Why in the News?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to Gir National Park in Gujarat, chaired the 7th meeting of the National Board for Wildlife and unveiled a series of key wildlife initiatives.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Introduction (Context)
• Meeting of National Board for Wildlife (Key Announcements, Role of Local Communities, etc.)

Introduction

• India continues to enhance its wildlife conservation efforts with a series of new initiatives announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Gir National Park, Gujarat.
• Chairing the 7th meeting of the National Board for Wildlife, PM Modi introduced several landmark measures aimed at protecting endangered species, improving wildlife habitats, and leveraging technology for conservation.
• Key highlights of the announcements include the first-ever riverine dolphin estimation report, the expansion of India’s cheetah reintroduction program, and the initiation of a National Great Indian Bustard Conservation Action Plan.
• Additionally, a Centre of Excellence for human-wildlife conflict mitigation and a National Referral Centre for Wildlife were also announced.

Major Announcements in Wildlife Conservation

• First-Ever Riverine Dolphin Estimation
  • PM Modi released India’s first comprehensive report on riverine dolphins, estimating a total of 6,327 dolphins across 28 rivers in eight states.
  • The survey, covering 8,500 kilometers, revealed Uttar Pradesh as having the highest population, followed by Bihar, West Bengal, and Assam.
  • The Prime Minister emphasized community participation in dolphin conservation, proposing exposure visits for school children to create awareness about their habitat and ecological importance.
• Strengthening Asiatic Lion Conservation
  • The 16th Asiatic Lion Population Estimation will be conducted in 2025 to track conservation progress.
  • Barda Wildlife Sanctuary will receive increased conservation efforts, including prey augmentation and habitat enhancement to support natural lion dispersal.
  • PM Modi highlighted Gir’s success in lion and leopard conservation, advocating the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital documentation to replicate these efforts in other national parks.
• Expansion of Cheetah Reintroduction Program
  • India’s ambitious cheetah reintroduction project will expand to Gandhisagar Sanctuary (Madhya Pradesh) and Banni Grasslands (Gujarat).
  • The move aims to enhance biodiversity and establish a sustainable cheetah population in India.
• New Wildlife Protection Measures
  • National Referral Centre for Wildlife: The foundation stone for this centre was laid in Junagadh, aiming to improve wildlife disease management and health monitoring.
  • Centre of Excellence at SACON, Coimbatore: This will address human-wildlife conflict by equipping Rapid Response Teams with advanced tracking gadgets, AI-driven surveillance systems, and community training programs.
  • Use of Remote Sensing & AI: The Prime Minister emphasized the deployment of geospatial mapping, AI, and machine learning for detecting and mitigating forest fires and human-animal conflicts.
• Strengthening Conservation of Endangered Species
  • Gharial Conservation Project: A new initiative has been launched to protect and revive gharial populations, which have been dwindling due to habitat loss.
  • National Great Indian Bustard Conservation Action Plan: Recognizing the need to scale up efforts, a national plan will be implemented to protect and increase the population of the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard.
  • Conservation Scheme for Tigers Outside Reserves: A special initiative was announced to support tiger conservation beyond protected reserves, addressing human-wildlife conflicts in buffer zones and adjacent areas.

Leveraging Technology for Conservation

• PM Modi underscored the importance of technology in modern conservation strategies:
  • Remote sensing and AI will be used to track wildlife movements and improve conflict management.
  • Forest Survey of India (FSI) and BISAG-N collaboration will enhance forest fire detection and prevention using space technology.
  • Traditional conservation knowledge will be documented using AI-driven tools, ensuring that valuable ecological practices are preserved for future generations.

Role of Local Communities in Conservation

• PM Modi praised the involvement of local communities in conservation, noting a sixfold increase in community reserves over the past decade. He emphasized expanding this model to empower tribal and rural populations in protecting wildlife.
• Additionally, PM Modi announced increased eco-tourism infrastructure, ensuring ease of access to wildlife sanctuaries and protected areas, which will contribute to both conservation and local economic growth.

Conclusion

The announcements made by PM Modi mark a significant milestone in India’s wildlife conservation strategy. With a focus on species protection, habitat restoration, technology integration, and community participation, these initiatives will strengthen India’s position as a global leader in wildlife conservation.

The government's continued commitment to sustainable biodiversity management is expected to yield long-term ecological benefits, ensuring a thriving coexistence between wildlife and human populations.