between high-protection and low-protection areas. The core concept being tested is the **statutory basis and the "shock absorber" regulatory mechanism** used to minimize the impact of industrialization on fragile ecosystems.
Environmental ProtectionEco-Sensitive Zones (ESZ)Eco-Sensitive ZonesWildlife (Protection) Act, 1972Environment (Protection) Act, 1986human activitiesagricultureprotected areasbuffer zones