Question : National Board for Wildlife

(a) whether there has been an increase in wildlife clearances in the last five years;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Prime Minister is the chairman of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL);
(d) the total land of the area important for wildlife, diverted by NBWL and its Standing Committee for linear and area based infrastructure projects like roads/hydro power in the last five years and the reasons therefor;
(e) the steps taken by NBWL to prioritise conservation of wildlife and forests and to contain illegal poaching and wildlife trade?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a) to (d) The National Board for Wild Life (NBWL) is chaired by the Prime Minister.
The number of projects considered and recommended by the Standing Committee of the National board for Wild Life (SCNBWL) during last five years is as follows:

S. No. Year wise No. of recommended projects
1 2016-17 126
2 2017-18 220
3 2018-19 153
4 2019-20 71
5 2020-21 81

The SCNBWL, which comprises of both official and expert members, considers and takes informed decisions on proposals received in the Ministry based on the recommendations of Chief Wild Life Warden, State Board for Wild Life and State Government


(e) Government has been considering matters pertaining to conservation and protection of wildlife and their habitats. Important matters considered include the following:
i. Conservation of Vultures through ban on diclofenac
ii. Creation of Eco-Sensitive Zones around National Parks and Sanctuaries
iii. Constitution of Tiger Task Force for review and management of Tiger Reserves
iv. Setting up of Wildlife Crime Control Bureau
v. Developing a framework for involving the World Conservation Union (IUCN) in conservation of wildlife and international cooperation.
vi. Need for curbing illegal trade in wildlife
vii. Training of veterinary doctors required for treatment of wildlife
viii. Need for enhancing funds under Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats for taking up species recovery programmes
ix. Recovery programmes for saving critically endangered species and habitats under the on-going Centrally Sponsored Scheme of ‘Development of Wildlife Habitats’ for focused conservation action on 22 identified critically endangered species including Humpback whale, Snow leopard, Hangul, Sangai deer, Marine turtle, Bustards, Red Panda, Nicobar Megapode, Jerdon’s Courser, Caracal and vultures.
x. Implementation of guidelines named, ‘Eco-friendly Measures to Mitigate Impacts of Linear Infrastructure on Wild Life’,
xi. Action Plan for Vulture Conservation,
xii. National Wildlife Action Plan (2017-2031),
xiii. Conservation of Gangetic River Dolphin,
xiv. Advisory on Human Wildlife Conflict Mitigation,
xv. Monitoring implementation of terms and conditions of recommendation of SCNBWL,
xvi. Directions to States/UTs to comply with Sustainable Sand Mining Management Guidelines, 2016 and Enforcement and Monitoring Guidelines for Sand Mining, 2020,
xvii. Advisories to States/UTs for expansion of protected area network.


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