In his new book, naturalist and conservationist Valmik Thapar gives us a bold yet considered plan to preserve and protect our dwindling forests, wildlife and wilderness areas. Saving wild India (whether we realize it or not) is of critical importance to the quality of life we lead today. It should therefore be a priority, both at the level of the state and that of the individual, to sort out the myriad problems that are leading to the destruction of our forests and the extermination of our wildlife—poaching, timber smuggling, illegal mining, flawed administrative policy and much much more.
Drawing upon more than forty years of experience in the field, the author gives us a detailed blueprint on how to effect change, and revitalize and expand our forest cover. He argues for the repeal of archaic and ineffectual laws, the framing and passing of enlightened legislation, the revamping of our training institutes, the eradication of corruption, putting an end to the meddling of politicians and bureaucrats, the reorganization of the Indian Forest Service, enlightened wildlife tourism, an inclusive approach to conservation, public-private partnerships, as well as a variety of other measures that could check the ongoing damage to wild India.
Valmik Thapar has spent four decades serving the cause of wild India. During this time, he has authored, co-authored and edited more than twenty-five books and made or presented nearly a dozen films for the BBC and several other television networks on the tiger and Indian flora and fauna. His latest book Saving Wild India: A Blueprint for Change is all about finding real solutions to protect India’s wildlife. Other recent books include Winged Fire, the concluding book in the trilogy that features Wild Fire and Tiger Fire.
Thapar has created a major non-governmental organization dedicated to conserving wildlife,the Ranthambore Foundation. He is currently a member of the Rajasthan Board for Wildlife chaired by the state’s chief minister and has helped the state government formulate a holistic forest conservation scheme—the Van Dhan Yojana.
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