The correct option is (c).
Explanation
A Biosphere Reserve (BR) is an international designation by UNESCO for representative parts of natural and cultural landscapes extending over large areas of terrestrial or coastal/marine ecosystems or a combination thereof. Structurally, a Biosphere Reserve is divided into three zones: the Core Zone, the Buffer Zone, and the Transition Zone, each with varying degrees of protection and permissible human activities.
Statement-wise Analysis
- Statement 1 is Correct. The Core Zone of a Biosphere Reserve is the most strictly protected area. It is legally constituted as a National Park or Wildlife Sanctuary under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. In this zone, human interference is kept to a minimum to conserve the ecosystem in its most natural state. Consequently, activities such as plantation, cultivation, and human settlements are prohibited.
- Statement 2 is Incorrect. The Core Zone is meant to be an undisturbed ecosystem. Commercial forestry, including the felling of trees, is strictly prohibited. Even in the Buffer Zone, activities are regulated to ensure they do not undermine the conservation objectives of the Core Zone. Unrestricted felling is not permitted in the protected zones of a Biosphere Reserve.
- Statement 3 is Correct. Hunting and poaching are strictly prohibited across the protected network in India, specifically within the Core and Buffer zones of Biosphere Reserves, which are governed by the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. These areas are dedicated to the conservation of biodiversity, and any form of hunting is a punishable offense.
Key Takeaway: In a Biosphere Reserve, the Core Zone is strictly protected (no human activity except monitoring), the Buffer Zone allows for research and eco-tourism, and the Transition Zone permits sustainable human activities like settlements and agriculture.