Why in the News?
The PM chaired the 7th meeting of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) at Gir National Park, marking the first full-body meeting of the NBWL since 2012.
What is National Board for Wildlife (NBWL)?
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Details |
| About |
- NBWL is India’s apex statutory advisory body for wildlife conservation and policy formulation.
- Established in 2003 under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, replacing the Indian Board for Wildlife (IBWL).
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| Evolution from IBWL to NBWL |
- 1952: IBWL formed;
- 1961: Declared Peacock as National Bird;
- 1972: Wild Life (Protection) Act (WLPA) passed;
- 1973: Project Tiger launched; 1982-83: Keoladeo National Park declared a Ramsar site;
- 1997: IBWL last met under PM H.D. Deve Gowda;
- 2003: IBWL replaced by NBWL.
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| Structure of NBWL |
- Chairperson: Prime Minister of India (ex officio).
- Vice-Chairperson: Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
- Members (47 total): – Government Officials: Chiefs of Army Staff, Secretaries from Defence, Tribal Affairs, Finance, I&B Ministries.
- Parliamentary Members: 3 Lok Sabha MPs, 1 Rajya Sabha MP.
- Experts: 10 eminent conservationists, ecologists, environmentalists.
- NGO: 5 from non-governmental sectors.
- + Director General of Forests (MoEFCC).
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| Mandate of NBWL |
- Wildlife Conservation Policy: Formulates and updates India’s wildlife policies and provides recommendations on biodiversity conservation.
- Development Project Regulation: Reviews and grants environmental clearances for projects near wildlife sanctuaries, national parks, and eco-sensitive zones (ESZs).
- Protected Area Management: Recommends creation and expansion of protected areas.
- Monitoring Conservation Programs: Oversees Project Tiger (1973), Project Elephant (1992), Project Cheetah (2022), and Project Lion Expansion.
- Ecological Impact Assessment: Evaluates deforestation, poaching, and human-wildlife conflicts.
Standing Committee of NBWL:
- A smaller body that evaluates infrastructure projects impacting wildlife habitats, grants fast-track approvals, and advises on conservation policies.
- It has the power to approve or reject projects affecting protected areas.
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| Major Contributions |
- Framed key wildlife policies including National Wildlife Action Plan.
- Approved eco-sensitive zones (ESZs) around national parks and sanctuaries.
- Strengthened Project Tiger, Project Elephant, and species-specific conservation programs.
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PYQ:
[2017] Consider the following statements:
1. Animal Welfare Board of India is established under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
2. National Tiger Conservation Authority is a statutory body.
3. National Ganga River Basin Authority is chaired by the Prime Minister.
Which of the statements given above is/ are correct?
(a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 2 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 |
