Deadline ends, Parivesh 2.0 portal to register exotic species gets 32 applications

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Last Updated01/10/2024

Parivesh (Proactive and responsive facilitation by interactive, virtuous and environmental single window hub) is an application to seek clearances related to environment, wildlife and forest from central, state and district authorities.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) received 32 applications by August 31 for registering exotic species, including common iguanas, ball pythons, and African grey parrots, under Parivesh 2.0.
This is significantly lower than the nearly 1,800 applications submitted via Parivesh 1.0, an earlier version launched in 2018.

Parivesh (Proactive and Responsive Facilitation by Interactive, Virtuous, and Environmental Single-window Hub) is a platform that helps individuals seek clearances for environmental, wildlife, and forest-related matters.
The current focus is on registering exotic wild species listed under Schedule IV of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, following a February 2023 MoEFCC notification. According to this, owners of these species were required to declare possession by August 31, or within 30 days of acquiring them post-deadline.
Most of the species registered are exotic birds like sun conures, scarlet macaws, and lovebirds, with fewer reptiles like common iguanas and ball pythons.

Lack of Awareness: Officials suggest poor public awareness about the portal and registration process contributed to the low turnout. Limited promotional efforts from the ministry further exacerbated this.
Fear of Legal Action: Many individuals with exotic species fear legal consequences, despite it being legal to keep such animals if they provide valid documentation such as CITES export permits.
Processing Delays: The understaffed wildlife departments cause delays in processing applications, deterring some people from registering.
To encourage more registrations, officials recommend extending the deadline and intensifying awareness campaigns. This is crucial as MoEFCC works to regulate and monitor exotic species ownership under the amended Wildlife Protection Act, 2022.