National Board for Wildlife (NBWL), Functions and Composition

Context: In its first post-election meeting, the standing committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SC-NBWL) has cleared various projects. Projects include controversial transmission line projects in Little Rann of Kutch and Mollem National Park.

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:
  • 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.

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.

Protected Areas in News

Mollem National Park (GOA)

• Location: Western Ghats of Goa, India, near the town of Molem, 35 miles east of Panaji.
• Vegetation: tropical evergreen and semi-evergreen forests, and moist deciduous forests.
• Biodiversity:
  • Fauna: Leopard, Bengal tiger, bonnet macaque, gaur, Malabar giant squirrel, porcupine, slender loris.
  • Avifauna: Greater Indian hornbill, ruby-throated yellow bulbul (the state bird of Goa).
• Waterfalls: It includes Dudhsagar Falls and Tambdi Falls.
• Dhangar: It is home to a community of nomadic buffalo herders called the Dhangar.

Wild Ass Sanctuary

• Location: The sanctuary is located in the Little Rann of Kutch in Gujarat, India.
• Wildlife:
  • It is home to the only wild population of the Indian Wild Ass (Khur), a subspecies of the Asiatic Wild Ass.
  • Other Fauna: blue bull, hare, wolf, Indian fox, jackal, hyena, wild boar, desert cat etc.
• Tribes: It is home to a large population of Rabari and Bharwad tribes.
• Threats: Illegal Salt Panning

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