National Board for Wildlife (NBWL), Functions and Composition

Context: Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired his first-ever meeting of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) at Gir National Park, Gujarat.

7th Meeting of the National Board for Wildlife: Key Announcements

• Expansion of Project Cheetah: New locations for cheetah introduction:
  • Gandhisagar Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh
  • Banni Grasslands, Gujarat
• Project Lion – ₹2,900 Crore Allocation
  • Aims to increase the range of Asiatic Lions across the Saurashtra region.
  • The next population estimation of Asiatic Lions is to begin in May 2025 (done every 5 years, last in 2020).
• New Wildlife Conservation Initiatives:
  • Project for Gharial Conservation launched to protect India’s dwindling gharial population.
  • National Great Indian Bustard (GIB) Conservation Plan.
  • New scheme for conservation of tigers outside tiger reserves.
• Establishment of Centre for Human-Wildlife Conflict Management
  • To be set up at Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Coimbatore.
• Foundation Stone for National Referral Centre for Wildlife (Junagadh, Gujarat)
  • It will act as India’s hub for wildlife health and disease management.
• Use of AI, Remote Sensing, and Geospatial Mapping for Conservation for:
  • Forest fire prevention.
  • Human-animal conflict management.

About National Board for Wildlife (NBWL)

Formation: In 2003 (Statutory Body under Wildlife Protection Act,1972)

Composition

• Chairperson: The Prime Minister of India
• Vice-Chairperson: The Union Minister of Environment, Forests and Climate Change
• Members – 47
  • Members of Parliament (3): 2 (Lok Sabha) + 1 (Rajya Sabha)
  • 5 representatives from NGOs.
  • 10 eminent ecologists, conservationists and environmentalists.
  • Other Members

Standing Committee of NBWL

It is a sub-body of NBWL delegated with key decision-making powers. It is responsible for evaluating development projects affecting protected areas or forest lands within 10 km of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.

• Chairman: The Union Minister of Environment, Forests and Climate Change
• Members: Up to 10 members nominated by the Vice-Chairperson from the NBWL’s members
• It meets every 3 months.
• The standing committee’s decisions are recommendatory, which the environment ministry can overrule.

Functions of NBWL

• Advises the central and state governments on policies and programs for wildlife conservation and development.
• Prevent the illegal trade of wildlife and its products & control poaching activities.
• Recommends the establishment of national parks, sanctuaries, and other protected areas.
• It has the power to review all wildlife-related matters and approve projects in and around national parks and sanctuaries.

Criticism & Controversies Around NBWL

Approval of Development Projects in Wildlife Areas: The NBWL has approved several controversial development projects, leading to criticism from ecologists.

Examples

• Ken-Betwa River Linking Project (Daudhan Dam)
  • Will submerge nearly 100 sq km of Panna National Park & Tiger Reserve.
• Oil Exploration Project in Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary (Assam)
  • Home to Hoolock Gibbon, India’s only ape species.
• Denotification of Galathea Bay Sanctuary (Andaman & Nicobar Islands)
  • Important nesting site for endangered Leatherback sea turtles.
• Frequent Meetings Without Proper Members: Since 2014, 50 standing committee meetings have been held without the required number of conservation experts.

Historical Background of NBWL

Evolution from Indian Board for Wildlife (IBWL)

• Originally established as the Central Board for Wildlife (1952).
• Renamed the Indian Board for Wildlife (IBWL) in 1952.
• Sri Jayachamaraja Wadiyar (Maharaja of Mysore) was the first chairman.

Key Contributions of IBWL

• Peacocks were declared as the National Bird in 1961.
• Established Gir National Park for Asiatic Lions.
• Declared Tiger as National Animal.
• Laid foundation for Project Tiger (1973).

Important Chairs & Meetings

• Indira Gandhi (1980s): Strengthened wildlife policies, created Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan), adopted National Wildlife Action Plan (1983).
• 1988-1997: No IBWL meetings were held.
• 2003: IBWL restructured as NBWL under PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Meetings Chaired by Prime Ministers

• Atal Bihari Vajpayee (2003): First NBWL meeting.
• Manmohan Singh (2004-2012): Chaired 5 full-body meetings.
• Narendra Modi (2025): He chaired his first NBWL meeting.

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