NBWL and Wildlife Conservation

Biodiversity & Environment

NBWL and Wildlife Conservation

For Prelims: National Board for Wildlife (NBWL), Gir National Park, Great Indian Bustard, Gharial, Geospatial Mapping, Project Cheetah, Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, Banni Grasslands, Project Lion, Maldhari Community, Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
For Mains: Recent initiatives and the role of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) in wildlife conservation.

Why in News?

The Prime Minister presided over the 7th meeting of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) at Gir National Park (Junagadh, Gujarat) on World Wildlife Day (3rd March) and unveiled several initiatives to enhance wildlife conservation efforts.

What is World Wildlife Day?

• About: World Wildlife Day is observed annually on 3rd March, established by the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in December 2013, to raise awareness about the urgent need to protect biodiversity amid the triple planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.
• Origin: It was adopted by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in 1973.
• 2025 Theme: "Wildlife Conservation Finance: Investing in People and Planet," which highlights the importance of financial investments in wildlife conservation for a sustainable future.

Key Announcements During the 7th NBWL Meeting:

• New Initiatives:
  • Great Indian Bustard Conservation: A National Great Indian Bustard Conservation Plan was introduced to combat the declining population of this critically endangered species.
  • Gharial Conservation: A fresh initiative was launched to conserve the diminishing gharial population.
  • Centre for Human-Wildlife Conflict: A new Centre for Excellence in Human-Wildlife Conflict Management will be established at the Wildlife Institute of India's Coimbatore campus, focusing on rapid response teams, advanced tracking, surveillance, and training for mitigation efforts.
  • Technological Interventions: The PM emphasized utilizing AI, ML, remote sensing, and geospatial mapping to manage forest fires and human-animal conflicts. Collaborations with the Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics (BISAG-N) will help address these issues.
  • National Referral Centre for Wildlife: The PM laid the foundation stone for this centre in Junagadh, aimed at wildlife health and disease management.
  • New Task Forces: Task forces were set up for the conservation of the Indian Sloth Bear, Gharials, and Great Indian Bustard.
  • Expansion of Project Cheetah: Project Cheetah will expand to the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary (Madhya Pradesh) and Banni Grasslands (Gujarat).
  • Strengthening Project Lion: The Project Lion was extended for 10 years to enhance the Asiatic lion population in Gujarat’s Saurashtra region. A population estimation will be conducted in May 2024, as part of the routine every five years.
  • Riverine Dolphin Estimation: The first Riverine Dolphin Estimation Report revealed 6,327 dolphins in the Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Indus river basins.
  • Traditional Knowledge in Conservation: The PM urged NBWL and the ministry to collect traditional knowledge and manuscripts related to forest and wildlife conservation for research.
  • Community Participation: Emphasizing the importance of community involvement, especially the Maldhari community's role in lion conservation, the PM stressed its importance in forest fire management and sustainable coexistence with wildlife.

What is NBWL?

• About: The National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) is a statutory body created under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and serves as the apex body for wildlife conservation and development.
• Composition:
  • The NBWL is a 47-member committee led by the Prime Minister, who serves as the ex-officio Chairperson, with the Minister of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change as the Vice-Chairperson.
  • Its members include officials involved in wildlife conservation, the Chief of Army Staff, Defence Secretary, Expenditure Secretary, and ten eminent conservationists, ecologists, and environmentalists nominated by the central government.
• Functions: The NBWL promotes wildlife and forest conservation and development.
  • Role in Tiger Reserves: The NBWL ensures that no tiger reserve is diverted for unsustainable uses without its approval, based on recommendations from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).

Drishti Mains Question:
Discuss the significance of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) in India's wildlife conservation efforts.

UPSC Civil Services Examination Previous Year Questions (PYQs):
Prelims:
Q. Consider the following protected areas:

1. Bandipur
2. Manas
3. Bhitarkanika
4. Sunderbans

Which of the above are declared Tiger Reserves?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1, 3, and 4 only
(c) 2, 3, and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3, and 4

Ans: (b)

Mains:
Q. How does biodiversity vary in India? How is the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 helpful in the conservation of flora and fauna? (2018)

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