35

ACT XIV OF 2014 ACT XIV OF 2014 BALOCHISTAN WILDLIFE (PROTECTION, PRESERVATION, CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT) ACT, 2014 An Act to provide protection, preservation, conservation, sustainable and management to the Wildlife, and establishment and management of protection areas in the Province of Balochistan. [Gazette of Balochistan, Extraordinary, 28th March, 2014] CHAPTER VII PROTECTED AREAS 35. National Park.---(1) The Government may designate, in consultation with the local communities and other stakeholders, any State owned area of land, wetland, coast and/or sea as a National Park for managing mainly for ecosystem protection and recreation for the present and future generations. (2) A National Park shall--- (a) protect the ecological integrity of one or more ecosystems including biological diversity, landscape, geological features in the natural state; (b) provide a foundation for spiritual, scientific, educational, recreational and visitor opportunities, all of which must be environmentally and culturally compatible; and (c) exclude exploitation or occupation inimical to the purposes of designation of the area as a National Park. (3) A National Park shall be accessible to public for recreation; education and research, subject to general and specific restrictions for each individual National Park as the Government may prescribe. (4) The traditional uses of the privately or communally owned lands, such as cultivation and livestock grazing within the outer boundary of National Park will be allowed to continue subject to such restrictions and guidelines as may be prescribed. However, change in land use shall not be allowed except, with prior permission of the Government, where the change is likely to enhance the conservation value of the National Park in terms of biodiversity and other elements of nature. (5) For continuation of traditional land uses by local communities, the Government may undertake zoning or make readjustment in land uses or provide alternatives to communities, with consent, as considered appropriate: Provided that the local communities will use the rights and concessions prudently and the Government shall not allow perpetuation of the same. (6) The Government may allow Trophy hunting in the buffer zone of the National Park, for the benefit of local communities and National Park, in a manner as prescribed. (7) The following acts are prohibited in a National Park:-- (a) hunting, shooting, trapping, killing or capturing of, and injury to any wild animal therein; (b) fishing with methods such as angling rod or net, or using explosives, electric current, smoking or other devices; (c) logging and felling trees; Cutting or burning or in any way damaging or destroying vegetation; and taking, collecting or removing any plant or tree or parts thereof; (d) grazing or herding livestock; introducing any domestic animal or allowing it to stray; (e) carrying trained or pet falcon, hawk or shikra or pet animal therein or leaving a dog or a cat therein or allowing them to stray; (f) blowing pressure horn therein within half kilometer radius of boundary and blowing of any kind of horn within the Core Zone or sensitive areas, which are sign posted; (g) residing unlawfully; (h) carrying or firing any gun or other fire-arm in or within one kilometre of the boundaries; (i) constructing or erecting any temporary or permanent structure; (j) doing any other act, which may disturb any wild animal or damage any feeding and breeding places of a wild animal. (8) In a National Park, no person shall do any act which is prohibited in section 34 (8): Provided that the Government, for scientific or cultural purposes or improvement of a National Park or providing incentives and concessions to the local communities living within and near the boundary of a National Park or for promoting participatory management may-- (a) undertake measures to reduce fire-hazard, epidemic or insect attack or other natural calamities; (b) authorize the doing of the aforesaid acts, if un-harmful, on the specific recommendation of the Council endorsing the explicit written request of the Head of the Department justifying the need for such an action and certifying that it will not impair the management objectives and conservation value of the National Park; and (c) allow the traditional uses, if un-harmful, with such conditions and restrictions as may be prescribed or readjust the rights of the local communities, with their consent, in such a manner as appropriate, but shall not allow perpetuation of rights or concessions.