PM determined to preserve wildlife

New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday said developmental needs of a rapidly growing economy of India is testing its ability to preserve its wildlife but the government was determined to conserve and protect the natural eco systems and biodiversity.

He asked the people; especially the children and the youth, to become torch-bearers in taking forward the "critical agenda" of conserving and protecting India`s rich natural heritage.

"Though several steps have been taken to protect and conserve our flora and fauna including creation of a network of protected areas across the length and breadth of the country, the developmental needs of a rapidly growing economy is testing our ability to preserve wildlife," Singh said in his written message put on the Environment Ministry`s website.

In his message to the Ministry on occasion of the Wildlife Week (from October 1 to October 7), Singh pointed out that "India supports some of the richest and most diverse wildlife habitats in the world.

"From the cold deserts of Ladakh in the north to the tropical rainforests of the South and from the thorny scrublands of the Thar desert in the West to the evergreen forests of the North-East, these habitats are home to thousands of beautiful and unique animal and plant species," he added.