UPSC 2023: Consider the following statements: Once the Central Government notifies an area as a 'Community Reserve' 1. the Chief Wildlife Warden of the State becomes the governing authority of such forest, 2. hunting is not allowed in such area, 3. people of such area are allowed to collect non-timber forest produce, 4. people of such area are allowed traditional agricultural practices. How many of the above statements are correct?

After notification as a Community Reserve, section 33 (read with s. 36C (2)) vests overall control in the Chief Wildlife Warden, so 1 is correct. Hunting is prohibited because the sanctuary-style restrictions of sections 27–33 apply—so 2 is correct. Traditional rights such as regulated collection of non-timber forest produce are ordinarily allowed, so 3 is correct. However, any change in land-use—including fresh shifting cultivation—needs prior approval of the Reserve Management Committee and the State Government (s. 36C (3)); therefore blanket permission for traditional agriculture cannot be presumed—statement 4 is incorrect. Hence three out of four statements are correct. ([sooperkanoon.com](https://sooperkanoon.com/act/14584/wild-life-protection-act-1972-section-36c?utm_source=openai))